“SACRED BREATH, SACRED CREATIVITY”

WITH MATTEO PISTONO & JAMES HOPKINS

OCTOBER 19TH - 29TH, 2025

Every journey is an awakening. Every breath, a doorway. In the heart of the Himalayas, where prayer flags dance in the wind and temple bells echo through the Kathmandu Valley, we invite you to step into the sacred—a space of breath, meditation, and creation.

This October, join us for Sacred Breath, Sacred Creativity, a 10-day pilgrimage weaving together meditation, breathwork, and creative writing in Nepal’s most revered landscapes. Begin each morning in silence—yoga, pranayama, and meditation attuning you to the rhythm of the sacred. After breakfast, you’ll be guided in creative writing, unlocking the stories waiting to be told. Then, you’ll set out on pilgrimages to Kathmandu’s ancient temples, where you’ll receive teachings from Tibetan Buddhist masters, connect with monks, nuns, and artisans, and immerse yourself in the profound stillness of sacred sites.

This pilgrimage is an opening—a chance to reclaim your voice, to unearth the stories within you. Whether you are a writer, seeker, or someone longing to reconnect with yourself, this journey will guide you toward new landscapes, both in the world and in your own heart.

Delicious vegetarian meals. Space for solitude and the camaraderie of kindred spirits. The brilliance of Himalayan sunrises. A journey that, at its core, is an invitation: to breathe, to create, to awaken.

Join us. The path is waiting for you to illuminate.

Day 1: Getting Your Feet On The Ground. When you arrive in Kathmandu our drivers will be there to pick you up from the airport.  You’ll be transferred to the Hotel Vajra, where you can unwind from your journey, rest, enjoy the garden and soak up the atmosphere.  Once everyone has arrived, each person will have a private one-on-one meeting with Matteo & James. Afterwards, there will be a brief orientation meeting & group dinner on the fabulous rooftop, before we turn in for the night..

Day 2: The First 365 Steps. After morning pranayama & meditation, and an early breakfast at the Hotel Vajra, we’ll gather in the library for a brief opening meeting and then head out on our first adventure.  We’ll walk up to the nearby Swaymbunath stupa (also known as “The Monkey Temple”) for a spectacular view out across the entire Kathmandu Valley. We’ll also learn a bit about Nepal’s rich Buddhist & Hindu religious traditions, and maybe do a little sitting and writing while we’re there.  After lunch, we'll spend the afternoon relaxing before heading out into the colorful and chaotic Old Kathmandu neighborhoods of Indra Chowk and Thamel for some shopping & some excellent authentic Newar cuisine.

Day 3: Immersing in Nepali Culture.  After morning pranayama & meditation, and an early breakfast at the Hotel Vajra, we’ll meet in the library for a morning of workshops & discussions before journeying to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Patan. For centuries, Patan has been a town of artisans and we today we will have the chance to meet some of the people who give this city its unique beauty. After a patio lunch, we’ll return to our hotel where you’ll have some time on your own to rest & reflect before joining the rest of the group for a typical Tibetan meal at the beautiful rooftop restaurant of the Vajra.

Day 4: Into the Spiritual Heart of Kathmandu. After pranayama & meditation and breakfast at the Hotel Vajra we’ll again gather in the library for a brief meeting & discussion before journeying across town to Boudhanath, the Tibetan Buddhist heart of Kathmandu.  For centuries, this vibrant place of spiritual power has been the destination of pilgrims from around the world. For the next three days this will be our home as we explore and gather seeds of inspiration from the sounds, sights, tastes & smells swirling around the Great Stupa at Boudhanath. This evening we will have the opportunity to meet with & receive a teaching from a world-renowned Buddhist teacher at Ka-Nying Shedrup Ling, one of the oldest monasteries in Boudhanath. 

Day 5: Diving Deep. Today our morning meditation will be to join the 6am crowd that circumambulates the Great Stupa at Boudhanath, as one of the most vibrant spiritual communities in the world begins to awaken. We’ll explore and gather seeds of inspiration from the sounds, sights, tastes & smells swirling around the stupa, before returning to to our hotel garden for the morning meeting. The rest of the day will be spent reflecting, writing & capturing images in this rich & colorful neighborhood.  This evening we will visit Pashupatinath, one of the most sacred Hindu sites in the Indian subcontinent & home to wandering holy men, cave yogis, and Shiva devotees, along the cremation ghats on the banks of the Bagmati River   In the evening you are free to explore the colorful side streets of Boudhanath on your own.

Day 6: Connecting with Local Community. Today, for our morning meditation, we will sit in with the monks as they do their morning chanting at Jamchen Lhakang, the oldest Tibetan monastery on the kora. Once again we’ll immerse ourselves in the teachings, visual expressions and rituals that bring this vibrant neighborhood to life.  In the afternoon we’re free to spend our time reflecting, writing, or just wandering the streets of Boudhanath. This evening, we’ll have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have tea with a “hidden” community of street beggars who have created a quilt-making project that provides jobs for the women of the community and educates the girls. This is always one of the favorite stops on our journey!

Day 7: Ascending. Ascending to 1,750 meters, high above the Kathmandnu Valley, today we journey to our new home for the next three days: the Namo Buddha Resort.  This oasis of a hotel offers both beautifully landscaped gardens and, when the weather is clear, stunning views of the snow-peaked Himalayan mountains.  It is a short 30-minute walk to one of the most sacred "power places" for spiritual practice and retreat in the Kathmandu Valley. We'll arrive at the resort in the late afternoon, settle into our cottages, and soak up the scenery. Here in the deep solitude of a mountain retreat we will have uninterrupted space and time to refine our individual writing, and to get inspiration & ideas from others.

