Discover this magical retreat in Southern India
Yoga, sun, sea & relaxation
Chillout, relax & unwind in this stunning retreat
Indulge in a week of yoga
Book now ... you wont be disappointed
Explore the backwaters, temples & Indian culture
Join us on local excursions
Cherai Beach Yoga Retreat, Kerala, Southern India
Are you looking for the perfect getaway?
Overview
This yoga retreat holiday in Kerala, Southern India, is an excellent opportunity for you to explore and develop your own personal yoga practice with the help and guidance of Scaravelli yoga teacher Catherine Annis.
Bringing out the best that nature has to offer.
A rare blend of beauty: the beach and backwaters.
Nestled between the Keralan backwaters and the Arabian sea, our resort, Cherai Beach, is situated in spectacular surroundings and within easy reach of Cochin, the ancient spice trading port.
The resort is beautifully landscaped with banana trees, coconut palms, lagoons and thatched villas in charming Keralan style. Here, you can watch as sun rises over the serene backwaters and sets on the beach. The sea is warm and suitable for swimming, there are hammocks for you to laze in, glorious views. You may be lucky enough to spot kingfishers working for their meal or even dolphins playing in the sea.
With wide horizons and clear water, these stunning natural surroundings are the perfect place for a yoga holiday.
| Scaravelli Yoga Holiday in India with Catherine Annis | |
| Dates: | 2-10th February, 2017 |
| Location: | Cherai Beach Resort Kerala, India (see TRAVEL section below for map and directions) |
| Price: | £799 pp based on 2 sharing £190 single supplement |
| Included: | * Air conditioned villa with en-suite bathroom, fridge and private veranda. * Twice daily yoga sessions and related practices. * Half board – 2 delicious buffet style meals a day. * Airport transfers for Cochin airport on recommended flights. * Beach loungers, towels and umbrellas, provided by the resort and carried onto the beach for you. |
| Not Included: | Insurance, visas, flights, massage, excursions, drinks and snacks. |
Tamil Nadu Temple Tour Add-on …. 30 January – 2 February, 2017
A great NEW ADD-ON to compliment your yoga retreat holiday.
Stay in a brand new resort in Mamallapuram with its UNESCO protected stone carved temple sites. You will be taken on a guided tour of the village itself, the UNESCO protected monuments, and shops. The second day will be a visit to Kancheepuram, the ancient capital city of the Pallava Kingdom famous for its temples, guided round two of the best temples with elephants, a traditional vegetarian south Indian thali lunch. See wonderful scenery, local crafts and stop of a chai or coconut water, then back to the resort to relax by the stunning swimming pool.
£400pp for 3 nights, £175 single supp. (inc. breakfast, airport transfers on recommended flights, all guided trips in Mamallapuram & Kancheepuram, momument entrance fees, Indian thali on the Kancheepuram trip). This trip does not include internal flight to / from Cochin (around £35 for 1hour flight).
Read what people said about previous yoga holidays
with Catherine Annis at Cherai Beach, India
Testimonials: 2015 2014
Photo Galleries: 2015 2014 2013
Venue
The resort is designed with love and style. It has been ranked as the ultimate quiet getaway destination, offering visitors luxury one can only dream about – the unpolluted atmosphere, crystal clear water, absolute calm and privacy, coconut trees and beautiful lagoons, golden beach in front and still water behind.
Doubles and twins are in the Premium Doctor’s Villas – large villas with seating area, fridge, air con, and veranda overlooking the lawn, banana trees and palms.
The resort is exquisitely landscaped with lagoons and canals meandering in and around a number of the cottages, built around picturesque greenery overlooking the clean long beach at the front and serene backwaters behind. Sun rises over the backwaters behind us – first you see a wave of crimson at the eastern horizon. As and when it approaches Cherai, it thickens to molten gold and in minutes you see it emerging from the skies and backwaters turning everything into a maze of crimson gold. At the end of the day, the sun sinks into the Arabian Sea.
Scaravelli inspired yoga is the new, stress free yoga, that benefits everyone. Classes are suitable for all ages and all levels of yoga experience (beginner, intermediate or advanced). Regardless of your level of fitness, you will discover a longer, stronger and more flexible spine, a calmer mind, and begin to enjoy increased energy and ease of movement.
Food
The restaurant serves two buffets a day.
