Heart + Soul Journeys Exclusive Amenities

• $15 offered towards your Travel Insurance
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• Trek overland for 26 days to/from Kathmandu. 
• Spend five days circumnavigating and reveling in the magic of Asia’s most venerated of sacred sites, Mount Kailas. 
• Nourish your mind and body with daily yoga and meditation classes. 
• Attend the lively and spiritual full moon Saka Dawa Festival, celebrating the Buddha’s birthday and Enlightenment Day. 
• Enjoy breath-taking mountain peaks, high altitude deserts, Tibetan temples, authentic villages, hot springs and more. 
• Be inspired by the destination beloved to four religions and known as the axis and 7th chakra of the earth, and the mythical home of Shiva and Parvati.

Crafted to appeal to spiritual seekers longing for greater meaning, purpose and enlightenment, the Spirit Journey retreat will guide a small group of adventurers from Nepal through Lake Manosaravar ('manas' means mind or consciousness; Manosaravar means ‘Lake of Consciousness and Enlightenment’) to Mount Kailas, stopping past hot springs, Tibetan temples and authentic villages along the way. 

Nestled deep within the heart of Tibet rests a mystical pilgrimage site with a reputation for attracting ancient and modern yogis, mystics and seekers alike. 

Wrapped in myth and mystery, Mount Kailas ascends a mighty 22,000 feet to the heavens and has the inimitable distinction of being a magnetic force for pilgrims and yet one of the least visited spiritual sites in the world. In fact, Kailas is visited by little more than a few thousand people each year. Remote, wild and untamed, a pilgrimage to this sacred mountain will leave you steeped in mythical enlightenment. 

Origin myths of religions such as Hinduism, Jainism or Buddhism refer to Mount Kailas as: Mt. Meru, the axis and birthplace of world; the 7th chakra of the earth; the mythical home of Shiva and Parvati; the place where Rishaba attained liberation; the throne of the sky Goddess Sipaimen; and the ‘Precious One of Glacial Snow’. 

On your way to visiting this sacred mountain, you’ll nurture your mind, body and soul with yoga, pranayama, devotional singing and interactive discourses exploring essential spiritual topics. 

It’s a destination steeped in magic and an adventure drenched in wondrous beauty … the perfect place to discover your spirit and journey to your heart. 

Challenging? Yes. Meaningful? Definitely. Worth every penny? Absolutely. 

Daily Itinerary

Filled to the brim with the perfect blend of physical activity (through trekking, and yoga) and spiritual immersion, each and every day of this trip will expand your mind and feed your soul. 

Tahir Hussain Faridi Qawwal | Wellness Coach

Originally from a small town in Nova-Scotia Canada, Tahir Hussain Faridi Qawwal has been journeying into music and mysticism within the Indian subcontinent from a very young age. At fifteen he was taken in by the great tabla maestro Harjeet Seyan Singh, and under his noble tutelage initiated into the profound subject of Indian rhythm cycles. Several years of rigorous tabla instruction later, Tahir became completely enchanted by his teachers singing voice.Tahir’s late teens were mostly spent wandering in the Gharwal Himalayas living as a lonely dervish, practicing the yogic path and searching for sur with a shruti box in hand.’Sur’ is at the heart of all Indian/Pakistani classical music and when translated to English means ‘purity of sound and pitch’. Because of the wide tonal spectrum of classical Indian raaga notation, the profound journey into sur requires the grace of a guru. Tahir Qawwal’s first knowledge of sur came by the kindness of Pandit Sanjeev Jha of Varanasi.’Dissolving oneself within any perfect sur under the shade of a tuned tampura is total bliss.’ Tahir Q

More recently Tahir has been touring annually from Feb to May in Australia with his ensemble known as the Tahir Faridi Qawwal & Party Aus. This Australia based group is comprised of seven qawwal’s from India, Pakistan & Afghanistan. Their aim is to bring traditional sufi qawwali to a country where such music is almost completely unheard of. http://www.tahirqawwal.com.Tabaruq Records is a music publishing company run by Tahir himself which features recordings by his three music projects as well as his teachers music recorded in Pakistan. http://www.cdbaby.com/all/fannafiallah.’My greatest aspiration in this field of music is to locate every note in it’s true position and to use these notes in lifelong devotion to Allah.’ Tahir Hussain Faridi Qawwal.

Alex Grant | Yoga + Breathwork Teacher

Native New Yorker Alex Grant began his love affair with yoga in 1996 and has since become a qualified yoga teacher and promoter, specializing in hatha, pranayama, tantra and meditation. Alex received his BA in Economics from Emory University in ‘94, and later obtained a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Sydney’s University of Technology.

Alex moved his family to Australia in 2002 and currently resides with his two daughters in Byron Bay, New South Wales. He developedfindyoga.com.au in 2003, which has grown into Australia’s largest yoga portal — connecting networks of yogis by providing a comprehensive directory of 2,000+ studios, teachers, events and yoga classes domestically and internationally. Alex started community acupuncture in 2009 as a way to bring affordable healthcare to people in need; this program currently treats over 100 people per week.

In 2011, he founded the Byron Spirit Festival, which has evolved into the preeminent yoga and music festival in Australia. Alex currently teaches privately and leads practice at iconic annual festivals such as Splendour in the Grass and Falls Festival (Australia), and Burning Man (USA). He is also passionate about Spirit Journey, leading pilgrims to Ladakh, India for self discovery.

