INDIA YOGA RETREAT
Journey of a lifetime
19 – 29 October 2026
In stunning natural surroundings, this retreat will give you space to rest, reflect, reset, and restore.
Bookings open
About the retreat
The India Yoga Retreat will be a complete break from the usual routine. Your body will be given the space to reset, as you receive multidimensional nourishment: physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
It will take place from 19 – 29 October 2026, over 11 days and 10 nights in an authentic Indian ashram. Here you will be invited to immerse yourself in the beautiful rhythm of ashram living.
Expect daily Yoga classes, meditation, free time to relax, workshops, excursions (and probably a sprinkling of the unexpected), plus massages and pool time if you want them.
The retreat will gift you with a pause, which can provide a refreshed perspective on life.
It offers the perfect setting to plant and nurture seeds of self-care. These seeds will continue to blossom and flourish long after the retreat has finished. Ripples will keep rippling.
The retreat is for you if you are looking for an immersive and transformational Yoga retreat (beginners welcome), and a taste of India.
It provides the chance to reconnect with yourself, to spend time marinating in the various practices of Yoga (on and off the mat), from a foundation of playful curiosity (an invitation to drop the armour of seriousness we often carry).
Discover the enriching benefits of a Yogic lifestyle, and witness in the magic of India.
Suitable for all levels of Yoga experience, including complete beginners. Just come with an open mind and a warm heart (it will leave warmer).
Food and accommodation
You will be provided with three delicious wholesome vegetarian meals per day. Prepared according to ayurvedic principles, the food is fresh and deeply nutritious. An early morning herbal drink, and a light afternoon snack are also offered.
Accommodation is shared rooms (male / female), with people from the same retreat. There is usually up to 4 people per room (maximum), with one bathroom in each room.
Sharing living space is a powerful part of the retreat: you get to learn more about yourself (and likely make new friends!).
If you are travelling with a friend of the same gender and you would like to be placed in the same room, please state their name on your booking form and we will do our best to accommodate this.
Requests for couple’s or single rooms are not guaranteed, but based on the space available at the time of the retreat (which is not known in advance).
If granted, this will incur additional fees to cover costs for extra rooms AND additional organisation required to accommodate this. The fee may be in the region of starting from 25USD/22€ per person per night (estimated, actual fee may vary).
Example Daily Retreat Routine
5.45am: wake-up (see FAQs if this scares you!)
6.00am: herb drink
6.15am: mantra chanting
6.30 – 8.00am*: Yoga session
8.30am: Karma Yoga
9.30am: breakfast
11.00am – 1.00pm: workshop, optional lectures, or free time (swim in the pool, have a massage, sit in the garden)
1.30pm: lunch
4.30 – 6.00pm*: Yoga session, workshop, or Yoga Nidra
6.30pm: Havan fire ceremony
7.30pm: dinner
8.30 – 9.30pm*: group check-in, questions, stories, or free time
10.00pm: bedtime & lights off
This is an example of a typical day. It includes additional activities not specific to the retreat which you are welcome to attend.
The schedule is subject to change according to excursions or other factors
*daily activities specific to retreat group.
The Retreat Venue
The retreat venue is a Yoga ashram situated in a peaceful rural location surrounded by majestic countryside, in the Western Indian state of Maharashtra (about 4-hours by taxi from Mumbai International Airport).
The grounds include many plants, trees, and shady spots to sit and take in the scenery. There is a lake, vegetable gardens, and a dedicated meditation space for you to visit if you wish.
There will be other activities taking place at the ashram during the time of the retreat.
In addition to the retreat schedule, you will have the opportunity to attend Yoga lectures which are being offered as part of the courses running at the same time as the retreat. This, just like everything, is totally optional (you can just chill by the pool, read, or take a nap if you want to!).
You will also have free time to relax by the swimming pool, rest, or receive an ayurvedic treatment in the Ashram spa.
There is a small shop (usually open after lunch and dinner). Here you can find many interesting trinkets, clothing items, Yoga books, natural handmade body-care products (made on-site), essential oils, wholefood items (nuts, dried fruits), homemade sweets, and much more.
