Nepal 2025 – Bhutan Eco Retreat

Nepal

August 15th to 21th, 2025

*This is an additional trip for those who want to continue from Bhutan to Nepal with Kutira.*

For more information on the Bhutan trip, please go to www.bhutanecoretreat.com/bhutan_2025/

Whenever I return to Kathmandu, my heart fills with excitement and anticipation. Even while in school in Switzerland, I was already in love with this place after hearing Cat Stevens’ song “Katmandu.” However, since these magical places were far away and not on my parents’ travel list to support, I never thought I would have the chance to explore a spiritual path so early in my life. Fortunately, when I turned 21, I had the chance to visit Nepal and visit my former teacher, who became the administrator of HELVETAS, a Swiss organization. It felt like I was reborn into another world or had stepped into a past life. Everything seemed so familiar, yet so different. My inward journey started at the feet of the mighty Mount Everest. I feel grateful to share some of the stories and meetings with remarkable saints, teachers, and mentors worldwide and how my Swiss roots intertwined with my Tibetan roots and expanded into a new family. Are you ready?

Nepal is a country of organized chaos that invites you to step out of your comfort zone and embrace the unexpected. The bustling streets, the array of scents from food and incense, and the explosion of colors in fabrics and temples are just a few examples colored by my earlier adventure stories. We will visit Durbar Square, Swayambhunath Stupa (Monkey Temple), Pashupatinath Temple, and Boudhanath Stupa during our journey in Kathmandu. These sites display exquisite architecture, intricate wood carvings, and vibrant street life. The itinerary below may change in order and timing due to unforeseen events that may happen, or we may want to participate in, but we will stay in the flow and let the chaos lead us into stillness.

ITINERARY

Day 1 | August 15th | KTM/Thamel/ KTM Guest House

After leaving Bhutan, we arrive in Kathmandu at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA). We will check into the hotel and eat at one of the many exceptional restaurants in this bustling city. In the afternoon, we relax and are introduced to the city’s famous shopping.

Day 2 | August 16th | KTM/Thamel/ KTM Guest House

Kathmandu’s Durbar Square:
Hanuman Dhoka: We will visit this ancient palace named after the monkey God, Hanuman. This is the historic seat of royalty, and the Kings of Nepal are crowned inside its courtyard.
Statue of King Pratap Mall: We will visit the stone pillar and the temple of Jagannath, which was built in the medieval period. Next, we will walk over to the temple of Taleju from 1549 AD, the large stone statue of Kal Bhairav, the God of destruction, the Big Bell and Big Drum, and Hindu Lord Shiva with his consort Parvati peeping from the window.
Temple of Kumari: We will explore the residence of the Living Goddess, Kumari. Kumari means “the virgin girl,” who is selected from a devout Buddhist family. This temple has beautifully carved wooden balconies and window screens, where the Living Goddess “peeks” through.   We will end our evening enjoying the city’s many offerings and either walk through Thamel’s now “car-free” streets or enjoy a Rikshaw (bicycle on three wheels) ride. For dinner, we will explore some local culinary delicacies as simple as “Dal Bhat,” or if your taste calls for another kind of food, be assured Kathmandu’s restaurants have abundant varieties.

Day 3 | August 17th | KTM/ Barnabas Boutique Hotel

Swoyambhunath Temple: This beautiful temple is also known as the Monkey Temple and means ‘Self-Existent One.’
The history of Kathmandu Valley is said to have started with the beginning of Swoyambhunath. It is the best place to observe the religious harmony in Nepal and is believed to have been established more than 2,500 years ago. An inscription dated 460 A.D. states that King Mandela carried out the construction, and by the thirteenth century, Swoyambhunath had developed into an important Buddhist learning site.   We will visit the monastery next to the stupa and experience Nepal’s most prominent image of the Sakyamuni Buddha. Next, we will explore a temple dedicated to Manjushree of Saraswati – the goddess of learning. On this majestic hilltop, we will see many statues and shrines of Buddhist and Hindu deities. Large numbers of Buddhists and Hindus alike visit Swoyambhunath. We will be relocating to another place on this day

Day 4 | August 18th | Varbabas Hotel

This place was built by one of my long-time friends. Each floor is dedicated to one of the ethnic tribes of Nepal. Swimming in the pool on the 7th floor with a glass roof in the shape of Mt. Everest will be a joy. The culinary kitchen is a delight. We may all book a special massage at Fatima Healing Place or decide what we would like to experience on this day. Free Floating in the magical ambiance of Let the Now Guide Us,

Backup plan for those who would like to visit another sacred site:

Pashupatinath Temple: This famous, sacred Hindu temple is one of Asia’s four most important religious sites dedicated to the god Shiva and is where devotees, pilgrims, and wandering saddhus (holy men) gather. This stunning two-tiered golden roof and silver doors are situated on the bank of the Bagmati River, where one can also observe the cremation.  

Day 5 | August 19th | KTM/Bhouda/Varnabas Hotel

Bhouda is the center of Tibetan culture in Nepa, which is a wonderfully vibrant and engaging community. We will enjoy our lunch on a rooftop at the stupa.

Bhouda: This is the largest stupa in Nepal and truly a magical and sacred place. It is one of Kutira’s favorite holy places, and we will walk around and explore. Join her in experiencing this special place by sitting in one of the rooftop coffee shops, watching the many pilgrims prostrating and circumambulating the stupa.  Our evening is open for whatever magic our time may bring.

Day 5 | August 20th | KTM/Bhouda/Varnabas Hotel

We are embarking on a field trip to visit a very talented Architect on the outskirts of Kathmandu. More information on this journey will be provided later.

Day 6 / August 21st, / Bhouda/Varnbase Hotel

This is our last day, depending on when your flight departs.We get ready for departure and say goodbye to this beautiful country!