Day Retreat in Kathmandu
Five unhurried days along the quiet rim of the Kathmandu Valley, where mornings begin with mountain light and breath, and the days are built to genuinely reset you.
Days built around stillness, not sights.
This is a retreat in the truest sense: not a tour of temples, but a slow settling into the valley's quieter edges. We base ourselves away from Kathmandu's noise, on hillsides where the mornings open onto the Himalaya and the loudest sound is wind through prayer flags. The days are spaced to leave room for nothing in particular.
Each day is shaped around stillness rather than sights. Gentle yoga and guided breathwork at first light, simple sattvic meals cooked with intention, long unhurried afternoons, and time at genuinely sacred places: the hilltop monastery at Namobuddha, the cave at Pharping where Padmasambhava is said to have meditated, the calm of Neydo's courtyards. A local Ayurvedic practitioner and a meditation teacher travel the journey with you.
We keep the group small and the schedule loose on purpose. There is nothing to rush toward and nothing to tick off. By the time you close with a dawn kora at Boudhanath, the pace will have done its quiet work, and you'll leave rested in a way a weekend never manages.
How the five days unfold.
Day 1Arrival & settling — Dhulikhel hillside+
A gentle drive east out of the city to the hillside above Dhulikhel, where the valley opens to the eastern Himalaya. The afternoon is yours to unwind. We meet for a quiet breathwork session at dusk, a light sattvic supper, and an early night — the retreat begins by slowing down, not starting up.
Day 2Mountain mornings & Ayurveda+
Wake before the light for gentle yoga on the terrace as the peaks from Langtang to Numbur turn gold. After a slow breakfast, a one-to-one consultation with our Ayurvedic practitioner shapes the food and rest of your week. The afternoon is unstructured: walk the ridge trails, sit, or simply do nothing at all.
Day 3Namobuddha — stillness on the hill+
A short journey to Namobuddha, the hilltop monastery of Thrangu Tashi Yangtse, one of the valley's most sacred sites. We join the rhythm of the place — meditation, the low sound of monks at prayer, a simple monastery-style lunch — and walk the kora at our own pace. Long, quiet, restorative.
Day 4Pharping & Neydo — caves and courtyards+
To the valley's southern rim and Pharping, where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated in the Asura cave. We sit in the cave's cool quiet, then move to the calm courtyards of Neydo monastery for guided practice and rest. An afternoon of gentle yoga and a sound-bowl meditation closes the day.
Day 5Boudhanath dawn kora & farewell+
An early start for the dawn kora at Boudhanath, walking the great stupa clockwise with the morning crowd of pilgrims as butter lamps flicker and the city wakes slowly around it. A final unhurried breakfast, a closing sit, and onward travel — carrying the quiet with you.
What's included
- 4 nights in calm, locally-run hillside and valley-edge stays
- All sattvic meals, herbal teas and a personal Ayurveda consultation
- Daily guided yoga, breathwork and meditation with a resident teacher
- Private transfers throughout the valley and all monastery entry fees
- A local guide and small group size (2–8 guests)
Not included
- International and domestic flights to and from Kathmandu
- Nepal entry visa and travel insurance
- Optional Ayurvedic spa treatments and massages
- Personal expenses, donations and tips
- Anything not specified as included above
Let's find the right window for this one.
Tell us your rough dates and group size — we'll shape the rest around you.
Enquire About This Journey