Travel with a Local in Nepal

with DIWAS Photography

Food. Culture. Photography.

Your Great Nepalese Adventure Awaits

Join Diwas and Sadie for a rich + supported travel experience through beautiful Nepal

A “meet you where you’re at”, supportive travel experience in Nepal guided by Sadie and Diwas.

Featuring a plethora of cuisines, exposure to culture both living and still, photography to your hearts desire, memories to last a lifetime.

Taste, touch, and immerse yourself in all this amazing country has to offer. Join us as we curate and guide your connective experience into the culture, community, cuisine, and landscape of Diwas’ motherland and Sadie’s heart home.  While doing so, feel good that you back to the community, the economy, and Nepal herself by supporting small, local, impact by-design hostels, local businesses, organizations, and more.

“ They took me on an insiders journey into magical Nepal. I was introduced to a true local experience, including friends, family, food and hidden spots that you won’t find in a guidebook.”

Peter D.

2025 Small Group Tour Dates

Sign up by September 18th and SAVE $500!

February 15-24, 2025: 11 days, 10 nights. Family friendly, intergenerational tour.

March 10- 20, 2025: 11 days, 10 nights. 18+ to Seniors welcome.

Supported travel in Nepal focused on food, culture, photography facilitated by Sadie + Diwas, guides from local organizations committed to preservation and empowerment.

We also offer private tours + organizational retreats!

This trip is for you if you want to:

  • Open your heart and mind to a new land and culture.

  • Desire to find ease + joy in experiencing a new culture - with your family or as a solo/partnered adventure.

  • Have an off the beaten path, anti-tourist international travel experience.

  • Not into planning /booking a thing while experiencing a full spectrum of Nepal.

  • Learn, reflect, appreciate travel in community.

  • Support local initiatives, local community, and a small US based BIPOC business through your conscious travel.

  • Bring a sustainable + appreciative piece of Nepal home with you.

  • Receive stunning imagery of you living your best life in Nepal without the stress of preparing for a photo shoot.

This isn’t your ideal itinerary if you:

  • Are unable to meander along uneven ground for a few hours at a time.

  • Require 5 Star accommodations- spaces will be Nepali nice, but they are not always posh and the beds are different!

  • Eating ethnic foods like rice, beans and some spice is a hardship digestively or otherwise.

  • Are not interested in different ways of life or having your photo taken.

  • Punctuality is your middle name. Operating on Nepali time is a real thing. Nepal is known to be “shanti shanti” or “go with the flow” vibe because nothing except for unpredictability is predictable!

Your Nepali love story through our lens. Join us.

This trip is for you if you’ve always wanted to visit Nepal or South Asia but had felt it out of reach for whatever reasons.

Imagine yourself with us. Maybe you roll solo, or bring a partner, or your family with littles, maybe with your friend… any way you want to come, you’re welcome. Swagatum.

Travel with a local in Nepal in 2025. Find ease, community and joy. You’ll receive: 

  • an itinerary + accommodations without the stresses of being a tourist in a far away land. We’ve got you!

  • support in visiting historic UNESCO World Heritage sites, beautiful temples and Nepali architecture.

  • a professional photographer coaching you through his lens on travel photography and then gifting you a documentary-style gallery of your Nepalese escapades through their lens.

  • local and trusted guides taking exceptional care of you as we navigate the culture, city and the countryside.

  • knowledge of the spices and process to recreate your favorite Nepali meals for your friends and family at home.

  • knowing that you’re giving back to the Nepali community through your competent and compassionate tourism.

  • opportunities to cultivate relationships + create memories that will last you a lifetime.

A journey of a lifetime, without the stress of planning

Small groups. Curated itinerary. Compassionate + Competent Hosts.

Nepal is a multi-faceted country with so much to offer. We will open a window of insight that can only be shared from the experience of someone who knows first-hand what Nepal encompasses - from the gorgeous landscape, beautiful architecture and the exquisite cuisine, to Nepal’s industries of tourism, agriculture, textiles, handicrafts and so much more.

“… I had my life transformed in unexpected ways that are still with me today. Be prepared to have all of your senses newly awakened and altered, even your sense of time.”

Peter D.

Experience deep cultural immersion.

