Hiking, Yoga & Meditation Retreat in the Sherpa Region
1 850,00 €
A unique journey and a truly transformative experience await you on this retreat we have designed for you. It combines a 9-day off-the-beaten-path itinerary in the heart of the Himalayas with meaningful encounters with the people and hidden monasteries of Sherpa country.
You will walk mindfully (3 to 6 hours per day, moderate level), discovering the treasures of the foothills of Mount Everest and experiencing the authenticity of the region’s predominantly Sherpa communities.
Against a backdrop of Buddhist wisdom, you will explore the hidden jewels of the Everest monasteries and feel the heartfelt energy that characterizes the Buddhist monks and the people of these mountains.
An inner journey in Sherpa Country.
Your Guide & Instructor
Nathalie Luce is trained in Hatha–Vinyasa yoga, sound therapy, and yoga therapy. She offers a practice adapted to each individual’s needs. Nathalie invites participants on an inner journey, encouraging personal awareness and sensations, without any ultimate goal—perhaps simply a deep sense of well-being.
She grew up near the mountains, a place where she regularly goes to reconnect and recharge. It is an environment where she spends much of her time and which brings her a feeling of freedom, authenticity, and a return to what truly matters. Nathalie is delighted to share her practices in such a deeply rejuvenating setting.
Throughout the journey, our Nepali guide—fluent in French and English—will accompany us. He will lead us in the mountains as well as in Kathmandu, guiding us through temples and Buddhist and Hindu cultural sites, making the experience equally rich from a cultural perspective.
He is supported by a highly professional and always smiling team of assistants and Sherpas, whose positive energy further enhances the uplifting spirit of the journey.
All logistical and regulatory arrangements will be managed by Base Camp Trek, the official organising company of the trip.
For any questions regarding the trekking program, itinerary, bookings, or organisation,
please contact: info@basecamptrek.com
- Nepal Country
- Moderate Difficulté
- 14 days Duration
- 7 days Hiking days
- 4 065 m Max. altitude
- Yes Guide
- Hôtel, Lodge Hébergement
- Nepal → Kathmandu Departure / Arrival
Itinerary
Arrival in Kathmandu (1,350 m) on a scheduled flight. Transfer and arrival at the hotel in the Boudhanath district (Buddhist monasteries).
Visit of the great Boudhanath Stupa, a symbol of Kathmandu, surrounded by numerous Buddhist monasteries. Visit to Shechen Monastery, associated with Matthieu Ricard, followed by an excursion to Kopan Monastery. Optional visit to Pashupatinath Temple – a Hindu sanctuary dedicated to the peaceful form of Shiva, where cremations take place.
Early in the morning, departure from the hotel for Chiwang Monastery. The monastery is perched on a mountainside. Founded in 1923, it hosts the annual Mani Rimdu festival, the most important religious celebration of the Sherpa community. Depending on availability and group size, overnight stay in simple accommodation at the monastery or descent to Surke (2,500 m). Long drive and rough road: 8–9 hours. (Meals at the monastery outside the festival period)
After the morning prayer service, descent from Chiwang Monastery and, after Ringmu, a Sherpa village perched on the eastern slope of the Dudh Koshi Valley, ascent to the Takshindo Danda pass. Overnight in a lodge in Takshindo.
5 to 6 hours of walking
After sunrise over the mountain range, descend to Ringmo, then cross the Dudh Koshi River, which rises from the glaciers of the Numbur Himal. Gradual ascent to Phurten (3,000 m), a lovely viewpoint overlooking the Mount Everest massif. A superb balcony trail offers panoramic views of Everest and Thamserku. We cross the Junbesi Khola and then reach the village of Junbesi.
5 hours of walking ; Elevation gain/loss: +200 m / –500 m
A relaxing day to rest and explore the surroundings of Junbesi. After breakfast, we hike to Thubten Choling Monastery (2,950 m), the largest monastery in the region, which once hosted a Tibetan refugee camp. Thubten Choling is also a monastic school where more than a hundred monks and nuns live and study. If possible, we take part in the prayer ceremony. We spend time talking and exchanging with the monks and nuns to better understand their way of life. From the monastery, there are beautiful views over the Junbesi Valley.
3 hours of walking ; Elevation gain/loss: +250 m / –250 m
A day of steady ascent. We soon stop at Selo Monastery for a short visit. Along the way, we pass through the villages of Taktur and Saling to discover the daily life of the local inhabitants. After crossing the Lamjura La pass, a short descent leads us to the lodge.
