Himalayan Yoga & Meditation Retreat in Pokhara, Nepal

The day starts at 6am with kriya and pranayama, followed by a 90-minute Hatha or Vinyasa class from 7am to 8:30am. Breakfast is served 9am to 10am, then there is a three-hour block of free time until 1pm. Lunch runs 1pm to 2pm, another free block follows until 3pm, and then from 4pm to 6pm there is a jungle walk, satsang or mantra chanting depending on the day. Meditation is 6pm to 7pm and dinner 7pm to 8pm, with lights out around 10pm.

Groups are small and mixed, and the schedule runs alongside students on the school's 200-hour yoga teacher training, so you will practise near people studying for their Yoga Alliance certification. The retreat is described as suitable for complete beginners as well as advanced practitioners, and the school also runs 200, 300 and 500-hour teacher training courses for anyone who wants to go further.

Accommodation is at the New Solitary Lodge on the lakeside in Baidam 6, Thadoposal. Rooms have a connected private bathroom, hot and cold showers, filtered drinking water, Wi-Fi and laundry service, and there is storage for your bags. The building is well ventilated and a short walk from the local market. Pokhara is roughly 200km from Kathmandu and reachable by domestic flight or road.

Food is vegetarian or vegan, three meals a day, cooked with minimum oil and spices. Two hot herbal teas or chai are included daily. The kitchen does not charge extra for the meal plan — it is part of the price.

The instructor leading the retreat is Akshay Yogi. The school's own materials describe a week of planned Hatha asanas combined with pranayama and meditation. Guests also have the option of adding sound healing training — an Advanced Level 1 singing bowls course or an Advanced Level 2 sound healing course — which can be arranged separately through the school.

Prices are quoted in USD on the school's own materials: $300 for 3 nights/4 days sharing, $350 for 3 nights/4 days private, $450 for 6 nights/7 days sharing and $500 for 6 nights/7 days private. A 25% non-refundable deposit secures the booking and the remaining 75% is paid on arrival. Check-in is by 12:00pm on day one and departure by 10:00am on the final day.

What's included

- 3 or 6 nights accommodation at New Solitary Lodge (shared or private) - Full board meals three times daily (vegetarian or vegan) - Herbal tea / chai twice a day - Yoga mat for practice - Daily kriya and pranayama session - Daily Hatha or Vinyasa Flow class (90 minutes) - Daily meditation session - Jungle walk / satsang / mantra chanting sessions - Free pickup - Free Wi-Fi - Hot bath - Free filtered drinking water - Laundry service access - Yoga hall access - Clean and hygienic environment

What's not included

- International flights - Domestic flights to and from Pokhara - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Personal expenses - Additional excursions or entry fees - Optional sound healing training courses (Advanced Level 1 and Level 2) - 200/300/500-hour yoga teacher training (separate courses)