North India Ashram Tour
September 29 – October 10, 2023
September 27 – October 8, 2024
Sept 29 - Oct 10, 2023
C$3 865 / person
Single supplement C$ 1 380
Sept 27 - Oct 8, 2024
Price to come soon
North
India
Ashram
Tour
We start our tour in Delhi where we head out by vehicle towards the foothills of the Himalaya mountains, the Haridwar/Rishikesh area, a world famous locality on the sacred Ganges river with some of the oldest and most respected gurus (teachers) worldwide, not only for yoga but also ayurveda, reiki, meditation, music, etc.
What is
an Ashram?
An ashram is a retreat centre with buildings for eating, sleeping, studying, meditating and yoga. Ashrams have been a place of worship, peace, learning and most importantly inner transformation and experience for centuries. Through various practices such as yoga and meditation as well as participation in ancient rituals and traditions, you will be fully immersed in the Ashram lifestyle. Here you will have the opportunity to join traditional ayurveda cooking courses, receive ancient ayurveda massages and treatments to suit all aliments and help balance the body’s energy points (chakras). With so many ashrams to choose from with varied quality and authenticity, Yoga Travels with longtime experience in India, provides a curated trip to bring you to ashrams that will ensure a diverse, streamlined and top quality experience.
Are you ready to take your yoga practice to the next level? Are you ready to possibly be outside of your comfort zone and be humbled by your surroundings? Are you ready to stretch yourself emotionally, physically and spiritually? Are you ready for teachings from Indian swamis answering your BIG questions? If you answered yes to these questions then you are ready for the Yoga Travels North Indian Ashram tour.
However, if you expect to have five star accommodation, with boutique hotel rooms, international cuisine and to be comfortable at all times then really this tour is not for you. Ashram life is not glamorous nor are the ashrams luxurious – they are simple and basic.
Yoga Travels strives to bring you “real deal” experiences and our North India Ashram tour has been designed to offer our clients an authentic Indian ashram experience.
Are
You ready
for this Ashram “experience/vacation”?
Inclusions
- All Yoga Travels Tours offer 1 yoga class daily and other yoga activities throughout the tour.
- Airport pickup and departure transfers
- Experience traditional ashram daily activities
- Practice yoga and meditate with Indian teachers and international students
- Satsang (question and answer period) with ashram swamis
- healthy vegetarian diet (mild tasting)
- visit the Beatles Ashram in Rishikesh
- Yoga Nidra class with Janice Varuna
- Guided walking tour of the Rishikesh area
- “BE” in the energizing atmosphere of Ganges River and Rishikesh
- Opportunity to participate in Kirtan (singing time at the ashram)
Transport
A/C coach during tour
Meals
All ashram meals are included
2 lunches are included on the travel days to Rishikesh and back to Delhi
1 lunch on the Delhi tour
Exclusions
- International flights and any airport tax
- Personal expenses like, communication, laundry, bar bills, internet
- Tips for drivers, servers, etc.
- Client’s medical and travel insurance
- Any expenses incurred in emergency evacuation/rescue due to any unforeseen causes
- Any other tours and transfers other than those mentioned above
- Visas if required
- Any extra nights at a hotel due to any reason, services not specified, meals not specified
Itinerary
Arrive at Delhi Airport and pickup for delivery to hotel. Evening meeting with leader. Overnight at Ibis Aerocity Delhi airport Hotel, or similar
Delhi Day tour – lunch included. Overnight at Ibis Aerocity airport Hotel, or similar
This morning we have an early departure by bus from the Delhi hotel. During the drive we will see daily life in India as we travel through Delhi and then out to the countryside going through one small village after another. We will stop for lunch ( not included) as we make our way to our first ashram Aurovalley which is located in the small district of Rishidwar (outside of Haridwar). The trip takes about 6 hours dependent on traffic.
We will now start to fall into the daily ashram life participating in yoga activities and meditations. Each day will have different yoga activities.
Today we will visit the famous Beatles Ashram where they stayed in 1968 and wrote most of the White Album. This ashram is now a national park. We will also have time to explore the small shops and surrounding area. Overnight in Aurovalley Ashram.
After breakfast we will travel to the family run Santosha Puri Ashram to begin our stay with the swami and his sisters. After we have settled into our rooms we will tour the grounds. This ashram is very traditional in nature and has been developing organic gardens for use in the ashram. There will also be the opportunity here to have an ayurvedic massage and learn more about ayurvedic medicine.
We will continue with the daily ashram activities and each day will include different yoga activities.
This morning we will begin making our way to Tapovan beside the Ganges River After a cup of chai, we will have a walking tour of the Tapovan area and then a few free hours to explore before returning to the ashram.
Today will be the final full day of ashram living. A time to reflect on your experience.
This morning we will travel back to Delhi enjoying our last views of the Indian countryside and the villages along the way. We will have lunch enroute.
This evening we say our farewells and head home.
Our first stay is at an ashram which has a large beautiful campus set out in the countryside along the Ganges River. This ashram is quite modern in it’s design and built with great quantities of marble. Here you will experience daily yoga classes, twice daily meditation in a specifically designed meditation hall and daily philosophy discussions with the resident Swami (teacher).
Our second stay is at a family ashram which is entering it’s third generation. This ashram also resides along the Ganges River. Here we will have more basic accommodation with private bathrooms. The rooms are provided with sheets and blankets however if you would like a bit more comfort you may like to bring a sheet sleeping liner. The teachings from the yoga family are prevalent throughout the ashram with the brother and 2 sisters all offering their teachings on a daily basis. One of the sisters is also a vaidya – Ayurvedic doctor – and offers consultations. This ashram also has ayurveda treatments including massages available based on the doctor’s prescription. The yoga taught here includes; breathing techniques, various cleansing techniques, chanting, mantras, meditation, different yoga styles along with yoga philosophy and group discussions.
There are 2 day excursions included in this tour. The first excursion will take us to the Beatles Ashram made famous in the 1960’s during their stay in India. We will have time to visit and meditate in this ashram and then shop and tour the surrounding area and spend time by the Ganges River. The second excursion will take us further up river to Tapovan where we will visit another ashram and the resident swami and then tour the area visiting a Hindu temple and spending time by the Ganges River once again. There is also the opportunity to enjoy an ayurvedic massage, reiki session or have a vedic astrology reading. These two excursions will give us the opportunity to experience the area considered the birthplace of yoga and enjoy being part of the daily activities of the residents and visitors alike. There is excellent shopping available in the area for all your needs and consultation can be provided for where to get ancient ayurvedic Indian herbal medicines and other natural items for everyday cleansing and use. Rishikesh is world renowned for these items.
Our final stop is back to Delhi for either your flight home or a tour to the Taj Mahal or possibly the Golden Triangle, we can arrange any type of tour to add to your India experience. If you like you are welcome to join us on our next tour which will be in Goa October 14 to the 25, 2021. We will be there with you from the start to the finish for the tour, to answer your questions and pave the way for a unique and special vacation. Always keep in mind that the yoga on our tours is suitable for everyone.
Daily Ashram Schedule
6:00 am Collective meditation
7:00 am Yoga Asanas
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am Karma Yoga / Study Period
11:30 am Satsang (questions and answers)
1:00 pm Lunch
3:30 pm Tea
4:00 pm Individual study or practice / Karma Yoga
5:00 pm Yoga Asanas (optional)
6:00 pm Meditation / Kirtan (chanting)
7:00 pm Dinner
8:00 pm Cultural programs: reading, video, talks, singing, dancing
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