Himalayan Yoga Trek: 7-Day Wellness Escape in Nepal's Annapurna Region

The retreat is run by Swami Ananda, who goes by Ananda Bodhi, and Deepika, operating out of their Bodhidham Yoga Retreat Ashram in Pokhara. Swami Ananda has an M.Sc in yoga and has trained under masters in the Himalayan tradition, including long periods living with them and doing solitary retreats in the jungle. He is the one leading the daily yoga and meditation sessions along the trek, and the warm, personal style reviewers mention again and again is very much present on the trail. He teaches from experience rather than from a script, and guests often comment on his kindness and the clarity of his instruction.

The whole trip is a mix of city comfort and trail simplicity. You sleep in a deluxe hotel in Lakeside Pokhara on the first and last nights, then shift to basic guesthouses during the trek. These tea houses are no-frills — shared bathrooms, simple rooms, and meals cooked by the family who runs the place. That contrast is part of the point: you get a soft landing at the start and end, but the middle days are genuinely rustic, and that is what makes the experience feel real. It is not glamping in the mountains. It is sleeping in local guesthouses and eating dal bhat with people who have lived in those villages their whole lives.

The trek itself follows a well-known route from Nayapul up through Tikhedhunga and Ulleri, over Ghorepani and Poon Hill, then down through Tadapani to Jhinu Danda. Along the way you pass through small villages where you see daily life up close — women collecting water, children walking to school, farmers working terraced fields. The path takes you through jungle, past waterfalls and springs, over stone staircases that seem to go on forever, and eventually out to the vast mountain views. The temperature on the trail ranges from about 5 to 25 degrees Celsius, so mornings are cold but the middle of the day is usually pleasant for walking.

What sets this retreat apart from a plain trekking holiday is the daily rhythm of yoga and meditation. Every day includes at least one session, and the settings are memorable — yoga at Poon Hill with the sun rising over the peaks, meditation by the river before your final descent. The group is capped at eight people, which keeps things intimate and means the pace can adjust to whoever is walking. If you have never done a multi-day trek before, this is a gentle introduction; if you have, the yoga adds a layer that a standard hiking trip just does not have.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation (2 nights in deluxe hotel in Pokhara, 4 nights in guesthouses on trek) - All meals during the trek: breakfast, lunch, and dinner - Pickup and drop-off at Pokhara airport or bus station - Hotel transfers in Pokhara - Shared jeep transport from Pokhara to Tikhedhunga and return - Daily yoga and meditation sessions with an experienced instructor - Guided trek with an experienced guide - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - 1-hour boat tour on Phewa Lake - 1-hour soak in natural hot springs at Jhinu Danda - Farewell dinner in Pokhara - Group excursions and activities as mentioned

What's not included

- International flights - Visa fees - Travel insurance (strongly recommended) - Personal trekking gear (sleeping bag, trekking poles, etc.) - Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks - Tips for guides and porters - Laundry services (available for an extra fee) - Optional spa treatments - Anything not mentioned in the included section