The Best International Yoga Destinations

Need A Healing Holiday? – The Best International Yoga Destinations

What is yoga?

The word “Yoga” is derived from the Sanskrit language. It means to unite and join together. The main purpose of yoga is to bring the mind, body, and spirit together and bind them in a harmonious relationship.

Yoga is not just an exercise. It is a practice that takes you on the path to complete wellness. It lets one lead a happy, healthy and peaceful life. The ultimate aim of yoga is to free the mind of all negative thoughts and emotions and attain complete liberation.

Quick Views:

1. Types of destinations
2. When should you go to a yoga destination
3. Best time to visit some places for a yoga holiday
4. Papular international yoga destinations around the world
5. Sample itinerary in yoga destination
6. FAQs

Enjoy your next holiday in a yoga destination

You can choose to travel to yoga destinations for a healing holiday. So what is a yoga destination, you may ask?

It can be called a yoga shala where you learn various forms of yoga, surrounded by natural beauty. You stay here to relax your mind, body and your soul. There are also meditation sessions held at these places that help to calm your mind. Many yoga retreats have attractive packages that let you relax and connect with nature, as well as experience good health, rejuvenate, and stay happy.

Why should you choose to go to a yoga destination?

Our busy lives do not leave us with enough time for ourselves. There are family commitments, deadlines at work and other social obligations that leave no time to ourselves. Taking a yoga vacation could be the best way to spend some time alone. Yoga destinations let you relax and revitalize as you connect with your inner self and experience peace from within. After a yoga holiday, notice a marked change physically and emotionally as you get back to your routine life.

What should you expect in a yoga destination?

Planning to opt for the destination yoga packages for your next holidays? Here is what you can expect.

Yoga practice daily by an expert yoga teacher
Learn different yoga styles and postures
Getting up early in the morning
Healthy meals
Trying out new activities, such as trekking
Spiritual enlightenment
Exploring a new place
Spending time in natural surroundings

Types of destinations

There are various kinds of yoga destinations. Some of the yoga retreats are set in the hillside and the seaside while there are other international retreats that let you practice yoga in a natural setting.

Here are a few examples:

Yoga retreats in Mexico where you get to relax by the poolside or walk in the jungles. At the Spring yoga retreats in Sayulita Mexico, you can practice yoga on the sea beach.
Thailand yoga retreat by the sea.
Yoga retreat in Spain where you get to experience nature as well as the Spanish culture.
Caribbean yoga cruise where you practice yoga when sailing in the sea.
Yoga at Marrakesh in Morocco where you can practice yoga on the rooftop with beautiful scenic views of North Africa.
Akasha Yoga and Wellness In Transylvania set in a quaint village up the mountains.
Yoga Explorers, Italy is based in a farmhouse on the hillside.
EcoYoga, Scotland is perched on streams, pine forests, and waterfalls and overlooks the Loch.

Ideal duration to spend in the yoga destination

Most of the yoga destination retreats conduct fixed programs ranging from 3 to 10 days and even more. There are other yoga retreats where you can tailor-make your package as per your needs. The ideal duration to enjoy the true pleasure of a yoga destination is 10 days. Long retreats going up to 30 or 60 days are also popular.

When should you go to a yoga destination?

Before you plan to go to a yoga destination it is important that you research the weather of the place. This is especially true if you want to experience yoga outdoors. The yoga sessions are usually day-long programmes and if there are rains or the weather is hot then this will spoil your experience.

Best time to visit for a Yoga holiday

Costa Rica: November- April
Bali: April-October
Greece: May-June and September-October
Morocco: mid-March –May, September-October

Here are some popular international yoga destinations around the world

Location – Costa Rica

How to reach – the international airport of Costa Rica is Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría. There are flights from Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore to Costa Rica and the flight duration is approximately 30 hours

Package /Duration / Cost- For a 7-night package, expect to pay approximately $1500 per person per week plus taxes In Costa Rica. This includes stay, all meals, and yoga sessions as per itinerary.

Cuisine – Some of the most popular cuisines in costa Rica is Tamal, Gallo Pinto and Patacones.

Specialities – Sunrise yoga with the view of the epic ocean. You also enjoy sunset yoga. Costa Rica is the perfect place to experience yoga while on your honeymoon.

Best time – The low season is in the months of May-Oct and the high season is from Nov- April.

Location – Rishikesh

How to reach – the nearest international airport to Rishikesh is Delhi. From the Delhi airport, you can fly to the Jolly Grant Airport in Dehradun. Rishikesh is just 35 km away from the airport.

