Journey of immersion in Nepali Dhami-Jhankri Shamanism
Experiential Learning with Nepali Dhami - Jhankri Shamans
September 16 – September 29, 2025
Spiritual travel and pilgrimage for learning and healing are highly effective methods for revitalizing the mind and spirit. In recent decades, there has been a notable surge in the popularity of spiritual travel, people-to-people contacts, and cultural exchanges. People worldwide have experienced a significant shift towards spirituality, engaging in meditation and yoga and fostering a deep connection between mind, body, and soul. This experiential journey takes participants to Nepal's power places, experiencing serene homely retreats and living with families and elders.
This journey offers a unique and privileged opportunity to learn from Dhami-Jhankri-Shamans from other parts of Nepal who have different cultural backgrounds and lineages, both men and women. This diverse learning experience can be transformative, offering a profound connection to oneself, family members, communities, lineage and ancestors. Beyond the typical tourist destinations and superficial understanding, this trip takes participants on a deeper exploration of sacred sites, ancient traditions, and healing practices, as seen through the Shaman's eyes.
This trip is dedicated to experiencing the multiethnic, multicultural, and rich Shamanic healing traditions of Nepal and the Himalayas. During your stay in Nepal, you will have the opportunity to learn in-depth Shamanic healing practices in a beautiful conference hall nestled on the village slope and outdoors in sacred places close to nature.
This trip coincides with the Shorah Shraddha (sixteen days of honouring the ancestors) and Dashain, a national nine-day festival in Nepal popularly known as the Nava Ratri (nine nights) dedicated to the Goddess Durga and her nine most potent emanations. We will also participate with locals in visiting temples, power places, and Shakti Pithas to make offerings and receive blessings, providing a unique and profoundly engaging opportunity for cultural immersion and connection.
The participants will fully immerse themselves in a week-long retreat with male and female Shamans (Jhankri and Jhankrini). We will dive deep into rituals and healing sessions and learn about their narratives, tales, and evolutionary journeys, which will be of unique value in helping participants reflect, remember, and deepen their practice. The UNESCO heritage cities of Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, and Patan, and power places like the Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath, Budhanilakantha, Pharping, etc. will also be visited, and participants will participate in Shakti Pujas and rituals.
The experiential and learning pilgrimage culminates in receiving a final initiation and empowerment, a culmination that will empower each participant.
Daily Programme
Day 1 (September 16, 2025) : Arrival and Welcome
The organization's representative or a driver will welcome participants at the airport and escort them to a hotel in Thamel, the Apsara Boutique Hotel, or similar. A welcome dinner at 7:00 PM will follow a ritual opening, introduction, and formal Group welcome.
Day 2 : Pashupatinath-Boudhanatha
After breakfast, we will drive to the sacred abode of Pashupatinath, the lord of both animate and inanimate worlds, the most revered and powerful place, which is also a place of transition- cremations by the bank of River Bagmati. This visit will provide a unique insight into the Hindu cremation rituals. We continue to Boudhanath, which houses the biggest stupa of its type in the world. This all-day pilgrimage will allow participants to witness and understand the significance of these sacred sites. We will then return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 3 : Old Kathmandu and Kathmandu D Square
This day is dedicated to a walking visit, observation, and immersion in the open sacred museum of temples, shrines, squares, and more. We will visit places sacred to Kumari, the virgin living goddess, and Kaalo Bhairung, Seeto Bhairung, the Royal Palace, water fountains, Kastamandapa and more. (Bhairung is the Nepali name for Bhairava.) Returning to the hotel, we route through Ason, the historical commercial and exchange centre. Dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4 : Kathmandu-Nagarkot- Retreat
On reaching the village, the family hosts will welcome the Group in a traditional Nepali way with flowers, a traditional Gamcha scarf, and the host's offering of Tika— red and yellow pigments. There will be group tea, allocation to different host houses, and the first opening session with a group of Dhami-Jhankri-Shamans.
During the retreat, we will work with twelve to fourteen Shamans(men and women) from different traditions, lineages, and geographical locations in Nepal.
Days 5 - 6 : Nagarkot - Retreat
Day 7 : Nagarkot - Bhaktapur - Nagarkot
After breakfast, the Group will be accompanied to Bhaktapur, the UNESCO heritage medieval city with temples, squares, water fountains, a pottery square, local art and architecture, and more. A whole day visit and return to Nagarkot in the late afternoon.
Days 8 - 10 : Nagarkot - Retreat
Day 11 : Nagarkot - Chobar JalaVinayaka - Shesh Narayana - Pharping- Padmasambhava Cave - Aadhinath Hill - Kathmandu
After breakfast, we embark on a day-long pilgrimage to visit some of the most important and sacred places to the South of Kathmandu Valley.
Return to Kathmandu in the late afternoon and overnight at the Apsara Boutique Hotel.
Day 12 : Budhanilakantha - Patan - Swayambhu Chaitya - Kathmandu
Early in the morning, we drive to visit, observe, and participate in the awakening and preparatory ritual of Jalasayana Vishnu (Vishnu reclining on the couch of Naga in the cosmic ocean). After breakfast, we return to the hotel and visit Patan/Lalitpur (the city of beauty). In the late afternoon, after visiting the Swayambhu Chaitya (popularly known in guidebooks as Monkey Hill Temple), we return to the hotel for the night.
Day 13 : Final Day of Initiation and Empowerment
Today is dedicated to Sir Uthaune (Raising the Head/Spirit), specific teachings, initiations, group discussions, and a closing ceremony.
Group farewell dinner and overnight at Apsara or a similar hotel.
Day 14 (September 29, 2025) : Termination of Pilgrimage with breakfast
Room check-out is at noon. If anyone has booked the room or other services, please let the organization know beforehand so that they can prepare for your stay.
Tariff
A 50% deposit of the total tariff secures and confirms your participation. The rest of the 50% is to be brought to Nepal in cash (we are offering a longer time for final payments for participants who may have financial difficulties. Please do not transfer the total package tariff, only 50%).
Included services:
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All meals except four meals
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Hotel rooms and home stays
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Airport arrivals and departures as per the itinerary
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Transportation services
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Full participation in shamanic rituals and group healing sessions, teachings,
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Entrance fees to UNESCO heritage sites as mentioned in the itinerary
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Ground handling services and staff, guides, and assistance
Excluded services:
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Your flight tickets to and from Kathmandu
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All types of insurance (including health, trip cancellation, baggage loss, etc.)
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Private sessions with the shamans if you opt for them
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Protective amulets, personal expenses
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Four meals and drinks
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Single room occupancy
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Tips to the service providers, shamans and elders
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And everything else not mentioned under the clause 'included services'
Cancellation policy
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60 days before programme start - there are no cancellation fee
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59 to 45 days before - 25% cancellation fee
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44 to 30 days before - 50 % cancellation fee
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29 to 15 days before and after - 100% cancellation fee
Important
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Please check your passport validity: it should be valid for at least another six months from when you arrive in Nepal. To avoid long lines at the immigration in Kathmandu, you may obtain a Nepali visa in your country.
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Day-by-day itinerary and other details will be sent only after receiving 50% of the deposits.
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Please have full insurance for safety.
Book your spot
For tentative daily itineraries and programs, please send email at
