India Yoga + Seva Retreat

Feb 16 - Feb 27, 2027

INCLUSIONS: airport transfers, all accommodations, meals as listed, private vehicle, private guides, tour of Kolkata, stop at Fab India, coordination of community immersion days, one way flight to Varanasi, walking tour and ghat tour of Varanasi, aarti ceremony, day drip to Sarnath and surrounding sites, one way flight to Chennai, tour of Mahabalipuram, tour of 3 Great Living Chola Temples, one way flight to Kolkata, and all bank/wire processing fees.

At The Village Experience, travel inspires impact. To date, TVE has operated over 800 responsible tourism programs around the world. Our programs have immersed nearly 3,000 travelers into our partner communities and impacted more than 25,000 people on the ground. Together, we have implemented programs to tackle social justice issues such as access to education & healthcare, women’s empowerment, and sustainability in these communities.

It is only through this unique relationship of responsible travel + philanthropy, that we have been able to raise $3,500,000 for our partner communities. You inspire and contribute to the impact…so keep traveling with The Village Experience!

India Yoga + Seva Retreat

A yoga retreat to the birthplace of yoga that integrates practice, seva (selfless service), and responsible tourism. From Kolkata to Varanasi and Thanjavur, we will dive deep into the sensory experience of India as we learn about the culture, the religions and the history that formed the practice of yoga. We begin our time together in Kolkata learning about our longtime partners, Women’s Interlink Foundation (WIF) and their work supporting street kids and rescuing and rehabilitating young victims of human trafficking. We continue to one of India’s most holy cities – Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges River – where we will witness the Hindu ceremonies of death and mourning. Lastly, we will venture South to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Mahabalipuram and the Great Living Chola Temples. Truly the trip of a lifetime – with a pre-trip option to see the stunning Taj Mahal or a post-trip option to the island of Sri Lanka.

MIKKI TROWBRIDGE

Mikki Trowbridge is an Oregon-based yoga teacher and instigator of community through Yoga + Beer and Resonance Yoga Collective. In addition to teaching yoga, Mikki is a Board Member for The Village Cooperative and loves traveling, reading, sipping on craft beers and getting outdoors for a hike, a paddle or to catch a sunset.

FUNDRAISING COMMITMENT

We are asking that as part of your commitment to this trip, you are prepared to raise at least $500 in donations for our Community Seva Activities to support the partners we will interact with on this trip. You can make the donation yourself, you can host fundraisers, you can ask your friends and family for support, or work with Mikki to come up with other ideas.

Pricing

$5599 double occupancy
$7399 single occupancy

$1000 deposits and passports due with registration

$2,500 payment due February 16, 2026

Final balances, flights, and travel insurance due August 16, 2026

Send passports, flights, and travel insurance to trips@experiencethevillage.com.

Itinerary

February 16 – Arrive to Kolkata International Airport. Meet your Village Experience representative and transfer to hotel for the evening.

February 17 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Embark on a tour of Kolkata by visiting the Potter’s Village where artisans create statues of gods and goddesses for local festivals and holidays. Then, visit two beautiful Jain temples. Stop for lunch and shopping at Fab India Experience. Photo opportunity at the Victoria & Alfred Monument on the way back to the hotel. (B)

February 18 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Today, we’ll visit our friends at Women’s Interlink Foundation and spend time at Nijuloy House to learn about the Vocational Skills Training Program funded by The Village Experience. Learn how to block print your own scarf, shop for artisan products, grind local spices, and enjoy lunch by the hospitality unit. In the evening, we’ll visit some of the red light district drop-in centers operated by WIF. Return to hotel in the evening. (B,L)

February 19 – Morning yoga and breakfast. We’ll spend today with Women’s Interlink Foundation by visiting Child Care Home and learning about the street kids drop-in center program. Enjoy lunch onsite. Return to hotel in the afternoon. (B,L)

February 20 – Transfer to airport for morning flight to Varanasi. Upon arrival, stop for a traditional lunch. Check into hotel and then enjoy an afternoon yoga session. (B,L)

February 21 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Today, we’ll embark on a Heritage Walking Tour of the main sites around old town Varanasi. Varanasi is known as one of the most holy cities in the world for Hindus as a place of pilgrimage, death, and mourning. We’ll then board boats for a tour of the most interesting ghats along the river. Stop for traditional lunch. Aarti ceremony in the evening. (B,L)

February 22 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Tour of the Buddhist holy site of Sarnath – a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of eight most important pilgrimage sites for Buddhists. Enjoy a meditation session on site. Continue on to visit the Dhamek Stupa and Chukhandi Stupa. Stop for local lunch. In the afternoon, visit the Durga Temple and Bharat Mata Mandir. Return to hotel in the late afternoon. (B,L)

February 23 – Morning transfer to airport for flight to Chennai. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch and then check into hotel near Mahabalipurnam sites. Evening yoga/mediation (B,L)

February 24 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Then, spend today visiting the UNESCO World Heritage sites at Mahabalipuram. These temples and monuments were built by the Pallava Dynasty in the 7th and 8th centuries. Stop for a local lunch. Return to hotel in the afternoon. (B,L)

February 25 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Visit two of the Great Living Chola Temples – UNESCO World Heritage sites built by the Chola Dynasty in the 11th and 12th centuries. Enjoy a local lunch. Check into hotel in Thanjavur. (B,L)

February 26 – Morning yoga and breakfast. Visit the third Great Living Chola Temple. Stop for local lunch. Afternoon meditation and/or yoga session (B,L)

February 27 – Transfer to airport for flight to Kolkata or continue on to Sri Lanka for the extension trip. (B)

Taj Mahal Pre-Trip

Inclusions: airport transfers, all accommodations, meals as listed, tour of New Delhi, all monuments entry fees, private vehicle, private guides, visit to Sheroe’s Hangout, tour of Baby Taj, tour of Agra Fort, tour of Taj Mahal, all entry fees, and all bank/wire processing fees.