Package /Duration / Cost – You can opt for a 3, 5 or 7 night’s yoga programme in Rishikesh. A 7-day yoga programme in Rishikesh will approximately cost $700 per person. The price includes stay, all meals, and yoga sessions as per itinerary.

Cuisine –The food here is fresh and natural that is low in calories and fat. There is a lot of emphasis on serving whole-grain foods, vegetables, and fruits. Artificial salt, flavours, preservatives, and colours are totally avoided.

Specialities – Learn yoga in the lap of the Himalayas. The chef also teaches you how to prepare healthy food at home.

Best time – The ideal time to visit Rishikesh is from mid-September to the end of November. The months between mid-February and the end of April are also pleasant.

Location – Thailand

How to reach – You can fly into Suvarnabhumi International Airport Bangkok from the major cities in India. The flight timing is roughly around 4 hours.

Package /Duration / Cost – The approximate 7-day yoga package in Thailand is $630 per person. The price includes accommodation, yoga classes, meals, massages and daily access to the steam room.

Cuisine – For both vegetarians as well as seafood lovers, Thailand has enough culinary delights. These are all organically prepared with a unique blend of ingredients. The retreats in Thailand serve delicious and healthy cuisine as well as the raw and detox menu. You can also choose to order juices, smoothies, and dessert at a restaurant.

Specialities – You will be guided by the resident teachers and get to experience an amazing stay in the tree house or practice yoga in the beauty of the shoreline. There are also many healing massage therapies that you can opt for here. The backdrop of the surrounding is what makes a yoga holiday at Thailand special.

Best time – The high season for yoga in Thailand is from Jan-April and then from mid-July to August. You can get the best rates from May to mid-July and Sept to mid-December.

Location – Bali

How to reach – You can take a flight to reach Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali from India. The flights to Bali are operational from most of the metro cities in India and the approximate flight timing is 9 hours.

Package /Duration / Cost – For a 7-day stay in Bali it will cost you $800 per person. The price includes yoga sessions daily, meals, and daily yoga and meditation sessions.

Cuisine – The retreats in Bali serve simple food that is good for your health as well as for the planet. You can relish on a vegan diet here and the menu is free of eggs, dairy and meat. This is an ideal yoga diet that supports your yogic practice. The meals are mostly gluten-free.

Specialities – The luxurious, pristine and peaceful retreats of Bali give you the opportunity to soak yourself in the natural and cultural beauty of the place Go for treks to see the volcano and waterfalls and get a glimpse of their culture through varied art, music and dance forms. There will be a sunrise yoga sequence that helps to energize you during the day. The sunset yogic sequence lets you unwind and focuses on healing.

Best time – The best to visit Bali for a yoga holiday is from the months of April to October when the weather is dry.

Location – Kerala

How to reach – Kerala has some of the best yoga retreats in India. The Trivandrum International Airport and the Cochin International Airport operate regular flights from most of the domestic and international locations.

Package /Duration / Cost –The approximate cost of booking a 7-night yoga package in Kerala is $600 per person. The packages include a welcome drink on arrival, Satvic (a diet based on Ayurveda) breakfast, lunch and dinner, afternoon tea, foot and head massage once during the stay, participation in yoga and meditation sessions and complementary activities like bird watching, traditional cooking, and riverside hiking.

Cuisine – Food served in the retreats here is organic and farm-fresh. There is also the use of in house spices, vegetables, and fruits in the meal. Special food is arranged for the guests who are on treatment.

Specialities – Enjoy your yoga sessions in natural beauty. Many of the yoga retreats conduct sessions with the scenic backwaters and the exotic beaches in the background. Enjoy a herbal massage with Ayurvedic oils when in Kerala.

Best time – The months from September to March is the ideal time to visit Kerala.

Location – Morocco

How to reach – You can reach the Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca, Morocco from the major cities in India. However, there is no direct flight to Morocco. It takes around 10 hours to Morocco from India.

Package /Duration / Cost – A 10-day yoga cum surf package in Morocco would cost you approximately $826 per person for your entire stay. The price includes accommodation, all meals, surf lessons daily, and yoga sessions daily.

Cuisine – It is important that you are nourished from inside when you are on a yoga holiday. The food here is organically sourced. You can opt for raw, gluten-free and vegan food too.

