Wellness & Hiking Escape in the Himalayas, Nepal

The retreat is structured around a gentle daily rhythm: morning yoga and breathing, a hearty vegetarian breakfast, then a stretch of free time or a scheduled treatment, lunch, another session of meditation or healing, and dinner as the day winds down. The routine is simple, but it's precisely that simplicity that lets you settle in and actually unwind.

The two hikes are the real differentiators. The first is a short walk through the village and surrounding farmland, taking in an ancient temple and a local gumba (monastery). It's a chance to see how people actually live in rural Nepal, far from the city's noise. The second hike, on day four, is the big one: a four-hour climb up Chandragiri Hill, which you can reach by foot on a trail that winds through forest and open slopes. At the summit, the reward is a 360-degree view of the Himalayas, with Everest visible on clear days. The descent is by cable car (at your own expense), and back at the retreat, a 90-minute massage waits to soothe your legs.

Between the hiking and the yoga, the retreat packs in a full menu of healing therapies. You'll have a massage session on arrival, a sound healing evening, a reiki session to ease stress, and access to the steam and sauna. These are practical, hands-on treatments, not abstract concepts—you come out of them physically relaxed.

Mandala Yoga Retreat is a family business. Kriti Karki, the founder, has been teaching yoga for more than 20 years, having trained at Banaras Hindu University and lived in an ashram. Her husband Biren manages the day-to-day running of the retreat and leads sound healing sessions. Guests consistently give them high marks for the teaching and the warmth of the welcome.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation in a private or shared room - 3 daily vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Daily pranayama classes - 1 hour treatment (massage, sound healing, reiki) - Wi-Fi connection - Massage therapy (on arrival and after the big hike) - Sound healing therapy session - Reiki healing therapy session - Steam or sauna bath - Two guided hikes (short village walk and Chandragiri Hill) - Airport or Thamel pickup

What's not included

- International flights - Airport drop-off (at own cost) - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Cable car descent from Chandragiri Hill - Food during the Chandragiri hike excursion - Additional activities not listed in the itinerary