Day 8: A Place in the Clouds.  After pranayama & morning meditation, we’ll enjoy breakfast in view of the snow-peaks, and then take a short walk to nearby Thrangu Tashi Choling Monastery, perched on a steep ridge overlooking the valley. The sprawling Thrangu Monastery was built on the hillside where, in a previous life, the Buddha is said to have offered his own body to a starving tigress in order that she could feed her cubs. The site is a principal pilgrimage place for Tibetan Buddhists.  Later, when we return to the Namo Buddha Resort, we will have all afternoon to reflect on the day.  In the evening we’ll enjoy a tasty & creative dinner prepared from vegetables grown in Namo Buddha Resort’s own organic gardens.

Day 9: Village Landscapes.  We will spend our last full day in the mountains enjoying a morning of pranayama & meditation, and reflecting on the creative space that we’ve shared, drawing insights & inspiration for the journey home.  It will be a leisurely day, spent at your own pace, with an optional two-hour guided hike to a local Tamang village for a glimpse of real Nepal village life. After reconvening for sunset cocktails, we’ll enjoy another fabulous dinner prepared by the Namo Buddha Resort staff. Afterwards, if we feel inspired, we can gather around the bonfire for an after-dinner glass of wine, take a relaxing sauna at the spa… or maybe just head off to bed.

Day 10: Returning to Earth.  After a final morning of pranayama & meditation, and a final breakfast in the mountains, we will return to Kathmandu for a celebratory day and night at the luxurious Hyatt Regency Hotel.  Here you will have an opportunity to take advantage of the hotel’s gardens, swimming pool, spa & shops, or wander back into Boudhanath for some last-minute shopping. In the evening we’ll head over to James’s house for an exclusive private dinner prepared by the staff at Cochina Mitho Chha, one of Kathmandu’s premier cooking schools.

Day 11: Home Again. After a luxurious breakfast at the Hyatt Regency we’ll have one last group meeting and then it's time to say goodbye and head back home.  Our staff will be ready to help with airport transportation & anything you need for your onward journey…

Rooms are shared (private rooms are available for an extra fee depending upon availability).

You'll spend a total of 3 nights at the Hotel Vajra, an authentic, Newari-style hotel with some Tibetan touches. You'll have everything you need for a very comfortable stay. Rooms have parquet floors and the attached bathrooms all have shower and running hot water. There is a old-style Library with several writing tables at the Vajra, which will be used for our workshops.  Rooms are also equipped with chairs and writing desk and there are quiet corners to work in the gardens. Some rooms have a coffee table and private balcony.  Internet services are located on the ground floor.

During your 3 nights at the Siddhi Manakamana Hotel, you’ll rise to the sound of monastery horns and enjoy early morning practice as monastic life carries on around you. Siddhi Manakamana, located just a few steps from the Boudhanath Stupa – the heart of Buddhist Nepal – and offers simple, comfortable rooms, each with its own bathroom and hot water, flat screen TV, and balcony opening out to a pleasant garden. Here you can relax and be inspired by the many sights and experiences that this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers.

Our next 3 nights will be spent at the beautiful Namo Buddha Resort, located in the mountains on the southern edge of the Kathmandu Valley.  With sweeping views of terraced foothills, the resort is famous for its excellent food, private bungalows and its stunning panorama of Nepal’s famous snow-peaked Himalayan ranges.  Here we’ll have an inspiring environment and plenty of time to go deep into our individual work and our personal creative process.

Back in Kathmandu, the Hyatt Regency will be your home for the last night of your journey. You’ll enjoy sweeping stupa views from the main lobby and the rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated with high quality linens and luxurious bathrooms. The hotel spa offers a swimming pool, massage services, steam, and sauna. Pamper yourself in preparation for the journey home.

On our final evening together we'll not only have time to relax and indulge a bit before heading back home, but we'll also host a final reading event, open to the public. The featured writers from the Himalayan Writers Workshop's will read from their own work and, if you feel inspired, you are welcome to add your voice to a final celebration of travel & creativity. 

We always seek accommodation that strikes the balance between modern comfort and local flavor.

Program Fee:

$3,490 (USD) regular program fee double occupancy (+$600 for single room depending upon availability)
Final payment deadline: September 9th, 2025.

A non-refundable deposit of $600 is required at the time of registration to hold your space.

Late registration: After September 9th, 2025 we can accommodate late registration only in the event that a space remains available. If a late registration is possible after After September 9th, 2025, full payment is required at the time of registration to hold your space and the entire payment is refundable.

Fee includes: 10 nights accommodations, 3 vegetarian meals per day on most days, bottled water and tea/coffee at meal times, scheduled excursions to pilgrimage sites, knowledgeable guides and teachers, all entrance fees, land transportation within Nepal, and airport transfers.

Fee does not include: air fare to and from Kathmandu, airport or departure taxes not included in your air ticket, visa fees ($50), 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 and snacks, travel insurance, trekking extensions, or single supplements (+$600 depending upon availability).

The program begins Sunday afternoon (around 1pm), October 19th, 2025 and ends after breakfast on Wednesday, October 29th, 2025. If you're pressed for time, you may arrive on October 19th and depart on October 29th. You're also welcome to arrive a few days early, or stay for awhile after the workshop has concluded. Please inform us if you require an extra night or two on either end of the trip and we'll make a reservation on your behalf. (A cost for extra hotel nights would apply)