Specialities – Yoga holidays in Morocco teaches you Restorative yoga, Ashtanga yoga, Vinayasa yoga, Hatha yoga, General yoga, Yin yoga, and Dynamic yoga. It also adds a surfing experience to your yoga package.

Best time – The best time to visit Morocco is between mid-March to May and from September to October.

Location – Goa

How to reach –There are flights that operate from most of the Indian cities to Dabolim airport.

Package /Duration / Cost – A 7-day yoga session in Goa costs around $720. The packages include 2 meals in the day and light fruit breakfast. The price also includes the daily yoga classes as per the schedule and your stay.

Cuisine – A typical healing breakfast in goa would include home-made bread, tropical fruits, porridge, and local nuts. You can taste a mix of Indian and western food for lunch and dinner. The food is produced fresh from organic ingredients.

Specialities – You get to learn Ashtanga yoga from some of the best instructors. There are some relaxation programs that are conducted at the retreat like a walk to the spice plantation.

Best time – November to March is the ideal time to visit Goa.

Location – Italy

How to reach – Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome is where you can fly to.

Package/Duration / Cost –The approximate price for a 7 day holiday in a yoga retreat in Italy is $1700. This includes your stay and all meals. You can also attend the morning yoga class and evening calming session.

Cuisine – There is special care taken to offer fresh produce to the guests. The seasonal products are offered in all the three meals and every meal is prepared to ensure the perfect balance. The authentic Italian meals are prepared with attention to detail. Special preferences like a gluten-free diet, vegan food, as well as any food allergies are all taken care of.

Specialities – Yoga retreats in Italy are close to nature. You can also attend morning yoga classes, a cooking session at the retreat, as well as wine tasting, nature walks, and holistic treatments

Best time – The ideal time to visit Italy is from April to June which is the spring season and from September to October, which is the fall season.

Sample itinerary in a yoga destination

Most of the yoga destinations offer a fixed itinerary that you can choose from. There are 3-day, 7-day, 10-day, 14-day itineraries as well as itineraries for a longer stay in the yoga retreats.

Here is a sample itinerary of a holiday to a yoga destination in Bali.

Day 1:
Arrive and settle in

Day 2:
0700 – Gokul Vinyasa yoga for 1.5 hours
0930 – Balinese offering
1500 – Canang making class
1700- Laughter and dynamic yoga

Day 3:
0700 – Meditation for an hour
0800 – Hatha yoga
0930 – Tour to experience Balinese culture
1700 – Restorative yoga session

Day 4:
0700 – Morning Meditation and yoga
1500 – Cooking class
1700 – Restorative or hatha yoga
1800 – Kirtan

Day 5:
0700 – Hatha yoga for an hour
1500 – Dancing class
1700 – Restorative and yin yoga

Day 6:
0700 – Gokul Vinayasa yoga
1500 –Herbal healing drink-making class
1700 – Hatha yoga, pranayama, and medication

Day 7:
Departure with a total rejuvenation of the mind and body

FAQs

1. Where are most of the yoga destinations located?

Hills, beaches, jungles, and backwaters are some of the natural surroundings where you can enjoy your destination yoga holidays.

2. Benefits of going to a yoga destination

You will start to feel like a new person.
You will find inner peace.
Yoga heals you from within
You will start to be more mindful.
You will understand the benefits of healthy eating and also incorporate it in your day to day life.
You will be surrounded by people who are like-minded
You will go into a digital detox
You will fall in love with yourself

3. Should you travel to the yoga destinations in the monsoon season?

It is important that you are familiar with the weather conditions of the place that you are visiting. You may want to travel in the monsoon season because the rates are cheaper. However, the rains will only make it difficult for you. The best time could be the shoulder season where the rates are moderate and the weather is pleasant.

Conclusion

Healing yoga holidays around the world are enchanting and transport you to the lap of nature. A holiday to a yoga destination can rejuvenate you. So it’s all the more important

to plan well for this life-changing experience. It will help to reduce stress and let you lead a healthy and fulfilling life.

At the yoga destinations around the world, the environment, the programs and the food all work together to revitalize your mind and your body.

It is recommended that you should sign up for a yoga holiday package at least once in your life that takes you on the road to self-discovery. The yoga retreats at these popular international destinations offer you the luxury and all the comfort and at the same time help you heal your body and find a cure to many chronic illnesses.

To experience a yoga holiday all that you need to do is to get in touch with us at connect@flyingsquirrelholidays.com. We help you to choose the best destination as per your budget and preferences and customize the most relaxing holiday package for you.