Sharing the Buddha’s Journey

A 12-day pilgrimage following in the footsteps of the Buddha through northern India and Nepal.

Oct 16-27, 2027

Register Here

“Buddhist pilgrimage is as ancient as Buddhism itself. Indeed, it was Buddha Shakyamuni who made the first such pilgrimage, revealing to us the importance of visiting sacred sites. The Ghatikara Sutra, for instance, tells a story in which the Buddha was delighted upon arriving at a site where the previous Buddha Kashyapa had been before him. The location itself evoked a potent recollection for Buddha Shakyamuni of the previous Buddha Kashyapa’s presence there. The Buddha’s main disciples beseeched the Buddha to take a seat; they wanted him to impress the site with his own bodily presence, just as Kashyapa had done before. This episode teaches us that sacred sites themselves have power and can trigger rich experiences that aid us along the spiritual path. It also teaches us that a buddha’s appearance at a particular site imbues it with a specific power, or flow of blessings, a lasting imprint, a mark of the sacred.” 
–from nekhor.org

Your journey will begin in Kathmandu, where you will receive teachings and an orientation from one or more of the senior monks at the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery.  Then together we will fly to Varanasi to experience a beautiful aarti, an offering of light along the Ganga. From there we step onto the path of the Buddha to explore and experience the four most sacred places in all of Buddhism–where Buddha Shakyamuni was born, became enlightened, gave his first teachings and left his body (i.e., died by taking parinirvana).

Our Days Will Include

A large stone statue of Buddha sitting in a meditative pose, surrounded by trees with fallen leaves on the pathway leading to the statue.

  • Sunrise group meditation practice at each of these sacred sites

  • Walking amongst the sacred ruins of Buddhism’s greatest masters, temples and universities

  • Exploration of the mesmerizing architecture and artwork that spans many centuries or Buddhist practice and culture

  • Travel across the Ganges and amongst the rural villages of this fascinating arid landscape

  • Culinary delights of India and Nepal! 

  • Yoga asana practice to keep our bodies and hearts open to all we will be experiencing

  • Free time to explore your own practice 

  • Authentic teachings from Buddhist monks and nuns in both Nepal and India

  • Interaction with Buddhist practitioners from all over the world!

This journey is for those seeking to deepen their spiritual practice and connect with powerful, sacred spaces to inspire the mind and uplift the heart. The experience is tailored to those interested in learning more about Buddhism and how to incorporate Buddhist teachings into everyday life.

Gom Yoga

Mornings start with meditation & yogāsana guided by Cory & Sarah

What is Gom Yoga? It’s a fusion of meditative awareness with the purposeful movement of postural yoga.

“Gom” is the Tibetan word for meditation meaning “to become familiar with” and this practice is inspired by Cory’s personal journey with Tibetan Buddhism and Ashtanga Yoga – aiming to create a space where we can explore the powerful combination of these two practices. In this class, you’ll experience the grounding and strength-building elements of Ashtanga Yoga, seamlessly integrated with the calming and introspective practices of Shamatha (calm-abiding) meditation. Whether you’re looking to deepen your existing practice or explore something new, Cory invites you to join him on this journey of mindful movement and meditation. A daily 60 minute class accessible and beneficial for all levels - no experience necessary (and always an optional addition to your day!).

You will visit:

Kathmandu

Home to the village of Boudha and it’s 40,000 Tibetans and 50+ monasteries surrounding the great Boudhanath Stupa

A large, crowded outdoor stage performance at night with traditional dancers, umbrellas, and a large audience watching.

 the ancient sacred place on the Ganges River where countless generations of Vedic/Hindu peoples have celebrated the end-of-life at it’s world renowned ghats

Varanasi

A group of people, including monks in orange robes and laypeople, are seated under a large tree, facing a historical brick stupa in a peaceful, open outdoor setting.

Near Varanasi this is the place where the Buddha Shakyamuni offered his first teachings on The Four Noble Truths – the foundation of Buddhism

Sarnath

Large ancient temple with a spire, surrounded by smaller structures and greenery under a blue sky.

