Dancing with Shamans in Temal

For generations, Nepal's full moon nights have marked a powerful rite of passage for the country's shamans. Deep into the night, apprentice shamans gather in a forest clearing near Kathmandu Valley to dance, chant, drum, and connect with the spirit world — seeking the blessing and recognition needed to become fully empowered healers. This short break brings us to Temal, one of two places where socialtours offers respectful access to this powerful ceremony, alongside the more remote alpine setting of Gosainkunda. Temal's accessibility makes the experience possible in a single overnight, without the demands of a multi-day trek. Guided by decades of local expertise in the region's spiritual traditions, we travel by private 4WD, stopping along scenic and cultural points of interest before settling into accommodation in Temal for the night. What follows is a rare and genuine spiritual gathering — chanting, drumming, dance, and devotion carried through till dawn. This is a living tradition, practised as it has been for centuries, and we attend as respectful guests. It's a side of Nepal, and of festival culture, that remains largely unknown beyond the communities who keep it alive.