Yoga & Meditation

Choosing the tradition first

"Yoga retreat in Nepal" covers several quite different things, and picking the wrong one is the usual reason people have a disappointing week. Decide which of these you actually want.

Buddhist monastery courses

Residential courses at working monasteries, most famously Kopan above Boudhanath. These are taught in the Tibetan Gelug tradition: philosophy in the morning, meditation sessions through the day, silence for part of the course. The month-long November course has run for decades and books out far ahead; shorter seven and ten-day courses run year round.

This is study as much as practice. Expect lectures, note-taking and questions — it is closer to a seminary than a spa.

Vipassana

Ten-day silent courses in the Goenka tradition, at centres near Kathmandu and Lumbini. Free, funded entirely by donation from past students. No speaking, no reading, no writing, no phone for ten days, and ten hours of seated meditation daily.

It is genuinely hard and people do leave early. If you are considering it, go in knowing it is not a gentle introduction to anything.

Hindu ashrams and hatha yoga

Classical hatha and ashtanga in the Hindu tradition, with asana, pranayama and philosophy. Rishikesh in India is the better-known centre, but Nepal has established ashrams in the Kathmandu Valley and around Pokhara that are quieter and less commercial.

Lakeside yoga at Pokhara

The least austere option: daily classes, comfortable accommodation, mountain views, and time to do other things. Retreats of three to seven days at 820 m with the Annapurnas on the skyline. Many people combine this with a trek — a few days of yoga after two weeks of walking is a very good idea for your legs.

Practical points

Book monastery courses early. Kopan's popular courses fill months ahead.

Read the rules before committing. Silence, phone surrender, shared rooms and a 4am start are normal in the stricter traditions and are not negotiable on arrival.

Season. Any time of year. Autumn and spring are most comfortable; winter mornings in Kathmandu are genuinely cold and most halls are unheated.

What we do and do not arrange

We book lakeside retreats and ashram stays directly. For Kopan and for Vipassana we will help you plan around the dates and handle everything else in your trip, but the application goes through the centre itself — neither accepts agency bookings, and anyone telling you they can get you a place is not being straight with you.