This journey is specifically designed to offer the perfect balance between sight seeing, culture immersion and time and space to practice, slow down & connect to your self, each other & the land.
A special custom-made journey in North India, the land of Seers and Seekers, Saints and Sages, Yogis and Yoginis.
During our 18 day program, we will immerse ourselves in the fascinating Indian culture, practice Yoga and meditation in the Himalayas, follow the footsteps of great saints in Rishikesh, the world capital of Yoga, on the banks of the sacred Ganges river, search for Bengali tigers and elephants in Jim Corbett National Park, pamper ourselves with Ayurvedic treatments and learn to cook dishes from the famous Indian cuisine. And before leaving the great continent we will visit the legendary Taj Mahal, a “must see” monument when you visit the Incredible India.
The trip is guided by Devgan, a French Yoga teacher, guide and photographer who has lived in India for the last 30 years, along with Eva Joan Ritchie, Yoga teacher and massage therapist who has traveled extensively throughout Asia and studied different Yoga traditions and styles of bodywork.
INCLUDED: 18 nights accommodation All meals All transfers and sightseeing All Monuments entrance fee as per the program. Train fare: New Delhi – Kathgodam in AC Chair Car Class (06h20/11h55). Train fare: Rishikesh – Agra in 2nd AC Sleeper Class (05h35/14h45). Corbett NP - Two Rounds Game Safari by exclusive 4x4 NAC Open Jeeps. Rickshaw ride in Old Delhi. Battery vehicle to visit Taj Mahal, Agra. 2x cooking classes Assistance for arrivals/departures. Goods and Service Tax (GST).
NOT INCLUDED: Visa for India International plane tickets Travel insurance (compulsory) Beverages Cost of photography and video on some sites All personal expenses. Ayurvedic treatments Tips: They are an institution! Never claimed emphatically, they are expected: carriers (100 rupees per bag in each direction); hotel services (laundry, room service, etc.) Bars & restaurants (5 to 10%), drivers, guides, jeep drivers and various animations (at your discretion). Note that service is not included in the bars and restaurants. Any expenses caused by factors beyond our control like flight cancellation, roadblocks, vehicle malfunction etc. Please note that in case of any significant foreign exchange fluctuations or amendment in local Government taxes, or any fuel hike, we reserve the right to adjust the tour price accordingly. Anything not mentioned in the above inclusion.
PRICING: Twin Share (includes U$500 deposit) ~ US$ 3400/ €3200 Single Occupancy (includes U$500 deposit) ~ US$3970/ €3650 Please note that there is no single occupancy during our stay in Binsar and that we will do our best to provide you with a great silent retreat buddyif you don't travel with one.
DAILY PROGRAM: Day 1. (Mon 3 March) Arrival in Delhi late at night. We will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. Time for a good rest before starting our journey in India Night in New Delhi.
Day 2. (Tue 4 March) Visit of Bazaar area – Gurudwara - Mosque After breakfast we will dive in the Indian culture by visiting a colorful bazaar area with a bustling fruit and vegetable market. The Sikh temple (gurudwara) Bengla Sahib will be our next destination this morning. This stunning Gurudwara attracts and feeds, for free, thousands of visitors, pilgrims and devotees every day. It is well known for its association with the eighth Sikh Guru, Guru Har Krishan, who stayed here in 1664 and healed many people suffering from a cholera epidemic. In the afternoon, visit of old Delhi quarter with its colorful and busy markets, and Jama Masjid mosque, one of the largest mosques in India. Jama Masjid's construction was started in 1644 and completed by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan. Made of red sandstone and marble, this gorgeous mosque can welcome more than 20,000 people at once during prayer. Night in the hotel in Delhi.
Day 3. (Wed 05 March) Train to Kathgodam – Road to Kasar Devi Transfer to New Delhi railway station to board the train to Kathgodam, beginning of our journey to the Kumaon Himalayas (06:20/11:55). A scenic drive to Kasar Devi, a peaceful hilltop village located at an altitude of 2000 m, renowned for its strong spiritual vibrations, small but well respected temple and extraordinary views of the Himalayan range with its 7000+ meter snowpeaks. (3/4 hr drive). Rest and short stroll to the Kasar Devi temple, dedicated to the Goddess Durga and her consort Lord Shiva. Night in Kasar Rainbow Yoga Retreat.