Excursions
During the retreat there will be excursions to
Early morning holy Shiva temple visit
The temple is a special place and quite an experience to visit early in the morning. You will also be able to witness rural Indian village life at its truest.
In the small close-by village of Trimbakeshwar, which is one of the four sites of the famous Kumbh mela.
We go there and back by taxi, usually arriving back in the Ashram in time for breakfast.
Sunrise hike up holy Hanuman mountain
Considered as a spiritual site which legend says is the birthplace of the deity Lord Hanuman (monkey god). On the way up you will see glimpses of the impressive sunrise, and spectacular views from the top, where you will find a tiny temple.
We go there and back by taxi, and take a picnic breakfast to have at the top. It takes approximately 2 hours to climb up (less time down!), we will usually be back at the ashram before lunchtime.
Day trip to Ellora Caves UNESCO world heritage site
Ancient caves featuring monolithic Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain art, impressively carved out of the rocks.
This is a full day trip, Ellora caves are approximately 3.5 hours by taxi from the ashram (each way). We will leave early morning and arrive back in the evening.
There will be no retreat specific classes on this day.
Day trip to Nashik city
Nashik is the closest major city, also considered holy and associated with the famous Kumbh mela (although Trimbakeshwar is the official site).
You can roam free here to visit the old city, the river, temples, and go shopping if you wish.
Nashik is approximately 45minutes by taxi from the ashram. You can go by taxi after breakfast, spend the day there, and a taxi will bring you back to the ashram usually by around 6pm.
When will the retreat take place?
19 – 29 October 2026 (11 days, 10 nights)
Monday 19 October ARRIVAL DAY (day one): collection from Mumbai or Nashik by midday (before this time is also fine!).
The venue will send a taxi (included in retreat price) to collect you from Mumbai International Airport (usual collection point), or Nashik office (if you are already travelling and want to come there).
Tuesday 20 October (day two) retreat schedule begins with morning Yoga.
Wednesday 28 October (day ten) retreat schedule ends with evening closing ceremony.
Thursday 29 October DEPARTURE DAY (day eleven): you may be required to vacate your room that morning but are welcome to stay at the venue during the day if your onward journey is later that day or night.
There are no retreat Yoga classes on arrival and departure days.
Your departure taxi will be organised for you by the venue, and is not included in the retreat price (it is payable by you). The fee for an individual person taxi to Mumbai airport is usually around 50euros (people are often leaving the venue on the same day, and shared taxis can be arranged. You may be able to share a taxi, or take one on your own).
Mumbai airport is approximately 4+ hours by taxi (depending on traffic) from the retreat venue. This taxi journey is part of the adventure, you will begin see India on your way to the retreat venue!
If you decide to spend any days in Mumbai before coming to the retreat, you can come back to the airport for your taxi pickup on the morning of day one (19 October: just be at the arrivals of the airport at the time we request, and the venue organises the taxi to collect you from there).
Love letters
“Helen’s yoga retreat in India was an incredible experience that I will cherish forever. I knew I’d be in safe hands despite not having been on a solo trip for a while and the experience went far beyond my expectations.
I have since taken 1 to 1 yoga classes with Helen online to develop my practice and have been inspired to qualify as a yoga teacher myself!
Helen’s zest for life is truly infectious, her courses and teachings are authentic, practical and empowering. She is most certainly a rare and beautiful soul, who enriches everyone’s life she touches.”
~Lydia (India, 2024)
“Truly one of the most incredible yoga classes I have ever had the privilege to attend. Helen is a very gifted teacher, and effortlessly creates a safe environment where each member of the class is guided to listen deeply to their own bodies. I have never felt so connected during a class, it was powerful and hard to describe but Helen’s voice and presence allowed me to slip into a very deep space within myself. Thank you, thank you! Would recommend to anyone and everyone”
~Bethan (Sri Lanka, 2020)
Investment
EARLY BIRD: 888€
(until 31 July)
FULL PRICE: 999€
(from 1 August)
FAQ
What is included
- Taxi pickup: from Mumbai Airport or Nashik to retreat venue (pickup on Monday 19 October by midday)
- 10-nights’ accommodation at retreat venue (shared room)
- 3 meals per day: delicious freshly cooked vegetarian food served at each meal, many of the vegetables are organic grown in the gardens. Morning herbal drink, and afternoon snack.
