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Pokhara Dental Project + Annapurna Trek (Small Adventure Clinic)

Join a small group of seasoned volunteers on a special journey to provide dental care to children and monks in Nepal. A short flight from Kathmandu, the clinic is situated in Pokhara at a small monastery at the base of the Annapurna Mountains. This is a unique, hands-on experience open to only a handful of volunteers. You must be an intrepid traveler or repeat volunteer to join the clinic. After assisting GDR staff in clinic set-up, volunteers work together to provide vital care to children in this remote area of Nepal. At the conclusion of the clinic, volunteers have the opportunity to join local sherpas for a four-day trek to climb Poon Hill, which offers breathtaking panoramic views of the Annapurna Range.
Project Cost: $2,180 (based on double occupancy)

Clinic-Only: $1,350 (based on double occupancy)

Call our office for single-occupancy rates.

The total project duration is 18 days, which includes: travel time to Nepal, orientation, overnight in Kathmandu, flight to Pokhara, 5 days working in the dental clinic, sightseeing in Pokhara and trek in the Annapurna mountain range.

Volunteers may opt out of the sightseeing portion of the project and head home after the clinic.

Project Dates

  • February 25 – March 14, 2023

  • November 18 – December 4, 2023

  • Feb 24 – March 12, 2024

  • November 2 – 18, 2024

What’s Included?
  • Accommodation in a basic guesthouse in Pokhara, and three-star hotel in Kathmandu
  • Two meals a day while working in the clinic; full board while on trek; other days breakfast only
  • Airport transfers
  • Sightseeing on day off from the clinic
  • Celebratory farewell dinner
  • Roundtrip airfare from Kathmandu to Pokhara
  • Services of Sherpas and Sirdar during the trek
  • All ground transportation as listed in the itinerary
  • Signature GDR T-shirt and water bottle

Plus, you will get all this too:

  • A small group of 12 international volunteers
  • The chance to make connections and create lifelong memories with new friends from all over the world
  • GDR Return Volunteer Discount on all future projects
  • Two GDR designated trip leaders
  • A GDR volunteer coordinator in the office to answer questions and ensure you are prepared for your trip
  • All tips for guides and drivers (except arrival and departure airport transfers)
Sightseeing Itinerary

Day 1: Depart the U.S.

Day 2: In transit to Nepal

Day 3: Arrive Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu, you are met and transferred to your guesthouse. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 4: Kathmandu — Pokhara. Depart this morning for Pokhara, a short 45-minute flight. On arrival, you are met at the airport and transferred to the monastery where you will be working for the next week. After lunch, help set up the clinic. Overnight in Pokhara at the monastery guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Days 5-7: Pokhara. Full day working in the clinic in Pema Ts’al Monastery. Overnight at the monastery guesthouse. (B/L/D)

Day 8: Pokhara. Today is a free day from the clinic. Join the group to explore the lakeside town of Pokhara or relax on your own. Overnight at the monastery guesthouse. (B/-/-)

Days 9-10: Pokhara. Full day working in the clinic in Pema Ts’al Monastery. Overnight at the monastery guesthouse. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Pokhara. Morning working in the clinic. After lunch, help pack up the clinic. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with the group. (B/L/-)

Day 12: Pokhara. Begin trek. Drive to Nayapul and trek to Ulleri (2,073 meters). After breakfast, you will drive to Nayapul (1,050 meters) by private vehicle (one-hour drive). Start your trek from here, stopping en route for lunch. Continue the trekking to Ulleri (2,073 meters). Ulleri is the beautiful, large village of the Magar community where you will spend your first night at a tea house. Total five hours trek. (B/L/D)

Day 13: Ulleri to Ghorepani (2856 meters). Today, the trail leads to the Ghorepani, one of the more popular destinations of the Annapurna region situated at an altitude of 2856 meters. Walk five hours today, lunch en route. Explore the Ghorepani village in the afternoon. If you are energetic, you can also do an optional climb to Poon Hill for the sunset. Overnight at tea house. (B/L/D)

Day 14: Climb Poon Hill and trek to Ghandruk. Early morning, climb up to the top of the Poon Hill (3210 meters) to see the panoramic views of the Annapurna, Dhaulagiri and Lamjung ranges as well as an exciting sunrise view over the Himalayas. Poon Hill is the highlight of this trek. Hike back to Ghorepani for breakfast and trek to Ghandruk. Overnight at tea house. Total seven to eight hours of trek. (B/L/D)

Day 15: Ghandruk — Syauli Bazaar. After breakfast in Ghandruk, begin your four-hour descent to Syauli Bazaar (1170 meters). Have lunch here. Afterward, you are picked up by a private vehicle and drive two and a half hours to Pokhara. The balance of the day is at leisure in Pokhara. Overnight at hotel in Pokhara. (B/L/-)

Day 16: Pokhara — Kathmandu. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. Arrive in Kathmandu in the early afternoon. The balance of the day is at leisure to shop or relax! Overnight in Kathmandu in Boudhanath area. (B/-/-)

Day 17: End Kathmandu. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Arrive home on day 18. (B/-/-)

Clinic-Only Itinerary

Day 1: Depart the U.S.