Day 4. (Thu 6 March) Yoga - All day in nature – Picnic – Visit of Chittai temple Morning yoga asana practice, followed by breakfast. Easy and beautiful walk through the pine forest to the Golu Dev temple at Chittai. It’s also known as the Bell Temple, where grateful devotees have offered thousands of brass bells as a thanksgiving for the deity. Picnic in the forest near an ancient Shiva temple. Night in Kasar Rainbow Yoga Retreat. (5 hours walk return) With option of coming back by car from the Chittai temple to Kasar Devi.
Day 5. (Fri 7 March) Yoga - Almora market - Cooking lesson – Free time – Option: Ayurvedic treatments Morning yoga asana practice followed by breakfast. Short drive to Almora bazaar. The market in Almora is a lovely pedestrian lane with ancient buildings and temples. We will visit the Nanda Devi Mandir, a temple dedicated to the local deities Nanda and Sunanda. Then we’ll go about finding the spices and vegetables for our cooking lesson. Stroll in the market and return to Kasar Devi. Indian cooking lesson with our host miss Juhy, followed by lunch enjoying the dishes we have learned to prepare. Afternoon at leisure, with options of Ayurvedic treatments in Kalmatia Sangam, an Ayurvedic clinic located near our hotel, or a walk in the forest. Night in Kasar Rainbow retreat.
Day 6. (Sat 8 March) Yoga - Waterfall – Picnic – Option: Ayurvedic Treatments Morning yoga asana practice, followed by breakfast. Walk down to a waterfall, a fairly steep descent through a pine forest all the way to the small waterfall in the valley. Relaxing time in the middle of nature with picnic lunch. Ascend back up through Maat village with its traditional Kumaoni houses. Rest of the day at leisure, with the option of Ayurvedic treatments in Kalmatia Sangam (4h walk return to the waterfall). Night in Kasar Rainbow retreat.
Day 7. (Sun 9 March) Yoga – Katarmal temple – Cooking lesson - Option of Ayurvedic Treatments Morning practice of asana and meditation, followed by breakfast. Short transfer to Katarmal, one of the only Sun temples in India, that is of great historical importance and believed to be more than 800 years old. This peaceful temple is well known for its intricate stone sculptures and beautiful views of the surrounding valley. Cooking lesson at the Kasar Rainbow retreat with our host Miss Juhy, followed by lunch prepared at the class, and free time. Afternoon booked for optional Ayurvedic treatments / walk in the forest. Night in Kasar Rainbow retreat.
Day 8. (Mon 10 March) Yoga – Visit of Jageshwar Temples – Transfer to Binsar Wildlife Sanctuary Morning yoga asana practice, followed by breakfast. Transfer to the Jageshwar temple complex, dating from the 12th century, dedicated to Lord Shiva. It consists of 108 small shrines, surrounded by a beautiful Himalayan Cedar (deodar) forest. Transfer to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Binsar, located at 2400 m altitude, where we are staying at a peaceful forest resort in the middle of nature. After lunch, a gentle afternoon walk in the ancient oak and rhododendron forest. After dinner we begin our 3-day silent meditation retreat. Night at Binsar Forest Retreat.
Day 9. (Tue 11 March) Silent meditation retreat. Day 1. Night at Binsar Forest Retreat. The first day of our 3-day retreat. This is a great opportunity for us to dive deep within ourselves in the supportive nature surroundings of our resort. The daily program consists of guided as well as silent meditation sessions, walking meditation, Yoga asana and pranayama (breathing exercises). We'll ask all participants to observe Noble Silence (no speaking or eye contact). We recommend switching off mobile phones during the retreat, to enjoy this special opportunity of silence and introspection on a deeper level.
Day 10. (Wed 12 March) Silent meditation retreat. Day 2. Night at Binsar Forest Retreat. Day 11. (Thu 13 March) Silent meditation retreat. Day 3. Night at Binsar Forest Retreat.