Sue Duff | Wellness Coach

Sheila is an advanced practitioner of artfully experiencing joy in "the now", helping people to gracefully accept the gifts and experiences that life brings, and gratefully recognize the nudges that life delivers to help you recognize and embrace your higher calling. Sheila's expertise includes certifications in stress management, food as medicine, grief counseling, plant-based nutrition and a bachelor's degree in science. But above all these she credits her success to the amazing people and experiences she is blessed to meet in her everyday life.

What a blessing...

“If you're looking for a relaxing, rejuvenating, exciting experience in the most tranquil beautiful surroundings... this is for you. What a  blessing to have met so many beautiful ladies and enjoyed such an amazing experience together!”

— Melanie F.

This retreat is for you if...

• You’re not afraid to challenge yourself to the adventure of a lifetime. 
• You are excited at the prospect of traveling to Asia’s most sacred mountain and being guided by a team of experts and spiritual masters. 
• You want to unleash your wildness and journey through an untamed landscape that dares you to dream big and open yourself up to new possibilities. 
• You’re ready to expand, grow and embrace deeper enlightenment. 
• You’re craving a safe avenue in which to explore Tibet. 
• You’re curious about other cultures and are fascinated by cosmology and the myths surrounding Mount Kailas. 

Heart + Soul Journeys Travel Tips

VACCINATIONS

There are no statutory vaccinations for entry into Nepal or Tibet. Recommended are vaccinations against typhus and hepatitis A [usually a combined vaccination]. A tetanus booster is a good idea. Malaria is not a problem in these areas. Please bring sufficient quantities of any medication or vitamins you may be taking. There are no facilities for getting pharmaceutical drugs in Tibet. Please advise Sue on any medication you take regularly and will be bringing with you.

FITNESS

Please prepare yourself for trekking by walking regularly up hill, going to the gym or any sport that raises your fitness level. Good preparation will make your trip more enjoyable.
Trekking the KORA is an option, it is at an altitude of 5000m plus. High altitude acclimatisation occurs naturally if the body can travel slowly to altitude and take time to acclimatise.

GEAR and CLIMATE

It will be warm and monsoonal in Nepal and will get colder and drier as we ascend to the higher altitudes in Tibet. Down jackets and windproof jackets will be necessary in Tibet along with thermal under-wear and fleecy jackets. All these trekking clothes can be bought very cheaply in Kathmandu, as the Nepalese cater for trekkers. This gear is not only inexpensive but fairly good quality. Good worn in trekking boots are necessary, light-weight

ones are ok. There is plenty of time with the wait for the Tibet Visa to get kitted out if you do not have the right gear to bring with you. Good quality down sleeping bags can be bought cheaply – around $80 – instead of hundreds of dollars at home. Thick foam sleeping mats are provided by ‘More Than Mountains’ also ‘two- man’ good strong tents.

Thick wool socks should be bought from home as the ones in Kathmandu are not good quality.
See GEAR TICK OFF LIST of what to pack.

MONEY

ATM’s & money exchangers are easily available in Kathmandu. Cash /traveller cheques are easily cashed in Kathmandu. In Tibet in the remote areas there are no facilities for getting money. Cash money has to be brought with us. Australian dollars can be exchanged for Yuan at the border town of Zangmu. There is little to buy in Tibet, some souvenirs – mainly jewellery from

Nepal around KAILAS, noodles, biscuits, coke- cola sometimes apples. Cash is needed for tips for the staff at the end of the trip and prayer flags for the SAKA DAWA FESTIVAL and maybe a hot bath in Saga and Chui Gonpa. Bring more cash if you want to use the rare international telephone facilities. They are expensive but do work. We can discuss this topic in Kathmandu when we have a ‘briefing ‘ chat. Jagat Man would like participants of the Pilgrimage to bring the payment for the trip to Kathmandu with them. He is happy to have US$ or Australian $ cash or travel cheques as payment.

The Small Print

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• All international airport and Tibetan and Nepalese border transfers
• Hotel in Kathmandu on B.B. basis & Guest House in Tibet
• All food on pilgrimage while in Tibet, from Sybrubeshi to Sybrubeshi
• Cook and staff, Tibetan guide, all their visas, insurances etc.
• Transport, support truck, drivers and Tibetan guide in Tibet.
• Tents, 2 person tents with thick floor plus insulated mat and vinyl covered foam mattress,and Personal Kit bags for the trip.
• Yaks and yak driver for Kora Pilgrimage.
• Tibetan group visa and all entrance fees to monasteries etc.
• PAC Bag, high altitude pressure bag for high altitude safety, high altitude first aid kit

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• International airfares, taxes and surcharges
• NEPALESE DOUBLE ENTRY VISA required – $40.00 USD, plus 1 photo, available at Kathmandu airport on arrival.
• Travel insurance is NECESSARY, comprehensive cover including evacuation, required for the trip.
• Personal medical kit.
• Sleeping- bag, your own or can be hired or bought very cheaply in Kathmandu.
• Lunches and dinners while in Kathmandu.
• Tips for the Nepalese and Tibetan staff.
• Personal food such as chocolate, boiled,sweets, green tea, vegemite, miso soup etc.