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Pokhara

Nepal: Return to Stillness

The city, the mountains, the hills, and the lake.

September 15 – 27, 202712 nights8 spots

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The journey

About this journey

Fourteen days in Nepal. Temples and practice in Kathmandu, two nights hosted in a hill village above Pokhara, three days trekking the Annapurnas teahouse to teahouse, and lake days in Pokhara to come back down. Eight people, local guides throughout.

The journey to Nepal is one filled with joy, paradoxes, and marvelous breathtaking scenery. It will leave you with a deeper appreciation for life, stillness, and humanity as a whole.
We will spend fourteen days in Nepal. Two in Kathmandu to get over the flight, visiting the Monkey Temple and a yoga practice with Deependra. Then a flight to Pokhara and a drive up to Sirubari, where you stay two nights with village families, walk the village, and visit the school. The following three days we trek amongst the Himalayas, staying in teahouses throughout. Then back down to Pokhara for relaxing lake days, and a last stop in Kathmandu for Bhaktapur Durbar Square.

Field notesNepal · 2027

BodyiWalking, stairs, altitude and early starts. 1 is gentle, mostly sitting. 5 means altitude and long hiking days.

gentledemanding

Three half-days of trekking at altitude alongside hikes through the village.

HeartiCeremony, silence and inner work. 1 is light and easy. 5 is deep, and you will feel it.

lightdeep

Two nights hosted as a guest in village homes and a culture full of kindness.

PaceiHow much is planned each day. 1 leaves lots of free time. 5 is something every hour.

slowfull

Slow days at the start with more activity through the middle and end.

In the price

Thirteen nights of accommodation
Domestic flights, Kathmandu to Pokhara
Nepal visa on arrival
All ground transportation and airport transfers
Two nights hosted in Sirubari Village
Three-day guided Annapurna trek, teahouse lodging
Trekking permits and TIMS card
Local guides and porters
Yoga with Deependra
One spa service
Kayaking rental
Entry at Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple) and Bhaktapur Square
3x meals/day [Dinenr on first, Breakfast on last]
Gratuities for guides and porters

Not included in the price

International flights
Travel insurance with high-altitude and evacuation coverage (required)
Additional spa services
Alcohol and personal expenses

Highlights

Three days trekking the Annapurnas, teahouse to teahouseThree days in the tallest mountain range on earth, where the air is crisp and beauty is beyond words.
Cultural rituals, dinners, and nights hosted by families in Sirubari VillageLocal families generously open their homes for us to stay and learn. Feeding us fresh dal bhat, a visit to the local school, and walks with the Nepalese who share stories of their unique lives.
A visit to the village schoolKids who will ask you more questions than you ask them. They may be shy but they are so happy to see you. Prepare a game or sing-a-long to teach them.
Kayaking on Phewa Lake in PokharaExactly as it sounds - a temple abundant with monkeys. Be careful with your snacks! Touching is prohibited.
Bhaktapur Durbar SquareA gem just outside the city. Brick and woodwork from the 1400s, still standing after the earthquake, this space is filled with artisan crafts, pottery, instruments, and all of the best trinkets of Nepal.
Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, above KathmanduExactly as it sounds - a temple abundant with monkeys. Be careful with your snacks! Touching is prohibited.

September 15 – 27, 2027

Day by day

Day 1 · Sep 15

Departure for Nepal

Depart the USA or country of origin.

Day 2 · Sep 16

Flying

Continue the journey. Upon arrival, you are greeted out of the airport into colors, horns, dust, and someone holding a sign with your name on it. Thirty minutes later you're at Hotel Thrive. Rest. We will meet for dinner.

Day 3 · Sep 17

Arrival and Landing

Remaining group arrives. This is the day your body catches up. Nothing is scheduled before lunch on purpose. Rest, a spa if you want one, and dinner out in the city when you're ready to face it.

Day 4 · Sep 18

The Monkey Temple

Swayambhunath in the morning, up the steps with the valley opening underneath you. Monkeys are seriously everywhere and they aren't always friendly - but admirable to watch. Return for rest, lunch, and a spa if you want one. In the evening you practice with Deependra before having dinner out in the city.

Day 5 · Sep 19

Into the Hills

The flight to Pokhara is twenty-five minutes, then a three hour drive up to Sirubari. Walk the village in the evening and eat dinner that was graciously prepared with your Nepalese hosts.

Day 6 · Sep 20

Village Day

Morning in the village with nowhere else to be. In the afternoon we visit the school, where you can teach the kids and they can teach you. Evening is a welcome the village puts on, with traditional dances and stories shared, and then everyone eats together.

Day 7 · Sep 21

Down to the Lake

We say goodbye in the morning to our gracious hosts. Then back down the same road to Pokhara, where there's a room at Bar Peepal resort, a lake out front, and a warm shower to settle into.

Day 8 · Sep 22

Lake Day

Another day of relaxation. People wander the shops, eat, nap, some even get tattoos. We will take kayaks out on Phewa Lake, where the mountains sit behind the water for the most beautiful sunset you may ever see.

Day 9 · Sep 23

Onto the Trail

We start walking. The first hour may feel easy and the fourth one may be mixed. By late afternoon you're at a teahouse with your boots off, drinking tea, and listening to the sounds of stillness.

Day 10 · Sep 24

Continuing the Trail

We continue walking. Another half day of the trek, taking us higher into the Annapurna region of the Himalayas. The village we reach is as quaint as you may imagine. There is a local mountain pub, delicious food, minimal wifi, and views that you will talk about for the rest of your life.

Day 11 · Sep 25

Back down the Trail

Downhill is its own kind of work and your knees will mention it. By afternoon we're back in Pokhara, in a real bed, cherishing the final memories of being somewhere that most people only see in photographs.

Day 12 · Sep 26

Return to Kathmandu

Back to the city with sore legs and a lot of photos. The afternoon is open. Dinner is in Thamel, and preparation for our final full day together.

Day 13 · Sep 27

Bhaktapur Square

Practice with Deependra in the morning. The afternoon is Bhaktapur, brick and carved wood from the 1400s loaded with pottery and artisan goods. We will walk it slowly because there's no reason not to. Last dinner together before packing to head home.

Day 14 · Sep 28

Departure Home

Breakfast, bags, airport (four hours early is necessary here, trust us).

14 days in Pokhara.

Reserve your spot

Where you'll stay

Hotel Thrive

Four nights at Hotel Thrive in Kathmandu, a quiet place to land and recover on either end of the trip.

Who takes you

Meet your host

MA Yoga Studies, C-IAYT

Kristin Bird

When asked "what is your favorite country?", oftentimes, my answer is Nepal.

Kristin has been leading cultural expeditions since 2021. She holds an MA in Yoga Studies from Loyola Marymount and board certification as a yoga therapist, with lineage study throughout India and Nepal.

In pictures

Gallery

That is Nepal: Return to Stillness.

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