Pricing

$1499 double occupancy
$1799 single occupancyCommitments due by February 16, 2026Final payments due by August 16, 2026

Itinerary

February 13 – Arrive to New Delhi International Airport. Meet your Village Experience representative and check into hotel.

February 14 – Meet your guide in the hotel lobby and proceed to visit the main sites of New Delhi today including Jamaa Masjid, India Gate, Humayan’s Tomb, and Qutab Minar. Stop for lunch. Return to hotel in the afternoon. (B)

February 15 – Morning drive to Agra. Head to Sheroe’s for lunch and to support their amazing cause of empowering women. In the afternoon, visit the Baby Taj (tomb of I’timad ud Daulah) and the Agra Fort. Check into hotel for the evening. (B,L)

February 16 – Sunrise tour of the beautiful Taj Mahal. After breakfast, drive back to New Delhi to catch afternoon flight to Kolkata. Check into group hotel for the evening. (B)

Sri Lanka Post-Trip

Inclusions: airport transfers, all accommodations, meals as listed, private vehicle, private guides, tour of Dambulla Caves, Lion’s Rock admission, tour of Anuradhapura, tour of Polonnawura, safari and park entry fees, cooking demonstration, and all bank/wire processing fees.

Pricing

$2199 double occupancy
$2699 single occupancyCommitments due by February 16, 2026Final payments due by August 16, 2026

Itinerary

February 27 – Transfer to airport in Thanjavur for flight to Colombo, Sri Lanka. Meet your Village Experience representative and transfer to hotel in Negombo. Relax and enjoy the pool and beach in the afternoon. (B)

February 28 – Morning drive to the impressive Dambulla Caves. This cave monastery contains hundreds of images of Buddha. Stop for lunch. Check into hotel in Sigirya. Climb Lion’s Rock for a stunning sunset view in the afternoon. (B)

March 1 – Today, you’ll enjoy a day trip to Anuradhapura – the first (and oldest) ancient kingdom in Sri Lanka. This UNESCO World Heritage site is one of the oldest continuously occupied cities in Asia dating to 437 BC. Stop for lunch. Return to hotel. (B)

March 2 – Explore the second ancient kingdom today in Polonnawura. This UNESCO World Heritage site contains Brahmanic monuments built by the Cholas and dates to the 10th Century…becoming the capital after the fall of Anuradhapura. Enjoy a special farm to table lunch. Check into hotel tonight owned and operated by women – the first of its kind in Sri Lanka. (B,L)

March 3 – Morning safari in a nearby national park. Return to hotel for a relaxing afternoon. Then, enjoy a cooking demonstration and dinner with the women of the hotel. (B,D)

March 4 – Check out and morning drive to airport for evening flights home. (B)

Flight Reservations

Pre-Trip Arrival: New Delhi International Airport (DEL)

Main Trip Arrival: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)

Main Trip Departure: Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)

Post-Trip Departure: Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB)

Vaccinations

Visit the Center for Disease Control website for up-to-date requirements (www.cdc.gov) and/or speak with a local travel doctor regarding vaccinations.

Recommendations for India and Sri Lanka include:

Hepatitis A & B
Typhoid
Yellow Fever

Required Documents for India

1) Passport – must have at least two blank pages and at least 6 months’ validity from date of visa application.

2) Visa is required and must be obtained more than one month in advance. Apply online for an e-Tourist Visa HERE.

3) Travel Insurance – Medical evacuation, repatriation and medical coverage are required by The Village Experience. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage.

Required Documents for Sri Lanka

1) Passport – must have at least two blank pages and at least 6 months’ validity from expected date of departure from Sri Lanka.

2) Visa is required and must be obtained ahead of time. Apply online HERE.

REGISTER | India Yoga + Seva Retreat

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India Yoga + Seva Retreat

India Yoga + Seva Retreat

Pricing

Itinerary

Taj Mahal Pre-Trip

Pricing

Itinerary

Sri Lanka Post-Trip

Pricing

Itinerary

Flight Reservations

Vaccinations

Required Documents for India

Required Documents for Sri Lanka

REGISTER | India Yoga + Seva Retreat

Passport Information (optional)

Rooming (required)

Travel Insurance Information

Additional traveler 1

Passport Information (optional)

Additional traveler 2

Passport Information (optional)

Additional traveler 3

Passport Information (optional)

Additional traveler 4

Passport Information (optional)

Additional traveler 5

Passport Information (optional)

Payment