Moreover, Nepal is turning into quite a spiritual supermarket. The past few years have seen an explosion of outfits teaching yoga and meditation in the Kathmandu Valley, and centres are starting to pop up in the other tourist watering holes. The allied health fields of ayurvedic and Tibetan medicine are also attracting a growing interest among travellers in Nepal. Many programmes are designed for those who are just starting out and don't require a lengthy commitment, although some do. Note that it's advisable to book any residential courses well in advance - fax numbers or email addresses are given where possible.

In these pages, we've provided a quick introduction to a few major practices