Swotah Travel and Adventure, Nepal - Travel Journal

Every time a customer books one of our holidays and opts in to our Trip for a Trip scheme, we organise a day trip for a child from a disadvantaged background somewhere around the world to see their local tourist sites, often for the first time.

Our latest trip:

Gorkha Durbar - 28 July 2026

“I have read his name in my textbook since grade four. I did not think I would ever stand where he stood.” – Bibek, grade 8

On 28 July 2026, 46 students from Shree Sahid Krishna Secondary School, Shuklagandaki, Tanahun, in Nepal’s Gandaki Province, boarded two buses and travelled down the road to Gorkha, accompanied by teachers, trainers and staff from Swotah Travel and Adventure.

Their destination: ‘the hill where Nepal began’, Gorkha Durbar (Gorkha Palace), a 16th-century palace that sits atop a green hill overlooking the Trisuli Valley. In 1723, this palace was the birthplace of Prithvi Narayan Shah, the monarch credited with starting the unification of Nepal. The children knew his name, but none of them had ever visited his birthplace before.

A hearty breakfast and a briefing started the day right, and then everyone began climbing the many stone steps cut into the green hill that lead to the palace complex – no mean feat in the monsoon season humidity. Their destination was worth it – on reaching the palace, everyone took their shoes off. Standing barefoot in the grounds, they realised they were standing exactly where Prithvi Narayan Shah had stood.

After touring the palace complex, understanding the damage inflicted by the 2015 earthquake, and learning about what it takes to keep history intact, it was time to descend the steps and reflect on the site, before a highlight of the day: an extended lunch.

The impact

Trips like this have many different kinds of impact. For children living below the poverty line, an outing, and a day away from the fields is a rare treat. “For many of them it was the first restaurant meal they had eaten,” points out Ajay Shrestha, managing director at Swotah Travel. “The food on this trip mattered as much as the site did.”

The teachers noticed that their children asked sharper questions than they would have done in the classroom: they’d learnt that their own history has an address. In visiting the very place where Nepal was first united, they could feel pride, ownership, and understand why we need to preserve national monuments.

The programme managers were delighted to hear children asking how someone might become a guide. It was great to see that the kids had been inspired not just by the trip, but by the people leading it.

About our partner organisation:

This Trip for a Trip was organised in conjunction with Swotah Travel and Adventure, a Kathmandu-based ground operator running treks, tours, peak climbs and expeditions across Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet.

Previous trips that we have run with Swotah Travel and Adventure:

2nd May 2025:

On 2nd May 2025, 80 students from two schools in Pokhara visited Pumdikot Shiva Statue, Devi’s Fall, International Mountain Museum & Phewa Lake. The goal of the Trip was to give students a chance to travel, learn about tourism, and understand the importance of protecting nature and culture.

3rd March 2023:

On 3rd March 2023, 35 students from Nirmal School in Bankewa village had a day trip to Pokhara where they visited various tourist attractions, including local markets, temples, and cultural sites. The students learned about the importance of preserving tourist sites, and they also developed a greater appreciation for the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the area.

Some images from previous trips with Swotah Travel and Adventure:

More about Trip for a Trip

With our Trip for a Trip scheme every customer who books with us can give an inspiring day trip to a child from a disadvantaged background. Since we started we’ve made a positive difference to over 8,000 children’s lives.

• Read more about Trip for a Trip and other trips we've run.
• If you've booked a holiday via Responsible Travel, claim your booking gift to join our Trip for a Trip scheme.
• You can also make a donation to give more children a day out - just get in touch.