10-Day Surf, Yoga, Ayurveda & Sound Healing Retreat in Varkala, Kerala

The retreat is held at Adishakti Yogashala, a yoga school and retreat centre in Varkala on Kerala's southern coast. Varkala is a cliff-top town with a long beach below it, backed by palm trees and red laterite rock. It's busy enough to have cafes and shops along the cliff path, but the centre itself sits back from that in quieter grounds surrounded by tropical greenery. You'll hear the sea from the property and can reach the beach on foot.

Days follow a rough shape: an early morning session of pranayama and hatha or vinyasa yoga, breakfast, then either a surf lesson, an Ayurveda workshop or an excursion, depending on the day. Afternoons are lighter, with restorative yoga, meditation or a sound healing session in the evening using singing bowls and other instruments. There's free time in the afternoons for the beach, an Ayurvedic massage, or walking into town.

What separates this from a straight yoga retreat is that the week covers four disciplines rather than one. Surfing gives you something physical and slightly silly to do, which balances out the sitting practice. The Ayurveda element is taught as it's actually practised in Kerala, meaning it shows up in the food, the daily rhythm and optional treatments. Sound healing is used at the end of the day to bring the nervous system down before sleep. Because everything is open to beginners, nobody is left behind if they've never done a sun salutation or stood on a board.

The instructors are drawn from the teaching team at Adishakti Yogashala, a school that runs longer yoga teacher training courses as well as retreats, so the people leading your sessions teach this material year-round rather than seasonally. Surf instruction is provided by local instructors who know the Varkala beach break and its currents. The Ayurveda component is handled by practitioners trained in the Kerala tradition.

Varkala itself is worth the trip on its own. The cliff path runs for about a kilometre above the beach with small restaurants and juice bars, the water is warm enough to swim comfortably, and there are backwater trips and temple visits within easy reach if you want to add days on either end. The nearest airport is Trivandrum, about an hour's drive away.

What's included

- 10-day retreat programme at Adishakti Yogashala - Accommodation in your chosen room type (private, shared or female-only AC dormitory) - Daily yoga classes (hatha, vinyasa, yin and restorative) - Daily pranayama and meditation sessions - Surf lessons with local instructors - Ayurveda workshops - Sound healing sessions with singing bowls - Guided excursions in the Varkala area - Meals as confirmed with the retreat leader

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Ayurvedic massages and spa treatments - Optional excursions not in the schedule - Personal expenses, drinks and snacks outside meal times - Visa fees