Hiking, Yoga & Meditation in the High Mountains of Nepal

Detailed itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Kathmandu (1,400m), introduction to the trip, equipment check, free time and welcome dinner

  You will be picked up at the airport and driven to your hotel. In the afternoon we will discuss the course of the trip with you, and in the evening you are invited to a welcome dinner.
  The word “yoga” means unity or union, and the practice of yoga is meant to help the individual achieve a sense of oneness or union with themselves and the world around them. It encompasses a wide variety of physical, mental and spiritual practices that aim to promote overall health and well-being.

  Hatha Yoga: It is one of the most popular forms of yoga practised in the Western world today. It is a physical practice that focuses on body postures/asanas and breathing techniques/Pranayama. The word “Ha” refers to the masculine energy or solar channel, and the word “Tha” refers to the feminine energy or lunar channel.
  Overnight at the Hotel Kathmandu Guest House or Hotel Tibet (D).
  

• Day 2: Yoga, sightseeing in Kathmandu and preparation for the tour

  Either at Pashupatinath or at the hotel, an hour of yoga with mantra chanting, basic exercises, Surya Namaskara etc. After that we begin our sightseeing tour with the sacred Buddhist Boudhanath Stupa, decorated with colourful prayer flags. For many centuries this stupa has been a place of attraction for Buddhist pilgrims, who walk around the structure several times turning prayer wheels, praying and murmuring mantras (kora). If you wish, we can join a walking meditation here. We continue on to the Hindu temple complex of Pashupatinath on the banks of the Bagmati River, with cremation grounds, and the Buddhist/Hindu Swayambhunath temple, also known as the Monkey Temple, which offers wonderful views of Kathmandu. We will return to the hotel in the late afternoon and pack for the tour the next morning. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight at the Hotel Kathmandu Guest House or Hotel Tibet (B).

  

• Day 3: Flight Kathmandu to Pokhara (884m), approx. 40 min, 3 hours of driving to Kimche and trek to Ghandruk, approx. 1½ hours and 4 km of hiking –

  Sun salutation (Surya Namaskara), asana/posture (standing, sitting, prone, supine). We will be driven to the airport and fly to Pokhara. The flight will take about 40 minutes and offer us a fantastic view of the Himalayan range. On arrival we drive to Kimche, the starting point of the trek, and hike for about 1½ hours to Ghandruk. Ghandruk is a mountain village mainly inhabited by the Gurung ethnic community. This village is known for the Gurkha soldiers who serve in the British and Indian armies, and it still preserves the traditional construction of its houses with stone-roofed tops. From here there are breathtaking views of the ranges of Annapurna South (7,219m), Hiunchuli (6,441m) and Machapuchare (6,997m). Especially at sunrise and sunset the view is simply fantastic. A gentle Hatha Yoga and meditation at sunset deepens this experience. If you wish, you can also visit the village museum or simply take a walk through the village. Overnight at a tea house lodge (B|L|D).

  

• Day 4: Yoga and time in Ghandruk

  
  Already before breakfast we practise yoga & meditation (sun salutation, breathing exercises, Yoga Nidra, etc.). We visit the village museum and the two monasteries in the village. The experience of a flow meditation by a river will pleasantly surprise us. Overnight at a tea house lodge (B|L|D).

  

• Day 5: Yoga and trek to Tadapani (2,630m) – 5 hours and approx. 10 km of hiking

  Yoga & meditation in the morning (sun salutation, breathing exercises, asana postures, Doshivaran Kriya, etc.). On this beautiful hiking day we gradually climb through dense pine and wonderful rhododendron forests up to Tadapani. First we climb many steps from Ghandruk up to Bhaisikarka. After that the path leads through a jungle-like fairy-tale forest with a babbling brook and birdsong. With a bit of luck we may catch a glimpse of a white monkey face between the trees. Then, as if out of nowhere, Tadapani (2,710m) appears. From here too we can admire the famous mountains of the Annapurna region (Annapurna South, Hiunchuli and Machapuchare). Overnight at a tea house lodge (B|L|D).

  

• Day 6: Yoga and trek to Dobato (3,426m) – 4 to 5 hours and 7 km of hiking –

  Today we first practise Hatha Yoga with the rising sun. A tasty breakfast follows and we continue our trek. Today’s trekking route leads us deep into a fairy-tale rhododendron forest. Between March and April the colourful rhododendron blossoms bring joy to the heart. Today’s stretch is shaped by many ascents and descents, all of which are pleasant to walk. In Dobato we will once again enjoy a fascinating view of the mountains. Overnight at a tea house lodge (B|L|D).

