The Quest of Milarepa and the Yogis of Lapchi: A Trek in the Buddhist Himalayas
Dates: 22 October - 1 November 2024
21 - 31 October 2025
Duration: 11 Days
Fee: US$2,500
Description:
In this walking retreat we bring together: pilgrimage, hiking; informal meditation; awareness and mindfulness formal meditation; Listening and contemplating the life story of Milarepa; reciting the songs of Milarepa; Learning basic Buddhist philosophical principles; and applying insights gained in our relationship with ourselves and others.
Lapchi is located in east Nepal in Rolwaling district near the border with Tibet. This retreat to Lapchi offers an opportunity to trek in a remote area that is not visited very often. This area is an important pilgrimage with many sacred sites for Himalayan Buddhists.
This journey is a rich and one of a kind experience weaving together a pilgrimage to several Buddhist yogi masters’ caves, inspiring us to take on a meditative practice. In this retreat brings together formal and informal meditation sessions, immersing into the wonderful life story of Milarepa, his teachings and inspiring poems and his time in Lapchi. Through hiking, meditating, listening to teachings, being together and just being, we can experience ourselves in a new way, sowing seeds for self-transformation. We also rejoice at the rare opportunity to make a pilgrimage to sacred sites.
This retreat gives us a taste of the simplicity and rustic lifestyle Milarepa and contemporary yogis choose by way of renouncing worldly things and focusing on meditative practice to progress on the path to liberation; enlightenment. Due to the remote location and nature of Lapchi being yogis retreat area, the accommodation is rustic and the food is basic- wandering yogi style. The experience though is one in a lifetime - rich, memorable and transformative!
Itinerary
Arrive in Kathmandu
A day in Kathmandu
Day 1: Kathmandu – Lamabagar (2077m)
Day 2: Lamabagar – Lumnang Village (2900 m )
Day 3: Lumnang to Lapchi Village (3030 m)
Day 4, 5, 6, 7, 8: Lapchi. Hike to various caves
and Sephuk, Milarepa’s cave (4600m)
Day 9 Lapchi Gonpa to Lumnang
Day 10 Lumnang to Lamabagar
Day 11 Lamabagar to Kathmandu
Included in the Fee
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Meditation programme teacher
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Buddhist Philosophy teacher
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Storyteller
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Trekking guide licensed by the Government of Nepal
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Transport: Local bus or local sharing jeep transportation to/from Lamabager from/to Kathmandu.
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Meals: Breakfasts, Lunches and Dinners during the trek.
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Accommodation: Teahouse/home stay accommodation during the trek. An experienced trekking guide trained.
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Porters for carrying camping gear and luggage.
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Guide and porters fee and all their expenses during the trek.
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Governmental procedure and documentation charges.
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Necessary Lapchi Village permits.
Excluded in the Fee
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Internet, data, phone call
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Travel insurance including rescue charges
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Accommodation, meals and transfers in Kathmandu.
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International flight, Nepal visa fee, emergency
evacuation, rescue insurance
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Guided sightseeing and monuments entrance fees in Kathmandu.
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Bar drinks, beverages, such as, soft drinks or juice
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Personal trekking gear / clothing, camera, binoculars etc,
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Extra costs arising from unforeseen cause the control of Wilderness Excursion.
Photos by Pasang Tsering