(Please scroll down 👇 to the FAQ section to see the detailed Itinerary.)

Sept 9 - Day 1: Delhi + Tours

Sept 11 - Day 3: Fly from Delhi to Rishikesh
(where the yoga retreat will take place)

Sept 18 - Day 10: Journey to the Himalayas

Sept 19 - Day 11: Kedarnath (Please see the FULL itinerary below for more details.)

Sept 20 - Day 12: Kedarnath to Chopta and then to Tungath

Sept 21 - Day 13: Chopta to Rudra Prayag

Sept 22 - Day 14: Rudra Prayag to Rishikesh, end of retreat, travel home or continue with Yogi Aaron to the South India Retreat.

*This schedule is subject to change.

Sept 9 - Day 1: Delhi

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be picked up by the driver of The Imperial Hotel, who will meet you upon exiting immigration and customs. He will then take you directly to The Imperial Hotel.

The Imperial Hotel is an oasis of calm, comfort, and understated luxury of this Lutyen's masterpiece. Bestowed with the prestigious title of the 'Best Heritage Hotel' by the Jury- Outlook Traveller Awards 2018 and also by Travel + leisure India's Best Awards 2017. It is the only hotel amongst 7 hotels in India to be listed in Conde Nast Gold List for 2018. An iconic and the most distinguished address situated in the heart of the capital, it is reminiscent of the halcyon days of the Raj.

Due to most people's impending late-night arrivals, dinner will be on your own.

Sept 10 - Day 2: A day in New Delhi

Have a delicious and healthy breakfast before a day of touring and relaxation. We will meet as a group for Breakfast at 8:30am to get to know each other, plan the day, and then set out to explore these areas:

To do in Delhi:

• Gandhi Memorial Museum
• India Gate and the great monuments of the British Raj.
• Qutub Minar Mosque
• Haus Khas Shopping area
• Old Delhi walking tour
• White Lotus Temple
• Spa Treatments at the Imperial Hotel

In the evening, you will experience a food-tasting sensation in one of the most renowned restaurants in South East Asia at the Indian Accent Restaurant 🤞. You will be taken on a journey through their signature Chef Tasting Menu.

"Awarded the best restaurant in all of India by Time Out, Indian Accent showcases Indian food for the 21st century with a path-breaking contemporary menu with a unique marriage of global ingredients and techniques with the flavors and traditions of India that is sure to excite the adventurous, yet satisfy traditional palates."

Important arrival information: If you need to adjust your schedule and are not able to arrive on Day 1, you may join the group on Day 2. Unless you plan otherwise, your flight will arrive late in the day, and you will miss the main Welcome Dinner, which will take place on the evening of Day 2. Please kindly remember if you are delayed and do not arrive on Day 2, you might miss the group departure on Day 3. You will need to make arrangements on your own to Rishikesh.

 

Sept 11 - Day 3: Delhi to Rishikesh

After breakfast, we will depart for the local airport and fly to Rishikesh, where we will be on retreat for the next seven days.

Rishikesh is said to be the gateway to the Himalayas.

"Scenically located where the Holy Ganges River comes down from the Himalayas, Rishikesh is also a gateway to the World Heritage Site Valley of Flowers National Park - The 8th Wonder of the World and Kedarnath."

All of Rishikesh is considered to be sacred. Spiritual seekers believed that meditation in this place leads to the attainment of salvation. There are many temples—some ancient, some new—along the River Ganges. The ashrams of Sadhus and Sages dot the river bank.

Every day you will be led in morning ritual and yoga practice with Yogi Aaron. After breakfast, the rest of the day will be left for you to explore the sights and culture of Rishikesh.

Some activities in Rishikesh will be prearranged for you to join if you wish. These activities will be announced once we arrive in Rishikesh.

Please remember that by law, Rishikesh is a vegetarian and alcohol-free city. Rishikesh has also banned the use of plastic bags by shopkeepers and vendors.

Once we have finished our time in Rishikesh, we will journey into the Himalayas and on to Kedarnath.

