FAQ

From nekhor.org: When we visit a sacred site, our relationship with the place begins with our eyes. This simple act of seeing transforms the mind, both creating and reinforcing memories. In turn, we gain a deeper emotional connection to the events that unfolded there and to the underlying truth revealed by those events. If we also align our visit with a positive motivation, prayers, and offerings, we can create a holistic experience, building a bridge between the historical experience of an enlightened being and our own present experience in seeing the place where that event occurred. The Buddha himself advised the pilgrim against merely going sight-seeing; it’s better to participate actively by praying, contemplating and reflecting, circumambulating, and making offerings. Through such practices, he counseled, the pilgrim would be able to see these places “correctly.”

What does it mean to “see correctly”? In seeing with one’s own eyes the actual site where buddhas and great beings formerly lived, and actively participating in the experience by means of practice and prayer, one evokes a visceral recollection of the events that unfolded at the sacred site. One can also catch a glimpse of the underlying truth suggested by these events. By witnessing the sacred sites, we begin to “see” the Dharma and approach an understanding of the deeper aspects of the spiritual path and of reality itself. — nekhor.org

The number varies by offering and is specified in the pilgrimage description.

We accept a maximum of 10-18 participants for each pilgrimage. SPACE IS EXTREMELY LIMITED because we want to make sure that you receive plenty of individualized attention from the teachers. The smaller number also allows us to get to know each other well and to benefit from the intimate and trusting atmosphere that this creates.

WiFi is generally available wherever we stay; however, the quality of the connection varies widely. You are welcome to bring any other mobile device that you find useful.

Yes – lots of it! Our days are structured to include yoga and meditation practice in the early mornings and adventure throughout the rest of the day.

Nearly all of your meals are included in the cost of the trip. In keeping with the cultural traditions of these countries and the ahimsic (nonharming) vow of our practice, we adhere to a vegetarian menu. There are a few meals wherein you’ll be able to explore on your own. We will encounter a diversity of food options – everything from traditional Nepali and Newari food to Tibetan, Bhutanese, Indian, and other dishes from around the world.

The Spiritual Pilgrim only chooses hotels and restaurants where the kitchen staff maintains the highest standard for health and hygiene. All fruits and vegetables are cleaned in purified water prior to preparation.

From North America, expect to pay between $1300-$1900 RT for an economy ticket. From Europe, $800-$1250 RT. From Hong Kong or Singapore, $500-$850 RT. These are just general estimates to give you an idea. Several airlines provide service to KTM – from the U.S., we generally recommend Qatar or Turkish Airlines.

On your arrival, we'll pick you up from the airport and take care of all of your travel needs from that point on until we deliver you back to the airport for your return home.

All flights to Bhutan land in the town of Paro. There are three main departure city for entering the country of Bhutan: Bangkok, Kathmandu, and New Delhi. You should choose the most convenient departure city (BKK, KTM or DEL) to your home city, and book your flight from your home country to that departure city accordingly.

About 3 months before the workshop, our representative in Bhutan will issue your individual visa, and book a group flight for HWW from each departure city, to land in Paro, Bhutan. Expect to pay about $950 RT from Bangkok, $450 RT from Kathmandu, and $650 from New Delhi. These are just general estimates to give you an idea. We’ll meet you at the Paro airport and take care of the rest.

If possible, we recommend arriving a day prior to the start of the pilgrimage to allow yourself a bit of time to recover from the long journey and acclimate to the new surroundings.

There are lots of exciting things to do in Nepal so if you’d like to extend your trip to go trekking, sightseeing in other parts of Nepal, or just to explore a little more of the magical Kathmandu Valley we’ll be happy to put you in touch with our agent.

The Kingdom of Bhutan has special visa requirements, and arrangements for visa extension will need to be made through our agent in advance.

Please inform us if, due to flight arrival and departure dates, you require an extra night or two on either end of the trip and we'll place a reservation on your behalf. (A fee for extra hotel nights would apply.)

All participants must be covered by a current major medical insurance policy that covers you for international travel for the duration of your trip, including evacuation insurance. Call your provider for coverage details. Please also see our COVID-19 policy for participants on our Home page.

We also strongly recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan ("Travel Insurance"), roughly $100-$200 depending on coverage, to protect your investment in travel, personal assets and health during your trip. NOTE: To be eligible for coverage, some companies require that the policy be purchased within a certain time frame of putting down your first payment for the trip.

Yes, you can. If you are registering with a friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse, just enter each others' names on your registration form in the roommate selection area.

Private rooms are available for an extra fee of $600 ($800 for Bhutan) depending upon availability. If you're interested in a private room, please indicate so on your registration form. We will make every effort to accommodate single requests, but please be aware that due to space limitations in the high season, private rooms may not be available.

Yes. The easiest way to get your visa is at the airport upon arrival in Kathmandu. Normally, a 15-day multiple entry visa is $50 US. It's a good idea to bring extra passport-size photos along with you for your visa application. During the COVID pandemic visa requirements change frequently, so please ask us about the current policies for Nepal and Bhutan. If you'd like to take care of your visa ahead of time, you can apply for one through the Nepali Embassy.

Immunizations are not currently required for entry into Nepal; however, there are some vaccines you should consider for your own health and safety. PLEASE NOTE that currently both Bhutan and Nepal require a ‘negative’ Covid-19 test before entering the country. Malaria is NOT present in the regions of Nepal we will be visiting on this journey. You will receive more information on health and immunizations in your pre-departure pack, and it is recommended that you get medical advice from a doctor or travel clinic at least 6 weeks prior to departure.

Absolutely. This trip is about having the best experience possible, and if you decide you'd like to take a rest or see something else on any given day, you are more than welcome to do just that.

Scheduled meals will take place at some of my favorite restaurants and hotels, where the standards for health and hygiene are the highest. If dining separately from the group, you'll want to avoid buying food from street vendors or stalls. To be safe, you'll want to choose food that is hot and freshly prepared and avoid drinking water from the tap. In general, it's best to stick with bottled drinks or boiled water. Having said all that, Kathmandu is full of yummy food options, and dining here can be such a treat...Really!

The highest elevation we'll reach on our journey is a moderate 5,740 ft. (1,750m). You'll need to drink lots of water but you won't need to be concerned too much with the effects of altitude. However, if the weather gods are smiling, you'll be able to witness an unbelievable panorama of Himalayan peaks during our stay in Namo Buddha.

Trekking pilgrimages are the exception here — and depending on the trek we will be making our way up to higher elevations. Please do see the details provided about the specific pilgrimage of interest to learn more about how high we’ll go.

Kathmandu has several excellent travelers' clinics, including the CIWEC Travel Medicine Center and Grande Hospital. Medical services are available in Thimphu, Bhutan but they are limited. That being said, the level of medical services and facilities that you might be accustomed to may not be available (including the presence of a specialist and/or the availability of prescription drugs, or certain kinds of equipment) . We recommend that you have adequate medical and travel insurance in the unlikely event that you require medical evacuation. Please, read the section above for more information on travel and medical insurance.

A pre-departure information pack detailing everything you need to know before your trip will be sent with your welcome email. It contains a list of useful items to pack, health advice, travel insurance options, information on cultural norms in Nepal, and many more helpful travel tips!