Kathmandu and Pokhara Yoga Tour Highlights
- Daily yoga sessions across two settings: rooftop terrace in Kathmandu and lakeside platform in Pokhara, with the Annapurna range across the water
- Sunrise yoga from the Peace Pagoda above Phewa Lake or Sarangkot, with Annapurna and Machhapuchhre lit by first light
- Vegetarian satvik meals throughout: fresh local produce, no meat, prepared by cooks who understand yogic dietary principles
- Meditation and pranayama taught alongside asana practice — not asana alone
- Cultural balance built into the schedule: temple visits in Kathmandu, lake boat rides in Pokhara, optional Ayurveda massage at our retreat partner
- Eight-day pace suits both first-time yoga retreatants and experienced practitioners; extendable to 14 days with a Lumbini meditation add-on
Why I built this trek the way I did
I am Shreejan, the founder of The Everest Holiday. Yoga is part of how Nepali families live, not a wellness product we invented for tourists. Our teachers were practising daily before they ever taught a foreign student, and that shows in the way they teach. Less performance, more breath. Less marketing language, more silence.
The schedule matters. Most yoga retreats build the day around asana classes and treat sightseeing as filler. I built ours the other way. Morning yoga and meditation, then a long afternoon for Kathmandu temples or Pokhara lake time, then a short evening pranayama session before dinner. The cultural exposure is the point, not the gap between the yoga.
The two settings are intentional. Kathmandu's yoga energy is rooted in the old city: Pashupatinath chants in the early morning, monkey-temple bells, incense from courtyard shrines. Pokhara's yoga energy is lake and mountain. Water and sky and silence. Both are real. Doing both in one trip is what makes the eight days feel longer than they are.
The vegetarian meals are not a constraint, they are part of the practice. Fresh dal bhat, seasonal vegetables, paneer, fruit, mountain honey. If you have a stricter dietary practice (vegan, gluten-free, Ayurvedic constitution-based), tell me when you book and we will arrange it with the cook in advance.
Every booking on this trip helps us pay the teacher's salary at our Nagarjun Learning Center in Saldum, where 70 children get free education. The salary is currently funded out of my own pocket. Your trek is what makes that sustainable.
"As a yoga teacher myself I was impressed by the quality of instruction. The focus on meditation and breathing alongside the asanas was refreshing. The spiritual energy of Kathmandu added to the experience. Great accommodation and the team were warm and welcoming throughout."
— Lucy Adams · Verified Google Review, March 2026 · ★★★★★
The boat glides across Fewa Lake in silence, the oars barely breaking the surface. Ahead, the white dome of Shanti Stupa floats above the treeline, and behind it, the entire Annapurna range—Machhapuchhre, Annapurna South, and Hiunchuli—glows in the early morning light. You step ashore, climb the stone steps to the Peace Pagoda, unroll your mat on the terrace, and begin. No traffic, no notifications, no schedule except your breath. The mountains watch. This experience is what yoga was meant to feel like.
This eight-day tour moves from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back, weaving together three sunrise yoga sessions at Nepal's most classic locations, light hiking through Gurung villages, and enough spare time to explore at your own pace. It isn't a boot camp. It isn't a silent retreat. It's a carefully balanced week that feeds the body, rests the mind, and leaves you feeling genuinely restored. You'll practice at Sarangkot as the sun rises over the Himalayas, meditate at the Peace Pagoda after a peaceful boat ride, and flow through asanas at Australian Camp with the Annapurna range stretched out before you. Between sessions, there's paragliding for the brave, lakeside wandering for the reflective, and cultural encounters that bring Nepal's traditions alive.
What Makes This Tour Special
- Three sunrise yoga sessions at Nepal's most spectacular viewpoints — Sarangkot, Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda), and Australian Camp — each offering a different mountain panorama.
- Five nights in Pokhara, allowing you ample time to explore the lakeside, caves, waterfalls, and museums at your pace between yoga sessions.
- Daily yoga and meditation sessions led by a certified instructor, blending Asana, Pranayama, and Dhyana (meditation) to suit all levels from complete beginners to experienced practitioners.
- A peaceful boat ride across Fewa Lake to reach Shanti Stupa—one of the most calming journeys in Nepal.
- Light cultural hiking through traditional Gurung villages to Australian Camp and Dhampus, combining gentle exercise with authentic cultural immersion.
- Optional paragliding over the Pokhara Valley—for those who want to balance inner stillness with an adrenaline rush.
- Vegetarian meal options throughout, with fresh Nepali cuisine, herbal teas, and seasonal fruits that complement your practice.
- No trekking experience required. This is a city-and-village-based tour with light walks, suitable for anyone who enjoys a gentle stroll.
- The scenic drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara through river valleys and highland villages is an experience in itself, with the landscape shifting from terraced hills to lakeside serenity.
