This is a special Devi pilgrimage, a "yatra", during the festival time of Tihar or called Diwali, The Festival of Lights. Tihar in Nepal is five days long and a special time of private and public creation of the sacred art of rangoli, colorful designs created before entrance doors to welcome in the auspicious light of Goddess Lakshmi. Each day of Tihar is dedicated to a different animal before the final fifth, Tika Day celebration. 

Going on pilgrimage is a transformative experience where visiting powerful Shakti sites cultivates and participating in ancient local traditions is a passageway into the inner sacred world. 

This journey begins in the Kathmandu Valley home to still-intact ancient Tantric ways and deep reverence and worship of Goddess. We will visit sacred goddess sites within the old town of Kathmandu and two historic sister cities. In Nepal Hindu and Buddhist Tantra are fused with local Newari traditions.  

We will stay in various settings, hotels and renovated Newar traditional style homes. Where we'll have the opportunity to experience firsthand the way of life since the Malla dynasty, heralding us back to the time of flourishing arts, architecture and culture of the 12th century. We will practice yoga and mantra and meditations daily, while exploring the rich heritage and arts of Nepal. 

From here we will make our way to Pokhara, the beautiful lakeside access point to the mountains. From here we will embark on a three night and four day backpacking pilgrimage to multiple seats of Goddess.  We will meditate and worship along an ancient trail that is still in use today by local devotees to Devi.  We will stay in tea houses run by Shakti-empowered women and in homestays with kind and inspiring people of the mountains. Then we will return to Kathmandu to close our time together and carry home our gifts of the journey.  

• Good physical conditioning is a requirement for this journey. The backpacking portion of this retreat reaches an elevation of 2,500 meters.
• Prior participation in a Wilderness Goddess: Yoga Backpacking Pilgrimage or Embodying Devi in India journey is highly recommended to partake in this journey. Because we will be deepening our Devi sadhana and a foundation in these types of practices is beneficial. But if you have backpacking experience or deeply called and in good physical condition it is possible to partake too. 
• A deposit of $500 is required to sign up.  $300 of this is unrefundable, if for whatever reason you are unable to attend at any point. 
• Payment in full must be made by June 30, 2024. There are no refunds 60 days prior to the start date of the journey. Alternatively, you can option for a "Raincheck" to the next pilgrimage to Nepal. 
• The only exception to refunds is if Nepal closes its borders due to COVID. If this happens 30 days prior to the retreat, you can receive a 70% refund or a full "Raincheck" to participate the following year. After the 30 days, no refunds will be made, even if your country changes its Covid restrictions, so please obtain the appropriate travel insurance coverage. 
• It is a requirement that you obtain travel and health insurance for this journey, and that you provide proof of this. 
• The Waiver of Liability must be signed prior to arrival in Nepal. 
•  By signing up, you are agreeing to all of these terms.