 

Sept 18 - Day 10: Journey to The Himalayas

We will have a very early start in the morning as we begin our drive into the Himalayas and spend 2 nights in Guptakashi, close to the base of Kedarnath. We will be in the car traversing through the Himalayas for approximately 7-8 hours. (We will drive for a few hours, and then stop for breakfast along the way.

Get ready to take some stunning photos along the way. The Himalayas are awe-inspiring!

 

Sept 19 - Day 11: Kedarnath

After breakfast and a very short drive through breathtaking mountain passes, we will arrive at Gaurikund, the base of the mountain.

From there, we will be taking a *helicopter to the top of Kedarnath. (You will have the option of not coming in the helicopter if that is not your thing.

We will have about 2 hours to spend at Kedarnath.

*Please note that the Helicopter is subject to availability and is weather permitting. If it is extremely overcast, the helicopter will not be operating due to safety reasons.

 

A little more about Kedarnath

Once you have reached the top of Kedarnath, spend some time exploring, praying, meditating, or hiking. There are numerous hikes from this point.

Kedarnath: Located 14 km above an uphill trek from Gaurikund, Kedarnath is one of the Chota Char Dhams in Northern India of Hinduism. The temple, which houses a Jyotirlinga, was constructed by the Pandavas and was rebuilt by Adi Shankaracharya.

According to legends, the Pandavas were supposed to have pleased Shiva with their penance here. Here are some interesting facts related to the temple:

As per Hindu mythology, the Pandavas killed their relatives during the Mahabharata war. To absolve themselves from the sin, they went on a pilgrimage. But Shiva was away to Kailasa in the Himalayas.

When the Pandavas came to know about this, they left Kashi and reached the Himalayas through Haridwar. They saw Shiva from a distance, but he hid. But the Pandavas were determined to meet him so that their sins were washed away.

The place where Shiva hid is now a famous shrine called Guptakashi(Rudraprayag).

From Guptakashi, the Pandavas went to Gaurikund in the Himalayas to look for Shiva. There, Nakul and Sahadev came across a buffalo with a unique look. Bhima followed the buffalo with his mace. But he could not catch the buffalo though he was able to hit it with his mace. The buffalo hid its face in a crevice.

Bhima started pulling it by its tail. During the tug of war, the buffalo's face went to Nepal, while its rear part remained in Kedar. The place where the face fell is now called Doleshwar Mahadev in Sipadol, Bhaktapur, Nepal. From the hind part, a Jyotirlinga appeared. Shiva appeared from the light, and by seeing him, the Pandavas were absolved from all their sins.

According to another legend, Nara and Narayana, two incarnations of Vishnu performed severe penance in Badrikashraya of Bharat Khand in front of a Shivalingam made from earth. Satisfied with their devotion, Shiva appeared before them and told them to ask for a boon. Both Nar and Narayan requested Shiva to make Kedarnath a permanent abode to ensure that people worshipping him gain freedom from all their miseries.

 

Sept 20 - Day 12: Guptakashi to Chopta and then to Tungnath Temple

Chopta is popularly known as 'Mini Switzerland’. It is a small region of meadows and evergreen forest area, a part of Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary.

Chopta is an unspoiled natural destination lying in the lap of the Uttarakhand Himalayas and offers views of the imposing Himalayan range including Trishul, Nanda Devi, and Chaukhamba.

It is located at an elevation of 2,709 meters (8,888 ft) above sea level. Chopta village is surrounded by forests of pine, deodar, and rhododendron and is rich in flora and fauna including rare species of birds and musk deer.

The main attraction is the Tungnath Temple.

Tungnath literally means ‘Lord of the Peak’. The Tungnath Temple is the world’s highest Shiva Temple (at an elevation of 3680 meters or 1274 feet).

Even at such a height, it is the most accessible trek among the Panch Kedars. One can reach Tungnath by a 3.5km trek, which goes through the Rhododendron (burans) and picturesque velvet meadows.

The initial 1-kilometer track goes through the forest and it looks easy. After that the steep and tough part starts and it goes through bugyals up to 1.5km, near the bottom of Tungnath Ji. The mesmerizing views of the Himalayas and the beauty of this valley remove your fatigue and you cross it easily.

