Kerala Yoga Retreat

Enjoy traditional yoga in its homeland! Embark on this 8 day (7 night) Yoga retreat in beautiful tropical Kerala, South India. Blessed with serene beaches, emerald backwaters and patchwork of paddy fields Kerala provides the perfect backdrop for a Yoga Retreat.

Accompanied by experienced Yoga teacher from the U.K, Pretti Bulsara, you will be taught the traditional and classical form of Yoga (Hatha Yoga). With twice daily yoga classes including Pranayama and meditation, this retreat is designed for detoxification and rejuvenation.

That’s not all! Going to Kerala does not just mean yoga, this retreat includes a day (and one night) trip to Allepey where you will have the opportunity to spend a night on a traditional Kerala house boat, cruising the emerald backwaters of Kerala. There will also be day trips to visit the rich cultural heritage and ancient sights in Cochin. If sightseeing is not your thing, the premium hotels selected for the yoga retreat offers the fantastic amenities for you to enjoy at your leisure.
With Ayurvedic massage and health treatments on site, this retreat provides the perfect recipe for relaxation and rejuvenation.

Highlights

7 Nights and 8 Days
Daily yoga classes, for all levels
Yoga taught by experienced Yoga teacher, who will accompany the group from the UK
Sightseeing in Cochin
Kerala Backwaters experience on a traditional Kerala houseboat
Premium boutique accommodation at 2 locations and includes a beach resort
Complimentary yoga mat provided
Airport Transfers*

Yoga Sessions

The yoga sessions will be taught by Pretti Bulsara, qualified in Sivananda Hatha Yoga. This is not an exercise based yoga but a traditional authentic and spiritual based yoga using postures and breathing techniques that focusses on all your holistic needs.

Traditional / Classical form of Yoga: Sivananda Hatha Yoga
Daily Yoga Session by qualified yoga Teacher from UK
Yoga sessions include: Breathing Exercise (Pranayama), Postures (Asanas), Guided Relaxation

Your Yoga Teacher: Pretti Bulsara

Pretti’s journey started at a young age whilst she attended school in India where spiritual practice was an integral part of daily life. After returning to the UK and completing a mathematics degree at University of London, Pretti felt a lack of job satisfaction in the corporate world. Pretti completed a course on Meditation / healing in India where she came to the realisation that she wanted to teach Yoga. Having practised Yoga for 15 years, she went on to become qualified in Sivananda Hatha Yoga in 2010 and also advanced teachers training course (Master of Yoga) in 2013. Pretti now teaches traditional and classical form of Yoga (Hatha) in a variety of settings for those looking for work/life balance as well as a more gentle yoga for cancer patients. Find out more about Pretti at www.yogamypassion.co.uk

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Cochin

Your driver will be waiting for you at Kochi International Airport and will take you to your hotel in Cochin. Set within the tropical Malabar Coast, Cochin or Kochi includes a natural harbour surrounded by a collection of islands interconnected by backwaters and lagoons. Historically significant as a major centre of commerce, Cochin has drawn in Arab, Chinese and European traders and explorers for over 600 years.

Depending on the time of arrive, an afternoon yoga session will be arranged.
Tonight you will stay at The Waterfront Granary hotel.

Day 2 & 3 – Cochin

The next two days will be spent at the resort, typically the day will start with an early morning yoga session, lasting around 1 hour. After breakfast we will spend some of the day visiting Cochin and exploring its rich cultural history:

Pardesi synagogue, constructed in 1567 by Spanish-speaking Jews
Dutch Palace (‘Mattancherry Palace’), built by the Portuguese in 1555
The Saint Francis Church, built in 1503, is the oldest European church in India
Witness the iconic Chinese fishing in in Fort Cochin, erected between 1350 and 1450

In the evening, there will be an optional advanced yoga class or guests can enjoy the private sunset cruise offered by the hotel.

Day 4 – Allepey House Boat

Today we make our way to Allepey for the 1 day overnight Kerala House boat experience. Lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast, a mesmerising network and chain of interconnected lagoons, lakes and canals extend virtually the entire length of the Kerala state. This network, which links 1500 km of canal to five large lakes, is known as the Kerala Backwaters.

The journey starts with you boarding your private houseboat just before lunch. Freshly prepared Keralan cuisine cooked on board by chefs is part of the Kerala house boat experience. Meals (including lunch, dinner and breakfast) are freshly prepared using the finest spices, ingredients and freshly caught fish. Once on board, you will spend the afternoon meandering slowly and peacefully through the numerous palm fringed canals and open paddy fields. Later, you will take a canoe excursion, gliding you though some of the smaller backwater canals where you will get a glimpse and charm of everyday life, from people fishing to families washing and working on the banks. As the sun sets, you will again enjoy a freshly cooked dinner before retiring to an air conditioned cabin.

