Himalayan Retreat: Yoga in the land of Gods

A magical journey into the sacred mountains of Himachal Pradesh

Delhi - Shimla - Rukhla - Chandigarh - Delhi

Dates TBA

 

This autumn, we’ll retreat to a secret hideaway nestled in lush forests and surrounded by historic temples to open and find ourselves. We will immerse ourselves into a deep, grounding and nourishing Yoga and Meditation practice along with healing ancient Ayurvedic therapies based on our individual body-mind.

Time seems to stand still in this little village, where people walk through the forests on footpaths used by nomads since thousands of years, where the forest is still shared with wild bears and leopards, where Himachali culture and traditions live on unabated and an air of mysticism permeates everyday life.

 

Himalayan Yoga Retreat: Program

• arrival in Delhi
• retreat initiation ceremony with our family priest, jet lag recovery
• guided heritage tour in Delhi
•  train to Kalka and scenic ride to Shimla on the Kalka-Shimla UNESCO Toy Train
• explore Shimla and it’s colonial history

• main yoga & meditation retreat at our remote mountain retreat
• celebrate a truly unique Diwali, the festival of lights and India’s biggest hoiday, together with the local village community •  retreat closing ceremony and farewell, travel to Chandigarh and stay overnight
•individual departures from Chandigarh Airport


 

You can get a glimpse of what the Himalayan Retreat is all about in this beautiful trailer:


Himalayan Retreat: Ground, nourish and heal yourself with Yoga, Meditation and Ayurveda

During the retreat we will be absorbed in a deep practice of traditional Hatha Yoga and rejuvenating Restorative Yoga. This practice is designed to suit the beginner as well as the experienced practitioner and will include Asana (physical Yoga postures), Pranayama (breathing exercises), Dhyana (Meditation) and Yoga philosophy. The day will start with a classical revitalising Hatha Yoga class and end with a deep Restorative Yoga class. Our heart will be at the center of our practice: you will learn to let go of the patterns that imprison your heart, to open yourself to love, discover the wisdom of your body, reconnect with your heart and trust its intuitive voice.

A typical retreat day during the main retreat will look like this*:

06:30am: wake up
06:30am - 07:00am: bathroom and jala neti (nose cleansing)
07:00am - 07:30am: herbal tea & small snack (in Silence)
07:30am - 08:00am: meditation practice
08:00am - 09:30am: Hatha Yoga & Pranayama class
09:30am - 10:00am: group breakfast
10:00am - 11:30am: free time
11:30am - 12:00pm: silent time in nature, Ajapa Japa (concentration technique)
12:00pm - 01:00pm: Yoga philosophy & group discussion
01:00pm - 01:30pm: group lunch in silence
01:30pm - 03:30pm: free time (on some days: Yoga philosophy session)
03:30pm - 04:00pm: evening tea
04:30pm - 06:00pm: Restorative Yoga & Pranayama class
06:00pm - 07:00pm: group dinner
07:00pm - 09:30pm: free time (on some days: evening program)
09:30pm: bedtime
10:00pm: lights off

*the schedule might vary based on external circumstances and special events


Himalayan Retreat: Accommodation

All our properties are vetted by us personally and we are grateful to call some of the owners our friends. For this trip, we've mostly selected properties that allow us to enjoy an exclusive stay as a group, making you feel as if you'd be on a trip with a group of friends. We chose to stay in boutique properties with a history and all of these properties are in calm locations (very important for us in India) and surrounded by a lot of green.

Delhi: Sham Nath Villa
Set amidst lush gardens and shady trees, family-run Sham Nath Villa has retained its old world charm and colonial architecture. It escapes the constant noise and pollution of the inner city, yet remains within easy access to the city's most magnificent monuments. 

Rukhla: Himalayan Orchard
A family run apple orchard surrounded by snow-capped mountain views, silence, wilderness and crsip fresh air. Located in a remote Himalayan village called Rukhla in Himachal Pradesh. The home grown and organic food is freshly cooked by the hosts.

Shimla: Meena Bhag Resort
Meena Bagh is a typical Himachali home with wood-panelled and mud-plastered walls, situated in the capital of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla. thoughtful design, architechture, sustianbale practices and comfort are beautifully woven together.

