Nepal Yoga Retreat

Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the best seasons for this retreat. Temperatures in the Kathmandu Valley sit between 15 and 28 degrees Celsius, skies are mostly clear, and the Nagarkot sunrise excursion on Day 3 has the best chance of a wide Himalayan panorama, including Langtang and Ganesh Himal. Autumn also brings Nepal's main festival calendar: Dashain and Tihar add cultural colour to the valley sightseeing days.

Winter (December to February) is cool and clear. Kathmandu mornings can drop to around 3 degrees Celsius, and Nagarkot at 2,175 m is noticeably cold before dawn, so pack a proper warm layer. The monsoon (June to August) is warm and wet; mountain views are hazy and the Changu Narayan trail can be slippery, but the valley is lush and fewer participants join, making for a quieter retreat. The season cards show the month-by-month picture.

Most nationalities enter Nepal on a tourist visa issued on arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. Visas are available for 15, 30 or 90 days; bring a passport valid for at least six months, one passport-size photo and the fee in US dollars. Swotah confirms current visa rules before your trip.

This retreat does not require a trekking permit or TIMS card. Sightseeing at the UNESCO heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley carries entry fees: Changu Narayan, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Boudhanath and Swayambhunath each charge a monument conservation fee, which Swotah includes or itemises clearly. No mountain or national park permits are needed.

Participants stay at a retreat centre in the quiet hills near Chhaling, a short drive east of central Kathmandu. Rooms are private, with en-suite western bathrooms, hot water and mountain views from the terrace. The setting keeps vehicle noise to a minimum and supports early morning practice. On the first night, before the retreat begins, guests stay in a deluxe hotel in Kathmandu city.

The retreat centre uses twin-sharing as the default arrangement. Single-occupancy upgrades are available on request. The centre provides yoga mats, blocks and blankets; you do not need to bring your own equipment.

All meals at the retreat centre are fully vegetarian and follow a Sattvic approach: freshly cooked, seasonal, lightly spiced, with no meat, fish, garlic or onion during the program. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included from Day 1 dinner through to Day 5 breakfast. Unlimited herbal teas and filtered water are available throughout the day. The Ayurvedic oil massage and shirodhara (a warm-oil head treatment) on one afternoon complement the dietary approach.

On Day 1 in Kathmandu city, a traditional dinner is included at a cultural restaurant. On sightseeing days, lunches in Kathmandu cafes are at your own cost, giving flexibility to explore local food at your own pace. Tell Swotah in advance about any specific dietary requirements.

Kathmandu is the start and finish point for this retreat. Tribhuvan International Airport is served by direct flights from Delhi, Dubai, Doha, Singapore, Bangkok and several other hubs. A Swotah representative meets you on arrival and transfers you to your hotel. All movement during the retreat, including the drive to the retreat centre, daily sightseeing, and the Nagarkot excursion, is by private vehicle.

The retreat centre is about 30 to 45 minutes by vehicle from central Kathmandu, so sightseeing days are easy day trips with a driver. All road transfers are in comfortable private cars or vans. No domestic flights are needed.

Day 1 combines arrival in Kathmandu with sightseeing at Pashupatinath, one of the most important Shaivite temples in Asia, Boudhanath Stupa (one of the largest stupas in the world at 36 m height) and Swayambhunath, the hilltop complex known as the Monkey Temple. Day 2 opens the retreat program with a Jala-neti introduction, yoga and a 1.5 to 2-hour hike to Changu Narayan Temple, a 5th-century Vishnu shrine that is the oldest surviving pagoda-style temple in the valley.

Day 3 begins before dawn with a drive to Nagarkot at 2,175 m for a Himalayan sunrise, followed by a visit to Bhaktapur, a medieval Newar city where car traffic is restricted and the Durbar Square has been continuously maintained since the 15th century. Days 2, 3 and 4 all include double yoga sessions, pranayama and meditation. Day 4 finishes in Patan, an ancient Newar city whose Durbar Square holds more than 55 temples and the Patan Museum, considered one of the best craft museums in South Asia. Day 5 is a full retreat day for practice and rest before departure on the morning of Day 5.

Yoga sessions are led by teachers certified under the Nepal Yoga Teacher Training programme and trained in the Iyengar, Ashtanga and Sivananda lineages, which share their roots in the Himalayan tradition codified by Swami Sivananda of Rishikesh. The teachers hold current certificates issued by Yoga Alliance and the Government of Nepal Ministry of Tourism. Swotah's retreat coordinator handles logistics, and a licensed English-speaking guide accompanies all cultural excursions.

The maximum group size is 14 participants, keeping the yoga sessions small enough for the teacher to give individual alignment cues. If you want a specific teacher or a lineage not listed, contact Swotah and they will see what is available for your dates.

The retreat centre near Chhaling has Wi-Fi, power sockets (mostly 5-pin round-pin type C/D) and hot water throughout. Nepal Telecom and Ncell both give 4G coverage in the area; Swotah provides a local tourist SIM on arrival at Tribhuvan airport. Kathmandu city has reliable mobile data and the hotel on the first night has fast Wi-Fi.

Carry a universal travel adaptor. Altitude at the retreat centre is around 1,400 to 1,500 m, low enough that acclimatisation is not a concern, though the Nagarkot excursion at 2,175 m is early morning; the altitude-conscious pranayama practice that morning is designed specifically to make the most of that elevation and the thin, clear air.

Responsible participation keeps the valley's heritage sites and the retreat centre's community healthy over time. At UNESCO-listed temples, dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), remove shoes when entering shrine spaces, and ask permission before photographing worshippers. At the retreat centre, follow the teacher's guidance on silence periods, and avoid single-use plastics where possible.

Tipping is customary and appreciated. A common guideline is 10 to 15% of the total trip cost distributed among the yoga teachers, guide, driver and retreat centre staff. Tips go directly to the people who run the program. Booking with Swotah, a Government of Nepal registered operator, ensures that entry fees, staff insurance and permits are handled correctly.