What a seven-day Kerala yoga retreat looks like, day by day

Most retreat pages list what’s included without telling you what the week feels like. Here is the shape of ours, from landing to leaving. The order shifts with weather, light and what the group needs, but the rhythm holds.

Days one and two: Fort Kochi

You land at Cochin International Airport and we collect you. Fort Kochi is under two hours away, an old port town of colonial buildings, spice warehouses, churches and the sea. The first day is about arriving: settling in, a first practice, a Kerala meal, sleep.

The second day fills out: yoga and pranayama in the morning, tuk-tuk sightseeing through the old lanes and waterfront, and cultural immersion in a town shaped by centuries of traders. Evenings here are for watching the sun go down over the Arabian Sea, then meditation and dinner together.

The drive up

Then the road leaves the coast and climbs into the Western Ghats, past forest and waterfalls, for several hours of hairpins and views. You arrive in Munnar at around 1,600 metres, where the air is cool and tea covers the hills in every direction.

Days three to seven: Munnar

The hill days carry most of the week. Mornings begin with yoga and breathwork, usually while mist is still lifting off the valleys. After that, the days differ:

• Trekking on forest trails and open ridges, at a pace that suits the group.
• River swims, which is exactly what it sounds like after a morning walking.
• Wild elephant watching at the river from a safe distance, when the elephants oblige.
• Group activities, the part that turns a collection of strangers into a group that eats dinner together.
• Ayurvedic massage, best taken on an afternoon when your legs have earned it.

Evenings are meditation, a shared Kerala meal, and an early night. Most people sleep better here than they have in months.

What isn’t scheduled

Plenty. There are hours with nothing in them, on purpose: reading, sitting with a view, talking to people, doing nothing at all. A week packed end to end isn’t a retreat, it’s a tour.

Leaving

On the last day we bring you back down to the airport. People tend to be quieter on that drive than they were on the way up.

The practical details

Seven days, all inclusive: stays, Kerala meals, daily yoga and meditation, Ayurvedic massage, activities in both places, and airport transfers. Retreats run in April, June, September and October 2027, and cost $1,299, or $999 when you book three months ahead.

See the full journey, the 2027 dates, or ask us anything.