Join our very popular Nepal Cultural Expedition!

~an intimate journey into humanity and spirituality

Culture, Yoga, Meditation, Nature, Adventure, Himalayas

October 25-November 8, 2022

This trip has 25 registrations and is almost full and closed.

Please inquire before registering to ensure that openings remain.

Sadhus at Pashupatinath Hindu Temple, Kathmandu

Imagine . . .  Gazing up at ancient Buddhist structures, eating meals with monks, trekking the Himalayas, morning Buddhist prayers, discovering remote villages, misty morning rooftop yoga on tops of monasteries! 

How exciting would it be to delve into a mysterious world.. cook and dance with village women, receive blessings from a shaman, trek the Base Camp trail, explore remote villages, see sunrise over the Himalayas, live in a monastery with Buddhist monks..

Experience a flight to Mt. Everest, Tihar festival, Himalayan trekking, intimate cultural immersion, and even adventure gear shopping in Kathmandu!

Develop amazing friendships,  heartwarming connections, and give back through humanitarian opportunities. For the past two years, our team has provided enough goodwill to fund teacher salaries at the village school we sponsor, and buy all the students new winter North Face jackets and warm shoes.

Our Nepal is beautiful nature, stunning landscape, striking mountains, gorgeous lakes, evening candlelight meditation under the stars, walking through remote Himalayan villages, and experiencing pure humanity firsthand.

Together we will be welcomed into local homes to share tea and smiles, immersed in a gorgeous culture of incredible optimism, faith, and warm hearts. It's time to take a soulful journey inside and out. 

Phewa Tal Lake in Pokhara, Nepal

Bamboo swing at Australia Base Camp

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Our Adventures . . .  A Detailed Itinerary:

Day 1/October 25: 

• Arrivals into Kathmandu anytime, transport from the airport to team hotel

• Rest and recover from jetlag, walk through Thamel district to see the Diwali/Tihar festivities!  Dinner at hotel

• Evening rooftop yoga/candlelight meditation for all those who have arrived by then

• Overnight in Kathmandu city hotel, Thamel

Boudhanath Stupa, the largest Tibetan Buddhist stupa in the world, Kathmandu

Day 2/October 26: 

• Rooftop yoga overlooking Kathmandu

• Welcome breakfast

• Opening circle

• Full day of sightseeing of historic religious and cultural UNESCO sites in Kathmandu:

• Swyambhunath temple - Buddhist/Hindu site. Enjoy the spectacular Kathmandu city skyline view from the top of Shyambhunath

• Boudhanath Stupa - the largest Tibetan Buddhist stupa in the world

• Lunch in Boudhanath village

• Then onto Pashupatinath Temple and cremation funeral pyres, a very important Hindu site

• Team dinner at hotel

• Walk through Thamel district and observe Diwali/Tihar celebrations in the street

Cultural immersion with Tibetan Buddhist child monks at NamoBuddha Monastery

Day 3/October 27:

• Rooftop yoga

• Hotel breakfast

• Depart Kathmandhu, Drive to Hemja via Pokhara, to Pema T’sal Buddhist Monastery and Tibetan refugee camp. Cultural Immersion: Attend evening puja prayers in the monastery, followed by dinner with the monks (lamas) in the monastery dining hall. Evening candlelight yoga under the stars, Overnight in monastery hotel.

• Explore monastery

• Dinner with the monks

• Candlelight meditation under a million stars

• Overnight in monastery hotel

Cultural immersion at NamoBuddha

Day 4/October 28: 

• Attend morning monk prayers and chants in the monastery (Puja)

• Breakfast with monks

• Monastery yoga

• Meet with the head monk (Lama), tour the monastery grounds guided by monks, and enjoy general immersion with the monastery monks, asking any questions, sharing tea, etc

• Spend a relaxing day in the monastery and around the nearby mountains photographing prayer flags, learning about Buddhism

• Evening puja in the monastery

• Lunch and dinner in the monastery with monks

• Evening candlelight meditation under the stars

Our 2016 team trekking in Kaule

Day 5/October 29:

• Attend morning puja and breakfast with the monks

• Yoga

• Head onto the Himalayan trail! 3-hour jeep ride to Banthanti, a high mountain town leading into the remote Himals. Lunch and begin trek into the Himalayas along the Base Camp trail and Conservation Area. Trek 3 hours to Ghorepani village (9,500 ft). Ghorepani is an ancient trader rest stop, where traders would stop to give their horses water (pani in Nepali means ‘water’> Ghorepani.)

