Roots & Repose

A Nepal Cultural Exploration & Yoga Retreat

Walk the ancient squares of Kathmandu Valley. Breathe in the shadows of a 2,500-year-old stupa.
Unroll your mat where monks have meditated for centuries.

Nepal is far more than a gateway to the Himalayas. Beneath the peak-chasing rush lies one of the world’s most layered civilizations — ancient stupas older, living traditions, Newari courtyards soaked in incense and art, and a spirituality that was never packaged for tourism. Most adventurers pass through Kathmandu in a blur of gear shops and airport transfers. This retreat slows that blur into something unforgettable.

Roots & Repose is a 3-day immersion designed for people already in Nepal — trekkers between routes, explorers with a few spare days, or curious travelers who want to go deeper than the guidebook. Cultural heritage leads the way. Yoga follows as a quiet grounding tool — not performance, but integration.

Itinerary

A Journey of Cleansing, Transformation, and Inner Peace

Day 1: Arrival — Kathmandu Old Town: Stupas, Squares & Still Minds

  • Flexible: Arrive & check in to retreat accommodation. Welcome briefing over tea.
  • Afternoon: [Culture] Boudhanath Stupa walk — guided walk around the world’s largest stupa. Learn Tibetan Buddhist iconography, spin prayer wheels, observe butter lamp rituals.
  • Evening: [Food] Thamel & Ason market wander with guide — spices, thangka paintings, traditional Newari architecture. Optional Newari dinner.
  • 6:30 PM: [Culture] Pashupatinath Aarti ceremony — the sacred nightly fire offering on the banks of the Bagmati River.
  • 8:00 PM: [Yoga] 60-min restorative evening yoga — release travel fatigue, pranayama breathwork, intention setting.

Overnight: Recommended hotel in Boudha / Thamel area

Day 2: Deep Dive — Patan, Bhaktapur & the Living Culture of the Valley

  • 6:30 AM: [Yoga] 75-min Himalayan hatha Yoga with Breath Awareness.
  • 8:00 AM: [Food] Nepali breakfast — sel roti, dhido, or aloo tama at a local eatery.
  • 9:30 AM: [Culture] Patan Durbar Square & Patan Museum — UNESCO World Heritage Site. Finest Newari temple architecture in the valley. 2-hour guided exploration.
  • 12:30 PM: [Food] Lunch at Patan’s Mangal Bazaar — traditional Newari thali set meal.
  • 2:30 PM: [Culture] Bhaktapur Durbar Square — the most medieval of Nepal’s three royal cities. 55 courtyards, Peacock Windows, Nyatapola Temple.
  • 5:00 PM: [Experience] Pottery Square — watch local potters using ancient wheel techniques. Optional hands-on session.
  • 7:30 PM: [Yoga] 60-min yoga nidra & reflection. Journaling of cultural insights.

Private vehicle for Patan + Bhaktapur day trip included in itinerary cost

Day 3: Sacred Heights — Swayambhunath, Integration & Farewell

  • 6:00 AM: [Culture] Pre-dawn walk to Swayambhunath — climb 365 steps at sunrise. Guide narrates the stupa’s 2,500-year history.
  • 8:00 AM: [Yoga] 60-min Sun Salutation overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. Simple flow, long savasana,
  • 10:00 AM: [Leisure] Breakfast at a Thamel cafe. Free time for galleries, shopping, or revisiting a favourite site.
  • 12:30 PM: [Yoga] 45-min closing circle — group reflection, key takeaways, retreat certificates distributed.
  • Afternoon: Checkout and onward journey. Guide assists with trekking departure or airport transfers.

Day 3 ends ~2:00 PM — connects with afternoon flights or trek shuttle departures

Inclusions & Exclusions

  • 2 nights twin-sharing accommodation
  • All 5 yoga sessions
  • Licensed cultural heritage guide (3 days)
  • Private vehicle for Day 2 day trip
  • Shared city transport (Days 1 & 3)
  • Heritage site entry fees
  • Welcome & closing circle
  • Retreat certificate
  • Morning tea / welcome refreshments
  • International / domestic flights
  • Nepal visa fee
  • Meals
  • Personal shopping / souvenirs
  • Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
  • Tips for guide & yoga teacher
  • Airport transfers (arrangeable separately)
  • Trekking permits if continuing after

Practical Notes

  • Best time October–November and March–May. Retreat runs year-round; monsoon (June–Aug) limits
    some outdoor yoga sessions.
  • Fitness level Moderate. Day 2: 5–8 km walking across heritage sites. Day 3: 365 steps at Swayambhunath.
    No trekking fitness required.
  • Group size Minimum 6 / Maximum 12 for best cultural experience and per-person cost efficiency.
  • Booking Minimum 7 days advance notice. 2+ weeks preferred during peak season (Oct–Nov, Mar–Apr).
  • Who it’s for Trekkers between routes, explorers with spare days, or travelers wanting cultural depth before
    or after a trek.

“Walk the streets of Patan like a scholar. Breathe like a monk.
Sleep like an explorer who has earned it.”

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Connect with your true nature through the timeless practices of breath, movement, and meditation passed down by the Himalayan Yogis.

+977 9802020337 / 9712012339

Address

Pranamaya Yoga Studio

Top floor of Himalayan Java
Tridevi Marg, Thamel
Kathmandu, Nepal.

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