- Daily Yoga Sessions: exploring warm up movements, asana (Yoga postures), pranayama (energy breathing), meditation, Yoga philosophy and psychology, Sankalpa (positive intention setting), self-reflection, silence. 3+ hours of Yoga sessions most days
- Yoga Nidra: Yogic sleep / guided relaxation practice
- Natural Cosmetic Making workshop: learning to make creams and soaps using natural ingredients (samples to keep)
- Yogic Cleansing practices: you will be invited to participate in two simple Yoga cleansing practices during the retreat
- Mantra chanting: morning mantra chanting which you are welcome to join before we begin our retreat Yoga session
- Havan (fire ceremony): usually every evening, this includes mantra chanting and holy fire ceremony
- Karma Yoga: daily opportunity to practice selfless-service with your fellow participants
- Excursions: Trimbak holy temple, Holy mountiain sunrise hike, Elora caves, Nashik city
- Time in nature: the surroundings are beautiful, enjoy them. There will be at least one retreat Yoga session for sunrise or sunset outside in nature
- Kirtan: Bhakti Yoga (chanting) at least one session to chant together as our closing ceremony, and to raise the vibration before we depart
What is not included
- Flights and visas: a tourist visa is required to travel to India. This can be purchased online as a tourist e-visa from around 30euros (depending on visa length you select). Once you have booked your place you will be sent links about where you can apply for the visa, and of airlines offering direct flights between Europe / US and Mumbai. You can also ask a travel agent to organise the visa for you.
- Travel and health insurances: it is recommended that you organise your own comprehensive travel and health insurance as soon as you have booked your place on the retreat (travel insurance is obligatory for you to attend the retreat, you may be asked for a copy of the certificate)
- Taxi for your departure from the retreat: this can be organised for you by the retreat venue, but because participants may depart on different days, and their may be shared taxis available with people from other courses, the cost will be yours to cover. The taxi cost may be up to 50euros per person (equivalent in Indian Rupees), depending whether it is shared or for you alone.
- Tips: (for taxi drivers)
- Souvenirs: Shop Items in retreat venue (billed and payable at end of your stay)
- Any meals outside of retreat venue (on excursion days)
- Bottled drinking water: filtered drinking water is provided at the retreat venue but if you choose to drink bottled water this is chargeable and payable on your shop bill at the end of the retreat
Is everything on the program obligatory?
Everything on the retreat is offered as an invitation. Nothing is obligatory.*
To receive the deepest benefit from the retreat, you are encouraged to participate in retreat scheduled sessions, and some additional activities.
However, feel you need to skip something? That’s fine too. You can use your own discernment to decide.
*The only requirement is to respect the guidelines of the venue where we will be staying for the retreat.
Venue include:
accommodation arrangements, swimming pool,
silent times (usually between 10.30pm and 6.30am), no use of drugs, alcohol, or meat.
It is a non-smoking premises.
Payment Schedule
Deposit of 222€ is payable on application and reserves your place on the retreat.
This deposit is non-refundable (see terms and conditions).
Second payment for the Yoga part of the retreat (as outlined below depending on retreat option) is due by 31 August 2026, and confirms your place on the retreat.
Second Payment
Early Bird: 333€ (bookings by 31 July 2026)
Full Price: 444€ (bookings from 1 August 2026)
Payable to Helen direct to bank account or via PayPal (you will receive details once your place is reserved).
Final payment for food, accommodation, transport is payable direct to the retreat venue on your arrival, either in cash or by PayPal: this amount may vary slightly depending on exchange rates at time of payment (see terms and conditions).
Final Payment: 333€
Rooted in Nature.
Guided by Wisdom.
Designed for Deep Transformation.
Contact
For any questions about the retreat please feel free to be in touch here. We will be happy to answer any queries you may have regarding any aspects of the retreat, and will get back to you as soon as we can. We can arrange a discovery call to chat it through.
I cannot wait to share the retreat with you!
