A 10-day retreat in Kerala, India
Craft, calm and culture
Step away from the hurried pace of life and experience the calm and magnetic culture of Kerala. A place that nourishes the mind, body and soul with authentic Ayurveda, slow-crafted textiles, tropical food and Yoga between the palm trees.
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14 spaces available
September 29th — October 8th, 2026
A carefully curated journey for a small group. Over nine nights, you will slip into the unhurried pace of
southern Kerala with an itinerary that's both free and full. From daily Yoga to thoughtful workshops,
each element of the trip has been placed with love and care.
southern Kerala with an itinerary that's both free and full. From daily Yoga to thoughtful workshops,
each element of the trip has been placed with love and care.
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An invitation to our home
Kerala is a place that means more to us than we can possibly put into words. For us, this is more than just inviting guests to experience someplace new. It's an invitation to Krishna's birthplace, the place we got married, and the place we return to time and time again to connect with our friends and family. As a guest on this retreat you'll be welcomed into our family home — Omana's House — and you'll become part of our community.
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Included in your trip
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Experiment with natural textiles
According to the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda, our skin is capable of soaking up whatever it comes into contact with, including chemicals and toxic dyes found in clothes. Ayurvastra is Ayurveda's method of dyeing fabrics with various blends of herbs, allowing our clothes to nourish us from the outside in.
During your retreat, you will have the chance to visit a local Ayurvastra dye house and learn how botanicals are used to colour fabrics that become perfectly natural clothes. You can bring your own clothes to experiment with or you can purchase raw organic cotton or linen to dye and later transform with the help of our tailors.
During your retreat, you will have the chance to visit a local Ayurvastra dye house and learn how botanicals are used to colour fabrics that become perfectly natural clothes. You can bring your own clothes to experiment with or you can purchase raw organic cotton or linen to dye and later transform with the help of our tailors.
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9 nights of sweet, thoughtful accommodation
Accommodation for the full 9 nights is set within two thoughtfully designed villas in Varkala. Interiors are layered with block print textiles, natural materials, and carefully chosen Indian artworks.
Outside, pools offer a reprieve from the midday heat, and you might get a visit from a peacock or mongoose if the timing's right. The home is run by warm, attentive owners whose presence can be felt in all the small but important details. These are the kind of places that invite you to exhale long and slow.
Outside, pools offer a reprieve from the midday heat, and you might get a visit from a peacock or mongoose if the timing's right. The home is run by warm, attentive owners whose presence can be felt in all the small but important details. These are the kind of places that invite you to exhale long and slow.
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Meet your team
Your trip will be guided by a small team of hosts and practitioners who know this region intimately, each bringing their own depth of experience. They'll be on-hand to guide you with warmth and advice so your India experience runs smoothly.
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Samantha Kamala: HostSamantha is an Australian travel writer whose early career saw her contributing to publications such as Lonely Planet and The Huffington Post, with a focus on thoughtful, experience-led storytelling. She spent three years based in Bali, where her work centred on exploring some of the island’s most distinctive wellness retreats, spas and boutique hotels, confirming her interest in slower, more intentional ways of travelling. After meeting her husband, Krishna, during one of his surf trips to Bali, she relocated to India, where together they founded Monsoon Blooms and Omana's House. They now drift between India and Australia, sharing slow, meaningful travel experiences with their two sweet kids.
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Krishna Kamala: Logistics ManagerRaised by his grandparents on a pineapple farm just outside Thiruvananthapuram, Krishna's childhood was built on a care for the land that continues to influence the way he moves through the world. After drifting closer to the coastline to work in hospitality, he became drawn to the ocean and the way of life that comes with it. This sensibility eventually carried him further afield, travelling through Europe and later Bali, where he met his wife, Samantha. Together they founded Monsoon Blooms as a way of keeping their children connected to their Keralan heritage, weaving together culture and the preservation of natural craft. That same thread runs through Omana’s House, named in honour of Krishna's grandmother and formed around her values and gentle way of living. Now based in Australia, he works in horticulture on a hydroponic farm, continuing his lifelong relationship with growing things and connecting with nature.