Breakfast has a choice of fresh juice, cereal, toast, butter and honey as well as local delights like idli, dosa and puttu.
Dinner consist of delicious lightly spiced vegetarian curries, fresh prawn/fish/meat dishes, traditional authentic Keralan cuisine, complimented by western dishes, soups, salads, puddings and fruit – just divine. Beer and wine are also available.
If you have dietary requirements or special requests, the restaurant captain will be able to accommodate your needs. Please let us know at your time of booking if you require an alternative diet during your stay.
There are several nearby choices for lunch giving us the opportunity to sample the local cuisine. These are always a popular choice and are extremely well priced.
Schedule
Sample Programme
| Arrival | |
|---|---|
| 12.00pm | Arrival and refreshments |
| 4.30 – 6.30pm | Welcome meeting and gentle jet-lag yoga |
| 7.00pm | Dinner |
| Sunday / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday / Saturday | |
|---|---|
| 7.30 – 9.30am | Yoga |
| 9.30am | Breakfast |
| 1.00 – 2.00pm | Lunch |
| 2.00 – 5pm | Free time to explore, walk, chill out, have a massage |
| 5.00 – 7pm | Yoga |
| 7.30pm | Dinner |
| 8.30pm | Free time |
| Day Off | |
|---|---|
| 8.30 – 9.30am | Breakfast |
| 10.00am | A day to relax and explore the local area, to take time out for an excursion, or simply to chill out at the Ayurvedic spa. |
| Departure | |
|---|---|
| 8.30 – 9.30am | Breakfast |
| 10.00am | Departure |
Please note that whilst I will do everything possible to adhere to the programme and details laid out above, some things are outside my control, and therefore I reserve the right to make changes if necessary.
Explore
The resort staff will be at hand if you wish to plan a trip or excursion.
Options and are often determined by availability with contacts so may vary from holiday to holiday:
Punt on the local backwaters around the resort.
The Kerala Backwaters are a network of interconnected canals, rivers, lakes and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km of waterways. The backwaters have a unique ecosystem – freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea.
Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape.
Visit the Elephant sanctuary.
The elephants are always at home at the sanctuary and are hand washed daily in the local waters.
If you are lucky enough you may be invited to help wash them, or even have a ride.
The sanctuary is a fabulous excursion .
Visit Fort Cochin
A day trip to Cochin for sightseeing and shopping. Lovely Indian crafts, spices and clothes to buy.
Visit a women’s project.
Watch the local women weaving natural fibres which grow in the backwaters, and hear the fascinating story about the history of Kerala, and a Christian organisation serving the whole community.
Visit the local ashram and martial arts school.
Visit the Swami, his apothecary of Ayurvedic herbs and remedies which are produced on-site, and watch Kalari, the traditional Keralan martial art taught to local children.
A Yoga Homestay
For more yoga, head for Solomons’ house: a yoga homestay and authentic experience of staying with a middle-class Indian family. There’s twice daily yoga with Solomon, delicious food with home-produced vegetables and spices made at home by Priya (take your notebook), and more local trips to identify spices, swim in the river, and other local attractions…accompanied by Solomon and his two young sons.
Visit Alleppey
If you are after a truly pampering experience, travel down to Alleppey by private car or train. Famous for its backwater cruises, you can also stay on land in a beautiful resort with swimming pool, delightful restaurant and another fabulous spa. There is daily yoga with a local teacher, walks around backwater villages, temples, boating or staying on a traditional Keralan boat.
Visit Tamil Nadu
Drive across south India from Kerala to Tamil Nadu – escape the heat to the tea plantations, or visit the ancient temple city of Madurai, and other amazing temples all the way to Mamallapuram. Fly into Cochin and return from Chennai. Tailor-made for you with a private car.
Travel
Cherai Beach Resort is located at the Gateway of Muziris, the heritage capital of Kerala, 25km from Cochin International Airport.
There are good connections from all UK airports (Emirates EK002 leaves at 13.35 connecting in Dubai). The EK530 then continues, arriving in Cochin (COK) at 8.05am for noon check in. The driver will pick you up from the airport and transfer you to the resort, around 45mins away.
When you leave, if you have to… is up to you. Recommended flights are EK533, EK029 leaving at 4.25am, or EK531, EK003 leaving at 9.40am). If you’re on an adventure, Emirates have excellent connections from all major Indian airports.