Lord Bholenathji’s temple is visible from the last section of this trek and you have no idea when you reached the threshold of God.

Sept 21 - Day 13: Chopta and then to to Rudra Prayag

We will have a short drive to Rudra Prayag where will have the afternoon to enjoy a special surprise and delicious dinner. We will be staying at the fabulous Monal Resort. There is a beautiful pilgrim walk we will do once we have arrived at the hotel.

 

 

We will also be enjoying our final dinner together.

Sept 22 - Day 14: Rudra Prayag

We will depart in the early morning from Rudra Prayag, drive to Rishikesh to catch our flights, or on to your next destinations.

For those people who are on a tighter schedule and prefer to leave this day, you can catch a flight out of Delhi if it is 10 PM or later. Any earlier and you may run the risk of missing your trip in the event we are delayed getting to Delhi. We are expecting to arrive in Delhi by 6:00 PM.

I would personally suggest that you spend the night in Delhi, perhaps at the Imperial Hotel.

For those continuing with me to the Southern India Retreat, you will have a few days to relax in Delhi or see another part of India. You may also wish to stay in Rishikesh for a few extra nights as well.

I might suggest arranging a tour of Khajuraho, Agra (The Taj Mahal), and other locations.

Contact me or Cheri for some suggestions.

Yoga

• Yoga + meditation practices
• Satsang led by Yogi Aaron in Rishikesh

Rituals + Learning

• Supervised morning sadhana practice, including ancient purification rituals
• Special lectures and talks with local Masters
• Ceremonies and Puja in Rishikesh

Meals

• A special welcome dinner in Delhi
• Vegetarian meals 🥗 (non-veg options are available in Delhi)
• Breakfast and dinner every day*
• A farewell dinner 🍲

Accommodations & Travel

• Roundtrip flights 🛩️ from Delhi to Rishikesh
• **Helicopter ride up to Kedarnath
• Comfortable lodging
• Airport shuttle service 🚐
• All applicable taxes

(Please see the detailed itinerary of where we will be staying. While accommodations will vary, we will be staying at Boutique Hotels.)

*Dinner will not be served on the first day you arrive in Delhi. Most international flights arrive late at night. Lunches will be on your own so you can explore and experience the local cuisine as you wish. 

**The helicopter to Kedarnath is subject to availability and weather permitting.

Prices do NOT include incidentals, such as the cost of international flights, laundry, gratuities, travel insurance, lunches, medical evacuations, and anything else that is not on this list. *

The fee also does not cover the cost of any missed flights or travel delays. We strongly suggest you arrive a day or two early so that you will be on time for your flights and the retreat.

We will be starting the trip at The Imperial Hotel. You can contact Cheri, our international travel support desk agent, to book extra days at the Imperial Hotel, to help us keep your reservations seamless.

Cheri can also help you get good travel insurance.

If you are late arriving and miss your local flights, you will be responsible for joining the group in Rishikesh. Wifi is also very limited in the Himalayas. Consider getting a good data plan if you need to stay connected.

Our Cancelation + Refund Policy for this Retreat: The deposits and payments made for this India Retreat are non-transferable and non-refundable. Please pay in full 90 days before the trip begins. In paying for a retreat with Blue Osa, you agree to these terms.

 

*For those booking single occupancy, please be aware that it will not be available for 2 nights. 1. When we stay in Kedarnath. (Please see the full itinerary for more details.) 2. When we stay in chopta, we will be sharing rooms.

Northern Himalayan Retreat Price: 

• Double Occupancy - $3999 
• **Single Occupancy - $4599

Southern Kerala Retreat Price:

• Double Occupancy -$3490
  Sign up by January 31 - $3190

 

• Single Occupancy - $4190
  Sign up by January 31 - $3890

 

North + South Retreat Price:

• Double Occupancy - $7399
• Single Occupancy - $8599
  

*All Prices are in USD.

*For those booking single occupancy for the Northern Retreat, please be aware that it will not be available when we stay in Chopta, we will be sharing rooms.