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Anu Chandran: Head ChefAnu brings a humble depth to Varkala’s evolving hospitality scene, after years spent as a head chef and senior team member within one of the region’s most loved boutique surf and stay offerings. His approach to food and hosting is rooted in experience, drawing from time spent travelling through Bali and Australia. But the true influence in his food is his upbringing in Kerala, where his connection to family remains central. Stories of his mother, her kitchen, and her cows still find their way into his work, making him a joy to watch and learn from. Now managing Omana’s House, our own boutique villa in Varkala, Anu weaves his varied influences into a style of hospitality that we've all come to love and admire. Find Anu at @anuchandran_r.
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Rakhul Shyamraj: HostRakhul is a much-loved and familiar face in Varkala, whose path into coastal hospitality began far from the ocean in the hills of Munnar. Over more than a decade, he has become known for the way he brings people together, having spent years as the “Head of Vibes” at an international surf and stay. Here, he cultivated a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere for guests arriving from all corners of the world. He's one of those people who help strangers connect, feel at ease and laugh (a lot!). Deeply rooted in all things Kerala, Rakhul carries a genuine passion for introducing others to its layered culture, whether through surf, food, local stories, hidden corners, or simply a great street-side snack. An unforgettable and loveable character, he offers a kind of hosting that will linger well beyond your holiday. Find Rakhul at @rakhul_shyamraj.
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Poojar Punjabi: Yoga TeacherPoojar is a Mumbai-born Yoga teacher whose practice has unfolded along India’s western and southern coastlines, with extended seasons spent in Goa and now Varkala. Over the past decade, she has developed a grounded, integrative teaching approach that draws on asana, pranayama, kriya, and meridian-based work, while remaining deeply anchored in the less performative aspects of Yoga. Alongside teaching, she has been closely involved in her family’s food venture, Ola Soul Food, and contributes creative work to the mental wellbeing app Happily, reflecting a broader interest in how daily rituals shape emotional resilience. Her teaching favours subtle shifts: breathing with more ease, responding to life with steadiness, and cultivating a more attentive relationship with the present moment. Now based in Varkala, she is bringing this philosophy into a physical space called Satsang, envisioned as a place to eat, move, and reconnect with what matters. Find Poojar at @poojarpunjabi.
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Ajimond: Textile GuideAjimond is a textile curator and boutique fabric store owner based in Varkala, known for his deeply caring approach to sourcing and working with natural fabrics. His collection draws from across southern India, with a focus on handloom-woven cottons and linens, many coloured using plant-based dyes through longstanding relationships with Ayurvastra dye houses in Kerala. Behind the scenes, he collaborates with a small team of skilled tailors who are paid well above minimum wage, offering visitors the opportunity to transform these fabrics into thoughtfully made, custom garments. Ajimond's knowledge of textiles draws upon years in the trade as well as his upbringing on a large organic farm in northern Kerala, where the realities of land stewardship were part of daily life. This start built a value system centred on transparency, sustainability, and respect for craft, qualities that are woven through every piece made in his boutique.
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Pradeep: Ayurvedic DoctorPradeep is an Ayurvedic doctor whose path into practice feels less like a profession and more like a continuation of lineage. Raised in Kerala, widely regarded as the birthplace of Ayurveda, his connection to this system of medicine was formed early, shaped by a childhood where natural remedies, herbal preparations, and an intuitive understanding of balance across the doshas were part of everyday life. Long before formal study, he felt drawn to the intelligence of Ayurveda: its relationship to land, to plants, and to the subtle messages of the body. Now in adulthood, Pradeep brings both clarity and enthusiasm to his work, particularly when sharing the depths of Ayurveda with travellers. His approach is accessible yet deeply authentic, reframing the practice not as restrictive or prescriptive, but as a considered, rhythmic way of living that supports balance, awareness, and a better connection to self.
