Itinerary

B= breakfast  L= lunch  D= dinner

Yoga practice : Our daily yoga practice will focus on meditation, asana, work on attention, basic pranayama, and Sutras. We will be inspired by spiritual lessons of the great teachers we meet in India through their teachings. All levels welcome including beginners. Family members or friends not practicing yoga are also welcome.

 

Day 1  •  January 16, 2019  •  Chennai

Arrival in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Welcome meeting at 2:00 pm in a designated room of the Rain Tree Hotel in Chennai. Please bring your registration form and info about your medical insurance (compulsory). Departure for a brief tour of the city that includes the Theosophical center of Krishnamurti. Dinner, not included, on our own and overnight in Chennai..

Day 2  •  January 17  •  Mahabalipuram-Tiruvannamalai (B+D)

Yoga practice. Breakfast and departure to Tiruvannamalai, the site of the sacred mountain of South India, Arunachala. On the way we may visit the temples in Mahabalipuraham, time permitting. A powerful site and a very important pilgrimage destination in India, Tiruvannamalai owes its fame also to the presence of Sri Ramana Maharishi and its ashram. Ramana was an extraordinary man, a fully enlightened being who reached liberation when he was very young. Lunch on route, not included. Arrival in Tiruvannamalai and check in our peaceful resort where we will stay for 3 days, on full board, commuting to Ramana Maharishi Ashram each day.

Days 3 and 4  •  January 18 and 19   •  Tiruvannamalai (B+L+D)

During this time in Tiruvannamalai we will focus on our yoga practice and on Ramana Maharshi ‘s teachings. We will attend to lectures about him and visit his ashram and the caves where he meditated for long time. Among other activities, we will explore the Arunachaleswar Temple and walk the Kora around Arunachala Mountain as pilgrims have been doing for many centuries.

Day 5  •  January 20  •  Pondicherry (B+D)

After our yoga practice and breakfast, we drive by our private coach to Pondicherry, the largest French colony in India. There is a strong French influence in the city, especially in the old quarters, with Rues and Boulevards lined with Mediterranean style houses and bakeries, although the city remains very much Indian. French is still understood, and the whole city makes for rather pleasant mix of East and West. On arrival, check in to our hotel and lunch on our own. This afternoon we will visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram, introducing another pillar of the Indian spirituality. Guided tour and return to the hotel to enjoy the ocean breeze and some relaxing free time. Possible satsang. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 6  •  January 21  •  Pondicherry and Auroville (B)

Yoga practice by the beach. Breakfast and departure to Auroville, the international attempt at an ideal spiritual community founded in 1968 and based on the spiritual teachings and practices of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. Auroville is inhabited by people from across the world and is an ongoing experiment in human unity, transformation and consciousness, as well as sustainable living and the future cultural, environmental, social and spiritual needs of mankind. Pick up and drive back to our hotel for dinner and overnight.

Days 7 and 8 may be subject to change as we may be given the possibility to attend some special lectures in Auroville. In that case, our stay in Pondicherry will be extended for an extra one or two days.

Day 7  •  January 22  •  Chidambaram – Tanjore (B+D)

Yoga practice in the morning followed by breakfast. Drive by coach about 40 miles to Chidambaram. Here we will visit the Nataraja Temple, where Shiva is worshiped as the Cosmic Dancer, depicted in 108 dancing poses in 10th century stone carvings. Stop for lunch on our own. We continue our driving toward Tanjore. Check in to our beautiful hotel and dinner. Relaxing overnight in Tanjore

Day 8  •  January 23  •  Tanjore

Longer yoga practice this morning followed by breakfast. Today we will visit Tanjore’s main temple, Brideeswara. We will also admire the famous Tanjore paintings, involving a very intricate process with gold leaf added onto the main painting. Lunch on our own in town and back to the hotel. Rest of the day is free to enjoy a longer siesta or a time by the pool. Possible satsang after dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9  •  January 24  •  Madurai (B+D)

Yoga practice followed by breakfast and departure to Madurai, considered the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and South India. Check in and lunch on our own. In the afternoon, visit of Meenakshi Temple, one of the most significant Temples in all of south Asia and Ramana Maharshi famous room where he became enlightened. Possible visits in Madurai: Ghandi Museum, Thirupparankundram Temple and Thirumalai Nayak Palace. In its heyday Tirumalai Nayak Palace at Madurai was considered to be one of the wonders of the South. Dinner at the restaurant and overnight in Madurai

Day 10  •  January 25  •  Madurai (B+D)

Daily yoga practice and continuation of visits followed by free time. Pick up before dinner included in the restaurant and overnight in Madurai.

Days 11-12-13  •  January 26, 27, 28  •   Kollam (B+L+D)

Drive to the backwaters in Kerala to stay at an Ayurvedic center for Ayurvedic treatments (optional), exploring the culture of the backwaters. We will focus on yoga and Ayurveda. The backwaters are an extraordinary natural, cultural and beautiful place to visit. We can only reach the nearby villages by private boat, one of the activities planned for the next three days along with watching the Kathakali dance during the evening program. Full board.

