Yoga Retreats
UNPLUG MINDFULLY AND MAKE YOUR LIFE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL SPENT
In intimate group settings led by Nicki Doane, use the awareness that comes with yoga to contemplate the world and travel. Maya yoga offers you safety and respite as you deepen your understanding of other cultures and new parts of the world. These trips make it possible for you to take your yoga practice into new territories and be inspired by mother earth. Focused yoga retreats are about nourishing your understanding, finding clarity, and being restored. This is your opportunity to practice in some of the most beautiful places in the world.
Enjoy lovingly made meals in breathtaking places as we deepen our connection with ourselves and fellow yogis. These retreats are a great time to get to know Nicki Doane and forge a relationship with yoga that will last a lifetime.
UPCOMING RETREATS
Divine Vistas: Embark on a Sacred Journey in South India
OCTOBER 5 - 18, 2024
Please join me on a profound spiritual pilgrimage and yoga journey to the enchanting lands of South India. This transformative expedition explores the rich tapestry of spirituality, culture, and ancient wisdom that thrives in this region. All are welcome, both experienced yoga practitioners and those new to it.
My own yoga journey began in South India, and it has been my dream to bring students and friends there to experience the wonders South India with me. India is the birthplace of yoga and I shall guide you as you create your own lasting memories of this incredible country.
By chance, I met Louise Nicholson this year in Bangalore. She not only loves India like I do, but has been studying India and leading groups there for about 38 years. I have partnered with her for our journey and she will be taking care of all the logistics and caring for your practical needs, before and during the trip. She and her experienced guides will introduce us to the places we visit.
This frees me up to be entirely focused on you, for daily yoga, meditation, chanting, breathing - as much as you wish; and to help you process the myriad emotions that India invariably stimulates. I have planned this trip so you have ample time to absorb all that you see. We will visit just four carefully selected contrasting places to experience their glories in depth - temples, sacred sites, museums, landscape - and have time for amazing shopping. Our itinerary will be flexible so we can take a slower pace when we wish, and take advantage of pop-up events such as a temple ritual.
Our journey begins at the spectacular site of Vijayanagar (its central village is Hampi). This medieval city with its magnificent ruins is the birthplace of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey god who I admire for his bhakti - love and devotion. At Bengaluru, where my yoga teacher Arun lives, we enjoy a contemporary city, my favorite boutiques and an incredible new art museum.
Then we go to Mysuru: on my first visit to India in 1991, I came here to study Ashtanga Yoga with Pattabhi Jois, and it retains its provincial charm. We shall visit the former Maharaja’s vast palace - he was a student of Krishnamacharya and built a yoga shala for him where both BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois studied.
We end our journey at Nagarhole National Park, known for its elephant conservation. Here we can relish the peace, contemplate our experiences, and share our yoga and meditation practice. I believe this trip - which I have designed to share with you - will be life-changing. Everyday, those who wish to can practice yoga together to set the tone of serenity and peace while we navigate the organized chaos that is India.
Please see the outline itinerary below, which also gives links to the very special hotels I have selected for us. Then email Louise for the Booking Form and to ask all your practical questions, or me to discuss our mindfulness experiences.
I look forward to traveling with you, Nicki
INVESTMENT
BOOKING FEE: $1,500 USD per person
THE TOUR: $5,985 USD per person, sharing a room | $1,910 USD Single Supplement
*This price is based on a minimum of 15 paying participants
THE ITINERARY
October 5 - Arrive in India, continue to Vijayanagar
Hotel - Evolve Back, Nivasa Room
Arrive in India, at Bengaluru (Bangalore) or Mumbai (Bombay, for which we arrange a short onward flight to Bengaluru). You may like to come in a day or so early, to adjust to the time difference and acclimatize; we can arrange that for you. Assisted with your onward afternoon flight to Vidyanagar. This evening, our group assembles.
October 6 & 7 - Vijayanagar
We have two and a half days to explore the extensive and magnificent ruins of this lengendary city, its monuments coated with narrative sculptures. Unwind, experience wellbeing with Nicki in different ways - walking sunrise/sunset, biking, climbing up Matangi Hill, visiting Hampi village and living temple (with its own elephant!). Enjoy nature walks, possibly take a ride on the river. And enjoy our hotel which has exceptional food, its own naturalist, ayurvedic doctors and spa staffed trained at Mysore.
Our Vijayanagar hotel is a contemporary high end deluxe hotel, designed in keeping with the great historic city it stands beside. Great food and spa.
October 8, 9, 10 Bengaluru (Bangalore)
Hotel - Taj West End, Luxury Grand Heritage Room
On October 8 afternoon, fly to Bengaluru.