Day 2: In transit to Nepal

Day 3: Arrive Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu, you are met and transferred to your guesthouse. Overnight in Kathmandu.

Day 4: Kathmandu — Pokhara. Depart this morning for Pokhara, a short 45-minute flight. On arrival, you are met at the airport and transferred to the monastery where you will be working for the next week. After lunch, help set up the clinic. Overnight in Pokhara at the monastery guesthouse. (B/L/-)

Days 5-7: Pokhara. Full day working in the clinic in Pema Ts’al Monastery. Overnight at the monastery guesthouse (B/L/D)

Day 8: Pokhara. Today is a free day from the clinic. Join the group to explore the lakeside town of Pokhara or relax on your own. Overnight at the monastery guesthouse. (B/-/-)

Days 9-10: Pokhara. Full day working in the clinic in Pema Ts’al Monastery. Overnight at the monastery guesthouse. (B/L/D)

Day 11: Pokhara. Morning working in the clinic. After lunch, help pack up the clinic. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with the group. (B/L/-)

Day 12: Pokhara — Kathmandu. After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Kathmandu. Arrive in Kathmandu in the early afternoon. The balance of the day is at leisure to shop or relax! Overnight in Kathmandu in Boudhanath area. (B/-/-)

Day 13: End Kathmandu. Transfer to the airport for your flight home. Arrive home on day 14. (B/-/-)

Physical Demands

Volunteer dental clinics are fast paced and include a moderate amount of physical activity each day. On our Pokhara Small Adventure service trip you will need to:

  1. Walk approximately 10 to 15 minutes daily (five to seven minutes each way) to and from the clinic site.
  2. Be able to stand and/or walk (including climbing stairs) for approximately two hours at a time during sightseeing tours.
  3. Sleep with street noise (dogs, car horns, chickens, etc.) and have weak or no hot water at times.
  4. After orientation, be able to navigate the walk to clinic location and local restaurants.
  5. Be OK having limited or unstable access to Wi-Fi/internet.
  6. Be willing to eat primarily local Nepali food.

On the trek, volunteers should be able to:

  1. Walk up to four to six hours (with breaks for lunch and water) while carrying a 10-pound pack.
  2. Be able to sleep in humble guesthouse accommodations in a room without an attached bathroom.
  3. Go without access to a shower for one to two days.
  4. Go without access to Wi-Fi/internet for the duration of the trek.
  5. Eat a limited diet consisting of local Nepali food.
Wolfgang Pfannenstiel

What Volunteers Say

After my first dental volunteer trip I was sure to do this continuously no matter what! This is helping kids in need effectively. This is having enjoyable conversations with new friends. This is creating unforgettable memories. So in my specific case the letters GDR stand for the German Dentist Returns :)”

- Wolfgang Pfannenstiel, Dentist, Germany

Darshani Khosla

What Partners Say

Global Dental Relief makes sure children are receiving continuous care and that clinics are run efficiently and with the highest ethical standards. They take care of every detail on your service trip — I plan to volunteer with them for years to come!

- Darshani Khosla, Dentist, Texas

Carol Lim

What Volunteers Say

Thank you Global Dental Relief! Nothing compares to the efforts and impact of your volunteer overseas programs, working hard to bring healthy smiles to children.

- Carol Lim, Vice President of Business Development, Cranberry U.S.A

TJ Gabriels

What Volunteers Say

I plan my whole year around these opportunities to volunteer abroad. I love travel with a purpose, being more than a tourist and making a small, positive mark in the world. This organization has allowed me to get out of my comfort zone and has really helped broaden my world view.

- TJ Gabriels, Lawyer and General Volunteer, New York

Michael Pasoff

What Volunteers Say

As a dentist, I have treated and cared for many patients, however, nothing can compare to the sense of fulfilment when volunteering your time and skill to ease the pain and suffering of others. It never ceases to amaze me what can be accomplished when surrounded by dedicated, caring and talented volunteers, such as those I met in past international dental clinics with GDR.

- Michael Pasoff, Dentist, Montreal, Canada

Nour Shehadeh

What Volunteers Say

I am honored and grateful to help these amazing children, meet incredible people, explore their culture and change children's lives for the better. I look forward to many service trips with GDR in the future.

- Nour Shehadeh, Dental Hygienist, Illinois

Peggy Lamm

What Volunteers Say

If you want to literally change lives, this is a great way to do that. Our work with Global Dental Relief produced more real good than all the other cumulative good works I've helped with through the rest of my life.

- Peggy Lamm, CEO Colorado Mesa University Foundation and General Volunteer, Colorado