We’re not about appropriating the culture to make it more palatable for our small community of travelers. We will offer you:

  1. Education and insight on the cultural cues and clues of Nepal. We want to support you in being cultural competent visitors to this land as you enter into the homes and kitchens of our Nepali community. You could get started here

  2. Local chefs to teach you how to prepare traditional Nepalese foods. The foods you learn to cook are better shared with community, both in Nepal and back home.

  3. Diverse overnight stays in both urban and village settings where we will be supporting local families- as tourism is Nepals #1 industry. We’ll guide you to pack accordingly.

  4. Community visits which foster appreciation of the artists and labor within Nepali handicrafts and agriculture.

  5. History, folklore, and culture will be shared by Sadie, Diwas and a collective of trained guides. Expect insights, history and stories through your travels.

  6. Facilitation and community connection for other aspects of travel and experience you wish to have while in Nepal before or after your program with us.

  7. For families traveling, we will provide Nepali didi’s (older sisters) that will help you caretake your littles as you experience Nepal with a little more breathing room!

Cuisine

Explore ethnic Nepali meals and find yourself welcomed to the typically off limits space of a Nepali kitchen to learn how to prepare a handful of dishes by native Nepali chefs. Consider your soul fed. Take home spices, recipes, stories and more.

Culture

Immerse yourself in a metropolitan city, a village stay and a lakeside town. Learn about the people, life and industry of Nepal. Be guided through various UNESCO world heritage sites, and maybe catch a glimpse of the sun rising behind Mount Everest.

Photography

Professional travel lifestyle photography+ iconic portrait sessions provided daily, in the most magical spaces throughout your journey. Receive a full gallery of your love story through our lens by DIWAS Photography. Folks, this is priceless.

February 15-26, 2025

Families of all constellations - children + elders welcome

$5500/per person based on multiple occupancy for 10 days of supported family travel through Nepal. Children under 2 travel for free, children under 6 are 50% off, family of 5 or more? Reach out, we’ll get something special for you, too. We want ya’ll with us, contact me.

Tour fees include:

  • Pre- tour Zoom meeting with Sadie + Diwas

  • Packing and reading lists

  • Daily ethical travel experience

  • Nepali mobile phone during tour

  • Airport pick-up/drop-off: day before tour start/day tour ends

  • Domestic travel + site admissions per itinerary

  • Cooking classes

  • Meals per itinerary : breakfast, lunch, some dinners

  • Lodging in guest houses based on double occupancy

  • Cultural presentations + tours

  • Shopping Assistance on designated days

  • Supportive hosts/guides/family helpers

  • Closing ceremony w/reflections + slideshow

  • Photography by DIWAS Photography

  • Downloadable Gallery of High-Resolution imagery from tour

March 10- 21, 2025.

Suitable for Adults, Young Adults, Seniors + Elders

$5800/per person for 10 days of supported travel through Nepal. Inquire about a double occupancy discount if you’re willing to room with a friend, partner or same gendered tour participant.

Tour fees do not include:

  • Flights to Kathmandu Nepal

  • Travel insurance (required)

  • Tourist Visa

  • Alcohol

  • Medical Aid/Assistance

  • Immunizations required for entry

  • Meals/Accommodations before/after tour

  • Recreational activities outside of itinerary

What’s included… and what’s not

Sign Up + Investment

Sign up by November 18th and SAVE $500!

We have a short application to learn a bit more about you as you express interest. After acceptance, we’ll send you a welcome letter followed by invoice, Terms + Conditions, Waivers, Packing List, FAQs, and itinerary.

To secure your limited spaces $1000 deposit for the limited spaces available upon acceptance, payment plans available, balance due 45 days prior to tour start date.

More information to come soon - in the meantime check out our blog posts on Nepal : the food, the culture, the joy that is yet to come for you!

What others have said about traveling with DIWAS Photography as a local in Nepal:

“I traveled to Nepal in 2009 with Sadie and Diwas as my guides. It was my first trip to the Asian continent, and they took me on an insiders’s journey into magical Nepal. I was introduced to a true local experience, including friends, family, food and hidden spots you won’t find in a guidebook. And of course, they made sure I experienced all of the beautiful historic and natural sites that make Nepal famous. Over the four weeks, I had my life transformed in unexpected ways that are still with me today. Be prepared to have all of your senses newly awakened and altered, even your sense of time. On a personal note, Sadie and Diwas are kind, funny, easygoing, and all-around cool people. Bring an open mind, an open heart, and a sense of adventure, and Sadie and Diwas will take care of the rest.” Peter D.