Find balance and inner fortitude on a unique annual trek and retreat. A convergence of walking, Eastern arts, and leadership. In 2025, we journey to the sacred Rolwaling Valley and a mystical cave at Lawudo in the Himalayas in Nepal.
Jagariya is an adventurous trek and retreat that fosters self-leadership and insight with the spirit of the martial arts mindset. This unique experience will deepen your connection with body and mind while being immersed in the culture and nature of the magnificent Himalayas.
Embark on a 16-day Himalayan journey from March 31 to April 15, 2025. Travelling on a less-common and scenic approach from the Rolwaling Valley to the Khumbu Valley, we will visit Lawudo Cave and Gompa, a hermitage that is a beacon for all who seek an authentic, blessed, and naturally mystical place, before returning to Kathmandu.
We will be immersed in breathtaking views of the Himalayas while training the body, developing energy and compassion, and taming the mind. This is for those who want something that cannot be found in guidebooks. Together, we will stoke the fire of wakefulness through embodied practice. Learn to let go and rest. Embrace disruption and change by forging consistency, balance, and self-mastery. No experience in martial arts necessary.
Reclaim your energy and wakefulness
Join us for a transformative 16-day trek and retreat that integrates movement and energy work grounded in martial arts knowledge.
Drawing on the wisdom of the Buddha expressed through Tibetan, Theravadin and Chan teachings, as well as on Daoist, and Yogic traditions, this retreat blends mindful trekking with various modalities of work with the body to activate and build your Qi, which, in turn, fuels the practice of self-awareness. No previous martial arts experience is necessary. We will guide you through all the exercises.
As we move through rugged, breathtaking vistas, you will engage in training that applies martial arts principles, core methods of Qigong and resting the mind in its natural awareness and clarity.
You will learn foundational movement arts to generate energy and cultivate the art of deep rest to greet challenge and external conditions.
“Jagariya is where effort meets gentleness and precision: the origin of wakefulness”
— Evgenii Timofeev
Meet your trek leaders
Dr Kristina Mah (Renshi, 5th Dan Karate-ka; WKF karate world champion) is a martial artist, academic researcher, and creative artist. She has trained for over thirty years in Go-Ju Ryu karate and twenty years as an elite athlete representing Australia. Kristina has recently shifted her focus to training in the internal arts. Kristina’s PhD focused on the theme of ‘compassion’ at the intersection of Buddhist philosophy and design and technology. She continues to work to integrate ancient wisdom traditions, emphasising embodied ways of knowing across varied contexts. Through diverse projects, including spiritual retreats and researching empathy in human-computer interaction, Kristina aims to embed somatic, contemplative, and movement-based practices into research and practice, fostering self-cultivation and self-empowerment. Read Kristina’s full bio here.
Dr Evgenii Timofeev (founder of Embodiment of Real) is a spiritual practitioner, teacher of internal arts, and interdisciplinary movement artist from Russia’s Far East. He has trained extensively in Shotokan Karate, Shaolin Gongfu, parkour, and somatic approaches, integrating Daoist internal arts and physical theatre. Evgenii’s PhD bridges Lacanian psychoanalytic theory and Buddhist frameworks to explore how movement arts aid in processing trauma. His platform, *Embodiment of Real*, provides resources and lessons for inner cultivation, blending theory and practice. His journey includes time in China, India, and Southeast Asia, enriching his holistic approach to mind and body training. Read Evgenii’s full bio here.
Evgenii and Kristina discovered a shared love of martial arts, movement, Eastern philosophy, and nature that led them to develop Jagariya.
Jagariya’s methods and philosophy are informed by Evgenii and Kristina’s combined fifty years or so of embodied wisdom gained through training, practice, study, and teaching. Their approach draws on lived experience from karate (Go-Ju Ryu and Shotokan), internal arts (Qi Gong, Taijiquan, Nei Gong), Parkour, high-performance training, South East Asian ritual trance, yoga, and contemporary dance.
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Trek LeaderEvgenii Timofeev is a spiritual practitioner, student and teacher of internal arts and interdisciplinary movement artist. Originally from the Far East of Russia, Evgenii has spent periods of time in China, India and South-East Asia before settling down on Wurundjeri land (Melbourne, Australia) for his research and work.