Day 5 – Allepey to Vypeen Island, Cochin

In the morning, freshly cooked breakfast will be served onboard the boat by the chefs.
After breakfast, we make our way to Vypeen Island in Cochin for the final 3 days, staying at the charming beachfront resort: Sea Lagoon Health Resort.
On arrival, there will be time to relax or enjoy the resorts facilities. A late afternoon yoga session will be available.
Tonight you will stay at Sea Lagoon Health Resort.

Day 6 & 7 – Vypeen Island, Cochin

You will be based at the Sea Lagoon Health Resort for the remaining few days where twice daily yoga sessions will be arranged within the serene backdrops of the resort. You will have plenty of opportunity to also relax and enjoy the hotel amenities and recreational facilities. Recreational facilities include a swimming pool, an Ayurveda wellness centre, theatre for film screening and a library. Day excursions, water sports, backwater boating can also be arranged.

Day 8 – Departure

Today we head back to Cochin airport for our journey back home

Pickup/End Location

Transfers are included in the cost of the holiday, you will be met from your flight and taken to the hotel in Cochin. Likewise, drop off to the airport is included. The expectation is for the group to arrive and depart on the same flights. For those arriving on an alternative flight, transfer arrangements can be arranged (additional fees may apply).

Bringing a non-yoga Friend

We appreciate that you may want to bring along a friend who may or may not have any experience of yoga. If this is something you would like to do then ask us for advice as there are plenty of activities for them to do in place of yoga (from cycling, museums or trips to visit some of Kerala’s rich cultural heritage).

Extending your Trip

For those with an extra few days, why not extend your trip to explore some of the fascinating sights Kerela has to offer? From tea plantations in Munnar, spice plantations,jungle trekking in Periyar to pristine golden beaches in Kovalam, Kerala has much to offer. Visit www.TailorFare.com for a range of Kerala tours available.

Details:

Inclusions:

Accommodation at above mentioned Hotels/Resorts
Daily Breakfast
Transportation using A/C Mini Van
One bottle of drinking water per day
Daily Yoga sessions

Exclusions:

International flights
Departure transfers
Departure and airport taxes
Visas
All other meals
All optional tours or activities during free time
Transfers outside of the tour program
Travel insurance
Tips and items of a personal nature

Accommodation

This retreat will take place at two locations within Cochin in Kerala, with a day’s break in Allepey. The properties have been carefully selected for their idyllic location and holistic and rejuvenating ambience.

The Waterfront Granary (Day 1 to 3)

Noted as India’s first museum hotel, The Waterfront Granary, dating back to 1877, overlooks the serene Cochin water front on one side and opens onto Mattanchery’s ancient bazaar on the other. The hotel, owned by the Singeri family, features museum hall containing a collection of sculptures, manuscripts, furniture and more that date back centuries.

Yoga
The hotels offers an idyllic destination for those seeking an authentic Yoga experience. Yoga sessions take place on the serene terrace, which has a commanding view of the Mattancherry channel.

Hotel Features

Aromatherapy spa – trained masseurs on hand to provide you with the complete relaxation you need
Evening sunset cruise – available to guests on a daily basis, you can enjoy serene cruise of Cochin Harbour and its waterways
Library – A full-fledged library containing a collection of books with a variety of subjects, authors and interests
Cafe – Overlooks the Mattancherry channel, serving traditional recipes that have been handed by the Singeri family for generations
Restaurant – located on the pier over the Mattanchery channel, serving barbecues and fusion food

Allepey – Kerala House Boat (Day 4)

The town of Alleppey is the departure point from where you will board the ‘Kettuvallam’ (traditional Kerala houseboat) for the overnight Kerala house boat trip. Traditionally used as grain barges (for the transportation of rice harvested in the fields alongside the backwaters), the boats have been upgraded to one or two bedroom luxury floating cottages, with the comfort you would expect in a modern hotel. Each of the air conditioned bedrooms have an en-suite bathroom and a large picture window from where the outstanding scenery can be enjoyed.

Sea Lagoon Health Resort, Cherai Beach, Vypeen Island (Day 5 to 8)

Sea Lagoon Health Resort, located on Vypeen Island, is a charming beach front property that’s boasts the Arabian Sea on one side and the serene backwaters on the other, making this restful property both an idyllic setting for yoga but also great location to enjoy the final days, this is a holiday after all!
Designed and inspired by Kerala’s traditional architecture, the resort offers well furnished rooms that focus on Kerala’s performing arts that appeal to wellness travellers

Yoga
Yoga sessions will take place on the beach side hall