• Here you will have your first up-close views of the snowy high Himalayas!! This beautiful trek wanders up and down through cultivated fields, small villages, green rhododendron forests, and happy faces. Ghorepani is a remote Base Camp trail village, with stunning high Himalaya views, and cold temperatures! Be prepared!! This is the first time you will feel the ‘Himalaya cold'. Please note there is no heat in the rooms but you will stay cozy in your -20c degree sleeping bag!

• Dinner at Ghorepani trekker lodge

• Evening trekker lodger card games and fun with other international trekkers

• Overnight in trekker lodge

Day 6/October 30:

• Early morning 5am dark trek with headlamp, climbing an hour up to Poon Hill peak for sunrise over the entire snowy Himalayan range!! Just breathtaking!

• Trek back down to village and breakfast at trekker lodge

• Back on the trail!! Pack up and head out for a peaceful 6-hour trek to Tadapani (8,900 ft) through forests and high open fields and ridges with panoramic snowy vistas of the mighty Himalayas, namely Annapurna South and Deurali peaks.

• Relaxation and evening yoga before dinner to calm and reset body.

• Dinner and fun in trekker lodge

• Optional candlelight meditation before sleep

• Overnight in trekker lodge

Day 7/October 31: Halloween!

Our 2016 team practicing morning yoga in the clouds, Bandipur Village

• Morning mountain yoga

• Breakfast

• Back on the trail! Trek 3 hours to arrive at our destination of Gandruk Village! Gandruk Village (6,600ft) is a remote idyllic tribal village in the high Himalaya, nestled in a high valley surrounded by the looming high snowy peaks, with close up views of Annapurna South, Machhapuchare, and Himachuli peaks. The tribal cultural group living here is called the Gurung, and it is known for providing the Ghorka warrior soldiers of Nepal. You will be calling beautiful Gandruk home for four days!

• Arrival at guesthouse, lunch enjoying the views and relaxing

• Afternoon/evening relaxation, walk through the village, immerse with villagers, rest, journal writing, etc

• Dinner at village guesthouse

• Village party!! Get ready to party at this village party where you immerse with locals, play the drums, see the local dance and dresses, get welcomed to the village by the Gurung, and celebrate Halloween!!

• Overnight in village guesthouse

Day 8/November 1: 

• Mountain yoga gazing at snowy peaks!

• Relaxing guesthouse breakfast enjoying the clear morning views

• After breakfast head out for a trek through the village to explore local life, learn their history and culture, and immerse with locals. Stop at a tribal museum, visit the local school and meet with the principal and students, walk through cultivated fields and learn about their crops and general lifestyle.

• Afternoon relaxation for wandering village, immerse with locals, journal writing, hanging out in the village.

• Dinner at village guesthouse

• Candlelight meditation

• Overnight in village guesthouse

Day 9/November 2: 

• Mountain yoga gazing at the snowy peaks!

• Breakfast at guesthouse

• Traditional dal bhat cooking lesson and cooking immersion

• Learn about local food sustainability

• Eat the lunch that you cooked!

• Enlightened Globetrekker Adventures Gandruk humanitarian project exploration and donations given

• Evening relaxation

• Dinner at guesthouse

• Optional mountaintop bonfire party or tranquil candlelight meditation under the stars

• Overnight in remote trekker lodge

The mighty Himalayas at sunrise

• Day 10/November 3: 

• Mountain yoga

• Breakfast

• Relaxing last day in Gandruk, walking, exploring, learning, writing, immersing, resting

• Immersion: personal blessings by village Buddhist Shaman in an intimate space, give offerings, receive tika on your forehead by Shaman

• Dress in local Gurung tribal dress for immersion and photos

• DInner and local drinks with the Shaman

• Enjoy last night in Gandruk, pack bags to depart in the morning

• Overnight in Ghandruk village guesthouse

  Day 11 November 4:

• Mountain yoga

• Breakfast

• Trek down to your drivers who will take you on a beautiful 3-hour drive down the mountains to Pokhara. Pokhara is our old home, and is an adventure trekker hub for adventure gear shopping, cool vibes, unique restaurants, bars, nightclubs, and outdoor adventure such as trekking and boating on Phewa lake. It is backed by tall Himalayas and visited by many international travelers. It is a super fun spot to relax at the end of your trip!