8-Day Yoga Tour Overview
This tour is designed for people who want the depth of a yoga retreat without the intensity of a trek. You'll stay in comfortable hotels, travel by shared tourist vehicle, and practice yoga in locations that most retreat centers can only show on a poster. The rhythm is gentle: morning practice, daytime exploration, evening meditation. Some days are active — the hike to Australian Camp is a proper hill walk with rewarding views — and some days are deliberately quiet, giving you time to journal, read, or simply sit by Fewa Lake and watch the fishing boats drift.
Your certified yoga instructor travels with you throughout, adapting each session to the group's needs and the energy of the day. Morning sessions tend to be more dynamic (Vinyasa flow, sun salutations facing the actual sun), while evening sessions focus on restoration, breathwork, and guided meditation. No previous yoga experience is needed — just an openness to trying something new in a setting that makes it impossibly effortless to be present.
Before You Arrive
We recommend arriving in Kathmandu by 4:00 pm the day before departure. This gives you time for a trip briefing with your guide and yoga instructor and a welcome dinner with your group.
Your Online Briefing
After you book, we'll send you an email with available times for a video call. This is your chance to discuss your yoga experience, any injuries or conditions, and what you hope to gain this week. We'll go through the itinerary day by day, talk about what to pack, and answer every question.
Your Tour, Your Way
This is a private tour. Your group travels with your guide and yoga instructor, at your pace. We'll never add strangers to your group. Want an extra session by the lake? Prefer to skip paragliding and have a longer meditation? We adjust everything.
Compare Our Three Packages
| Budget | Standard | Luxury | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | USD 499 | USD 999 | USD 1,599 |
| Meals | Bed and breakfast | All meals included (B/L/D) | All meals + beverages (non-alcoholic) |
| Hotel | Tourist standard hotel | Comfortable tourist hotel | Luxury lakeside hotel |
| Transport | Local vehicle | Shared tourist vehicle | Luxury private vehicle |
| Yoga instructor | Certified yoga guide | Certified yoga guide + props | Senior certified instructor + full kit |
| Best for | Budget-conscious travellers | Balanced comfort and practice | Premium lakeside retreat |
Himalayas for Every Budget—same locations, same mountain views, and three comfort levels.
Your Retreat, Our Family
When Hari Lal Simkhada helped international travelers experience the Himalayas in the 1960s, he could not have imagined his grandson would still be doing the same thing six decades later. His son, Ganesh Prasad Simkhada, went on to hold senior positions in Nepal's tourism and mountaineering institutions. Today, Shreejan Simkhada carries that legacy forward as CEO of The Everest Holiday, personally designing every itinerary and hand-picking the guide for your group.
For this yoga tour, your team includes a knowledgeable cultural guide and a certified yoga instructor who travels with you from Kathmandu to Pokhara and back. Shreejan briefs both personally before your tour begins.
Need anything? WhatsApp Shreejan directly: +977 9810351300.
Why Yogis Trust Us
Sacred spaces, expert guidance. Practice yoga at Boudhanath, meditate at Swayambhunath, and find stillness beside Phewa Lake. Our itinerary pairs Nepal's most powerful spiritual sites with qualified yoga instruction—not just stretching in a hotel room.
Comfort meets culture. Quality hotels, all meals, and private vehicle transfers. You get the depth of a spiritual retreat with the comfort of a well-organized tour.
A family company that cares. 360+ five-star reviews. TAAN certified. Every booking supports 70 children's education through the Nagarjun Learning Center.
Solo Travellers Welcome
Traveling alone? You're in excellent company. Most of our yoga tour guests join solo, and this gentle, sociable itinerary makes it effortless to connect. You can book it as a private tour for yourself, or let us know, and we'll list your date as a fixed departure so other solo travelers can join you. Group size ranges from 1 to 20, and the shared yoga sessions create a natural bond between strangers from the very first morning.
Women traveling solo will find this tour particularly welcoming. The pace remains relaxed, the locations stay safe and well-established, and your guide and instructor are always nearby. Many of our solo female guests tell us the journey was the reset they didn't know they needed.
Difficulty: Easy (1 out of 5)
This is a gentle, city-and-village-based yoga tour with no serious trekking. The most active day is the hike to Australian Camp and Dhampus, which involves around four to five hours of walking on well-maintained trails at a maximum altitude of 2,060 m. The rest of the tour involves short walks, boat rides, and vehicle transfers. The yoga sessions are adapted to all levels — no previous experience required. Your instructor offers modifications for every pose. If you can walk comfortably for a few hours and are open to sitting quietly with your thoughts, you'll love this tour.
Trek With a Purpose — Your Retreat Changes Lives
In 2019, Shreejan Simkhada and Shamjhana Basukala founded the Nagarjun Learning Center to give back to the communities that shaped their family. Today, 70 children receive free education and hot meals daily at the flagship center in Saldum Village, Dhading District. The center has expanded to 7 locations across Nepal, provided free medical care to over 600 people, and brought internet access to 65 children for the first time in their village's history.
The Everest Holiday contributes a portion of every booking to the Nagarjun Learning Center, and the UN Partner Portal verifies and lists this information. When you unroll your mat above the clouds in Pokhara, you help change a life during your retreat.
