14 - 25 October 2026 - a 12 day travel that you will never forget
From Sacred Temples to Wild Nature to Living Culture — A Journey Within
Cultural Chennai - Tirupati temple - Munnar mountains - Kerala Backwaters
This is more than a journey through South India - it is a pilgrimage into a living spiritual culture that has flourished for thousands of years. We, Liladhar and Debbie, invite you to step beyond the ordinary experience of India travel and enter a land where devotion is woven into daily life, where temple bells mark the passing of time, and where the sacred is not something remembered from the past, but something lived in the present.
Together we travel through the spiritual heartlands of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, moving from the ancient temple quarters of Chennai to the sacred hills of Tirupati, where millions of pilgrims come each year to receive the blessings of Lord Venkateswara. This is not simply a visit to holy places. It is an opportunity to participate in a tradition of pilgrimage that continues to shape the lives of countless seekers across India.
Along the way, we encounter the cultural treasures of South India through temple rituals, Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam dance, sacred architecture, and traditions that have been lovingly preserved through generations. These experiences are not presented as performances for visitors, but as expressions of a living spiritual heritage that continues to pulse through the land.
As the journey unfolds, the mountains and waterways of Kerala offer space to integrate what has been received. In the mist-covered tea hills of Munnar and the stillness of the Kerala backwaters, nature becomes a teacher in its own right. The pace softens. The mind settles. Something deeper begins to emerge.
This pilgrimage has been designed with breathing room. Space to reflect. Space to absorb. Space to listen. It is for those who feel called not merely to see South India, but to experience its spiritual and cultural essence from within.
With reverence and joy, we invite you to walk this path with us—through sacred temples, timeless traditions, lush landscapes, and the enduring wisdom of Bharata, Mother India. Every step becomes an invitation into presence. Every encounter a reminder that the journey we seek in the world is ultimately a journey into ourselves.
Devotion lays in the heart of every living being..
Have you always felt drawn to India, but never dared to travel to India alone? Visiting the sacred places we explore can feel intimidating for a Westerner, but in the safety and presence of a small group, we move with ease and support. Guided by Liladhar, a former monk who studied under bona fide teachers India’s sacred texts, including the Mahabharata, this journey becomes more than a visit; it becomes an immersion into the true teachings of India.
The temples, the stories, and the land of India itself begin to speak. Through daily reflection as a group and shared understanding, you are gently guided to see how these sacred places are not separate from you, but mirrors of who you are beyond the physical body. Here, the timeless truth, that we are never truly born and never truly die, is not just philosophy, but something you feel alive in the people you meet and the temples you walk through.
This is a journey of transformation without striving for it. Simply arriving with openness and curiosity allows the depth you’ve been longing for, to naturally unfold.
Experience South India's Sacred Landscapes and Cultural Soul.
14 - 25 October 2026
Plan with purpose
14 - 25 October 2026
Before you book, Debbie will hold a personal call with you to ensure you feel prepared for the journey together. This is an important opportunity to get to know each other, discuss safety, and foster the sense of community that will support the group throughout the journey.
Preperation
During the pilgrimage, we carefully select the best possible hotels along the route, offering comfort, cleanliness, and a genuine sense of feeling at home. When planning this journey, high standards and hygiene were a priority for us.
For this reason, we choose welcoming, well-maintained accommodations rather than basic ashrams, so your energy can be restored rather than depleted. You may choose to share a room or book a private room, depending on your preference and needs.
Accomodation
During the journey, all of our accommodations provide Vegetarian only meals, carefully chosen for both quality and safety. We selects each place with experience and care. The food must be trusted and safe for save travel ahead. From warm chapatis (yummy indian bread) filled with cheese or potato at a local stand to dining in a hotel restaurant, every meal is thoughtfully considered.
Keeping everyone healthy and well-fed is one of our personal priorities, and we have never had a guest seriously ill on this journey. Simple practices, like using hand sanitizer before meals, become our new table mantra, follow our lead, watch and learn, and you’ll enjoy every meal with confidence and joy.
Food in India and during our travels
The 12-day pilgrimage includes all meals, water, and accommodation, as well as travel throughout the journey in national flight in India on day 7, from Chennai to Kochi, train, everything thoughtfully arranged so you can focus fully on the experience.
Shared room: €1870,-
Private room: €2150,-
To secure your place, a non refundable deposit of €250 is required at the time of booking, and full payment need to be done before 1 August 2026. Please note that cancellations on or after 1 August 2026 full pilgrim price cannot be refunded, as we will have already paid deposits for all accommodations and transport.
