India Yoga Retreat

All activities listed on the schedule are totally voluntary, and you are completely free to join or not join any activity planned in alignment with your desires at any given moment.

This tour is designed to be a convenient introduction to India. It aims to familiarize you with the environment & culture, and connect you with places that you may want to return to by yourself.

Each day there is allocated Free Time to do as you please, and you have total authority to do whatever you want to do with your time in India. Hopefully you will love the scheduled activities, see their value, and want to flow with the program… but if you need extra time alone to relax by the Ganga, we totally understand and support you in that.

If you want to stay in India and continue your travels alone rather than heading back to Delhi with the rest of the group, then you may stay on in Rishikesh, or continue your travels alone.

You need to apply for an Indian Tourist Visa in advance.
India now offers a 60 day, double entry E-Visa for many countries which is applied for and processed online.

You can apply for the Indian online visa here: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/

You fill out the application and make the payment online and in a few days they send you back a visa which you print out and have inside your passport when you take your flight.

You must wait until 34 days prior to your departure to submit your online application, and the cut off date is 4 days before your flight at the latest… but please don’t leave it to the last minute!

If you intend to stay for longer than 60 days, you need to apply for a regular a Tourist Visa allowing you entry for 4, 6, or 12 months.

If you are a resident of the United States you may want to consider applying for a 10 year visa which actually does not cost much more than a standard tourist visa and can save you the hassle of needing to apply again if you intend to return to India any time in the next decade.

The E-visa is a fast and easy answer to getting an Indian visa. Be aware that applying for a longer Indian visa can be time consuming and confusing.

There are many Indian travel agents who offer scam Indian visas online. Do not under any circumstances post your passport to an online Indian Visa agent. Please be sure that your visa is applied for through the Indian Immigration Department only.

Read About Getting a Visa For India

Be aware that peoples of some nationalities such as Pakistan are refused entry to India. Please check your visa eligibility before applying for this retreat.

It is our aim to facilitate a safe program, and offer a group environment in which we all look out for each other & feel comfortable & relaxed together. Practical advice on how to keep your belongings and money safe will be offered at the Orientation, as will some guidelines for women when interacting with Indian men, and general street smarts. We will offer you tips & helpful guidelines, but it is up to you to implement them, along with your own intuition and common sense.

YOU ARE 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN SAFETY AT ALL TIMES.

​You are also responsible for your own health and travel insurance, which you should organize in advance. Please bring a discrete money belt that may be worn under clothing in addition to your normal bag, which should close securely.

India is notorious for having unsafe food options, and the reality is that many people do get sick at some point during their stay in India. This may happen to you, it may not. Rishikesh has a high number of Western tourists and there are many safe places to eat, compared with other areas of India. Guidelines for safe eating & drinking will be provided at Orientation.

We will show you our favourite places to eat, where we have personally had consistently fantastic eating experiences.

We recommend that you take probiotics leading up to and for the duration of the tour. Also bring with you some capsules of Citrus Seed Extract, Garlic Oil or Oregano Oil which may be taken with each meal to help kill any potential bacterias or parasites, and a small bottle of hand sanitiser.

Some people feel that it is important to vaccinate themselves against many diseases before heading to Asia. You may be interested to go to see your doctor if you feel that you would like to be vaccinated as a precaution before coming to India.

You can read more about vaccinations for travel in India here:  Learn About Vaccinations

India has ATM’s which accept major cards.
As we are only coming for a short period of time, it is good to bring cash with you in USD to save yourself in ATM fees.
It is very easy to exchange US dollars everywhere, but unlike other countries, you will get a much better exchange rate outside of the airport, so do not exchange money when you land, we will take you to a good currency exchange in Delhi.
Travellers checks are outdated, don’t bring them with you.

November in Rishikesh offers excellent weather; warm sunny days in the high 20’s and cool evenings with temperatures dropping below the 20’s.

Daily Schedule

Modesty is very important in India, particularly for women. It is important that you respect local customs and bring loose-fitting clothing. No shorts or low-cut tops, not even for yoga practice. Shoulders, cleavage and knees should be covered at all times. If you have loose pants for yoga this is preferable. If you only have tight leggings for yoga practice, this is fine, however, it is not okay to walk around the street in skin-tight leggings that show your full anatomy.

Days will be warm and it is fine to wear a sleeveless top if you also wear a light shawl. Because of the high number of Western tourists, Rishikesh is a little less conventional than other places in India, but out of respect to local people, please dress modestly.

It is very important that you understand, that Indian men are not accustomed to seeing women in tight clothing or showing a lot of bare skin. If you dress this way in India, you will suffer constant unwanted interactions with men of a sexual nature. Dressing appropriately for Indian society shows maturity and cultural understanding that earns respect from Indian people. If this prospect challenges your freedom as a woman, please voice these concerns with us. It is a condition of this tour that all participants meet these basic dress requirements for the entire duration of the immersion.