10-Day Himalayan Ayurvedic Panchakarma Wellness Retreat in Nepal

The core of this retreat is Panchakarma, the classic Ayurvedic detox program. You'll have an individual consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor on arrival, and from there your treatments are tailored to your body type, or dosha. The daily routine runs through a set of well-known therapies: Abhyanga, a full-body medicated oil massage; Swedana, herbal steam therapy to encourage sweating; Shirodhara, where warm oil is poured steadily onto the forehead to settle the mind; and sometimes Pinda Sweda, a massage using warm herbal compresses. Nasya, a nasal oil treatment, is also available. You won't get all of these every day – the doctor maps out what you need based on your condition – but over the ten days you'll experience a proper Panchakarma cycle.

Treatments happen in two blocks each day, usually one in the late morning and one in the mid-afternoon, with time built in for the body to rest between them. Yoga sessions run in the early morning and again in the late afternoon or evening, and these are led by two experienced teachers. Nabin Hangkhim has been teaching for over two decades and trained at the Bihar School of Yoga, the Ashtanga school in Mysore, and SVYASA in Bangalore. Dr. Chandra Katuwal, who holds a PhD in Raj Yoga Meditation, is also on the team. The yoga is a mix of styles – Hatha, vinyasa, gentle ashtanga – and is taught at a pace suited to people who are tired and in need of restoration, not a hard workout.

The accommodation is at Jungle Mahal Wellness Resort, set into forested hillsides at Chandragiri, about 45–50 minutes from Kathmandu's airport. Rooms are simple but comfortable, with balconies that look out over either jungle or, weather permitting, the Himalayas and Kathmandu Valley. There's a pool, sauna, spa, and a yoga shala on site. The food is all vegetarian – think buckwheat, millet, barley, rice, garden vegetables, forest herbs, and wild honey – with everything cooked fresh. It's a quiet, nature-focused setting, and the retreat is best suited to people who genuinely want to switch off and be looked after for a week and a half.

What's included

- Airport pickup & drop-off - 9 nights accommodation in private or shared room - 3 daily vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Welcome drink - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Daily pranayama (breathwork) classes - 30-minute massage - Tibetan singing bowl session - Personalised Ayurvedic wellness consultation upon arrival - Daily Ayurvedic therapies (Abhyanga, Swedana, Shirodhara, Pinda Sweda, Nasya as needed) - Wellness monitoring (symptoms, pulse, blood pressure) by health team - Forest bathing sessions (sometimes) - Guided nature hikes and mindful walks - Parking and WiFi

What's not included

- International flights - Visa fees - Additional treatments beyond the included program - Additional activities not listed in the itinerary - Travel insurance - Personal expenses