Support Kindness Programs

This sacred journey is brought to you by Support Kindness, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Honolulu, Hawaii.  Its mission is to spread kindness around the world through storytelling, and to train people to cultivate kindness and compassion through meditation. In addition to its educational initiatives, Support Kindness provides humanitarian aid worldwide.

8-Day Kindness Meditation & Yoga Retreat Nepal

September 24 to October 1, 2022

This retreat is limited to 12 participants

The following are included in your retreat package:

• Welcome reception dinner
• 7 nights private room (single occupancy) luxury accommodation 
• 5-Star hotel in Kathmandu
• 5-Star hotel in Lumbini
• 4-Star resort hotel in Pokhara 
• Full board with breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• You will have a choice of delicious vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals 
• 3 professional yoga, breath work and meditation sessions
• 3 Deeply nurturing meditation & kindness storytelling sessions with Dr. Zeal
• A complimentary copy of the book, You Can Never Go Wrong By Being Kind
• Unlimited access to fitness & spa facilities with Sauna, Pool, Jaccuzi, and/or Steam room
• Inspiring guided tours to exquisite stupas, monasteries, temples, and sacred sites
• Sightseeing of breathtaking views of Nepal's natural beauty
• Hiking tour to the World Peace stupa in Pokhara
• Boat ride to visit the Tal Barahi Temple island in Pokhara
• All domestic transportation, including domestic flights
• Applicable entrance fees at temples, shrines, monasteries and monuments
• Free wifi in all resort areas
• All taxes included
• Send off Dinner with entertainment
   
  

The following are NOT included in your retreat package:

• Your international airfare
• All expenses of personal nature, phone calls, laundry, etc.
• Travel/medical insurance (Required)
• Nepal visa fee, payable directly to officials US$30
• Alcoholic beverages and special drinks, such as smoothies
• Expenses of personal nature
• Expenses in case of any rescue operation
• Additional expenses due to cancellation of internal flights
• COVID PCR test charge, if needed, approximately US$15
• Any other services not listed as included

RETREAT ROGRAM

Day 1 (Saturday September 24) Welcome to Kathmandu, Nepal. Namaste!

Nepal is one of the most enchanting travel destinations in the world, a heady mixture of unique culture proudly preserved, mind boggling adventure and remarkable natural beauty.

Located between India and Tibet, Nepal offers a fantastic array of attractions for tourists. It is best known as the home of the Mt. Everest but there is much more to the country than just one mountain. Nepal is a fascinating land of ancient history, vibrant cultures and people and scenic grandeur. It is also one of the richest countries in the world in terms of bio-diversity due to its unique geographical position and latitudinal variation. 

Nepal has a rich and a most diverse culture because of its unique location between the world’s two largest and ancient civilizations.

Nepal is the holy land of Lord Pashupatinath and Gautam Buddha, where the Hindus and Buddhists have coexisted for centuries in total harmony. Lord Buddha, the ‘light of Asia’, was born in Lumbini in Nepal’s southern plains, which makes Nepal a sacred pilgrimage destination for all Buddhists as well. The temple of Pashupatinath is Nepal’s most sacred Hindu shrine and one of the four most important sites in the world for Shiva worshippers.

Kathmandu is the largest city, the capital and heart of Nepal. Once thought to be the fabled and inaccessible Shangri-La, Kathmandu is a hub for independent travelers as well as a growing vacation spot catering to all budgets. In the distant dawn of unrecorded time, so legend tells us, the valley of Kathmandu was a turquoise lake with a wondrous lotus flower resting on it. Manjushree (Padmasambav), a patriarch saint from China sliced the valley wall with his flaming sword of wisdom at Chovar and let the dry land appear. The lotus flower settled on the valley floor over which Manjushree built the great stupa of Swoyambhunath. The Kathmandu valley comprises the three ancient Royal cities of Patan, Bhaktapur and Kathmandu having their own palaces and ornate palace squares each listed as World Heritage sites. There are cobbled lanes of the palace squares with a fascinating maze of temples, shrines, market places and life revolving around it.

Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the luxurious 5-star hotel, Yak & Yeti in Kathmandu.

Relax and enjoy the spa and refreshments at Yak & Yeti until dinner time.

 Join us for a welcome Dinner & Traditional Nepalese Performances

Day 2 (Sunday September 25) Activities in Kathmandu

Start your morning with a one hour YOGA session with a local certified yoga master, followed by a 20 minutes meditation on the inner light and sound current.

