CENTER Yoga is very excited to offer a tranquil yoga & hiking retreat in the ‘The Yoga Capital of the World’.

This trip is part spiritual-pilgrimage, part yogis-delight, part cultural-immersion, and part heart-opening bliss. Traveling to this part of the world is not for the faint-of-heart. It is for the bold traveler, the adventurous STUDENTS of YOGA, and anyone else seeking foundational change & exploration in their lives.

“I am so excited to embark on this journey with you, and share in the experience of traveling to India, studying the ancient foundational yogic texts, and how they relate to the world we live in today.” ~ Petra

BOOK NOW with 2 easy payments - available through December 8th 2023

*NOTE* - This will be a small group experience and only 14 spots are available.

Join Petra in Atali Ganga Resort, located 20 miles north of Rishikesh, that takes pride in offering luxurious accommodations, an amazing dining facility, and various adventure activities.

Come with the purpose of living in the valley of India’s holiest life force, the Ganga river, for the call of the barking deer, or the midnight roar of the leopard. Experience that lovely dull ache after a busy day in the great outdoors, and appreciate the opportunity to commune with nature.

We will begin most days with yoga, hiking and exploring all that the rich Indian culture and what this holy land has to offer. Hike the foothills of Himalayas by the Ganga river, then end with dinner under the stars.

Per person pricing includes:

- All hotel stays in India - most days start with breakfast and yoga class, followed by an excursion and lunch, afternoons of leisure and an evening yoga session (see our detailed daily itinerary below)

- 3 daily meals, and while staying at the retreat resort of Atali on the Ganga river, morning/evening tea - coffee with cookies, pre-dinner snacks (as per the menu of the day) with soft beverages/mixers served on the deck

- Domestic air tickets from Delhi to Duhradun and back to Delhi

- All activities as listed in the itinerary below

• All ground transportation in India as well tour guides through out the length of our stay

10 day itinerary

Day 1 | Saturday. March 9th, 2024

Welcome to India! You will be met by our tour guides in the arrival area of the airport after we clear all immigration and customs formalities. Depart for our hotel where we will check in for our overnight stay. 

Delhi stands as the capital of Modern India. Here we can see the mingling of the Old and New India, the ancient and the modern. Delhi is made up of seven ancient cities, spanning the period from the 11th to 21st centuries. Delhi has seen the rise and fall of many emperors, which has left behind a plethora of monuments that commemorate the grandeur and glory of bygone ages. Very few cities in the world can express such a profusion of architectural styles. Rest of the day is free for independent activities.

• Accommodation: Suryaa hotel in New Delhi

Day 2 | Sunday - March 10th, 2024

We’ll start with breakfast at the hotel, then we will enjoy a special food tour along with a city tour of Old Delhi and in the afternoon visit New Delhi.

Explore a culinary experience curated and lead by a chef in Old Delhi . Walk through crowded markets of Old Delhi, a unique change to understand and savor street food available in Delhi from some of the oldest food places in the city. During the walk, we will visit 6-9 different food joints. Each one of which has been in business for decades, some being as old as 120 years. We will walk through some landmark and lively markets, ride rickshaws, and stuff ourselves with delicious street food of Old Delhi. Enjoy the insider’s view of the city’s food culture, food joints, kitchens and related businesses. After the tour we’ll visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India and drive past Red Fort before continuing back to your hotel in south Delhi. 

• Accommodation: Suryaa hotel in New Delhi

• Meals Included: Breakfast and food tour during the day which is a great way to experience the culture and historic sights.  

• Experience: 

  • Food walk through Old and New Delhi

  • Visit 6-9 different food joints

  • Walk through landmark markets

  • Rickshaw ride

  • Visit Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India

  • A drive past Red Fort

Day 3: Monday - March 11th, 2024

In the morning, we will have breakfast and journey to the domestic airport to board our flight to Dehradun airport where we will be met and chauffeured to our ideally set lodge overlooking the Ganga river.  Feel welcomed by our attentive hosts - an efficient team will settle us in and show us around this beautiful setting, our home for the next 6-nights. Enjoy an evening yoga session, followed by campfire, snacks and dinner before a good and well deserved night’s rest. Welcome to Uttarakhand!

• Accommodation: Atali Ganga 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

• Experience: 

  • Fly to Dehradun

  • Evening yoga session

  • Campfire and snacks

Day 4: Tuesday - March 12th, 2024

Enjoy a morning yoga session, then climb from Atali to a high point overlooking Byasi and descend to one of the most beautiful mango trees you could see. Then we’ll continue higher through a great primary forest, with excellent bird life and barking deer, peacock calls in heavy undergrowth. It meets the Majhali trail and continues past the village and down to the road. From there we will do a quick descent to the river and walk back to Atali. Walking Distance: 4.8 km Walking Duration: 1-1.5 hours (+ 1 m additional back to Atalioptional) Grade: Moderate. In the afternoon, take time to relax and enjoy what our resort has to offer. Evening yoga by the Ganga river.  

• Accommodation: Atali Ganga 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

• Experience: 

  • Morning yoga

  • Explore the Himalayan backcountry on a moderate intensity hike to the little hamlet of Majhli

  • Evening yoga by the Ganga river

Day 5: Wednesday - March 13th, 2024: Exploring Rishikesh 

We’ll begin with a morning yoga session followed by a day visit to the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh. Walk on the left bank of the river, the quieter part of Rishikesh. Visit the Beatles Ashram followed by a walk across the Ram Jhula in the evening to explore the town and witness a sunset Aarti ceremony, before driving back a little over an hour for dinner and a good night’s rest. 