You may pay in instalments, allowing you to plan comfortably while reserving your spot on this sacred journey. Please ask Debbie to personalise it for you.
Excluded in the journey
pocket money, we advise to have some if you want to buy something, like fruits, local artisan items and Temple offerings.
Return fligths
E-visa
Vaccinations, insurances
Taxi back to Airport before returning home
Prices, Inclusions & Booking
Schedule
12-Day South India Spiritual & Cultural Journey A journey through temple smoke, classical music, sacred mountains, misty highlands, and mirror-still waters — South India unfolds slowly, and asks you to do the same. Chennai — Where the Journey Begins Days 1–3 You land into heat, colour, and the scent of jasmine. Mylapore, one of Chennai’s oldest neighbourhoods, sets the tone immediately — ancient temples, flower garlands piled high, and streets that have held devotional life for centuries. Here you ease in gently. A morning at the Kapaleeshwarar Temple. An evening of Carnatic music in a concert hall where the audience listens in reverent silence. For those drawn to movement, an introduction to Bharatanatyam — one of India’s most refined classical dance forms — offers a first taste of how spirit and body speak the same language here. No rush. No agenda beyond arrival. Tirupati — The Pilgrim’s Peak Days 4–6 There is a reason millions make this journey each year. The Venkateswara Temple at Tirupati is one of the most visited sacred sites on Earth — and standing within it, you understand why. We rise before dawn, join the flow of pilgrims, and surrender to the process. Darshan here is not a tourist experience. It is an immersion into living devotion — overwhelming, humbling, and quietly transformative. The day after, the forest breathes you back to yourself. Talakona Waterfall and the surrounding national park offer gentle nature, birdsong, and all the stillness your nervous system needs. Kerala — The Green Descent Days 7–11 From the sacred mountain, we travel into an entirely different world. Munnar welcomes you with cool air and rolling tea estates disappearing into mist. The pace slows further here. We walk among the plantations, visit Eravikulam National Park — home to the rare Nilgiri tahr — and let the highlands restore what the pilgrimage stirred. Then, the backwaters. Kumarakom sits at the edge of Vembanad Lake, Kerala’s largest. A day on the water by private boat takes you through narrow canals, past village life and swaying palms, into a landscape so still it feels like a painting. You sleep on land, but carry the water with you.
Day 12 A quiet breakfast. One last look at the light on the water. Then the journey home, carrying something you may not yet have words for.
This is not a tour. It is a pilgrimage with breathing room, designed for those who want to go deep, not fast.
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short answer No, the most important is that you are curious and have an open heart to meet a world that is far from your way of living.
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Normally nobody gets sick on our travels to the highest point in the Himalaya. But we do advise to walk a lot before you start our journey. And also that you boost your immune system with real healhty food prior to the journey. As this is a non smoking, durgs or alchol trip , take this in notice. Its non negotiable. :)
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Yes there are, but not all accept your card. So we advised to take 200€ pocket money into the Himalaya, in small ruppiah notes.
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You can apply e-visa 1-2 weeks prior to your trip. This is a hastle, Debbie can assist you in this proces. Make sure your passport has at least 2 blank pages for entry/exit stamps.
If your passport is close to expiring, it’s better to renew it before applying, because airlines may deny boarding if your passport doesn’t meet the 6-month rule.
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Eventhough most is covered in the retreat you have to bring pocket money too. Calculate aprox 50€ a day. Maybe you want to go shopping, have massage, go to a yoga asana class, etc etc
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You have to ask your local Health provider and insurances on this matter. Vaccinations are a personal choice and we dont hold any responsibility for this.
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Traveling as a vegan on this trip is not easy, but you can do it. We advise to bring oats along in your suitcase along with other protein snacks, powders. Fruits are to be found everywhere. Meals in hotel can be adjusted to your diet and allergies.
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Bring few sarongs for sacred water dips. Bring long skirts for Govardhan and Vrindavan. Although you can buy this perfectly too in India. Himalaya is cold and potentially snowing. Wear winter hiking gear, beanie and mittens.
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In Delhi you can buy a 30 day sim card for your own phone. You will be available for your dearest at home all the time.
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Yes, bring it! :) Maybe a small knife for cutting fruits on the road, hand / mouth sanitisers, few packs of wet toilet towels, lttl plastic bags for using as trash holder on the journey. Headphones, spotify, stuff to entertain yourself. Essential oils, mosquito spray, sunscreen..
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A big unacceptable No. Using one of these can lead to serious problems for us. We will even decide if we have to ask you to leave the group.