Although this 13-day journey is also considered retreat, it is essential to understand the devotional nature of this trip. Rather than a “sight-seeing” vacation, or a yoga retreat held in one location, this is a spiritual adventure to some of the most sacred sites of South India, with practice and teachings guiding our way.

You will fly into Chennai, arriving on December 31, and out of Madurai, on January 13. You can purchase a multi-city trip, or buy a round-trip flight to Chennai and add the departing leg flight from Madurai to Chennai.

No! We will arrange a dependable, trustworthy shuttle driver for you. A have a car or van waiting for you upon arrival in Chennai, and depending on how many people are scheduled to arrive, you should never have to wait more than 30 minutes. The cost of the shuttle depends on how many will be riding with you. We will send a form for you to fill out your flight info so we can have it ready for you, making it a smooth and easy arrival!

You may arrive at Chennai airport anytime during the day on the 31st of December. Our time together begins with a welcome dinner and opening circle. As for departure, ideally book your flight no earlier than 10am from Madurai.

Yes, but only if you arrange with us to book an extra night with the eco-resort. You will need to book an extra night if you want to check into your room prior to 2pm check-in time. For some, flights will be arriving at 5am or 7am on the morning of the 31st. You are welcome to come to the hotel and hang out on the beach. However, if you want to check-in to your room, have a shower or nap, you will need to book an extra night, the 30th, which for additional cost we can arrange for you.

Yes, travel insurance is required. The level of coverage you choose is up to you.

Yes, an Indian e-visa is required to enter the country - and it’s quite easy now! After years of travel to India where Hannah had to pre-mail her physical passport and go through a tedious process to obtain a visa. You can apply for an e-Tourist Visa online, and you will receive your authorization via email. Once you register for the trip, we will send you instructions and all the info you need for this.

Yes. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from our date of entry into India. Check your passport and start the renewal process if your expiration date is prior to January 1, 2025.

We stay in the finest lodging available in Tamil Nadu, focusing on eco-lodging options whenever we can. Some of our lodging are eco-resorts in natural settings, while others are historic elegant hotels that have been updated for modern comforts. There will be one night when our lodging will be more simple - in Chidambaram. This is a very special temple, and the hotels here are all very small. The only way to see this temple (which is NOT to be missed as it houses the first Śiva Nataraj statue!), is to stay in a small, quaint, local hotel for one night. We love the places we stay, and have developed wonderful relationships with the staff over the years of travel here. The spaces are lovely, the food is consistently delicious and safe to eat, and the service is wonderful.

Although most of us will be rooming in double rooms with two beds (or one if you are traveling with someone you’d like to share with), we are happy to arrange a single option for you. There will be a supplemental charge of $900 for separate single accommodations.

Yes, Hannah is an excellent teacher for adapting practices for folks with diverse backgrounds, abilities, bodies, and so forth. (In fact, she is the President of a nonprofit called The Yoga for All Movement, which offers yoga and mindfulness to individuals in communities who have not historically had access to these profound practices.) The focus of the trip is devotional, rather than high-impact fitness yoga. We value accessibility and inclusion, and all experience of yoga practice, including beginner, are welcome.

On some days, we will be walking merely around a temple area, while other days there will be more intensive walking to visit to caves, Giri Pradakshina, and other spiritual quests. The most rigorous walk (hiking up a holy hill) in our itinerary will have another option available, for anyone who chooses not to trek. If you are concerned about walking and your physical wellbeing, please contact us and we can talk it over with you.

Although you will be immersed in the ancient lands and history of India, and have guides sharing with you the historical background and the rich cultural heritage, this trip is more than that: it’s a spiritual pilgrimage for those who are looking to lean into the devotional and spiritual aspects of India, and of existence. In addition to history, you will also receive teachings on Yoga philosophy, storytelling of the Indian pantheon, direct experience practice, and darshana with deities in ancient temples.

For visiting temples, yes. Shoulders and knees must be covered, as well as no leggings, tight jeans, or tight pants unless there is a skirt over covering to the knee. You may wear yoga leggings while we’re at our lodging practicing yoga. We will also take everyone sari shopping early in the trip, so that you have proper attire for some of our big temple visits.

Yes, after registering you will receive a welcome email and following it, you’ll receive a detailed email with all the information you could ever hope for, including: packing lists for clothing, shoes, toiletries; Indian customs and how to show cultural respect; how to stay connected (wifi, data plans, using your cell in India); how much money to bring, exchange rates, etc; dietary information, travel wellness and more.

We always work to refund folks when something comes up, while balancing this with the need to compensate our hard working team for their work, and, as you can imagine, we pay in advance for hotels and other trip arrangements. Here is our refund policy: If you cancel prior to 60 days before, and we can register someone else to replace your spot, you can receive a refund less a $300 administrative fee. If you cancel within 60 days of the trip, and we can register someone else to replace your spot, you can receive a refund less a $600 administrative fee. There is absolutely no guarantee that we will be able to find someone to replace your spot, especially closer to the trip, but we always do our best to help out our yogis.

1. Fill out the application on this webpage.

2. Within 48 hours, you’ll be hear back from us. Upon admission, you will submit your initial deposit of $900 or pay in full. Those who pay in full up front in lieu of the deposit can receive a 5% discount (which support the team in keeping our administrative costs down). Your spot is not confirmed until we receive your deposit.

3. You’re in! Get ready for the trip of a lifetime. We will send you packing list and other support to prepare for this wondrous pilgrimage.

Final payment is due on or any time before August 1, 2024.

Absolutely. Reach out to us at care@hannahmuse.com, and we can work with you on a plan.