Chandigarh: The Oberoi Sukhvilas Spa Resort
Sukhvilas is set against a backdrop of the 8,000 acres of Siswan Forest Range and the foothills of the Himalayas. Listed as ‘One of the World’s Greatest Places’ by TIME Magazine in 2018 and designed with your utmost comfort in mind.


Organic cuisine:

We serve freshly cooked vegetarian, organic and ayurvedic food during our main retreat, introducing you to India's magical spices and incredible variety of dishes. However, we adapt our dishes to suit the typical Western tongue and belly (i.e. the food will be less spicy than normal :) ). You will also get the chance to learn some basic Indian recipes and get busy in the kitchen with us. As healthy eating is an integral part of Yoga, we will explore the basic ayurvedic principles of food together throughout the retreat. If you have any food allergies, please do let us know in the booking form.


Booking inquiry:

 

Early Bird Price:

€ 1,899 / £ 1,629 /

$2,129 / ₹1,50,000

Valid until TBA

Payment Policy: You can pay in full at once if you like. If not then you need to pay 30% desposit to secure your spot. The rest of the payment can be made in installements. Full payments must be made 30 days prior to the retreat.

Cancellation policy: The cancellation has to be delivered in written form.

Up to 90 days before the retreat: 50% refund
Up to 60 days before the retreat: 25% refund
Up to 30 days before the retreat: no refund


WHAT'S INCLUDED:

  • Welcome gift package: an assortment of luxury goods to get you off to a good start in India

  • Accommodation: 14 nights in deluxe double rooms in personally vetted boutique properties

  • Food: full organic, local, season vegetarian board in Shimla and Ruhkla, breakfast in Delhi and Chandigarh

  • Transport: Trains and buses from Delhi-Ruhkla-Chandigarh

  • Yoga & meditation: at least 2x 120 minutes per day during the main retreat (on travel days this will vary)

  • Workshops: at least 3x 90 minute workshops on yoga & ayurveda

  • Yoga props: during the retreat we will provide you with a mat, bolsters, blankets, belts and a jala neti pot

  • Ayurvedic therapies: 1-2 Ayurvedic massages from authentic Ayurvedic practitioners and healers

  • Spiritual ceremonies: opening and closing ceremony with a Hindu priest and Diwali celebrations

  • Tours: guided tours

  • For full booking terms and conditions please click here.


What you'll have to Cover Yourself:

  • Visa for India: you can find all information about the visa here , we also advise you to consult with your local Indian consulate or visa office for in-depth requests

  • Flight to India: your own flight to and from Delhi

  • Airport transfers: we can organise pick-ups for you from Delhi airport on your arrival but you will cover the cost yourself

  • Return from Chandigarh to Delhi: your own flight from Chandigarh back to Delhi if you fly home or elsewhere if you continue your travels

  • Lunch and dinner in Delhi, Chandigarh: we will organise lunch and dinner at good restaurants for the group where each participant will cover their own expenses

  • Travel and health insurance

  • Additional activities: e.g. massages besides what is included in the price, Ayurvedic pulse reading, extra services, entry fee during sightseeing etc.

  • Spending money and gratuities


Prepare for your retreat

India is a country like no other in the world: it is full of vibrancy, colours, scents and sounds. Sometimes, this can feel overwhelming for people who are used to the comparatively quiet Western world. Oh, there is also a lot of people! The secret to enjoying each aspect of your travel and getting in touch with the magic soul of India lies in taking things slow and in a relaxed fashion. Maybe you can already find some time before the retreat to find some more calm time for yourself. Start slowing down a bit, take a bubble bath in candlelight, wrap yourself up in some warm blankets, get a steaming cup of tea and read a nourishing story for your soul, eat slowly and consciously - don't rush to India straight from your office desk. 

We will travel in safe and clean spaces, but please come well prepared. This includes checking for recommended vaccinations, carrying a small personal travel pharmacy kit, digital scans of your passport and important documents stored safely on the internet (e.g. Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), getting appropriate travel and health insurance, etc.. You will receive a packing list from us with things you should bring to the retreat after your booking has been registered. If you have any questions regarding the retreat preparation, feel free to reach out to us at any time!