Sacred Heart Bhutan & Nepal Yoga & Meditation Adventure Retreat

Day 01: Arrival in Kathmandu

We gather at our hotel in Kathmandu in the afternoon (by 4pm) for yoga practices, meditation and an opening circle. You may enjoy a walk through the bustling night markets of this ancient (300BCE) city.

Day 02: Bhutan

Distance/Duration: ~ 50km / 2-3 hours drive

Elevation: Thimphu (2,334m)

Highlights: Fly to Bhutan over the Himalayas (flight pre-paid in your tour package) and soak in the peaceful energy of Bhutan while sightseeing in Thimpu. Enjoy evening Tibetan Buddhist Yantra yoga and meditation.

Day 03: Punakha

Distance/Duration: ~85 km / 2.5-3 hours drive

Elevation: Thimphu (2,334m) to Punakha (1,242m)

Highlights:  Following our morning Yantra yoga practice we drive Bhutan's second highest pass (3100m) to Punakha. Enjoy magical vistas, quaint villages, & waterfalls and visit the "Palace of Great Happiness," the second largest and second oldest dzong in Bhutan. 

Day 04: Paro

Distance/Duration: 120 km / 4.5 hour drive

Elevation: 2235m

Highlights: A sunrise Yantra yoga practice followed by a picturesque drive to Paro. A day filled with Buddhist history and fortress monasteries. Evening meditation.

Day 05: Tiger's Nest Fortress Monastry

Distance/Duration: Hike 4-5 hours

Elevation: Paro (2,200m) to Tiger's Nest (3,120m)

Highlights: Hike to the iconic Taktsang Monastery (Tiger's Nest), where we meditate perched on a cliff 900 meters above the Paro Valley. Close the day with Yantra yoga practices. 

Day 06: Kathmandu

Flight Duration: ~1 hour

Elevation: Paro (2,200m) to Kathmandu (1,400m)

Highlights: We fly back over Mount Everest to Kathmandu and enjoy free time to rest by he pool at the hotel, book in for a spa treatment or explore Kathmandu.  In the afternoon we gather for tantric hatha yoga & meditation before dinner at the hotel. 

Day 07: Kathmandu

Drive Duration: ~2 hours / 32 km

Elevation: Kathmandu (1,400m) to Nagarkot (2,175m)

Highlights: Sunrise tantric hatha yoga practices before we explore the spiritually rich UNESCO world heritage and spiritual sites of Kathmandu. Enjoy an evening drive to Nagarkot for overnight stay, known for its panoramic views of the Himalayas.

Day 08: Nargakot

Drive Duration: ~6-7 hours / 200 km

Elevation: Nagarkot (2,175m) to Pokhara (827m)

Highlights: Sunrise tantric hatha yoga practices with spectacular views over Mount Everest and the Himalayas then we travel to pretty Pokhara, a lakeside town known for its serene atmosphere and mountain views.

Day 09: Pokhara

Distance/Duration: Sarangkot (11 km, 25 min drive)

Elevation: Sarangkot (1,600m)

Highlights: We start with an early morning drive to Sarangkot for sunrise views over the Annapurna mountain range and Fishtail peak. We spend a spiritually rich day exploring natural wonders of Pokhara, the World Peace Pagoda, one of Nepals most cherished Lord Shiva statues, and an evening aarati on the lake. We will meditate along the way and enjoy a relaxing evening tantric hatha yoga practice.

Day 10: Chitwan

Distance/Duration: ~150 km / 5-6 hours drive

Elevation: Chitwan (415m)

Highlights: We drive to the National park in Chitwan and explore the traditional culture of Tharu village. Tantric hatha yoga and meditation practices to complete our day.

Day 11: Chitwan National Park

Highlights: Sunrise tantric hatha yoga practices followed by a full day of jungle safari activities: jeep safari, canoeing, and bird watching. Chitwan is  rich with exotic wildlife, including Bengal tigers, Indian leopards, one-horned rhinos, sloth bears, the giant gaur bison, many deer, and beautiful birds.

Day 12: Kathmandu

Distance/Duration: ~150 km / 5-6 hours drive

Elevation: Kathmandu (1,400m)

Highlights: Sunrise tantric hatha yoga practices then return to Kathmandu for free time, and a puja dedicated to Lord Shiva. We close the day with a group meditation.

Day 13: Kathmandu

Highlights: Morning tantric hatha yoga and meditation followed by a free day exploring local markets, purchasing souvenirs, or revisiting your favourite spots in Kathmandu. Today is the only day lunch is not included – opportunity to try one of the plethora of local restaurants in your own time.