Evgenii’s lifelong practice has developed from Shotokan Karate, Shaolin Gongfu, and the art of parkour. It has evolved through the study of somatic approaches, physical theatre, and Daoist internal arts. In his PhD, Evgenii has bridged Lacanian psychoanalytic theory and Buddhist framework for training the mind, showing how movement arts are indispensable in the process of navigating traumatic experiences. His current online platform, Embodiment of Real, offers a wide range of theoretical materials and practical lessons dedicated to the process of inner cultivation.
Hi there,
Thank you for visiting our website. We want to let you know that the idea of this trek started as a wish to bring together a group of open-minded and inspired people to engage in a challenge set in the heart of one of the world’s beautiful and fragile landscapes. Having travelled here many times before, I want others to forge a heartfelt connection with the sacred places in our itinerary, especially Lawudo Gompa, its carers and its community. I also wished to create an experience drawing from our years of embodied knowledge and practice of martial arts that you can practice throughout this epic experience, and be tools that can continue to support you after our 16-days together.
We hope this trek can contribute to enhancing wakefulness in the world through the development of self-awareness, attention, clarity and inner peace— qualities we feel the world needs now more than ever.
We are not travel agents, and the trek is not part of a larger organisation.
We have also long-standing relationships with our guiding team, Three Jewels Adventures, and people in the region. We are proud to work with local teams and promote ethical travel.
We look forward to meeting you!
Kristina and Evgenii
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Trek LeaderKristina Mah is a martial artist, academic researcher, and artist based on Gadigal-Wangal land (Sydney, Australia). Kristina’s movement practice is rooted in Go-Ju Ryu karate, where she has been a practitioner for over 30 years and trained as an elite athlete for over 20 years. Recently, Kristina’s focus has shifted to becoming a student of the internal arts.
Kristina’s work is committed to developing deeper understandings of ancient wisdom traditions and emphasises internalisation through embodied ways of knowing. This is expressed through the diversity of projects that she is engaged with, such as organising treks and spiritual retreats to researching empathy and compassion in human-computer interaction. At its core, her work seeks to embed somatic, contemplative, and movement-based practices to support self-cultivation and self-empowerment into research and practice.
What will you take away from Jagariya?
Applied martial arts principles and practices
Learn the art of deep rest
Foundations of Qigong - energy work
Development of the Dantian
Create conditions for Flow
Cultivate compassion
Approaches for making your life your Practice
Details here
Our itinerary
March 31 — April 15, 2025 (16 days)
Maximum 12 participants.
Arrive and gather at the sanctuary of the Hyatt Regency in the bustling Boudha district of Kathmandu, then venture into the mountains towards the Khumbu Valley taking a scenic approach from the remote Rolwaling Valley. Bookend each day with guided morning and evening practice, adapting to our energy levels and environment. At higher altitudes, we will especially focus on practices that activate the parasympathetic nervous system. Learn to cultivate deep rest in challenging conditions.
Enjoy four nights of rugged camping immersed in the mountains. Visit stunning sacred lakes, and maybe even dance with a dakini. Traverse a glacier and rest at Tsho Rolpa Lake (4580 m), one of the largest glacial lakes in Nepal, and cross the majestic Tashi Lapcha Pass (5,750 m/ 18865 m). Encounter pure devotion, love and resilience in the ‘mother of Lawudo’, Ani Ngawang Samten at Lawudo Gompa (4,850 m).
Practice, rest, and absorb the nourishing energy of Lawudo, home to the ‘Cave of Blissful Attainments’. According to Venerable Jamyang Wangmo, author of The Lawudo Lama, ”Just seeing [Lawudo] blesses and transforms the most hardened of hearts and minds to think only of Dharma in one’s life.” Participate in a special once-a-year ceremony dedicated to the swift return of the reincarnation of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche and the Lawudo Lama.
With time for tea at Namche Bazar, bid farewell to the mountains from a helicopter taking us back to Kathmandu. Conclude by savouring a final practice. Visit Boudha Stupa before returning home enriched with wakefulness and blissful energy.
Be prepared for possible changes as we go.
We will run through the daily activities and plan after breakfast every day.
Evgenii or Kristina will lead practice in the morning and evening, except for Day 3 and Day 15 when we will be travelling.