5 hours of walking ; Elevation gain/loss: +900 m / –100 m
Wake up at dawn to climb Piké Peak, one of the goals of our trip. We leave the “Hillary Trail,” the route that Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing took to reach the Everest Base Camp, to venture off the beaten path. After a relatively easy walk, we stop for tea at Jasmane Bhanjyang (3,500 m). We then begin a fairly steep ascent through a magnificent rhododendron forest, followed by a gradual climb along a ridge trail, with stunning views of Everest all the way. Upon reaching the summit of Piké, our effort is rewarded with a sunrise over a 360° panorama of the legendary Himalayan peaks, including six exceeding 8,000 meters: Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Everest, Lhotse, Manaslu, Annapurna… It is one of the highlights of our journey! We have about an hour of descent with beautiful views of Numbur Himal and the Langtang range. Approaching the lodge, we enjoy an open view of the western Himalayas: Langtang, Ganesh Himal, Manaslu… The Piké Peak lodge is basic, but the sunset over the Himalayas is the most beautiful reward.
5 to 6 hours of walking
One of the most beautiful trekking days you could ever dream of. An easy walk along a ridge, with endless views of the mid-mountains and the highest peaks, with Everest itself in sight. The landscape is idyllic and varied, alternating between forests and pastures. Along a pleasant, easy trail, we gradually descend from the Pike Peak Base Camp. Prayer flags and mani walls (stones engraved with mantras) remind us that we are in a Buddhist land. We continue our walk to Jhapré, a quaint village centered around a small countryside monastery.
5 hours of walking
Last day of easy trekking. The trail gradually descends through terraced fields and rhododendron forests to reach Chyangba, a charming Sherpa village at 2,500 m, where many of our guides come from. We spend the night with a local family, in the home of one of our guides. A final evening with the team.
3 hours of walking
Early in the morning, we set out westward toward Kathmandu, leaving the foothill region of the Everest massif. We follow the Sunkoshi River for a long stretch before climbing up to the heights surrounding the Kathmandu Valley and turning toward Namobodha.
Lunch on the road included
We visit the important Buddhist pilgrimage site of Namo Buddha, which houses a small stupa commemorating the sacrifice of Buddha, who gave his body to a starving tigress and her cubs. When possible, we may attend a prayer service. An optional countryside walk takes us through a pine forest, across suspension bridges, and past Tamang and Newar villages and fields, before ascending to Balthali for lunch on a hill with beautiful views of the surroundings. Afterwards, we have about an hour of mostly downhill walking to Khopasi, where our vehicle awaits for a short transfer to visit Panauti, a small Newar town rich in cultural heritage. Panauti hosts a major fair (Mela) every 12 years and is home to the grand Indreshwar Temple. We then drive to Bhaktapur for the night.
Lunch: Self
Visit the medieval city of Bhaktapur, with the option to also visit Patan or the center of Kathmandu, your choice, before returning to our same hotel in Boudhanath.
Transfers to the airport and end of our services.
Practical Info
In a Few Words… You will gently dive into your inner world and connect with your body through the yoga, meditation, and sound therapy practices offered by Nathalie throughout the journey. Practicing silent walking is recommended in order to fully benefit from the experience. The hiking level is moderate and does not require technical skills or involve any particular dangers (no ridge crossings, mountain passes, or climbing sections). However, please note that this is still a high-mountain trek. The days involve significant elevation gains, which can feel intense for beginner hikers (uphill walking comparable to climbing several ten-story buildings in succession). Although the trek is accessible to all, it takes place in a high-altitude mountain environment. It is essential to have a good overall physical condition, strong cardiovascular fitness, and solid determination.
What is included
- All transfers by private vehicle as per the itinerary (including Jeep or bus to Gomanetal and from Landruk)
- 1 night at Shiva Guest House in Bhaktapur with half-board
- 3 nights at Dolmaling or similar in Boudhanath with B&B
- 1 night at Namo Buddha Resort in a cottage with half-board
- 8-night/9-day full-board trek in lodges
- Trekking team: 1 assistant for groups of 4 or more, 2 assistants for groups of 8 or more, and 1 porter per person.
- French-speaking Nepalese guide for the entire trip
- Trekking permit
- Staff insurance; theft insurance for the guide
- Luggage porterage up to 15 kg per person during the trek
- Daily yoga and meditation practice, led by a French-speaking instructor
- French-speaking yoga instructor included
What is not included
- Lunch and dinner (excluding treks)
- 15-day Nepal visa (US$30 payable locally – e-visa €35 available with passport photo)
- Entrance fees to tourist sites in Kathmandu
- International flight
- Mandatory repatriation insurance
- Tips, personal expenses, drinks, sleeping bag, etc.
- Single room option: 200$ for 5 nights (excluding treks)
FAQ
This hiking, yoga and meditation retreat in Sherpa country follows an original route along the Everest balconies, from Phaplu to Lamjura. The highlight of the trek: the ascent of Pikey Peak (4,065 m) and its 360° view of the Himalayan giants. You walk mindfully 3 to 6 hours a day, at a moderate level.
From Chiwang to Thupten Choling via Tulo Gompa, the route visits five living monasteries: meetings with monks and access to prayer halls. Nights are spent in lodges or monastery guesthouses, at the heart of Buddhist life.
Trained in hatha-vinyasa yoga, sound healing and yoga therapy, Nathalie Luce teaches a practice adapted to each person’s needs. A French- and English-speaking Nepalese guide accompanies you throughout the route.
