Mountains & Monasteries, Nepal RETREAT 2022`

COST: $4950 Duration: 16 Days. Dec.1 - Dec. 16 SOLD OUT

No matter your faith, Nepal is the epicenter of the sacred and the spiritual.

This journey is a pilgrimage and feast for the senses: from the vibrant life and sacred relics in Kathmandu to long, high altitude hiking days through the Everest Khumbu region witnessing some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. We will be immersed in the breath taking views of the Himalayan mountains and glaciers, visit the most auspicious locations on the planet and will meet many genuinely kind and unique people. Our pilgrimage will include visits to the oldest Tibetan monasteries in Nepal, nestled among the giant Himalayan peaks. We will reach the base of Everest and summit Kala Patthar at 18, 520f for a sunrise view of the worlds tallest mountain. The long treks in high altitude and reverence held at many of the locations, will give the opportunity for self-examination and expanded awareness.

 To be well prepared and get the most out of this trip, our journey will begin before the travels start, with two workshops at Namaste Healing & Wellness, (or online for those joining us long distance) learning about this trip and how to prepare. Two one-day retreats trekking in Colorado will also be included.

 Once our journey starts abroad, we will meet in Kathmandu, Nepal. We will spend a few days exploring the rich spiritual and cultural heritage - from stupas to temples and markets -, before we embark on our Everest region trek, exploring the beauty of the landscapes and ancient, local villages and monasteries. Our trip will culminate with witnessing mount Everest in sunrise from Kala Patthar. We will finish back in Kathmandu, sharing a final Kora in the Bodhi district.

 Our journey will be that of a voyager and spiritual seeker; an expedition through time and space, witnessing the history and culture of those before us seeking the same pilgrimage from ignorance to little more enlightenment, from ego- centeredness to Oneness.

Cost: $4950 Date: Dec.1 - Dec. 16, 2022

Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Nepal's capital, is particularly famous for its rich monuments. Various temples, monasteries, and stupas adorn the city's landscape and Hinduism and Buddhism have always co-existed peacefully here.It is the home to the first sacred Shiva lingam and one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world.

The Everest Khumbu Region Trek

For safety and ultimate experience, Namaste has partnered with Ian Taylor Trekking and his award-winning team to guide us through our trekking journey in the  Everest Region. Our trek begins in the small village of Lukla. From here, we hike through quint villages: Monjo, Namche Bazaar, Tengbouche, Dingbouche and Lobuche before reaching Everest base camp following Gorak Shep, Kala Patthar and Pheriche. Each have special monuments or monasteries to visit including the Namche Monastery, Khumjung monastery, Tengbouche and Pangbouche monasteries. Pangbouche was the first monastery when the Sherpa people moved from Tibet into Nepal hundreds of years ago. The total trekking distance is just over 82 miles or 132km, covering over 6,000m/ 20,000 feet of elevation. This makes this spectacular journey a challenging and rewarding experience.

Ian’s team are experts in high altitude trekking and have built a unique itinerary that includes extra acclimatization at critical points. When going to these levels of altitude, your body’s acclimatization to the lack of oxygen is the real key to success. Longer time acclimating gives you a safer and more enjoyable experience into high altitude. Daily distances on the trail are hiked at a very slow and steady pace, to aid the acclimatization process. To successfully and enjoyably complete this trek, you need to come physically well prepared. We recommend training 5 to 6 days a week several months ahead of your trip. Upon your commitment, you will receive an extensive dossier prepared by Ian Taylor Trekking, giving you all the information you need to be safe and successful on your trip. Our workshops and retreats prior to the trip will also provide you with hands on information and experience.

 

Detailed Itinerary (Reserving the right to make changes at any time)

Day 1: Arrival & Boudhanath  Arrival in Kathmandu. Meet at hotel. For some, this bussy metropolis with more than 2 million people is just another dusty South Asian city. But, look under the surface, and you’ll find charm and deep character. After everyone has arrived, we’ll head out for the rituals at Bodhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world. We’ll walk with the devout, making koras of the massive stupa.