Day 14  •  January 29  •  Kochi (B)

Yoga practice in the morning followed by breakfast. Drive to Kochi the capital of Kerala and a place of international tourism and interest for its music, dance, shopping, the center of the spice trade even today, and multi-cultural life. Between today and tomorrow we will visit: the Hill Palace Museum, a fully-fledged archaeological museum and Kerala’s first ever Heritage Museum, the spice market, and handicraft shops. Exploring, lunch, and dinner on your own. Overnight in Kochi.

Day 15  •  January 30  •  Kochi (B+D)

Yoga practice in the morning followed by breakfast. Day at leisure and free time. Final satsang and farewell dinner. Overnight in Kochi

Day 16  •  January 31  •  Kochi – Depart (B)

Breakfast and departure by private bus to Kochi international airport for your flight back home. Only one ride is included in the price and the bus will leave with the earliest flight on schedule.

 

The order of events and visits may be subject to change .

 

Price:

From US$ 2,099 per person in double

Based on a minimum of 20 participants

Single supplement pricing upon request.

In case of a lower number of participants price will stay the same but number of services included may be subject to change.

Price includes:

• 1 Night at Chennai Raintree or similar, with breakfast
• 3 nights at Sparsa, Tiruvanamalai on full board basis
• 2 nights at Windflower, Pondicherry or similar on breakfast & dinner basis
• 2 nights at Ideal Riverview, Tanjore on breakfast & dinner basis
• 2 nights at GRT Madurai or similar on breakfast & dinner basis

• 3 nights at Fragrant Nature Kollam or similar on full board
• 2 nights at Le Meridien, Kochi on bed & breakfast basis
• Breakfast always included from day 2, lunch and dinner as per program
•  AC Deluxe Volvo Coach as per program
• English speaking guides
• Entry fees to:

1. Madurai: Meenakshi Temple, Nayacker Palace, and Gandhi Museum
2. Kochi: Matancherry (Dutch) Palace
3. Kathakali performance in Fragrant Nature
4. Temples when required

• Journeys To The East Tour leader for the entire duration of the program
• Yoga teacher YTT
• Goods and Services Tax (GST), standard in India
• Tips for hotels, drivers, and guides

Price does not include:

• Any flights and travel insurance. Please ask your Journeys to the East assistant for help or information regarding flights or insurance.
• Any meals  not arranged by the tour
• Ayurvedic or spa treatments at Fragrant Nature Resort
• Any expenses of personal nature
• Any camera charges (often required at historic sites in addition to entry fees)
• Any charges which may be incurred due to circumstances beyond our control, like strikes, natural disasters, etc.
• Any increase in the input costs like taxes, hotel or transportation rates, increases in entry charges, etc. (between now and Jan 2019 )
• Any charges not clearly defined by Journeys to the East

 

Registration:

Please download Registration Form here and either:

Email to Patrizia at: info@journeystotheeast.com

or

Mail to with your initial deposit to:

Kairos Pilgrimages

94 Jackson Road, Suite 206, Devens, MA  01434, USA

Payment:

First deposit (non-refundable) of $500: due June 12, 2018

Balance payment: due October 1, 2018

Please make checks payable to: Kairos Pilgrimages

Memo: India-Yoga

Mail to:

Kairos Pilgrimages

94 Jackson Road, Suite 206, Devens, MA  01434, USA

Credit cards also accepted via PayPal, with a surcharge of 2.9% of total amount.

Questions? Please call 1-978-249-2467

Refund policy for this pilgrimage:

In case of cancellation, the following fees apply:

• First deposit of $500 is non-refundable.
• The balance payment portion is 50% refundable until October 31, 2018.
• No refunds after October 31, 2018.

Participant requirements:

• Every pilgrim will submit a registration form, confirming that s/he does not have any pre-existing medical conditions that may affect his/her health during the trip.
• Every pilgrim must sign and return the JTTE waiver before the beginning of the pilgrimage.
• Every pilgrim must possess medical insurance that includes emergency repatriation during the dates of the trip.
• Vaccinations: Each pilgrim should discuss this subject with his/her physician to ensure their maximum health and comfort while traveling.
• Each pilgrim must be in relatively good health and have sufficient physical stamina to be able to walk up to one mile per day without any support or discomfort; they should also be able to bear the potentially hot weather conditions of a South Indian summer. Sun glasses, hats and sun-blocking fabrics and creams are strongly encouraged.
• It is the responsibility of each pilgrim to ensure his/her visa and passport is valid for the dates of travel. JTTE will not be responsible for any issue related to this subject and will not be able to offer any refund in case of passport issue of any kind.

Terms and Conditions:

Please read the Terms and Conditions for Kairos Pilgrimages before registering for this pilgrimage. Thank you.

Contact:

For more information, please contact Patrizia at:

info@journeystotheeast.com

978-249-6580