Discover Nepal by hiking in the footsteps of realized yogis and yoginis as we visit the most sought after sacred sites in the Kathmandu valley and the Everest region.
Our 14 day itinerary incorporates daily yoga and meditation sessions, as well as group discussions on Buddhist philosophy.
We will be staying in the best possible locations throughout the journey ranging from high-end eco-resorts to Monastery guesthouses with all basic facilities.
This journey is facilitated by Himalayan Hermitage co-founder Sisse d’Artois and American yoga teacher Alix Northup.
All lectures will be guided in English.
The Facilitator
Alix Northup’s sense of adventure along with her interest in Buddhism and the draw of the mountains first led her to Nepal, where she fell in love with the friendliness of the Nepali people and the beauty of the Himalaya. She has since returned several times and eventually connected with Sisse of Himalayan Hermitage. They combined their passions and put together the first 14 day meditation and yoga journey to Nepal which they led together in 2017.
Alix began her path of yoga as a teenager when her mom brought her to a yoga class as an alternative treatment for her scoliosis. The practice has stayed with her for over twenty years. She is registered with the Yoga Alliance at the 500 hour level. She is also certified as a Prajna SATYA teacher (Sensory Awareness Training for Yoga Attunement), as a Yoga for Scoliosis teacher and a massage therapist.
Alix finds inspiration and solace in nature and spends her free time exploring the outdoors through rock climbing, hiking up mountains, skiing, and surfing. At home she enjoys gardening, cooking, playing music, and resting in savasana.
Sisse d’Artois is the co-founder of Himalayan Hermitage, together with her husband, Alex. Sisse has been based in Kathmandu, Nepal for years and has traveled extensively throughout the Himalayas.
A born nomad from Denmark, Sisse has been an avid traveler for the past 20 years. 2005 was the first time she traveled to the Himalayas. This sparked within her an ongoing love affair with both Nepal and the Buddhist wisdom tradition. Sisse’s studies couldn’t even keep her settled down - her double BA in ‘Educational Studies’ and ‘Development Studies’ led her to the likes of Lebanon, Syria, and eventually back to her first love: Nepal. Moving on to her post-grad at the University of York in England, on ‘Post War Recovery Studies’, Nepal pulled Sisse back yet again with a thesis on ‘Transitional Justice in post-conflict Nepal’. The first time Sisse traveled to Tibet was in 2007 - this marked a major turning point in her life. Every year since, she has guided between 1-3 Danish groups for a minimum of 21 days, throughout the Tibetan plateau.
Throughout the journey, Sisse will be leading the sessions on introduction to Buddhist philosophy and meditation practice, according to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
Price per Person
‘Early Bird Special’: USD 3’100.- (expires 6 months prior to the start of the journey)
Normal price: USD 3’350.-
Single Room Supplement: USD 600.-
Included in the price
14 days/13 nights as per itinerary
Airport pick-up and drop-off
All accommodation and transport in Nepal as per itinerary
All healthy vegetarian meals (vegan possible too)
Daily yoga class, Buddhist philosophy discussions and meditation sessions
Experienced guides and instructors
Notebook for journaling during the pilgrimage
Not included are
International airfare to and from Nepal
Personal insurance during the journey (compulsory)
Personal visa to Nepal (USD 25.- for 15 days / USD 30.- for 30 days to be purchased upon arrival)
Any alcoholic beverage during the journey
Tips to local guides and porters
Prerequisite for Joining the Journey
Physically:
We like to make our journeys accessible to participants of all levels of physical fitness. On this journey we don’t hike everyday, but most days you can expect 1-3 hours of hiking. The hike up to the nunnery in the Everest region will take around 8 hours at a moderate pace, including breaks & lunch. The terrain is not too strenuous. As an alternative to this hike, it is possible to be led on horseback for all or part of the way, or to even get to the nunnery by jeep – please inquire with us about the best option for you!
Since we will not be venturing higher than 3,050 meters (10,000 feet), altitude sickness should not be a concern during this itinerary.
Mentally:
The best way to prepare yourself mentally for this journey is to start contemplating the reasons why you would like to go.
The east is quite different than the west in its sights, sounds, smells, psychology, social customs, etc. In developing countries like Nepal, it is always best to expect the unexpected, especially while traveling en route. Although Nepal is much less intense than India, in terms of sensory-stimulation, it is still good to prepare for a vastly different atmosphere. There is less infrastructure and therefore more of a perceived chaos (there is sanity to this chaos, it just takes a while to adapt before you can recognize it!). The best antidote here is openness, curiosity, and a sense of humour!
It is not required to have any prior knowledge or experience with the practice of meditation or of Buddhism. Simply to have the wish to go deeper with one’s mind, and to have curiosity regarding its qualities, is enough!
Booking / Further Terms
For all questions please email hello@himalayanhermitage.com
Click here to book your journey.
The group will hold a maximum of 21 people.
Please review Himalayan Hermitage’s new Covid-19 Travel Protocol carefully before your departure to ensure safety for all travellers.
Insurance is your own responsibility.
This pilgrimage journey is organized by Himalayan Hermitage. It is subject to the company’s General Terms and Conditions.