FAQ

We will design your pilgrimage according to your choice. Many people enjoy trekking, some people want to challenge themselves with high passes, while others prefer to go at a relaxed pace and do some travel by vehicle, you can feel free to tell me your preference while booking.

In most pilgrimages, some days will have more hiking than others, but typically we will have around 3-4hrs total, depending on our pace and breaks. We will be exploring as we go, so there will be plenty of chance to rest and take in the view.

No! This pilgrimage retreat is suitable for beginners as well as advanced practitioners. You, of course, do have to be curious about yoga/meditation as we will have a range of classes and sessions to enjoy together.

I teach in the lineage of traditional Pashupati Yoga and Hatha Yoga, which combines asanas, mantra, meditation and pranayama for spiritual advancement. 

I am also a certified sound healer and will guide you deeper into mantras and sound meditation. For many thousands of years, yogis have been coming to these parts of the Himalayas for exactly this purpose.

I am a fluent speaker of Nepali, English and Hindi.

We will eat organic plant-based and vegetarian food which is in season and locally grown. This will be cooked in authentic Himalayan style according to Ayurvedic guidelines. If you have allergies, please discuss this with me before the trip.

Most important is comfort and temperature. The weather in Nepal depends on the season, usually it can be warm during the day, but Himalayan nights can be very cold. 

We recommend wearing layers that you can remove if you get hot while walking, or add later when it gets chilly in the evenings.

Things to bring/wear:

• good quality, comfortable hiking shoes/boots (make sure you have worn these before you come as new boots can give blisters which will definitely affect your trip!)
• thick socks
• fleece or jumper
• waterproof jacket
• inner thermals (top and bottom)
• scarf and gloves
• comfortable lightweight trousers (that you can sit or stretch in for meditation and yoga on the go)
• short sleeve t-shirt for warmer days
• a pair of lightweight flipflops 
• hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• reusable water bottle (we do not allow throwaway plastic bottles to prevent trash and protect nature)
• yoga mat
• trekking poles

While we will have a porter to carry our things. We request that you do not bring too much as we respect porters' rights and will not give them too much to carry. You should be able to get all these things and your personal belongings into 5kg.

Things NOT to bring/wear:

• books. If you want to bring a (one) journal for writing, this could be a good idea as the Himalayas will gift you with inspiration, however, everyone that has ever brought a book on a pilgrimage has not read even one page - there is just too much to witness here in front of you and it becomes a waste to carry
• clothes that you will be very upset if something happens to them - while we will enjoy a comfortable journey, this is the Himalayas and life here can be rugged. Keep your silks and cashmeres at home if you're worried!
• Short skirts, bikinis and other revealing clothing. We will travel through traditional places and villages where people typically cover their legs and shoulders and we try to be respectful of this
• expensive jewellery or laptops etc. - it just isn't worth the risk of damage
• illegal drugs, alcohol, meat, weapons etc. - this is a holy land and some items are restricted by the law of the country and by dharma

Winter is November to February. 

It is cold at this time, down to minus degrees, and many places see snow. We need crampons on our shoes and quality warm clothes. Some high altitude mountain passes will close when snowfall is highest.

Monsoon season is July to September.

It is raining at this time most days, for at least the morning. Sometimes landslides can affect road conditions. Certain tours can't be done at this time so we will need to be prepared for some last minute changes.

High season is March to May / October to December

At this time, some accommodation and transport will be higher priced and less availability but weather conditions and Himalayas visibility is fantastic. 

If you want to come at this time, you will need to book quite far in advance as I am often fully booked months before, although very occasionally if I have a cancellation you might get a last minute spot so it's worth enquiring.

Most of my pilgrimages can be started from either Kathmandu or Pokhara. You can reach these places by international flight to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, or domestic flight to Pokhara airport. There are also long distance buses and taxis. If you need help organising these please message me.

You will return to either Kathmandu or Pokhara according to the specific pilgrimage and your preference, if possible.