Day 2:  Meditation in the White Temple & Pashupatinath Today we will wake up early to witness a daily meditation and chanting prayers performed by 30-50 monks at the White Temple (Seto Gompa). After, we will visit Pashupatinath, the epicenter of Hinduism in Nepal. Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. It is said the original Shiva lingam was discovered here. The temple premises of Pashupatinath are spread across 246 hectares of land with ancient temples and monuments. Hundreds of rituals are performed here every day. This national treasure was designated a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1979.

We will have most of the day to explore the different temples, witness some of the rituals and enjoy the history and death rituals of the Hindus. Perhaps you want to end the day on the other side of the river where pandits await to reveal your destiny or spend the afternoon watching the monkeys in the trees.

We’ll retreat to the hotel for rest and in the evening we will have a group briefing with our main trekking guide to go over the schedule for the coming days and answer any additional questions.

Day 3: Fly to Lukla – Trek to Monjo – 2,850m/ 9,350 feet. Our trekking portion of the trip starts today with a flight from Kathmandu to Lukla. We will make an early morning start for the Twin Otter flight to Lukla(2,840m/9,317ft), the gateway to the Khumbu Region. This is an exciting flight, which should give a glimpse of Everest in the distance. In Lukla, we will meet the rest of our trek staff and set off for our first night in the mountain village of Monjo. Depending on what time the flight arrives in Lukla, we may have to stop in the town of Phakding (2,600m/ 8,530 feet) for the night. Both villages are situated on the banks of the Dudh Kosi, which drains the whole of the KhumbuRegion, and is the main trade route for the entire region. This can be the busiest part of the trail. Today we will walk for 3 hours to Phakding and a total of 5 hours to Monjo. The total distance is 8.8 miles/ 13 km to Monjo from Lukla.

Day 4: Namche Bazaar – 3,440m/ 11,286 feet Today we will continue up the banks of the Dudh Kosi River, towards Namche Bazaar. Just past Monjo, we will officially enter the Sagarmatha National Park before following the trail through small villages. We will take a tea break along the way. After tea, the trail then crosses the confluence of the Dudh Kosi and the Bhote Kosi, on a high suspension bridge. The trail then climbs steeply uphill for about two hours to reach NamcheBazaar (3,440m/11,286 feet). This is a prosperous trading town and the capital of the Khumbu Region. Just across the valley to the east stand the peaks of Thamserku and Kangtega, both very impressive mountains. From Monjo, the trek today is approximately 4 hours and the total distance is 5 miles/ 8 km.

Day 5: Namche Bazaar (Acclimatization Day) – 3,600m/ 11,800 feet. Today is an acclimatization day where we will walk to the Sherpa Museum at 3,600m/ 11,811. From here you will have stunning views of Mount Everest and the surrounding mountains. The key is to rest, relax and acclimatize at this height and will make all the difference as we go to high and extreme altitude. The afternoon will be at leisure in Namche Bazaar, resting, eating, and enjoying the sites. We will visit the Namche Monastery and the Khumjung monastery known for the yeti scalp housed at the village gompa. It is a well travelled scalp that has completed a world tour with a person of no less stature than Sir Hillary himself.  We will also visit the Sherpa Museum, close by.

Day 6: Namche Bazaar / Shangbouche Hill  (Acclimatization Day) – 3,900m/ 12,800 feet.  Instead of heading up to 3,900m/ 12,800 feet and sleeping in Tengboche, we will stay in Namche another night giving you the best possible acclimatization program.During this critical acclimatization phase, we will spend time resting and trekking to higher altitudes to aid in the process. We will wake early for our acclimatization hike today, up to Shangbouche Hill at 3,900m/12,800 feet, for beautiful vistas of the whole Everest Region. The goal is to spend some time acclimatizingat this elevation before returning to Namche for lunch. The afternoon can be spent sampling the delights ofthe Namche bakeries and local stores! The hike to Shangbouche Hill will take approximately four hours round trip.

Day 7: Tengbouche – 3,900m/ 12,800 feet. Today we will leave Namche and trek to Tengbouche at 3,900m/ 12,800 feet. From Namche, the well-worn Everest trail contours around the side of the valley high above the Dudh Kosi. As we follow the path, we will get excellent views of the great peaks of the Khumbu famous peaks; Everest, Lhotse, Nuptse and Ama Dablam. Passing by several villages, we will descend approximately 300m/ 984 feet down to the Dudh Kosi River, where we stop for lunch. After lunch, we will make the steep 700m/ 2,296 feet uphill climb to Tengbouche. This is the home of the impressive and famous Tengbouche Monastery, the largest gompa in the Khumbu region. We will take some time to visit the monastery and the local bakery. The hike will be approximately 5 to 6 hours today and covers 7.5 miles/ 12 km.