• Day 7: Yoga and sunrise at the Muldai viewpoint (3,637m) and trek via Ghorepani to Banthanti (2,210m) – 6 to 7 hours and 13 km of hiking

  It is worth getting up early and climbing the 45-minute ascent to the viewpoint before sunrise. From the viewpoint we can admire more than 25 peaks, including the Annapurna Range, the Dhaulagiri Range, Nilgiri, the Lamjung Himal Range and many other giant mountains. In clear weather we can even see the Pokhara Valley and Phewa Lake from the top. Weather permitting, meditation & Pranayama at sunrise will warm our hearts. After breakfast we continue our hike to Ghorepani. Ahead of us lies a steep and exciting ascent to Deurali Pass (3,150m). The view from this pass is wonderful. We see Dhaulagiri (8,167m) and Gurja Himal (7,193m) in the west, and Annapurna II, Manaslu (8,156m) and Himal Chuli (7,893m) in the east. After the pass we reach Ghorepani. We recover during the lunch break in Ghorepani. After lunch we continue downhill to Banthanti. In the evening we practise Vinyasa Yoga.
  Pranayama/breathing exercise: breathing is the fundamental aspect of yoga practice, directly affecting the anatomy and physiology of the body. Proper breathing can help to calm the nervous system, regulate the heart rate and increase the flow of oxygen to the muscles. Overnight at a tea house lodge (B|L|D).
  

  

• Day 8: Yoga and trek to Birethanti – 3 to 4 hours and 11 km of hiking and approx. 2 hours of driving to Pokhara (822m)

  With the rising sun we practise yoga & meditation. After breakfast we hike downhill to Thinkedunga. From Thinkedunga we follow the Burungdi Pass to Hille, whose scenery becomes ever more picturesque the closer we get to Birethanti. At Birethanti a vehicle is waiting for us and we drive back to Pokhara. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight at the Mount Kailash Resort or similar (B|L).

  

• Day 9: Yoga and sightseeing tour in Pokhara – afternoon at leisure

  In the morning we enjoy Hatha Yoga & meditation. We have a substantial breakfast at our hotel. We then set off on a boat trip on Phewa Lake. We visit the Barahi Temple. The temple is dedicated to Ajima in the manifestation of a boar and the protector of the deity Shakti. In Hinduism Shakti is the Mother Goddess who embodies universal creativity and feminine power. After that we hike up to the World Peace Stupa. The Buddhist World Peace Pagoda, a landmark of the region at an altitude of 1,113m on the Anadu Danda mountain ridge across the lake, is one of the most beautiful excursion destinations in the surroundings of Pokhara.
  In the afternoon we return to the hotel, and you can enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, relaxing by the hotel pool or shopping. At sunset we offer you a Hatha Yoga session. Overnight at the Hotel Mount Kailash Resort (B).

  

• Day 10: Flight to Kathmandu and approx. 1½ hours of driving to Pharping – yoga in the evening

  In Kathmandu we are picked up at the airport and drive on to Pharping, about 25 km from Kathmandu. In Pharping we check in at our guest house at Neydo Monastery and get to know the area from midday onwards. Pharping is a culturally flourishing Newari town that has been identified with the sacred site of Hinduism and Buddhism, where Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava, known as the lotus-born god) attained the status of Mahamudra Vidyadhara. This village is famous for numerous religious Buddhist monasteries, the Bajra Yogini Temple, the Gorakhnath Temple and the Guru Padmasambhava meditation cave. It is believed that he attained enlightenment in the Asur Cave. In recent times many Buddhist monasteries have been built in the area. In the evening we take part in the chants that take place daily at the Neydo Monastery and practise yoga for about 45 minutes. Overnight at the guest house of the Neydo Monastery (B|L|D).

• Day 11: Day in Pharping, yoga, meditation and gentle hike

  We start the day at 5:00 a.m. First we listen to the morning chants of the monks and then continue with yoga exercises. After breakfast we can take a gentle hike and visit the other monasteries. In the evening, gentle yoga and meditation. Overnight at the guest house of the Neydo Monastery (B|L|D).

  

• Day 12: Yoga and hike to Changu Narayan – and drive or hike to Nagarkot

  As we have grown used to, our day begins with a morning yoga session. After breakfast we drive to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Changu Narayan, which lies north of Bhaktapur. “Changu Narayan” is the name of the temple dedicated to the god Vishnu. A stone tablet discovered near the temple is dated to the 5th century and is the oldest of its kind. It contributed to the Kathmandu Valley being declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We then drive and hike on to Nagarkot. Nagarkot, at an altitude of 2,195 metres, is regarded as one of the most scenically attractive places in the Bhaktapur district. The village offers a magnificent view of the Himalayas, and on clear days you can admire the nearby Langtang Himal and Annapurna in the west all the way to the Everest massif in the east. With good visibility you can even see Shishapangma (8,027m) in Tibet. The best views can be enjoyed in the early morning hours and in the late afternoon. Hatha Yoga session & meditation in the evening. Overnight at the Hotel The Fort Resort or an accommodation of similar category (B|D).

  

• Day 13: Yoga and sightseeing in Bhaktapur – afternoon at leisure in Kathmandu

  In the morning we practise yoga & meditation. After breakfast we continue with a drive to Bhaktapur and a sightseeing tour. Bhaktapur is an old Newari and royal city in the eastern Kathmandu Valley. Thanks to its rich culture, its temples and its works of art in wood, metal and stone, it is a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site. There we will visit the Layaku, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, the Nyatapola Temple, the Bhairab Nath Temple and Dattatraya Square. In the afternoon we will be driven to Kathmandu and have the rest of the day at our leisure. Overnight at the Kathmandu Guest House or Hotel Tibet (B).

• Day 14: Farewell yoga and flight back home

  Farewell and transfer to Kathmandu airport. Flight back home. End of the trip (B).

  We reserve the right to make changes to the programme due to special events, force majeure or weather conditions.

  Legend: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner