Traditional himalayan retreats on the path of ancient yogis

You'll be in a group of 4-8 people from various international countries. I tend to attract pilgrims who are kindhearted and openminded, good people who care about the environment and culture. We will be a mix of levels of yoga/meditation, from beginner to advanced, there will be something for everyone and we will all learn from each other and support as we go along. This is a big part of the transformation - being held and witnessed through challenges and joyful moments!

Some days will have more hiking than others, but we will have a maximum of 3-4hrs, 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, 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. We will be going in spring, so there is less chance of rain and the weather is mild, and sometimes even quite hot 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!
• 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

You can reach Nepal by international flight to Kathmandu's Tribhuvan International Airport, and domestic flight to starting destination  or there are also long distance buses and taxis. If you need help organising these please message me.