The Himalayan Journey of a Lifetime
EPISODE 158: Listen using the player below, or click the links to your fave platform to subscribe and listen over there:
Why I Launched Back-to-Back Retreats for the First Time Ever
Happy Lunar New Year, welcome to the Year of the Fire Horse.
I’m recording this on the very first day of the lunar new year, wearing red (for luck, obviously), garnet earrings (my son’s birthstone), and declaring my words for the year:
Wild success. Abundance.
Whether you believe in astrology, energy, or symbolism, I’m leaning all the way in.
Because this year?
We are doing things boldly.
Including something I have never done before.
For the first time ever, I’ve launched two back-to-back Bleisure Life Retreats in the Himalayas.
You can join me in:
Bhutan: 1–7 October
Nepal: 8–14 October
Or the full 13-night Himalayan Journey of a Lifetime
And yes… it’s exactly as epic as it sounds.
Why the Himalayas?
In my office, I have an old South Asia map I bought in Dharamsala over 13 years ago.
It includes Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Burma, the entire Himalayan region.
I didn’t know then how deeply this region would shape my life.
But now?
It feels like coming home.
I’ve been partnering with Indus Bound (boutique South Asia travel specialists) for nine years now. Together, we’ve created retreats in:
And this year — we go higher.
To the heart of the mountains themselves.
Bhutan: The Country That Changed Me Forever
Bhutan is unlike anywhere else in the world.
It measures success through Gross National Happiness, not GDP.
It sits tucked between India, China and Nepal, a quiet kingdom that feels untouched and deeply intentional.
When I first visited, I trekked to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, the iconic temple built into the cliffside.
While sitting there, I asked my guide about the philosophy of Buddhism across different countries.
He smiled and said:
“Be good. Do good. You are good.”
And I cried.
Because what I learned in Bhutan was this:
You are enough.
Having enough is enough.
Being good is enough.
When your cup is full, you give from overflow.
When you are content, you elevate others with you.
That lesson has stayed with me ever since.
And now, we get to experience it together.
Nepal: The Mountains That Shift Your Perspective
Nepal holds a very special place in my heart.
I’ve visited four times.
I trekked to Everest Base Camp.
I have a family there who call me Maili, “second daughter.”
The Nepali people are humble, welcoming, gentle, adventurous.
The scenery?
Not gentle at all.
You cannot stand in front of the Himalayas and remain the same.
Everest is 8,800 metres high.
When you’re standing there, you genuinely cannot fathom it.
The sheer scale of it forces something inside you to expand.
Perspective shifts are inevitable in the Himalayas.
And that’s why we go.
This Is Not A Tour
Yes, we will explore.
Yes, we will travel between destinations.
Yes, we will experience culture, temples, mountains, and sacred spaces.
But this is not a tick-the-box trip.
This is a Bleisure Life Retreat.
Which means we work through:
You’ll reflect on:
This is about designing a life you don’t need a holiday from.
The future isn’t “one day.”
It’s tomorrow.
It’s next week.
It’s now.
Why October?
The Himalayas get very cold. Snow is possible.
October is that sweet spot:
It’s intentional.
Like everything we do.
Come for One. Or Come for Both.
Each retreat is six nights.
If you join both, there’s a rest day in Kathmandu between them, creating a 13-night immersive journey.
The workshops follow the Bleisure Life framework, but no retreat is ever the same.
Because:
You could repeat this work yearly and get entirely new results each time.
Growth is never one-and-done.
Who Are These Retreats For?
They’re for you if:
Maybe business is thriving, but self-care isn’t.
Maybe travel feels far away.
Maybe you need perspective.
Maybe you need courage.
Or maybe you simply need to remember who you are.
The Transformation Begins When You Say Yes
I always say:
The transformation begins at the transaction.
The moment you commit.
The moment you put down your deposit.
The moment you decide you’re worth this.
That’s when the shift begins.
And honestly?
I will never run these retreats exactly like this again.
Not in these destinations.
Not in this order.
Not with this group.
Because I evolve.
And the world evolves.
This truly is a once-in-a-lifetime combination.
Ready To Join Me?
Bhutan: 1–7 October
Nepal: 8–14 October
Or the full Himalayan Journey of a Lifetime
Full details, itineraries, FAQs and booking options are available on the Rest & Receive website.
If you’re even a little curious, reach out.
These are meaningful investments of time, energy and finances.
They deserve thoughtful consideration.
And I would love to explore whether it’s right for you.
This is your year of wild success and abundance too.
Let’s meet in the mountains.
With gratitude,
Emma Lovell
The Bleisure Coach
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