Buddhist Monastery Yoga & Meditation Retreat in the Kathmandu Hills

Pharping sits about 21 kilometres southwest of Thamel, in the southern hills of the Kathmandu Valley. Tibetans call it Yanglesho, and for Tibetan Buddhists the hills here are considered as sacred as Bodhgaya in India. The town has two famous caves on its mountainside: the Upper Asura Cave, where Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava) meditated and achieved enlightenment, and the Lower Yanglesho Cave, revered by Hindus as a sacred site for Lord Vishnu. Several Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and retreat centres dot the surrounding area.

The retreat is run by a yoga centre that has been operating in Nepal since 2007 — one of the first established specifically for yoga and spiritual tourism in the country. Classes are led by Yogi, who began teaching yoga in 2010 and focuses on connecting mind, body, and breath through Hatha and gentle flow practices. Sessions take place in a dedicated yoga shala on the property, and group sizes are kept small (between 2 and 10 people) so the atmosphere stays intimate rather than crowded.

The programme weaves together several practices: Hatha yoga each morning, meditation sits, Dhamma talks explaining Buddhist and yogic philosophy, and a group sound bath with Tibetan singing bowls. You also get out into the landscape — a guided walk around Pharping visits the caves and sacred sites, and each evening includes a Kora, the meditative circumambulation of holy places that's central to Buddhist practice.

Past guests (the retreat has over 170 reviews, averaging 4.8 out of 5) have consistently praised the homemade vegetarian food, the calm atmosphere of the property, and the helpfulness of the staff — Suyog, Krishna, and Raj are mentioned by name in multiple reviews. People describe arriving stressed and leaving with better control over anxiety, a clearer sense of presence, and a first taste of what a longer retreat or ongoing meditation practice might look like.

What's included

- Airport pickup from Kathmandu - 2 nights accommodation - 3 daily vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Drinking water - Nasal cleansing (Jalaneti) practice - Concentration gaze practice (Trataka) - Group singing bowl sound bath - Wifi connection - Parking

What's not included

- Nepal visa fee - Travel insurance - Additional activities not listed in the itinerary - Additional spa or Ayurvedic treatments - International flights - Personal expenses