Dal-Bhat Cooking Retreat in the Hills

Bandipur or Pokhara

Highlights

• Master Nepal's national dish — dal bhat — in a hilltop setting with Himalayan views and farm-fresh ingredients.
• Culinary Tour · 4 Days
• Small group, guide-led

Day-by-day itinerary

1. D1

   Arrival & Farm Orientation

   Arrive at your hilltop cooking lodge. Walk through organic vegetable terraces to harvest ingredients for your first dal bhat — seasonal greens, tomatoes, and herbs. Your instructor explains the Nepali kitchen's hierarchy: dal (lentils) first, then tarkari (vegetables), then masu (meat), all served around a mountain of rice.

   Bandipur or Pokhara As per plan

2. D2

   Mastering the Dal: Lentil Science

   Spend a full day on dal — the heart of the meal. Learn to prepare different varieties: mung dal (light and digestive), masoor dal (earthy and quick-cooking), and the prized black gram dal (kaalo daal) that requires overnight soaking and slow simmering. Understand the tempering (jhanne) technique that transforms plain lentils into aromatic soup.

   Bandipur or Pokhara As per plan

3. D3

   Tarkari & Achar: Vegetables & Pickles

   Master the vegetable curries and pickles that accompany dal bhat. Learn aloo bodi tama (potato, black-eyed pea, and bamboo shoot curry), a Kathmandu classic. Make tomato achar and sesame pickle in a traditional wooden mortar. Afternoon visit to a local market to understand seasonal produce cycles.

   Bandipur or Pokhara As per plan

4. D4

   The Complete Meal & Mountain Farewell

   Prepare a complete dal bhat spread from scratch — including rice cooked over a wood fire for the subtle smoky flavor that Nepalis prize. Serve your meal to a local family and receive their feedback. After lunch, a final Himalayan viewpoint walk before departure.

   Bandipur or Pokhara As per plan

Price includes

• Local storyteller guide
• Stays as per itinerary
• Daily breakfast
• All ground transfers

Make it yours (upsells)

Everything apart from the trip itself is an upsell — tick what you want.