My next beachfront yoga holiday in Northern Kerala is now booked for 20th – 27th February 2016 and I have now begun to take bookings. This unspoilt location off the beaten track was a real find and we are keen to enjoy its charms yet again before the secret gets out and this undiscovered region succumbs to the indelible imprint of mass tourism.
Always keen to escape the British winter, we visited this stunning beachside setting for the first time on our 2015 Indian yoga holiday. We struck gold at this wonderful boutique hotel with is pretty Keralan style bungalows each discretely set in beautiful, peaceful gardens and all with a view through the palm trees of the beach.
On this 7 day yoga holiday we immersed ourselves in a whole range of relaxing activities, including morning and evening yoga in the purpose built yoga shala, fabulous walks along Northern Kerala’s swathes of completely deserted, spotless white sand beaches. Enjoyed taking boat rides in its famous backwaters, wonderful freshly prepared Keralan and Southern Indian cuisine and swimming in the blood warm waters of the Arabian sea and the resort’s gorgeous pool.
Some of our 2015 guests used their time with us here as a stand alone holiday in its own right and were collected from Mangalore Airport by the hotel, while others let it form part of a more extensive winter trip to this fabulous region of Southern India. Guests in 2016 might choose to do the same and there are a number of travel companies specialising in Kerala than can help with planning further travel that we can recommend. Or we can happily suggest some fantastic family run home-stays, low key hotels, house boats and fabulous beaches and tea plantations to visit during extended stays.
We can’t wait to put another yoga group together and return to this little corner of paradise before the secret gets out and this unspoilt region is placed firmly on the tourist map. It won’t stay this peaceful for many more years so please read on if you would like to consider joining us in 2016.
For local colour and atmosphere there are local towns to visit and unearth the treasure trove that is India, its fabrics, spices and jewellery. As tourism has yet to have left its indelible mark here you still get to experience the real India. The welcome we received was overwhelming. We enjoyed sharing in the local festivals, being invited to share wonderful meals, visit locals in their homes and sampling a coconut tipple in the rustic toddy shops.
Other highlights of the holiday include watching the local fishermen launch and land their boats, early morning and sunset swimming with the dolphins that passed by our resort each day and afternoon tea spent lounging under the palms, sampling local delights such as coconut stuffed plantains and sweet fried bananas.
Here in Northern Kerala there are deserted backwaters, no less beautiful than the heavily commercialised southern backwaters of Aleppey, there are vibrant temples and ancient monuments, history and culture. We were welcomed everywhere we went by curious smiling locals,delighted to share what is often referred to as “God’s Own Country.”
Our attractive French owned beachside resort provides beautiful garden bungalows in typical Keralan inspired style, with air-conditioning, stylish yet comfortable furnishings and a restaurant serving locally inspired food with a French twist. We practice yoga twice a day in the morning and at sunset in the resort’s newly built yoga shala or even on the tranquil shores of the Arabian sea.
Every bungalow within the resort offers a view of the sea through the palm trees and the pool and has its own sitting room, wrap around terrace with sun-loungers, a kitchen for making drinks, as well as an extremely comfortable and airy bedrooms with quiet air-conditioning and a view out towards the beach.
If you are looking for a boutique, barefoot and relaxing yoga holiday off the beaten track but still with everything you need catered for then this is definitely the answer you’ve been looking for.
When you’re not enjoying practicing yoga, which as always on our yoga yoga holidays are designed to suit all-comers and will comprise the spectrum between dynamic and deeply restorative yoga gently, you can do as much or as little as you please.
The cost of the holiday includes; 10 yoga sessions of different lengths and contents – one in the morning and one in the late afternoon. Breakfast every day of your stay and 7 evening meals. Morning yoga will be followed by breakfast of fresh organic juices, fresh village bread, Keralan breakfast is optional, fresh coffee, tea, eggs, cereals, fresh fruits and yoghurt.
Trips can be arranged, to a vibrant Hindu Theyyan Festival at a local temple, fishing, dolphin watching, adventure sports, bird-watching, it can even be arranged for elephants to come and visit us at our resort. We can take a back water trip on a traditional rice boat, canoeing and dinghy sailing is also available for 2016. There is WiFi, an inexpensive 24 hour taxi service or tuk tuk service so that guests can take themselves off to wherever they please.
Airport transfers from the nearest airports at Mangalore or Kannur can also be arranged with the hotel management.
Additional meals can also be arranged at lunchtime when the kitchen will be happy to prepare freshly cooked food to order from its extensive al la carte menu. Guests wishing to stay extra nights at the hotel are welcome to do so at extra cost subject to availability of cottages.
COST
The provisional cost per person for 7 nights sharing is £790.00 and £1000.00 single occupancy * in a beautifully appointed garden bungalow with sea view and gardens views.
To book a non-returnable or transferrable deposit of 50% of the holiday is required of £390 per person sharing or £500.00 for single occupancy.
TRAVEL TIPS
The Visa to India is being made less expensive and for the coming season is going to be available to UK visitors online. The nearest International airports to our resort near the coastal town of Nileshwar is Mangalore and new for 2016 is Kannur. Both airports are approximately a 2 hour transfer from the hotel. You can book a taxi or train transfer to Nileshwar to the beach resort or the management of the hotel is also able to help you with this.
In our opinion the best flight options to Northern Kerala are via Mumbai
TIP: see Jet airlines 2016 schedule.
TO BOOK
TRAVEL TIPS
The Visa to India is being made less expensive and for the coming season is going to be available to UK visitors online. The nearest International airports to our resort near the coastal town of Nileshwar is Mangalore and new for 2016 is Kannur. Both airports are approximately a 2 hour transfer from the hotel. You can book a taxi or train transfer to Nileshwar to the beach resort or the management of the hotel is also able to help you with this.
In our opinion the best flight options to Northern Kerala are via Mumbai
TIP: see Jet airlines 2016 schedule.
TO BOOK
To book please email me at elisawilliamsyoga@gmail.com and by return I will send you my bank details. Alternatively you can mail me a cheque payable to Elisa Williams 38 Ingersoll Road London W12 7BD.
For more information visit www.elisawilliamsyoga.com/page15.htm