Meditation & Yoga Retreats in Nepal

Nepal is a serious destination for both Tibetan Buddhist meditation and yoga, especially around the Kathmandu Valley. Kopan Monastery on a hill above Boudhanath has run month-long November and discovery courses in English since the 1970s and remains the most internationally accessible Tibetan Buddhist training in the region. Pharping, an hour south of Kathmandu, hosts a cluster of Tibetan retreat centers including long-term meditators in the cave traditions of Padmasambhava. Boudhanath itself, with its giant stupa, is a working pilgrimage center and a base for many shorter retreats. Pokhara — the lakeside town that is the gateway to Annapurna trekking — has a growing yoga retreat scene with mountain views; some retreats combine yoga with shorter Himalayan treks. Lumbini (the Buddha's birthplace) hosts contemplative pilgrimage visits at the various national monasteries. English is widely spoken at international retreat centers; the food is simple vegetarian. October–November and March–April are the comfortable seasons; monsoon (June–September) closes many mountain centers. Most Western passports get visa-on-arrival. Cost is low by international standards — Kopan's month course is around $700 including food and accommodation; paid yoga weeks $500–$1,500.