Insider Journeys: Marvels Around Mystical Kathmandu

After years of turmoil and the 2015 earthquakes that damaged most of Nepal’s tourism, this magical Himalayan nation is welcoming visitors once more. A hiker’s nirvana, this “roof of the world” is home to eight of the world’s 14 highest peaks, from Everest, to the Annapurnas and beyond. It is also where Hindus and Buddhists coexist harmoniously; along with other minority faiths.

So it seems that Nepal is where the great outdoors, culture and traditions culminate, and why intrepid adventurers constantly find themselves returning here over and over again. And we hear its call.

This November, Blue Sky Escapes has created a specially curated 8-10D adventure through the magical capital of Kathmandu. Taking full advantage of this land blessed with expansive mountain ranges and wellness experiences such as yoga and meditation, this journey is tailored specially for fitness and wellness enthusiasts.

Led entirely by our fitness and wellness guru, Stephanie Bovis, the experience will also give you exclusive insider access to local communities and personalities, including a private one-on-one meeting with a renowned Buddhist scholar and linguist.

Photo credit: Merit Adventure

Highlights such as a 3D2N trek from Kharidhunga to Dolongsa Khamathang will put the mighty Himalayas in full display for you to gaze at as much as you want, while white-water rafting down the Bhote Koshi river — regarded as one of the best short rafting routes in the world — will take your mind and body to their limits. Along the way, you’ll be treated to endless ineffable scenery and quiet, giving you all the time you need to slow down and enjoy the experience of life with just your boots, poles and hearts wide open.

When the adrenaline-pumping part of the journey is over, you’ll have the legendary Dwarika’s Resort in Dhulikhel to look forward to. An opulent sanctuary in the heart of Kathmandu, the property also offers meditation and yoga halls, a maze of 84 Shiva Linga carvings, and chakra sound chambers so you can truly reset and immerse yourself in an intense escape.

The resort also features another highlight of the journey: a Himalayan salt therapy room made of chunks of pure rock salt. Intended to purify and strip away negative energy, spending just a few minutes meditating in this extraordinary pale-pink house will do wonders for your mind, body and spirit.

Bookended by days set aside just for ambling through alleyways and city squares, you’ll find the details of daily Nepali life mesmerising.

Photo credit:  Dwarika’s Resort Dhulikhel