Day 1: Welcome to Kathmandu
- Check-in at the Hyatt Regency in Boudhanath
- Meet and greet fellow trekkers and guides
- Orientation
- Sumptuous welcome dinner at the Hyatt RegencyDay 2: Kathmandu
- Prepare for our journey
- Free to organise your lunch and dinner
- There is time to go shopping for gear if neededDay 3: Drive from Kathmandu to Simigaon (1997m)
- Jeep ride, 8-9 hours plus short walk, 1-2 hours to SimigaonDay 4: Simigaon via Kyalche to Dongang (2800m)
- Gradual ascent on the trail, with stunning views of Gaurishankar Himal
- Trekking 6 hoursDay 5: Kyalche/ Dongang to Beding (3650m)
- Cross the Rolwaling Khola
- Trekking 6-7 hoursDay 6: Beding
- Rest Day
- Acclimatisation and practices for restDay 7: Beding to Na Gaon (4183m)
- Continue acclimatisation
- A steady climb
- Trekking 4-6 hoursDay 8: Na Gaon
- Rest day
- Acclimatisation and practices for restDay 9: Na to Tso Rolpa Lake (4580m)
- Dudh Kunda Lakeside camping (in tents)
- First view of Parchemuche (Pachermo Peak) (6275m)
- Great views of many of the peaks of the Rolwaling Himal.
- Walking approximately 4 hours.Day 10: Tso Rolpa Lakeside Camp to Drolambu Glacier Camp (4,560m)
- Camping (in tents)
- Walking 7-8 hoursDay 11: Cross Tashi Lapcha Pass (5800m) (Tashi Labtsa) to Oder or Thengbo (4230m)
- We will descend to the eastern side of the Pass to camp at either Odar (cave) or Thengbo (in tents).
- Walking 6 to 8 hoursDay 12: Odar/ Thengbo to Thame (3820m)
- Staying at a family-run lodge
- Walking 6 – 7 hoursDay 13: Walk from Thame to Lawudo (3850m)
- Shorter walk, 2-3 hours
- Arrive at Lawudo for lunchDay 14: Lawudo
- Special ceremony (Puja) commemorating the anniversary of the passing of Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the recognised reincarnation of the Lawudo Lama Kunzang Yeshe.Day 15: Lawudo to Namche Bazar to Kathmandu
- On the road in time to arrive at Namche helipad by 10am
- Walking approximately 2 hours
- Catch a helicopter to Kathmandu
- Arrive at the Hyatt in the afternoon
- Free to organise your lunch and dinnerDay 16: Visit Kathmandu
- Final practice together
- Organise your lunch
- Farewell dinner at the HyattDay 17: Depart after breakfast
This trek immerses you in our unique approach designed to connect you with your energy and wakefulness to build vital inner tools for self-leadership.
You will learn and practice the quiet strength of Jagariya to meet each moment with presence and greet disruption and change with an openness to transform.
Tour Costs
$5085
Early bird pricing $4885 USD
All-inclusive package. Maximum 12 participants. Prices in US dollars.
TOUR COSTS INCLUDE
Sixteen nights of double occupancy
Shared occupancy at Hyatt Regency while in Kathmandu
Shared accommodation in lodges or tents while trekking
Shared room with or without an attached toilet at Lawudo
Single occupancy is available but limited; first come, first served
Helicopter flight from Namche to Kathmandu
Airport pick up and drop off
Donation of 10% of profit divided equally between Lawudo Gompa and Sargamatha Next
Guided daily movement, meditation practice and talks with Evgenii and Kristina
Local guides
All meals except Day 2 and Day 15, when you can buy your lunch and dinner.
COST DOES NOT INCLUDE:
Entry Visa to Nepal. Read more about visas here
Roundtrip airfare from your country to Kathmandu
Emergency medical and evacuation insurance is compulsory. Please send us a copy of your insurance policy by March 15, 2025. Read more about travel insurance here
Lunch and dinner on Day 2 and Day 15
Early Bird Pricing
Early Bird Pricing
Early bird pricing until
January 28, 2025
Save US$200 Book Now for
US$4885
16-day package. Maximum 12 participants.
Ready to register?
Please complete our short Jagariya Registration Form so we can ensure this journey and you are a suitable match. If you're accepted, we will send you your invitation with instructions for onboarding and payments. We will take note of your pre- and post-travel arrangements for your journey to Nepal. If you are waitlisted due to demand, we will do our best to include you on our next tour.