Day 14: Departure homewards

Highlights: Transfer to the airport for your onward flight, marking the end of your journey.

MEET YOUR RETREAT CURATOR, LEADER & YOGA TEACHER

Varanasi Holy Man

Bring your camera!!

Connect with sacred animals

Discover new places

Maa Ganga - River Ganges

Dog Rescue in Rishikesh

Yoga practice

Practices for everyone

Inspired yoga

WHAT MAKES NAMASTAYZ DIFFERENT

Our yoga & meditation retreats are different for a few stand out reasons

1. Your retreat is planned, curated, tested & led by myself - I put my heart & soul into offering you the most wonderful experiences available

2. I also teach you yoga and meditation while on retreat

3. I am a highly trained yoga teacher with many years experience

4. I am a lineage initiated Vedic meditation teacher

5. I am a certified Level 1 IREST yoga NIDRA teacher

6. I have run my own yoga shalas for nearly 10 years so I understand how to manage a successful business

7. I am a qualified transpersonal counsellor & art therapist, making me your perfect spiritual guide on retreat

8. From the moment you book your experience is personalised. It is me that emails you and answers your calls

9. As a group we meet up before departure in person or via zoom to ask any questions and get acquainted (optional)

10. I can help you book your flights, get your visa, and organise travel insurance - in a former life I worked for Flight Centre!

11. I offer the option to book the same flights as me so we can meet at Sydney airport and travel together - this can be especially comforting if you are travelling alone

12. Namastayz retreats are like adventures! We generally travel around quite a lot to truly experience a country, its culture and spirituality

13. Our retreat destinations take you off the beaten track to places you have always wanted to travel to, yet did not want to go to alone

14. The yoga practices I share with you are more than simply asana or postures, we dive into pranayama (breathing practices), learn mantras, discuss Vedic & Buddhist philosophy, & experience authentic rituals and ceremonies

15. I have vast travel experience & have travelled to 25 countries and lived in 7 countries so I know how it feels to be somewhere unfamiliar and different

FAST FACTS

Who are Namastayz Yoga & Meditation retreats for?

Anyone! Anyone interested in starting yoga, anyone wanting to deepen their yoga wisdom, anyone wanting to inspire their yoga practice. Anyone who LOVES yoga &/or Meditation.

I have not practiced in years - will I be able to do the yoga?

Lets remember that yoga is a state of BEing rather than something we do. We do a range of practices that guide us toward the yoga state of BEing - which is chat sit ananda - the eternal bliss of pure consciousness. Those practices include asana (hatha, yin, Tibetan Buddhist yantra), meditation, guided meditations, IREST yoga NIDRA, philosophy talks, mantra, mudra, yantra, yajna, rituals, ceremonies, connecting with nature, visiting sacred places, temples, stupas or monasteries.

Do I have to do all the yoga & meditation practices?

No!! Everything on retreat is optional. You can choose to do all or none of the yoga depending on your personal intention.

What's included on retreat?

General inclusions are accommodation - 4 star where possible, some or all meals, airport transfers, travel guides when needed, transport around our destinations, entry fees to sites, daily yoga and meditation practices, & a tailor made Namastayz body/booty bag to keep essentials safe and handy. Some retreats include short flights between retreat destinations & your visa (Bhutan, Tibet). Please check each individual retreat for final inclusions.

Whats NOT included on retreat?

Your international flight from and back to Australia - although I do share my travel details so you can choose to travel with me, some meals on some retreats, spending money, alcohol, snacks, any extra excursions.

Who organises the retreats? and who teaches the yoga?

I DO

What is a TWIN SHARE room?

When you choose the TWIN SHARE option it means you are prepared to share a room with another person on the retreat who has also selected the TWIN SHARE option - you may not know this person. If you are travelling with a friend of course you can share your room just let me know before we leave Australia.

How do I pay & when do I need to pay by?

Your initial deposit, complete payment, or balance payment can be made through the NAMASTAYZ website. You can choose to pay CC, PayPal or Direct Deposit. You will a receipt. If you would like to enter into a payment plan after your initial deposit please contact me. I will issue you a plan to pay over 3 instalments depending on how much time you have before you leave. All payments are due 2-3 months prior to departure as stated on individual retreats. This allows us to make arrangements and book internal flights, and process visas when required. Please note failure to pay by due dates may forfeit your retreat and all monies paid are non-refundable. Funds may be transferrable on a case by case basis.