• Accommodation: Atali Ganga 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

• Experience: 

  • Morning yoga

  • Day visit to the Sivananda Ashram in Rishikesh

  • Visit the Beatles Ashram 

  • Walk across the Ram Jhula in the evening to explore the town

  • Witness a sunset Aarti ceremony

Day 6: Thursday - March 14th, 2023

We’ll start the day with morning yoga and then trail to the village of Byassi through the protected forest that surrounds Atali. An initial brief climb through lush subtropical flora is well rewarded by majestic views of the Ganga valley, before crossing the ruins of old Atali; the original village after which the resort is named. A beautiful walk that offers many a bird-watching opportunity, the trail finally descends through the village of Byassi to the highway, where a vehicle awaits for the short return drive to the resort. Walking Distance: 3.5 km Walking Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours (1.5km walk back to Atali) Grade: Moderate. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. 

• Accommodation: Atali Ganga 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

• Experience: 

  • Morning yoga

  • The Byasi Hike

  • Afternoon of rest and leisure

  • Evening yoga

Day 7: Friday - March 15th, 2024 - BIG DAY

After morning yoga, we’ll journey to the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi rivers that forms the Ganga at Devprayag. There we will meet our rafting guide team for a safety briefing and float down some of the most serene and calm stretches on the Ganga river (some 20 river miles). We may see mountain goats, signs of leopards, a variety of birds including raptors and we will enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on one of the pristine sandy beaches along this quiet stretch of the Ganga river. At the end of our float trip, we’ll drive back home for a good night’s rest. 

• Accommodation: Atali Ganga 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

• Experience: 

  • Morning yoga

  • Journey to the confluence of the Alaknanda and the Bhagirathi rivers that forms the Ganga at Devprayag

  • Float down some 20 miles of the most serene and calm stretch on the Ganga river 

  • See mountain goats, signs of leopards, a variety of birds including raptors

  • Enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on one of the pristine sandy beaches along this quiet stretch of the Ganga river.  

Day 8: Saturday - March 18th, 2024

Enjoy a relaxed start to the day, a morning yoga session and later a short hike to visit the local school with some donation pencils that are always welcome. The Sirasu Trail runs along the Ganga. A short drive from Atali brings one to the Malakunti bridge across the River Ganga, where this beautiful hike commences. The ancient trail runs constantly above the majestic river, offering expansive views as well as the opportunity of a brief stop at one of the pristine river-beaches located close to the path. A short uphill climb brings one to the village of Sirasu, located on a small plateau perched above the river. Walk through this enchanting village before descending down to the Sirasu bridge, where a vehicle awaits on the other side for the fifteen-minute drive back to the resort. Walking Distance: 5 km Walking Duration: 1.5 - 2 hours Grade: Easy

Enjoy a leisurely evening with yoga on a pristine sandy beach on the banks of the river. 

• Accommodation: Atali Ganga 

• Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner. 

• Experience: 

  • Morning yoga

  • The Sirasu trail hike to visit local school with our donations 

  • Evening yoga by the banks of the Ganga river

Day 9: Sunday - March 17th, 2024

We’ll rise to the sounds of rare birds and views of the Ganga as we enjoy a final breakfast at this ideally set retreat in the Ganga valley and say goodbye to our generous hosts before we are chauffeured to the airport for our return flight to New Delhi where we will be met and chauffeured to the JB Marriott that is only a few minutes from the airport. 

• Accommodation: JB Marriott (10 minutes for onward international connections and is also located on the outskirts of the city for onward inbound extensions for sightseeing) toward Rajasthan and the Taj Mahal. 

• Meals Included: Breakfast 

• Experience: 

  • Morning yoga

  • Fly back to Delhi

Day 10: Monday - March 18th, 2024

We will be chauffeured back to the international terminal or for sightseeing extensions of your choosing (not included in the price of this retreat). 

• Meals Included: Buffet breakfast (highly recommended!) 

YOUR INVESTMENT:

We Recommend…

Purchasing travel insurance, which you can purchase here: https://www.travelinsurance.com, for your peace of mind and in case of unexpected events that may prevent you from traveling for whatever reason.

What is not included…

• International flights - direct flights available from New York airports.

• Trip extensions: add optional trips to the Taj Mahal, to ancient Palaces, National Parks, and even Tiger Safaris. Our hosts Transformative Travel LLC. has many easy to choose options already on their site and can custom craft almost anything.

• Visas fees or services.

• Accommodation, meals, transfers, sightseeing or extensions that are not listed in the itinerary above.

• Vaccines and medical insurance.

• Any items of personal nature such as alcohol, tips, laundry, telephone calls, etc.

• Expenses incurred due to flight delays, roadblocks and any circumstances beyond our control.

Cancelation policy…

• If you cancel on or before September 15, 2023:

  • You will forfeit your 1st installment payment

  • You will be responsible for an additional $100 Cancelation Fee.

  • If you made any payment other than the 1st installment payment before that date, however, the remainder of your payment will be refunded to you (i.e. after deduction of the above amounts).

• If you cancel after September 15, 2023 (for any reason including, without limitation, physical or mental illness or injury, voluntary departure, and personal emergencies):

  • You will not be entitled to any refunded amounts, and

  • You will be responsible to pay an additional $100 Cancelation Fee, and

  • You will forfeit all payments paid before that date.  

Please note:

• + 6.35% CT sales tax applies