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Ask a question or join the waitlist for alternative dates
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FAQs
Do I need Yoga experience?
Not at all. The retreat is designed to feel welcoming and grounding for all levels, whether you practice Yoga every day or have never stepped onto a mat before. Sessions will focus more on presence, movement and nervous system support than performance or intensity.
What airport do I fly into?
We suggest you fly into Trivandrum International Airport (Thiruvananthapuram), which is the closest airport to Varkala. Airport transfers are included to and from this airport and we’ll provide detailed guidance closer to the retreat, including suggested flight routes from Australia and other major destinations. Alternatively, you may wish to fly to Cochin International Airport (Kochi), which is about 5-6 hours drive from Varkala. There is also a simple, single train from Cochin to Varkala that takes under 4 hours.
Is India safe for solo women?
Kerala is widely considered one of the calmer and more progressive regions of India, and most women who travel here independently feel completely at ease. As with travel anywhere in the world, awareness and common sense are important, though guests will be supported throughout the retreat with trusted local connections, airport transfers and on-ground guidance. Many people arrive feeling nervous about India, but leave feeling deeply at home.
Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Yes. Meals throughout the retreat are fresh, nourishing and largely inspired by traditional Keralan and Ayurvedic cooking. Vegetarian options will be abundant, and most common dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.
What is the group size?
This is a small and intentionally intimate retreat experience. Group sizes will remain limited to allow for a slower pace, meaningful connection and personalised support throughout the journey. We are currently open for 14 spaces.
Do I need vaccinations?
Vaccination decisions are deeply personal and we encourage guests to make the choice that feels right for them. You may wish to consult your naturopath or doctor for individual advice and peace of mind before travelling. In our personal experience, Kerala has been a deeply healing and healthful place that has never given us illness or tummy upsets in ten years of regular visits as a family.
Not at all. The retreat is designed to feel welcoming and grounding for all levels, whether you practice Yoga every day or have never stepped onto a mat before. Sessions will focus more on presence, movement and nervous system support than performance or intensity.
What airport do I fly into?
We suggest you fly into Trivandrum International Airport (Thiruvananthapuram), which is the closest airport to Varkala. Airport transfers are included to and from this airport and we’ll provide detailed guidance closer to the retreat, including suggested flight routes from Australia and other major destinations. Alternatively, you may wish to fly to Cochin International Airport (Kochi), which is about 5-6 hours drive from Varkala. There is also a simple, single train from Cochin to Varkala that takes under 4 hours.
Is India safe for solo women?
Kerala is widely considered one of the calmer and more progressive regions of India, and most women who travel here independently feel completely at ease. As with travel anywhere in the world, awareness and common sense are important, though guests will be supported throughout the retreat with trusted local connections, airport transfers and on-ground guidance. Many people arrive feeling nervous about India, but leave feeling deeply at home.
Can dietary requirements be accommodated?
Yes. Meals throughout the retreat are fresh, nourishing and largely inspired by traditional Keralan and Ayurvedic cooking. Vegetarian options will be abundant, and most common dietary requirements can be accommodated with advance notice.
What is the group size?
This is a small and intentionally intimate retreat experience. Group sizes will remain limited to allow for a slower pace, meaningful connection and personalised support throughout the journey. We are currently open for 14 spaces.
Do I need vaccinations?
Vaccination decisions are deeply personal and we encourage guests to make the choice that feels right for them. You may wish to consult your naturopath or doctor for individual advice and peace of mind before travelling. In our personal experience, Kerala has been a deeply healing and healthful place that has never given us illness or tummy upsets in ten years of regular visits as a family.
Fine details
Making a payment for our Craft, calm and culture retreat confirms your acceptance of the retreat's Terms and Conditions. You can also view the full list of what's included and what's not included. If you have any questions or concerns, feel welcome to contact us on [email protected].
Hosted by @monsoonblooms
"CONSCIOUS FIBRES COLOURED BY THE EARTH"