• Lunch independently in town; afternoon and evening freedom to walk, shop, dine, explore, get a massage, etc.

• Dinner independently in town or together as a group

• Evening night out in town

• Overnight in Pokhara hotel

  Day 12/November 5:

Worldschooling, celebrating Dashain and cultural immersion in tribal Tharu Village

• Morning yoga

• Breakfast

• Free day to relax in Pokhara

• Optional side trips will be arranged for those interested: Boating on Phewa Lake to visit a Hindu temple and Trekking up to Shanti Stupa (Peace Stupa)

• Lunch and dinner independently in town

• Last session of candlelight meditation

• Overnight in Pokhara hotel

Day 13/November 6:  

• Yoga

• Breakfast

• Depart for 7-hour drive back to Kathmandu

• Dinner in Kathmandu hotel or option to eat in Thamel independently

• Evening out in Thamel

  Day 14/November 7:

• Optional extra: 6am Flight to Mt. Everest for sunrise views on top of the world!!!

• Rooftop yoga

• Breakfast

• Free day in Thamel, Kathmandu!! Shopping, massages, hanging out, exploring, immersing

• Cultural dinner show - last team dinner

• Closing circle……

Day 15/November 8:

• Last team breakfast and Goodbyes!

• Last shopping in Kathmandu

• International flights (Transportation to airport provided)

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Humanitarian Aid Component…

This expedition includes a humanitarian component, as we continue our support of sponsoring Kaule Village, a small village an hour outside of Kathmandu that got destroyed in the 2015 earthquakes. Enlightened Globetrekker Adventures supports this village in regrowth and education. Each year our retreat team brings donations and goods to this village. This year and last year our 2018 and 2019 expedition teams collectively paid the teachers’ salaries for a year and a half, and bought all of the students new fancy warm school shoes. We encourage all expedition members of all ages to employ a fundraiser method in their home countries, and then bring it to the team to share on behalf of our team. This instills lessons of earning, giving, sharing, equality, and compassion. This is an especially powerful exercise for the kiddies. To give on behalf of the team always feels absolutely amazing. Please join our efforts in supporting Nepal!

New school shoes in Kaule Village given on behalf of our 2018 Nepal Cultural Expedition Team!

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Watch our short film here to learn what this Nepal Cultural Expedition is like!

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We have assembled an amazing international staff team for this expedition……

Your Yoga Guide for this adventure is: Gil Robertson! (Scotland)

Your Sherpa Guide for this adventure is: Arjun Simkhada!! (Nepal)

Your Adventure Guide is: Annika Kielland!! (Norway/UK)

This Adventure Includes: 

• Breakfasts

• Dinners

• All accommodations

• All transportation

• All trekking permits

• Sherpa and porter service on the trail

• All activities and entrance fees unless noted as ‘optional’ or ‘extra’

• Daily yoga class

• Daily evening meditation

This Adventure Does Not Include: 

• Everest flight with round trip airport transport ($250 USD) - optional add on

• International airfare into KTM

• Nepal Tourist visa on arrival ($30usd for 15 days)

• Some lunches - very inexpensive and local fresh food

• Dinners in Pokhara

• Beverages

• Tips for drivers, expedition cooks, and guides - 10% expected

• Personal expenses 

• Mandatory travel indurance

  ***Please remember to and be prepared to tip your expedition staff for their tireless work keeping you safe, happy, engaged, inspired, informed, and fulfilled on this epic and transformational quest into humanity!

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Special Notes & Considerations:

All diets accommodated. Food is mostly traditional vegetarian Nepal dal bhat, Tibetan noodles, Tibetan thukpa soup, and rice.

International airfare should be purchased into KTM.

Space is limited. This is an intimate immersive adventure.

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Enlightened Globetrekker Adventures. Inspiration for Life.  

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