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Ilam – Annapurna Program

Back to Nepal Learning Lab

Nepal: Explore Peaks, Politics, and Empowerment

December 28, 2026 to January 17, 2027

Trip Leaders

LAS Study Abroad

  • Mercedes Serracin, Director  |  office: 515-294-1162|  email: mlst@iastate.edu

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Overview

Engage with smallholder farmers to understand farm productivity, assess climate impacts, and explore challenges and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.  Identify women’s critical roles as food producers, domestic caretakers, entrepreneurs, and pillars of family well-being.  Analyze and evaluate grassroots empowerment movements to understand how community-driven initiatives drive social change and shape democratic institutions.

Students will have a once-in-a-lifetime trekking experience through the stunning Annapurna Conservation Area while discussing the essentiality of pragmatic ecological and environmental programs and policies.  Explore Kathmandu’s rich historical heritage and witness Nepal’s emerging democracy in action.

dsds

Date Location Activities
Mon
12/28/2026		 In-Transit
  • Depart Ames, IA, at 7:00am sharp by van.
  • 6-hour drive to ORD, Chicago, arrive at 1:00pm.
  • Flight Turkish Airways #006 ORD–IST departs at 4:05pm.
Tue
12/29/2026		 In-Transit
Istanbul
  • Arrive Istanbul at 10:45am for 9.5 hour layover.
  • Explore Istanbul attractions.
Sat
3/14/2026		 In-Transit
Kathmandu
  • Flight QR#648 DOH-KTM departs 12:45am. Arrive Kathmandu, Nepal 7:55am.
  • Rest, eat, shower.
  • Visit cultural sites. Explore city. Durbar Square, Monkey Temple, and other historically and culturally interesting places
  • Stay at Kathmandu Guest House.
Sun
3/15/2026		 Kathmandu District
  • 12:00 – 2:00pm lunch and meetings with Federation of Woman Entrepreneurs’ Associations of Nepal (FWEAN). Address: House No. 40, Bishal Basti Marga Gate ‘Ka’, Bishalnagar, Kathmandu, Nepal, Ph/Fax:+977-01-4543085, +977-01-4510775, info@fwean.org.np, www.fwean.org.np
  • 2:30 – 4:30pm, meetings with Communiversity at King’s College, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Ph. +977 – 01 – 5325909, 01 – 5324520, 01 – 5324574, info@kingscollege.edu.np , kingscollege.edu.np
  • Stay at Kathmandu Guest House.
Mon
3/16/2026		 Fikkal, Ilam
  • Depart Kathmandu at 8:15am. Fly to Bhadrapur (40 mins).
  • 2 hour drive to Sunshine Villa in Fikkal.
  • Lunch. Take a brief hike around Sunshine Villa, a beautiful tea garden, and a sunset view from the hotel farm property.
  • Stay at Sunshine Villa.
Tue
3/17/2026		 Fikkal, Ilam
Ilam Bazaar
  • Drive to Ilam Bazaar (2 hour drive each way).
  • Meet with local entrepreneurs, various women’s groups, and local leaders.
  • Lunch with women entrepreneurs in Ilam Bazaar.
  • Visit tea processing centers and other women-led businesses.
  • Leave Ilam Bazaar at 5:00pm for Fikkal.
  • Stay at Sunshine Villa.
Wed
3/18/2026		 Fikkal, Ilam
  • Tour regenerative farms, meet farmers, and have
    lunch at one of the farms.
  • Visit various women’s cottage industries.
  • Cultural event in the evening.
  • Stay at Sunshine Villa.
Thu
3/19/2026		 Fikkal, Ilam
Kathmandu
  • Depart 4:00am to view sunrise at Shree Antu.
  • Return to Sunshine Villa at 7:30am for brunch and packing.
  • Explore a few more farming communities or entrepreneurial activities around Fikkal Bazaar on the way to airport.
  • Depart Bhadrapur at 5:00pm. Fly to Kathmandu (40 mins).
  • Stay at Kathmandu Guest House.
Fri
3/20/2026		 Kathmandu
District
  • 10:00am – 12:00pm meetings with Peace Corps Nepal Team at the Peace Corps Office, Address: Aakirti Marg, Kathmandu 44600, Nepal, Phone: +977 – 1 – 4016027 www.peacecorps.gov/nepal
  • 1:00 – 3:30pm lunch and meetings with RECOFTC Nepal Team www.recoftc.org/nepal
  • Explore Patan Durbar Square in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.
  • Explore Kathmandu on your own.
  • Stay at Kathmandu Guest House.
Sat
3/21/2026		 In-Transit
  • Explore Kathmandu in morning and early afternoon.
  • Leave the Kathmandu Guest House at 3:00pm for airport.
  • Flight QR#645 KTM–DOH departs 7:05pm.
  • Arrive DOH 9:55pm. 10 hour layover.
  • Rest, sleep, shower, eat, study in Business Class lounge.
Sun
3/22/2026		 In-Transit
  • Flight QR#725 DOH–ORD departs 8:15am.
  • Arrive ORD 3:45pm.
  • Bus from Chicago to Ames, arrive in Ames 11:30pm.