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Spiritual Journey

Pilgrimage Trails of the Himalaya

Nepal is the spiritual heartland of South Asia — Buddha's birthplace, Lord Shiva's earthly home, and the gateway to Mount Kailash. Walk the same pilgrimage trails that have carried sages, monks and seekers for two thousand years.

50+Sacred sites
Both UNESCOLumbini & Pashupatinath
14 daysKailash Yatra duration
View all trips
Spiritual Journey
SPIRITUAL JOURNEY TRIPS

All Spiritual Journey trips

14 hand-crafted spiritual journey itineraries — from short tasters to multi-week expeditions.

About this activity

Where the Soul of South Asia Lives

Nepal's spiritual landscape is uniquely layered. Pashupatinath is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva and Nepal's holiest Hindu temple. Lumbini in the southern lowlands is where Queen Maya Devi gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama — the Buddha — under a sal tree in 563 BC.

From Nepal, pilgrims have for centuries crossed the Himalaya to reach Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar in western Tibet — the abode of Shiva for Hindus, the centre of the universe for Tibetan Buddhists, and the holiest mountain in Bon and Jain traditions. The 52 km Kailash Kora (circumambulation) is one of the world's most demanding pilgrimages, crossing the 5,650m Dolma La pass.

PashupatinathOne of twelve Jyotirlinga shrines — Nepal's holiest Hindu site
LumbiniBuddha's birthplace · 563 BC · UNESCO World Heritage
MuktinathSacred to both Hindus (Vishnu) and Buddhists — 108 sacred water spouts at 3,800m
Mount Kailash Kora52 km circumambulation crossing 5,650m Dolma La · 3 days walk
Spiritual Journey
Featured peaks

Featured spiritual journey sites

#NameAltitudeRegionLevelPermit
01
Pashupatinath Temple
Kathmandu
1,360mKathmanduTrekking PeakFree (Hindu only inside)
02
Lumbini Sacred Garden
Rupandehi
150mRupandehiTrekking PeakFree
03
Muktinath Temple
Mustang
3,800mMustangTechnical$30
04
Mount Kailash (Tibet)
Tibet
6,638m (peak); 5,650m (pass)TibetExpedition$1,500+
05
Gosaikunda Lake
Langtang
4,380mLangtangTechnical$30
06
Manakamana Temple
Gorkha
1,302mGorkhaTrekking PeakCable car ticket
07
Boudhanath Stupa
Kathmandu
1,400mKathmanduTrekking Peak$5
Planning

Best season & permits

When to go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Prime Good Not recommended
Nepal's pilgrimage sites are accessible year-round, but Saga Dawa (Buddha's enlightenment, late May/early June) is the most spiritually charged moment in Lumbini and Boudhanath. The Kailash Yatra only operates May–September due to high-altitude weather.

Permits

  • Pashupatinath Temple
    Inside temple Hindu-only · grounds free for all
    Free
  • Lumbini Sacred Garden
    Maya Devi Temple separate small fee
    Free
  • Kailash Yatra (Tibet)
    Full package via Kathmandu — permits + guide + transport
    $1,500–$3,500
  • Muktinath / Mustang
    ACAP entry permit
    $30