Day 8: Dingbouche – 4,350m/ 14,271 feet We will continue up the trail to Dingbouche today. Shaded by Rhododendron trees, the trail crosses an airy suspension bridge just beyond Debouche. From here, the trail continues approximately an hour before reaching the village of Pangbouche. From here, there are excellent views of Ama Dablam ('Mother's CharmBox') and where we stop for tea. Dingbouche is the home to the first monastery in the Everest region, a definite site on our schedule. Contouring up the valley, we will re-cross the river and turn up the Imja Valley toreach the picturesque farming village of Dingbouche at 4,350m/ 14,271 feet above sea level. The hike willtake approximately 5 – 6 hours today and cover 7.5 miles/ 12 km.

Day 9: Dingbouche (Acclimatization Day) - 4,900m/ 16,000 feet. Today is spent as another acclimatization day at this critical elevation. Just above the town, while on our acclimatization hike, we will have stunning views of three 8,000/ 26,200 feet peaks; Makalu, Cho Oyu andLhotse. Our goal today is to ascend to 4,900m/ 16,000 feet for some of the most beautiful views on the trip.  After enjoying the views and spending some time at this new elevation, we will descend back to Dingbouche for lunch. The afternoon will be free to enjoy the village of Dingbouche and relax before some more challenging days ahead. The trek today will be approximately 4hours round trip and you will gain 550m/ 1,804 feet of elevation.

Day 10: Lobuche – 4,940m/ 16,207 feet. Today we will trek to Lobuche, continuing along the upper trail towards Thukla at 4,620m/ 15,157 feet. Ahead of us is the Lobuje East Peak at 6,119m/ 20,075 feet, and to our left is the formidable north face of Taweche. After approximately three hours walking slowly, we reach the small collection of lodges at Thukla where we will stop for an early lunch. After lunch, we continue the walk up for approximately one hour uphill to the Everest Memorial. Many people have died attempting to climb Mount Everest and this site is an area of memorials to the Sherpas and climbers who have made Mount Everest their eternal home. From the Memorial, there are outstanding views of Ama Dablam,Cholatse and Taweche. After leaving the Memorial, the trail continues gradually parallel to the famous Khumbu Glacier, that runs offMount Everest. After approximately another hour, the trail will eventually lead to a small cluster of tea houses pleasantly situated at Lobuche at 4,940m/ 16,207 feet. The total trekking timewill be approximately 5 – 6 hours today and you will cover 7.5 miles/ 12 km in distance.

Day 11: Gorak Shep (5,180m/ 17,126 feet) to Base Camp – 5,364m/ 17,600 feet. Today is the day we trek to Everest Base Camp! We will be up early to start our trek to Gorak Shep, which takes approximately 3 hours to reach 5,180m/ 17,126 feet. Today is a very challenging day on the trail, as we cross glacial moraine on mixed rocky terrain with a lot of up and down hill to cover. Gorak Shep was the site of the 1953 Everest Expedition's Base Camp and where we will stop for an early lunch before continuing to Everest Base Camp. From Gorak Shep, we will traverse more glacial moraine, with landslide potential, for another two hours before reaching Everest Base Camp! Everest Base Camp sits on the Khumbu Glacier and weather depending, we will have time to explore this once and a lifetime chance to beat the base of the world’s highest mountain! After approximately one hour here, we will retrace our stepsback to Gorak Shep, where we spend the night. Total trekking time today is approximately 7 hours andcovers 6.2 miles/ 10 km in distance.