Bodhgaya

Home to the beautiful Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree where the Buddha reached awakening (attained enlightenment)

A concrete sidewalk runs alongside a wall with greenery and decorations. A lush bush with bright pink flowers overflows from a structure behind the wall. The sky is clear and blue, with some tree branches hanging at the top of the image.

Kushinagar

The place where the Buddha took his final rest and released into parinirvana – the final liberation from samsara

Lumbini

A traditional multi-story building with decorative elements, featuring a pathway leading up to closed double doors, surrounded by greenery and flowers.

Back into Nepal where to the joyous place where the Buddha was born – a massive temple complex surrounding the Mahadevi Temple that contains the sacred stone upon which the Buddha entered this world

Additional Pilgrimage Stops

  • Rajgir - Vulture's Peak

    The place where the Buddha revealed the much cherished Prajñāpāramitā Sutra.

  • Vaishali - Nalanda University

    The ruins of what was one (5th-12th centuries CE) the largest Buddhist monastic/academic institution ever known!

ACCOMODATIONS

  • Interior of a building with a colorful mural on the wall, featuring Hindu deities and mythological scenes. There are wooden balconies, marble flooring, and a small altar with statues and flowers.

    Hotel Butsugen - Kathmandu

  • Hotel room with a bed, wooden wall accents, a small television, air conditioning, window with brown curtains, and ceiling with recessed lighting and a fan.

    Fern Residency - Sarnath

  • Maya Heritage Hotel - Bodhgaya

  • Indo Hokke Hotel - Rajgir

  • Blue Lotus Hotel - Vaishali

  • A hotel room with a large bed, nightstand with a lamp, two chairs with a small table, a sofa under windows with curtains, and a table with food and beverages.

    The Royal Residency - Kushinagar

  • A hotel room with two single beds, a wooden headboard, a nightstand with a telephone, a desk with a chair, a window with brown curtains, and a door.

    Buddhamaya Garden - Lumbini

We will be waiting for you on arrival at the Kathmandu airport and from that point on you will be taken care of. As we travel through India together, our local guides will ensure you get to experience the colors, flavors and sounds of India safely and in comfort. 

Map displaying a detailed travel route starting from Bodh Gaya, passing through Varanasi, Patna, Kushinagar, Lumbini, Gorakhpur, and Kathmandu, with a total driving time of 41 hours over 1,538 kilometers in India and Nepal.

As you can see we cover a lot of ground! As mentioned, we’ll start the journey in Kathmandu and then we’ll fly together to Varanasi in the Bihar State of India. From there we’ll drive to Bodhgaya (~6 hours); then Bodhgaya to Kushinagar (~8 hours); Kushinagar to Lumbini (~4 hours); and finally a short flight from Lumbini back to Kathmandu.

“The Buddha himself advised future generations of his disciples to go on pilgrimage to the places where he had lived and taught, especially Lumbini where he was born, Bodhgaya where he attained perfect Enlightenment, Sarnath where he set the wheel of the Dharma in motion, and Kushinagar where he left this world.” –Eric Dezert (K. Shenpen)

How much does it cost?

$4200 (USD) - shared room
(note, if you do not have a roommate we will do our best to pair you with one; however, if that’s not possible you’ll need to pay the private room rate).

$4800 (USD) - private room

$600 Reserve your spot with a nonrefundable* deposit.

Includes: The cost of the pilgrimage covers most expenses (including lodging, domestic transport and meals.)  We’ll even take care of your flight from Kathmandu to Varanasi. 

Excludes:  It does not include your airfare to/from Kathmandu and your Nepal and India entry Visas.

Final payments due 75 days prior to trip start date.

Program Costs do not include: air fare to and from Kathmandu, airport or departure taxes not included in your air ticket, visa fees, additional hotel nights before or after scheduled program dates, unscheduled activities and excursions, soft drinks, alcohol and espresso drinks, phone calls, massage services, shopping, laundry or other personal expenses, additional meals, drinks, snacks, and travel insurance.