6-Day Himalayan Hiking and Wellness Retreat in Rishikesh

The retreat begins and ends in Rishikesh, the self-proclaimed yoga capital of the world, at a spiritual and cultural centre by the Ganges. Day one is a gentle introduction: a morning yoga session at the Ganga Ghats followed by a holy dip, then sightseeing around the famous Ram Jhula and Laxman Jhula suspension bridges. You'll watch the evening Ganga Aarti fire ceremony. After that, the week shifts into the mountains proper – day two is a long drive up to Triyuginarayan Temple, and the next two days are spent trekking in the Chopta region, often called the 'Mini Switzerland of India'.

The trekking is the real centrepiece. You'll climb to Tungnath Temple at 3,680 metres, the highest Shiva temple in the world, and push on to Chandrashila Peak at 4,000 metres for panoramic views of Nanda Devi and Chaukhamba. The second trek takes you to Deoria Tal, a lake at 2,438 metres surrounded by forest, where you'll camp overnight. The mythology is woven in throughout – you'll hear the stories attached to each site, whether it's the Pandavas at Deoria Tal or the wedding of Shiva and Sati at Triyuginarayan.

Between the hiking, you're doing yoga twice a day – morning and evening – plus pranayama and meditation. There's also one sound healing session and one aerial yoga class back at the ashram. The teachers tailor the practice to the group, and they're used to absolute beginners all the way up to long-time practitioners. Yogi Shubham leads most of the yoga, and Vikas is the trekking guide – he's been leading groups in these mountains for eight years.

Food is simple, healthy Indian vegetarian – dal, sabzi, rice, chapati – served three times a day, plus snacks. It's cooked fresh at the ashram and at the hotels and camps along the trek route. The retreat ends with a 90-minute full-body Ayurvedic massage before you head home. It's a week that covers a lot of ground, literally and metaphorically, but it's paced so you never feel rushed.

What's included

- Airport pickup - 5 nights accommodation (ashram + hotels + tented camps) - 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals - Water, tea, coffee served throughout the day - Daily yoga classes - Daily meditation classes - Daily pranayama classes - Transportation during the retreat - 30 minute massage - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - Group excursions/activities - Entry fee for park - Professional guide - Environment levy fees - Pre and post retreat support from our team - Luggage storage - Wifi connection

What's not included

- Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Flights costs