Day 12: Kala Patthar (5,645m/ 18,520 feet) to Pheriche – 4,200m/ 13,780 feet. Today is another big day, but one to remember forever. Normally, the plan is to start hiking at around 4 am,because you want to arrive at the top of Kala Patthar just before sunrise. The trail from Gorak Shep leadssteeply uphill all the way to the top of Kala Patthar at 5,645m/ 18,520 feet. This takes approximately 2hours to reach the top and the views off Kala Patthar are spectacular and you will be rewarded with the famous view of Mount Everest! After enjoying the mountain views at the top, we will return to Gorak Shep, which takes about one hour. There, we will pack bags and have breakfast before continuing back down the trail. We will then retraceour steps through the Lobuche, the Everest Memorial and usually stop in Thukla for lunch. From here, we will take the lower trail to the village of Pheriche at 4,200m/ 13,780 feet, for the night. The total distance today is 11.2 miles/ 18 km and will take approximately 7 – 8 hours.

Day 13: Pheriche to Namche – 3,440m/ 11,286 feet. The trek today will be another long and challenging day. From Pheriche we head back through Pangbouche, then uphill into Tengbouche where we stop for tea. From Tengbouche, the trail continues downhill for one hour to our lunch spot, beside the river. After lunch, there is a one hour and thirty minute ascent, back up to the Ama Dablam View Guesthouse, where we will have a final short break. There is another approximately hour and thirty minutes before we reach Namche Bazaar. This is a long day as we will only arrive in Namche in the late afternoon. It is now time to take a shower, relax and get some rest!The hike today is approximately 8 hours and will cover 13.7 miles/ 22 km.

Day 14: Lukla – 2,850m/ 9,350 feet. Today is the final day of trekking!! It will be another long day as we must get all the way back to Lukla for the night. The day starts with a one hour descent from Namche, back to the high suspension bridge. Following the river from here, you will have to trek up and down stairs and trails, retracing our steps back to Phakding, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch, it will be a gradual two-and-a-half-hour ascent back to Lukla at 2,850m/ 9,350 feet. The hike today will take approximately 8 hours and we will not reach Lukla until late afternoon. The distance covered today is 13 miles/ 21 km and you will enjoy your final night spen in the Everest region tonight.

Day 15: Fly to Kathmandu – 1,400m/ 4,500 feet. We will wake early today and have breakfast before returning to the Lukla airport for the flight back to Kathmandu. If the weather is cooperating, you will be back in the hotel in Kathmandu by early morning for a long and nice warm shower! We are leaving the majority of the day open for leisure, exploring as you wish. Sites like Swayambhunath,  districts of Bhaktapur and Patan as well as Durbar Square are on the essential list, as is the famous Thamel shopping district. If you just want to rest, Kathmandu has a selection of amazing spas where you can treat yourself to a massage. We will end the day by a nice celebratory farewell dinner together.

Day 16: Kathmandu - End of service. Free time. (Fly back home. If you choose to fly back home this day, please make late evening flights in case we get delayed in Lukla.)

Day 17: Kathmandu - Independent time. Fly back home.

COST: $4950 Duration: 16 Days

Included: 

  • 2 workshops at Namaste, 2 one-day high altitude trekking retreats in Colorado, TBD

  • Transportation

  • Local guides, drivers; road tolls

  • Entrance fees to scheduled group activities

  • Tip for tour and trek guides (approx. $250-$300 )

  • 4 Professional guides for every group of 10 trekkers

  • Internal flights 

  •  Porterage of gear (Animals) (Carrying 15kg/33lb per person Maximum)

  •  3 nights hotel and breakfast in Kathmandu (2 people sharing, 4 Star)

  •  All lodge accommodation when in mountains

  • All permits and National Park fees

  • Full time office support on the ground in Kathmandu

  •  Airport Transfers to/from International Airport in Kathmandu

  •  3 meals a day while in the mountains

NOT Included: 

  • Nepalese Visa entry fee ($50, which can change at any time)

  • Covid tests

  •  International flights

  • Required Trekking insurance  (ex. Global Rescue)

  • Personal equipment

  • Personal expenses

  • Cost in case of emergency

  • Personal meals and drinks while in Kathmandu (excluding Breakfast)

Typical trekking menu:  Breakfast: Eggs, oatmeal, porridge, toast, pancakes, tea & coffee.  Lunch: Eggfried rice, Potato’s, Beans, fries, Pizza, Pasta. Dinner:  Pasta, Vegetable rice, soups, Chicken (Namche and below), Dhal (traditional Nepalese food), Curry

 Please Note:

Every effort will be made to keep the above itinerary, but as this is adventure travel in a remote mountain region, it cannot be guaranteed.  Weather conditions, road conditions, vehicle breakdowns and the health of participants can all contribute to changes. The trek leader will try to ensure that the trip runs according to plan, but an easy-going nature will be an asset! One of the main disruptions may come from weather related delays. Please note that often the Kathmandu-Lukla-Kathmandu flight gets delayed by a few hours or may even be canceled for one, two, ormore days due to unfavorable weather conditions. These conditions may arise even in the best seasons. In  such cases, you must be prepared for long waits either at Kathmandu or Lukla airports, as this can happen either at the start or end of the trek or even both. If flights are not flying due to the weather, the only option that might be available to get you in to Lukla, might be to take a private helicopter at an additional cost. Our team on the ground will be ready to organize helicopters in such conditions. More information on this will be in our Dossier if you do sign up for the trip.

  • Your passport validity must be a minimum of 6 months from date of entry.

  •  We will not be responsible for extra cost incurred by illness, landslides, road blockages and other weather-related or political problems.

  • Visa must now be acquired in advance, and are no longer offered upon arrival in Kathmandu. Visas can be applied for here (https://nepaliport.immigration.gov.np/).

  •  Due to the advanced notice of this retreat, we reserve the right to change the itinerary and adjust cost should exchange rates change or prices increase in Nepal.

 Hosts: Denisa Ronzani, Sarah Kottke www.namastehealing.com Trekking Team: Ian Taylor Trekking www.iantaylortrekking.com

 

Denisa and Sarah are co-founders of Namasté, a Healing & Wellness center based in beautiful Evergreen, CO. namastehealing.com

They believe nature and spirituality go hand in hand and they are passionate about exploring and sharing mindful trekking with others.

Denisa’s passion for travel and spirituality has been present as long as she can remember. Denisa has had the great fortune to live many different places in the world and study intensively with numerous amazing gurus and masters the last 20 years such as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Deepak Chopra, Sadhguru and Almine, broadening her knowledge of various traditional pranayama, spiritual and healing techniques. Denisa enjoys sharing transformative knowledge with others through various practices and healing methods. Before establishing Namasté Healing and Meditation, Denisa was the founder and CEO of a medical software development company. Denisa holds a B.A. from Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada, and attended the Masters program at Atlantic University, Virginia Beach, VA, in the field of Transpersonal Studies. In her spare time she travels the world, hikes mountains and basks in the company of her husband, children and her wizard cat.

Sarah is a certified yoga instructor and Tibetan Cranial Practitioner, teaching and practicing in the Evergreen community for the past several years. Her desire to help people heal themselves has been  a source of drive and inspiration for her becoming an excellent practitioner in helping people through private sessions, classes and retreats. Sarah holds a degree from Washington State University and is an active member of the Tibetan Cranial Association. She resides in Evergreen with her husband, two children, a few cats and Jack the dog.

Lead Tour Operator and Guide Team: Ian Taylor Trekking www.iantaylortrekking.com

 

Ian Taylor Trekking is a world leader in managing treks and expeditions around the world. It is owned and managed by Ian Taylor and his wife Laura, currently living in Eagle-Vail, Colorado.

Ian has climbed Mount Everest, climbed Kilimanjaro 37 times, lead 40+ Everest Base Camp Treks, Climbed Island Peak 17 times, Mera Peak 6 times, 6 of the 7 summits and has led over 150 treks and climbs around the world for the past decade. Ian Taylor Trekking works with extremely competent and experienced local and International guides on all of their treks and expeditions, making every experience, a safe and rewarding journey. All Ian Taylor Trekking guides are fully qualified holding either AMI (Association of mountaineering instructors) / IML (International mountain leader) UIAGM, AMGA and IFMGA certifications. They are working to make every trip a safe, quality and memorable experience you will want others to experience.

Ian Taylor’s focus is on running the highest quality trips by investing in the local people they work with. They work with the same teams, investing in their future. They assist their staff to attend college, set up businesses and help them, their families and wider community. This is what drives them. They want to see their teams around the world grow, develop and be successful in their communities.

After climbing Everest in 2008 Ian Taylor Trekking raised funds to build the Mount Everest school in Uganda. Ian Taylor Trekking has gone on to build two schools in Nepal, help support a village, support an orphanage, sponsor children and environmental projects.