We have two full days to enjoy this dynamic, gleaming city, its modern vibe, its arts including the new MAP museum, its cafes serving the special Mangaloran cuisine, and its contemporary fashion boutiques. With Nicki, who knows this city well, we have an inside track experience. She will also be creating solace and peace for us in leafy Cubbon Park, in Lalbagh Botanical Gardens and in our hotel’s mature, tree-filled 20-acre grounds.
Our Bengaluru hotel is the city’s top hotel, a historic landmark in the city-centre, in a cocoon of lush gardens; fully renovated, exceptional services.
October 11, 12, 13, 14 Mysuru (Mysore)
Hotel - Metropole, Heritage Room
On October 11 we drive to Mysuru, pausing on the way to visit Asia’s largest silk cocoon market, a lovely rural museum, a village famous for its silk weavers and artisan wooden toy-makers. Three full days to see Mysuru and its surroundings. In this city of palaces, we visit inside some of them to imbibe the legendary Maharaja of Mysore’s fairytale life. Around it, we visit Somnathpur’s temple coated in exquisite carving, Sravanabelgola sacred to Jains, hero Tipu Sultan’s summer palace which he lost to the British, and some good silk weavers - so important it is a state industry. Throughout our time, Nicki shares her favourite places and our Mysuru hotel is a historic hotel in the city centre dating from the British period, thoroughly renovated.
October 15, 16, 17 Nagarhole National Park
Hotel - Kabini River Lodge, Cottage
Drive down to the park. We spend this afternoon and two more full days in this long-established national park.
Our hotel: https://www.kabiniriverlodge.com/ Built at the maharaja’s hunting lodge beside the Kabini River, this historic accommodation is renovated, though retains it characterful simplicity. It is where all park trips and walks start and end, and its resident naturalists are excellent and help us enjoy the birds, animals, trees and the full experience of ecology and today’s conservation work - the animal we are likely to spot is lots of elephant.
During our two and a half days here, we can take part in as much of the daily park routine as we wish, and Nicki will be creating special moments for us in beautiful spots. We shall plan our days to include early morning and sunset drives through park with naturalists, walks and meetings with naturalists and local people, visits to conservation projects, etc. Meals, included in our accommodation price, follow the traditional safari system: breakfast, lunch, teatime, dinner.
Friday October 18 to Bangalore, then onwards.
Depart to drive up to Bangalore. Depart India OR explore a little more of India.
Optional prelude: two full days to visit Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, early Hindu temples with monumental sculpture, mostly 7-10C; drive to join the group at Vijayanagar on October 5.
Optional postlude: two full days to enjoy Mumbai, India’s great port-city and its financial, fashion and entertainment capital.
Please note: Hotels are booked in good faith; changes made by the hotels are beyond our control.
W H A T ‘ S I N C L U D E D:
Nicki Doane accompanying The Tour throughout, and leading daily yoga and wellbeing experiences
Louise Nicholson, Manager and Resource before and throughout The Tour
Accommodation:13 nights in the hotels and room categories set out, using twin-sharing rooms
Full breakfast daily in the hotel dining room, lunch on October 8-13; lunch, tea and dinner on October 15 - 17 eaten together at Nagarhole. (Please note: all room service is payable direct.)
Ground transportation by air-conditioned Toyota Innova Crysta cars with bottled water provided
Domestic flights Bangalore-Vidyanagar-Bangalore (15kg checked baggage allowance included, additional weight payable direct at time of check-in)
Entrance fees to all monuments and costs for all experiences set out in the full itinerary
Local English-speaking guides at Vijayanagar, Bangalore and Mysore
English-speaking naturalists at Nagarhole
At Nagarhole, our stay includes all meals, services of naturalists, park rides with naturalists, walks and bird/animal observation, special location activities
All applicable taxes
W H A T ‘ S N O T I N C L U D E D:
International flights and domestic flights outside The Tour
Anything not mentioned in the full Tour itinerary
Any extra arrangements, upgrades or pre/post tour bookings
Any insurance. We strongly advise participants to consider cover for health, luggage, personal possessions, trip or flight cancellations/delays, and all tour-related needs
Expenses of personal nature, e.g. alcohol, laundry, room service, excess baggage fees
Personal tips throughout the tour; tips to our guides and drivers (please allow about $150)
Medical Requirements
Visa, required for all foreign nationals visiting India; it is the sole responsibility of each client to ensure their passport is valid and to acquire their visa in good time before departure
Any new requirements for foreign visitors that may be initiated by the Government of India
Anything not specified in the Itinerary or Inclusions
If interested, please reach out to Louise Nicholson below to initiate the booking process.
Fill out booking form HERE | Fill out & sign liability waiver HERE
Louise Nicholson Contact:
Telephone & Whats App from the US: 011 44 7497 866564
Telephone & Whats App from the UK: 07497 866564
E: louisenicholson999@gmail.com | W: louisenicholsonindia.com