Yoga, an ancient meditation system for purification of mind and body has its own significance in Hinduism and Buddhism. The combination of yoga cultural tour & walking tours in the lap of Himalaya is a lifetime experience.

The session includes Chanting, Meditation, and Karma Yoga.  Besides yoga stretching and breathing,  you can gain profound spiritual insights during the session.

After yoga, enjoy breakfast and prepare for a day of exploration.

Later, full day visit Kathmandu Durbar Square, Swoyambhunath stupa and Patan Durbar Square. Kathmandu Durbar Square is located in the heart of old city Kathmandu. The founding of the Durbar (Royal Palace) dates back to Licchavi times. With considerable renovations by Malla rulers and later the Ranas, construction was accomplished progressively over many centuries. There are around 50 temples in the vicinity. Visit the 17th Century Durbar complex, Hanuman Dhoka, Parvati temple, great Bell and Drum, Bhairav, Taleju Temple and array of temples grouped around it. A few steps away is the Temple of the Living Goddess, where the clients may catch a glimpse of the Kumari at one of the open windows overlooking the inner courtyard. All around the splendorof historical monuments is the hustle & bustle of the market place. Vegetable vendors, trees of flutes, salesmen with their wares displayed on their person, souvenir hawkers, and street shop selling imported goods and tucked away in a quiet corner the glittering bead market for custom made bead necklaces.

Atop a green hillock west of Kathmandu stands the great stupa of Swoyambhunath, a site over 2,500 years old marking the point where the legendary patriarch Manjushree discovered the lotus of the ancient Valley Lake. Swoyambhunath offers a bird’s eye view of the Kathmandu city. This huge stupa is one of the holiest Buddhists sites in Nepal and its establishment is linked to the creation of the Kathmandu. The faithful circumambulate of the stupa clockwise, turning the banks of prayer wheels and even prostrating full-length are done in reverence.

Patan is also known as Lalitpur or the "city of fine arts" and is the oldest city in the valley. This Buddhist City is said to have been founded by Emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC.

Patan is the cradle of arts and architecture of the valley, a great center both of the Newari Buddhist religion and of traditional arts & crafts with 136 bahals or courtyards and 55 major temples. Well known among these are the Krishna Mandir and Hiranya Varna Mahavihar besides other temples.

Enjoy Lunch at an authentic Nepalese restaurant.

Dinner and overnight at  hotel Yak & Yeti, Kathmandu.

Day 3 (Monday September 26) Activities in Kathmandu & Lumbini

Day 4 (Tuesday September 27) Activities in Lumbini

Day 5 (Wednesday September 28) Activities in Lumbini & Pokhara

After breakfast, pack your bags. It's time to say goodbye to the Holy land of Lumbini and head to the airport. We're flying to Pokhara (25 minutes flight). 

Pokhara is a remarkable place of natural beauty, situated at an altitude of 900m from the sea level and 200km west of Kathmandu valley. The enchanting town has several beautiful lakes and offers stunning panoramic views of Himalayan peaks. The serenity of lakes and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them create an ambience of peace and magic.

Your guide will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the luxurious 4-star luxury accommodation, Mount Kalish Resort Pokhara

Later, visit Pokhara including Davi’s fall, the old Bazaar and Bindhyabasini Temple and boat ride on Phewa Lake. Locally known as Patale Chhahgo, Davi’s fall is an awesome waterfall lying about 2km south-west of the center on the highway to Tansen. In July 1961, Swiss couples were bathing in the stream Pardi Khola, just above the fall. A sudden flood from the Fewa Dam swept away Mrs. Davis and mysteriously disappeared down in to an underground passage beneath the fall. Since, fall has been called Davi’s fall. Pokhara’s traditional old bazaar is colorful and is ethnically diverse. Newar architecture and craftsmanship is expressed in its temple and windows. The past richness is expressed in its art and craftsmanship. Bindhyabasini Temple is the center of religious activities in the old bazaar. It is dedicated to Goddess, Bhagawati, and another manifestation of Shakti. On Tuesdays and Saturdays people sacrifice animals and believe that she will help them fulfill their desires and wishes.

 Enjoy lunch and dinner

Enjoy some free time: Go for a walk, socialize, enjoy the spa or fitness facilities. Then join us for evening meditation.

Evening meditation session with Dr. Zeal Okogeri, who will guide you to meditate on the inner light and sound current.

Day 6 (Thursday September 29) Activities in Pokhara