Day 12. (Fri 14 March) End Of The Silent Retreat Morning yoga asana practice, followed by a short meditation practice (Metta Bhavana). Today we will break the silence and share our experiences of the retreat. Walk inside the Wildlife Sanctuary, followed by lunch. Afternoon at leisure, with option for more walks. Night at Binsar Forest Retreat.
Day 13 (Sat 15 March). Yoga – Transfer to Corbett National Park. Morning yoga asana practice, followed by breakfast. Transfer day to Corbett National park. We’ll be saying goodbyes to the Himalayas and descending down to the plains, crossing picturesque countryside with many small villages. Lunch stop on the way. After arrival, free time, night in Infinity Resort or The Tiger Camp in Corbett. (6 hrs drive)
Day 14. (Sun 16 March) Full day Safari inside the park. Jim Corbett National Park, the country's first and most famous National Park, established in 1936. Morning and afternoon jeep safaris in the park. Whole day spent inside the park to discover the fauna and flora of India. Professional naturalists will be with us all day to guide us and tell us all we need to know about the wildlife around us. This enormous (1318 km2) park is home to tigers, leopards, deer, jackals, macaque and langur monkeys, wild elephants, bears and more than 600 species of birds. Night in Infinity Resort or The Tiger Camp in Corbett.
Day 15. (Mon 17 March) Transfer to Rishikesh (Ram Jhula)- Aarati in Parmath Niketan Ashram. Drive to Rishikesh (Ram Jhula) 3,5 hrs. We’ll be staying near a 135 m long hanging bridge, crossing the famous Ganges river, primarily used by pedestrians and two-wheelers. It offers stunning views of the holy river Ganges, the surrounding Himalayan foothills, and the colorful ashrams (Hindu monasteries) lining the banks of the river. Stroll in the markets and relaxed time on the banks of the sacred river, the perfect occasion for a dip in the Ganga to wash all your sins away! Evening Aarati worship ceremony at the Parmath Niketan Ashram on the bank of the Ganges. Night in the Great Ganga hotel.
Day 16. (Tue 18 March) Morning asanas - full day discovery of Rishikesh. Rishikesh has numerous ashrams, many of which are internationally recognised as centres of Indian traditions, philosophical studies, yoga and meditation. The day will be free today to explore Laxman Jhula and Ram Jhula, two scenic villages close to each other on the banks of the river Ganges. There are many small restaurants and cafes with nice views, as well as shops with colorful spiritual and gift items. Night in the Great Ganga hotel.
Day 17. (Wed 19 March) Transfer to Rishikesh Station + train to Agra (05.35 – 14.50) Early morning wake up to board the Kalingautkal Express train to Agra. The train station is located 15 mn drive from our hotel. Trains in India are very enjoyable, and without a train journey the experience of the Indian culture would not be complete! Vendors are passing through regularly to sell drinks and food and of course famous Indian masala chai. We will reach Agra in the afternoon and go to our hotel to check in. Afterwards, we will visit the Baby Taj (Itmad ud Daula), a remarkable Mughal mausoleum often described as the jewel box of Agra. Return to our hotel for dinner and rest.
Day 18. (Thu 20 March) Vist of the Taj Mahal at sunrise – Drive to Delhi – Visit of Dilli Haat Early start today for the visit of the Taj Mahal. The legendary Taj Mahal is considered to be the greatest architectural achievement in the whole range of Indo-Islamic architecture. It was built by the fifth Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan in 1631 in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal, a Muslim Persian princess. She died while accompanying her husband in a campaign to crush a rebellion, after giving birth to their 13th child. After breakfast, visit of the Red Fort of Agra, a UNESCO world heritage site. Then we’ll start the drive back to Delhi (3,5 h drive). We will stop on the way for lunch. In the afternoon, visit of Dilli Haat, a large but peaceful open area market where we can do some gift shopping and see a vast array of Indian art and crafts products, and samples of rural arts and folk culture. Stay at New Delhi Lemon tree hotel near the airport, for fast and easy transfer and departure back home.
Day 19. (Friday 21 March) Early morning departure back home... With hearts full of memories of the Incredible India! Thank You for being with us and Namaste!