About Padma Trips
Padma offers two types of trips: Service and Adventure Education
About Padma Trips
Padma offers two types of trips: Service and Adventure Education
FAQs
Trip Tuition
TRIP TUITION INCLUDES:
- Accommodations
- Most meals
- Local transportation
- Project materials
- All scheduled activities
- International and local trip leaders
- Medical and emergency evacuation insurance
​
TRIP TUITION DOES NOT INCLUDE:
- Airfare
- Local shopping
- Additional sightseeing & unscheduled activities
- Packing list items (Padma maintains a limited supply of gear which students may borrow upon request)
- Volunteer tourist visa
​
PAYMENT INFO
You can pay your trip tuition all at once or in monthly installments. Alternate payment plans can also be arranged. Any payment questions are to be directed to rinchen@padmaorganization.com.
​
PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Payments can be made on our website, by Venmo, or by check.
1. Website Payment at padmatrips.com:
When completing a trip application you can select "payment plan" and pay over 4-8 months
2. Venmo Payment:
Send Venmo payments to @padmaorganization under the “Business” (not “Individual”) Venmo setting.
3. Check Payment:
Mail checks to: Padma Organization 1958 Grand Ave Butte MT, 59701.
​
LATE FEES
If you’re going to be late making a payment, let Padma know before hand to avoid any fees. If you do not inform us that your payment will be late, there is a $50 late fee for each late payment.
How To Sign Up
1. Decide if this trip is right for you. Please feel free to ask questions to make sure you feel comfortable and you understand what you’re signing up for.
2. Complete the trip application at padmatrips.com using the “Apply” button on your selected trip page. If you are under age 18, your parent/guardian needs to read and e-sign several forms on the application.
3. At the bottom of the trip application, click the Trip Deposit button and pay a $200 deposit to secure your spot.
4. Once your application and deposit are received, your place on the trip will be considered and you will receive confirmation and a request for additional information.
Cancellation Policy
You have two weeks to change your mind for any reason and receive a deposit refund. Trip members can cancel for any reason up to 60 days before their trip and receive a 50% refund of all paid tuition, apart from the $200 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations made less than 60 days prior to the trip cannot be guaranteed a refund. If trip members are unable to join a trip due to medical or emergency related reasons, a full refund may be considered on a case-by-case basis, contingent upon refunds provided by trip partners. If trips must be cancelled due to unexpected travel restrictions, or for any reason such as a natural disaster, social unrest, etc., full refunds will be offered, pending refunds from trip partner companies and organizations, contractors, and third-party vendors.
Scholarships
Limited financial aid available. Please email for more information.
Medical Considerations
Every trip includes medically trained staff. Based on the medical forms submitted as part of each trip member’s application, a Padma medical staff member will contact every participant who requires an individualized medical plan. Letters from physicians or mental health care providers may be requested in addition to your medical form. Travelers medical and emergency evacuation insurance is provided for each trip member.
Passports
All trip members must have a valid passport for any international Padma trip. You can order a passport at your local post office. Standard delivery takes 4-6 weeks, but often takes longer. While expedited service is much faster, it is also more expensive. If you already have your passport, it must have at least 6 months of validity from the day you arrive at your destination. If you do not have 6 months of passport validity, you will be refused entry into most destination countries.
Vaccinations
Most countries Padma travels to do not have mandatory vaccines. Once you have signed up for a trip, we can provide you information on vaccine suggestions for your trip. This is not medical advice, but based on trip leaders' personal experience. We suggest you consult with your primary physician or the CDC’s travel website for information on vaccine recommendations for your trip.
Accommodations
All accommodations on Padma trips are locally owned and clean yet modest to support microeconomies and provide as genuine a cultural experience as possible. Some trips include camping or rugged accommodations. Students sleep 2-8 people per room, with specifics for your trip available upon request. Roommates will be arranged based on gender, trip member preferences, vendor policies, and in consultation with chaperones and Padma staff.
Electronics
Our trips are designed to help students fully unplug, be present, and experience life beyond screens. There is little time for being on phones or computers, and that’s part of the magic. That said, students are encouraged to bring a camera/phone to capture photos and videos along the way. GoPros and drones are welcome. With a simple power converter, all U.S. chargers can be used during the trip.
While we encourage students to keep their phones on airplane mode most of the time to truly embrace their surroundings, trip leaders will have their phones on them at all times with international service for safety, navigation, and emergency communication. If a student chooses to have cell service, most carriers offer international plans, and SIM cards are also available for purchase in most countries for compatible phones.
WhatsApp is our primary form of communication throughout the trip. All guardians and students will be added to a trip group chat prior to departure. Students will send a brief daily check-in to the parent group chat at the end of each day, allowing families to stay connected while students remain fully immersed in the experience. With WiFi available at most locations, apps like WhatsApp allow for free international messaging and calling when needed. This balance helps students stay safe and connected while still encouraging them to be grounded, present, and fully engaged in their one-in-a-lifetime experience.
Water Safety
Many of our trips include water-based activities. All participants must be confident, capable swimmers in order to participate. Depending on the destination, inherent risks may include strong ocean currents, sudden depth changes, riptides, large waves, sharp rocks and reefs, and potential stings or bites. Participants are never permitted to be in the water alone, and individual swimming ability and experience are always taken into careful consideration by trip leaders.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria
Trips include outdoor and physically strenuous activities in various environments such as snorkeling, surfing, hiking, working long hours in various weather, and building large or heavy structures. Following instruction, trip members must be able to work independently for up to four hours a day and be capable of completing or participating in the specific activities of this trip.
Disciplinary Policy
Padma Organization reserves the right to expel any trip participant from the trip at the trip leader's discretion. Padma trips are not party trips. They are intended as an opportunity for students to serve others while representing themselves, their school, Padma, and the United States as cultural ambassadors. Any behavior that disrupts this purpose, brings danger to oneself, or other trip members, along with any illegal activity is not tolerated. The family of any student expelled from a trip is responsible for all costs involved in getting them home. A first warning and removal of privileges will be given for minor offenses, while more severe incidents may result in immediate trip expulsion.
Questions?
If we have not covered something and you want to discuss more details or have any questions, feel free to contact us by email to arrange a phone call. We love to talk about our trips and want to make sure every student is provided all the information they need. Please email us at info@padmatrips.com and a staff member will get back to you shortly.