INDIA 2026
The Roots of Yoga
October 6-18, 2026
Discover yourself why this pilgrimage is repeatedly referred to as
"The Journey of a Lifetime!"
Our adventure begins with 1 Night in the metropolis of NEW DELHI. Here we will visit the Ramakrishna Monastery, the busy market of Paharganj, and share our first meal together. Most importantly, we will connect with our yoga and meditation practices to support the mind, body and spirit to come into a state of wholeness and prepare for our journey.
AMRITSAR — 2 Nights
From Delhi we travel to Amritsar, home of the Golden Temple and the spiritual heart of Sikhism.
Here, devotion is continuous. Kirtan flows twenty-four hours a day, echoing across the water that surrounds the temple, carrying prayer through every hour of light and darkness. The atmosphere is alive — reverent, welcoming, and deeply grounded in service.
Sikhism’s commitment to equality, generosity, and devotion is not symbolic here; it is lived. Pilgrims arrive from all walks of life, sharing meals, prayer, and presence side by side. The energy is vibrant and deeply moving — a powerful introduction to India’s spiritual depth.
Amritsar opens the journey through sound, rhythm, and collective devotion, setting a tone of humility and reverence that carries forward.
DHARAMSALA — 4 Nights
The heart of the journey
Set in the Himalayan foothills, Dharamsala offers a rare convergence of spiritual lineage, the sacredness of the Himlayas themselves and a peek into daily rhythms of the Tibetan community in exile. Perched above the Kangra Valley, our daily yoga, meditation, and chanting take place overlooking an expansive, grounding landscape.
Our days here are intentionally structured: morning practice, time for reflection and integration, cultural and spiritual visits, and space for personal exploration. We visit the Dalai Lama’s residence and the Norbulingka Institute, engaging directly
with Tibetan culture, artistry, and philosophy.
BODH GAYA— 2 Nights
In Bodh Gaya, we visit the very site of the Buddha’s awakening. We sit together beneath the Bodhi Tree, walk the temple grounds, in deep reverence and practice in the presence of centuries of devotion.
The invitation is unmistakable.
This portion of the journey is quiet, focused, and profound.
VARANASI — 3 Nights
We conlcude or journey in Varanasi, along the banks of the holy Ganga in one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Ritual, life, death, and devotion unfold in full view.
Through sunrise on the river, evening aarti, and daily life along the ghats,
we witness the depth and complexity of sacred tradition that has endured for millennia.
JOURNEY OVERVIEW
Arrive in New Delhi October 5, 2026
2 nights — Amritsar Oct 6-8
5 nights — Dharamsala Oct 9-14
2 nights — Bodh Gaya Oct 15-16
3 nights — Varanasi Oct 17-18
Depart Varanasi Oct 18
Tiered Accommodations
Shared Room
$2755
$1333 deposit
INCLUDES:
-
shared hotel room
-
daily practices & teachings
-
guided group tours
YOUR ADDITIONAL COSTS:
-
Flight to and from India
-
Taxis, Entry Fees to Sites.
-
(very low $)
-
Domestic travel between regions
-
Meals
-
e-visa
-
Tips for porters, guides, waitstaff, etc
Private Room
(or Shared with Amenities)
$3555
$1888 Deposit
INCLUDES:
-
private hotel room
-
daily practices & teachings
-
guided group tours
YOUR ADDITIONAL COSTS:
-
Flight to and from India
-
Taxis, Entry Fees to Sites. (very low $)
-
Domestic travel between regions
-
Meals
-
e-visa
-
Tips for porters, guides, waitstaff, etc
Private Plus
$4555
$2555 deposit
INCLUDES:
-
private hotel room
-
view when available
-
daily practices & teachings
-
guided group tours
-
e-visa
-
domestic flights
-
travel between regions
-
taxis to and from sites
YOUR ADDITIONAL COSTS:
-
Flights to and from India
-
tips for porters, guides, waitstaff, etc
-
Meals
About Me
My meditation journey began in 1999 and opened a doorway that soon led me to India, where I spent almost a year living mostly in the Himalayas. This precious time shaped me -- the quiet expanses, connecting with nature and the beautiful way spiritual life is lived. Through the hustle and bustle of India, the spaciousness of the Himalayas returned to me to the long forgotten depth and truth of my own heart. It was in those mountains, in the rhythms of daily life there, with my daily practice and the vastness around me, that I found a sense of home within myself. I received my yoga teacher training in 2004 and have been teaching yoga and meditation since. It was in India, I saw the living embodiment of spiritual life. During my yoga teacher training, I began to really undertsand on another level how these practices are something we can more deeply explore on the mat and then truly get to live, the moment we step off it. Our group daily practices set the tone each day we are in India for our lived experiences there. Each pilgrimage reveals new layers of ancient wisdom. My role is to simply to hold space for your inner and outer journey as I share with you the beauty of teachings that have moved me so deeply. You'll be invited to reconnect to what is already within you: the sacred earth under your feet carries you each step of the way, your heart has guided you here. Allow this journey to hold you and connect you evermore to your own innate teacher and wisdom within.
Sarva Mangalam!
~ashley
