7-Day Himalayan Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Pokhara, Nepal

The retreat runs for seven days in Ghachok, roughly an hour's drive from Pokhara. The village sits high enough to give clear views of the Annapurnas, and the pace of everything around you drops the moment you arrive. You'll stay on site, eat on site, and practise on site — most people don't leave the grounds more than once or twice all week.

Daily structure is simple. Mornings start early with pranayama and meditation, followed by a yoga asana class. After breakfast there's a break, then a mid-morning session that goes deeper into technique — how to hold a posture, how to sit, how to keep the breath steady. Afternoons are lighter: restorative yoga, yoga nidra, or a guided walk. Evenings finish with a shorter meditation and, most nights, a talk or Q&A with Swami Ananda.

What makes this different from the many yoga holidays in Nepal is the teaching. Swami Ananda comes from a traditional lineage and teaches from the texts, not just from a sequence sheet. You'll spend time on things most retreats skip — mantra, breath ratios, the reason behind a pose — which is why people leave with something they can use rather than just a week of good stretches.

Ghachok itself is a quiet Gurung village. There are terraced fields, a few small shops, and walking paths in every direction. On the rest afternoon you can hike to a viewpoint or down to a local tea house. Evenings are cool and silent — the kind of quiet that takes a day or two to get used to.

The group is small, which means Swami Ananda can correct your posture in person and adjust the practice to what your body can actually do. Meals are cooked on site and are vegetarian, using mostly local produce. If you have dietary needs, tell them at booking and they'll confirm what they can do.

By day five most people notice the difference: sitting still is easier, sleep is deeper, and the mental chatter has slowed. The last two days are about making that stick. You'll leave with a written routine, a set of practices sized to fit a normal week, and notes on what to do when you fall off. That's the part that isn't on offer at most yoga retreats.

What's included

- 7 days of yoga and meditation teaching - Private bedroom accommodation - Daily vegetarian meals - All scheduled yoga, pranayama and meditation sessions - Philosophy talks and Q&A with Swami Ananda - Guided walk in the local area - Written personal practice plan to take home

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Travel to and from Ghachok - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional upgrades - Additional meals outside the programme