The cost of this trip for each volunteer is a tax deductible donation of approximately $950.00 to Global First Responder. Volunteers are also responsible for purchasing their international airfare.
About the trip: Join Global First Responder in Southern India to provide medical and dental care, education at nursing schools, health education, and clean water to remote villages in Southern India. This trip starts and ends in Bangalore. During the trip, you will travel and stay in to Puttaparthi, reaching villages that GFR has worked with on past trips to continue to provide sustainable improvements for clean water, using water purification systems built by locals and installed with funds from our generous donors. The team will provide education for nursing students at a nursing school while conducting high quality patient care during the day.
Sustainability: With your help, GFR provides health education to all patients. In India, we also focus on providing education at a nursing school on a variety of topics. In 2024 we taught a hands-on wound care course and provided education on how to care for moms and babies. GFR also takes pride in providing infrastructure in the places where we work. In Southern India, we have an on-going project to provide water purification systems. These systems are sourced locally with funds provided by GFR and are installed in a permanent structure on land donated by the village during the trip. Your team will have the opportunity to see a water system in action and to see the start another water purification project!
Arrivals and Departures: Please arrive in Bangalore (Bangaluru, airport code BLR) before the first day of the trip (arrive Bangaluru on 10/25). This night is on your own. The trip officially starts on 10/26 with early morning travel to Puttaparthi, where you will base for the next 6 days, providing care for remote villages. You will travel back to Bangaluru on the morning of 11/1 and can plan to depart for home or further travel (the Taj Mahal!) on 11/1 or 11/2. Your trip officially ends in Bangalore on 11/2. Your night at the host hotel is covered for you. If you leave Bangalore on 11/2, the rest of your trip is on your own.
Please see the “After the trip” section for some ideas to extend your trip!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR YOU TO KNOW: Puttaparthi is the home of a large Aashram under the auspices of Sai Baba. All meals, regardless of the restaurant choice, are vegetarian. Please bring protein bars and other food if you require more protein than in a typical vegetarian meal. No alcohol is permitted in Puttaparthi. This includes wine and beer. Please respect the cultural significance of this place, also known as the Abode of Ultimate Peace, and the amazing work that is done via the Aashram to help the poor.
What’s Included: This trip includes lodging, transportation, snacks, water, breakfast and lunch during the official trip dates, and breakfast on the departure day. GFR will cover the funds for all supplies required for clinic and special projects. There will be many welcome ceremonies as you arrive in the villages before clinic and a special ceremony at one of the completed water purification plants that GFR. You will also see the start of additional water treatment projects.
What’s Not Included: Your international airfare, pre/post trip travel costs and expenses, and most dinners are not included in the cost of your trip. Dinners on your own will give you the opportunity to go out in the evening with new and old friends while exploring the cities and villages you are working in.
Cost: The cost of this amazing trip is $950.00 per person plus airfare. You are responsible for purchasing airfare that meets the required arrival and departure times. We highly suggest arriving on October 25 to ensure you don’t miss the early morning departure of the team from Bangalore to Puttaparthi on the morning of October 26. Any expenses on October 25 or before, including your hotel and transportation on October 26 to meet the team, are on your own. We always suggest giving yourself extra time for delayed or cancelled flights and that you purchase trip insurance from a reputable carrier. This trip is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. You or your donors will receive a tax receipt upon making your donation.
How is your cost calculated?: At Global First Responder we strive to keep your costs low and our quality high. We value your participation and willingness to volunteer your time and expertise. Everyone at Global First Responder is also a volunteer, donating their time to administrative tasks and paying their own way to participate in medical and construction missions around the world and here at home. The fee you pay covers the actual cost of your expenses in country including lodging, transportation, meals, and translator fees and basic expenses. At GFR, no one is paid a salary and everyone is a passionate volunteer, doing our part to help drive our mission of “One World, One Family”.
After the trip: India is yours from Bangalore! Bangalore is a major hub and in-country flights are very inexpensive. Consider taking a beach vacation in Goa, seeing the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in Agra (near Delhi), or even going on a tiger safari in Ranthambore!
Click here to apply for this trip:
I WANT TO JOIN GFR IN SOUTHERN INDIA!
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ITINERARY
The dates of this trip are EXCLUSIVE OF TRAVEL! You will need to arrive in Bangalore, India (airport code BLR) before 6:00 am on the 1st day of the trip (Oct. 26) We highly recommend that you plan to arrive on the day before the official start day of the trip (Oct. 25) in case of missed connections. Costs the night before the official start date are “on your own”. The trip officially ends after breakfast on the last day (Sunday, Nov. 2) or the point at which you depart Bangalore prior to Nov. 2. Thank you.
Please note: Dates are subject to change slightly as we complete the arrangements. Please do not book tickets or non-refundable activities until you have been accepted to the trip and the dates are finalized. Thank you!
October 25, 2025 (Friday): Pre-Trip travel. We recommend that you arrive on Friday to get a good night’s sleep before the official start of the trip. All expenses before the official start on the morning of October 26 are on your own. The team departs from Bangalore on October 26 for a 1/2 day drive with sightseeing to Puttaparthi. No meals or hotels included prior to lunch on October 26.
October 26, 2025 (Saturday) – Official start date of trip: Your team will travel from Bangalore to Puttaparthi today. The team will depart for Puttaparthi by team bus early in the morning. We highly recommend that you arrive the night before and stay at a hotel close to the international airport, Kempegowda International Airport (BLR). You will meet your team early in the morning at International Arrivals and can expect some wonderful sightseeing on the way to Puttaparthi (the meeting time is TBD). The drive takes about 3 hours with a sightseeing stop along the way. In the afternoon your team will prepare for clinic by organizing supplies and getting to know each other. Lunch is included today. You will get settled in your hotel in Puttaparthi and have dinner on your own. There are many, many great restaurants in Puttaparthi so feel free to explore!
October 27 – October 31, 2025 (Monday – Friday): Clinic days! Each day will be in a different village, with different religions, customs, and needs. Be prepared for wild greetings upon arrival in the villages – make sure you have celebrating shoes on!! We will set up as the celebration ends and get started for a full day of clinic before returning to our hotel. Breakfast and lunch are included. Dinner is on your own.
November 1, 2025 (Saturday): Departure for Bangalore. You will drive back as a team to Bangalore today. The drive time is about 3 hours. You have a choice: you can choose to spend the day in Bangalore with your new friends and stay the night (on GFR). Dinner is on your own. You may also choose to depart in the later afternoon for additional vacation time in India or nearby countries. If you choose this option, your GFR trip will officially end at the airport and further costs are on your own.
November 2, 2024 (Sunday): Departure Day. This is the last day of your GFR trip. You can arrange for flights home or to other destinations from Bangalore at your choice. Take some time to say goodbye to your team and we thank you for your time, skill, effort, and sense of humor!