Thrive Breakaway in Kerala, Southern India

If you’ve always dreamed of visiting India, Kerala is a great location for your first visit.

In comfort and luxury, you’ll travel to multiple destinations allowing you to experience the beautiful and vast diversity of the region. Kerala is widely known as the birthplace of Ayurveda, a medicinal and yogic practice that dates back 5,000 years. Prepare to indulge in the ultimate self care adventure.

See it on Google Maps

DAY 1: Kochi
Welcome to Southern India.

Arrive at Kochi airport; our driver will be waiting for you with a Create Space Yoga sign. You will drive 40 - 60 minutes to the Fragrant Nature Kochi. Relax and unwind, meet and greet, then practice your first yoga session at 6 p.m., followed by a group dinner.

DAY 2: Kochi
Let our practice begin.

Morning yoga followed by breakfast. Get ready to hit the streets of Kochi. Walking tour with our Indian guide, visiting the Chinese Fishing Nets, St. Francis Church with the first tomb of Vasco de Gama, Paradeshi Jewish Synagogue of Cochin, Jewish town, and Dutch Palace. We will stop for lunch along the way and finish our day off with yoga and a group dinner with plenty of time to pack for our first resort change.

DAY 3: Munnar
Today, we are one with the present moment.

Morning yoga, followed by breakfast, depart Kochi for a scenic 4-hour drive to Munnar. On arrival, we check in to Fragrant Nature Munnar and unwind with a cup of chai overlooking the valley, yoga, and group dinner.

DAY 4: Munnar
Slow down and pamper yourself.

Morning yoga overlooking the tea plantations, followed by breakfast. Enjoy a traditional Ayurvedic Massage and join the group for an evening stroll through the tea plantations with tea tasting to complete the walk. Group dinner and relaxation.

DAY 5: Munnar
A day of adventure.

After breakfast, we set off bright and early for our half-day hike. Reaching the top, 6500 feet. After relaxing, we start the hike back down to Munnar. Opportunity to do some shopping and explore the town of Munnar. Later, we meet for evening yoga and group dinner with a campfire under the stars.

DAY 6: Kollam
Let’s explore.

After our morning practice and breakfast, we pack up and check out in preparation for our roughly 8-9 hour drive to Kollam. Enjoy a Spice tour and lunch along the way. On arrival, we check in at Fragrant Nature Kollam and spend our evening by the pool or walking through the lush gardens with the backwaters in view. Group dinner.

DAY 7: Kollam
A new perspective.

Morning yoga overlooking the backwaters and breakfast. Today, we will set off on a backwaters cruise, letting the slow place of Kerala guide us. Enjoy the afternoon as you wish. Unwind by the pool, in the garden, or indulge in the onsite Ayurvedic spa. Group dinner and relaxation.

DAY 8: Varkala + Kovalam.
Embrace all that Southern India has to offer.

Morning yoga and breakfast. Today, we check out and drive roughly 1.5 hours to the famous cliffs of Varkala, a coastal town with pristine beaches, temples, and bright-red cliffs. Lunch at your leisure and time to explore the beachside shops. Later that afternoon, we will continue our drive to Kovalam, roughly 2 hours. Check in to The Leela Kovalam, relax, and unwind with a group dinner by the ocean.

DAY 9: Kovalam
Day of Leisure.

Meet for our final yoga session together; we will finish with a closing circle and group breakfast. Spend the day as you wish, collect some last-minute gifts, swim in the ocean, or explore the shops of Kovalam. During the evening, we will meet for our final group dinner at The Leela fine-dining restaurant.

DAY 10: Kovalam
Awaken with gratitude and love.

Group breakfast and a beach walk. Our drivers will arrange transfers to the airport. Depart to your further destination with the sweet memories and high spirits of Southern India.

Beginner yogis are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to find the inspiration to start a personal practice. For more experienced yogis, a retreat is a great place to deepen and grow your yoga practice.

All yoga classes will take place outdoors and be led every morning by Jenny, or one of our Thrive instructors.

We'll offer a variety of classes—traditional 26+2 Bikram yoga class, energizing Vinyasa Flows, relaxing Yin Yoga, and Kundalini Yoga, which includes special techniques of breathwork, kriyas, postures and chanting. Come home to the source of yoga on this trip and enjoy all that the warm climate of Southern India and birthplace of Ayurveda has to offer.

Please bring your own yoga mat. 

Of course! Email ian@thrivehotyoga.com for more information

Fine dining featuring an Ayurvedic diet and authentic Indian cuisine.

Prepare to be nourished from the inside out with delicious and unique food experiences. All meals will be prepared to support your daily yoga practice. Specialties include Indian cuisine, raw foods, ayurvedic diet, and continental fine dining.

Special dietary restrictions? Let us know in advance, as they’ll be happy to accommodate.

*Included in this retreat are two meals per day. The third meal and snacks will be at your own expense. Please budget anywhere between $20 - $70 per meal, depending on your choice of restaurant and order.

Please note: flights are not included and you will need to fly in and out of two different airports.

• Arrival: Cochin International Airport.

• Departure: Trivandrum International Airport

All we ask is that you arrive no later than 3 p.m. on the first day of the retreat.

Ground transportation is included for airport transfers in India to/from resorts, and in between resorts.

Participants are responsible for their own airfare costs.

A valid passport and Visa are required for participation in this retreat. It is necessary that your passport is valid for 6 months from the date you intend to return home. You'll need a visa to enter India. Visas MUST be organized before arrival. Those traveling to India for less than 30 days can apply for an E-tourist visa here.

If booking is open, you can reserve your spot directly on this page by placing a deposit. If not, you can join the waitlist and we’ll notify you as soon as dates become available.

Each retreat includes accommodation, all scheduled yoga and meditation sessions, most meals, and curated excursions. Exact inclusions vary by location — see the “What’s Included” section above for full details.

Flights, travel insurance, and optional personal expenses like spa treatments or additional excursions are not included. Check the “What’s Not Included” section for specifics.

Absolutely! Many of our travelers come on their own. You can book a private room or request to be paired with a roommate in a shared room (when available).

Unless you’re paying for the retreat in full up front, a $500 deposit is required to secure your spot.

When booking you can choose the following payment options:

• Pay in full

• Deposit and balance payment

When paying in full a deposit is not required.

All payments are non-refundable, no matter the reason for cancellation. For this reason travel insurance is required for all retreat participants.

Since all retreat payments are non-refundable, we strongly recommend securing comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. This protects you before your trip (in case unexpected circumstances prevent you from attending) and during your journey (in the event of personal injury, illness, lost baggage, or damaged belongings).

If you don’t yet have a trusted insurance provider, your credit card company may provide travel insurance options, or you could go with an established company like IMG Global or Travelex Insurance.

We do our best to accommodate most dietary needs. Be sure to let us know during registration so we can make arrangements with our chefs and venues.

All levels are welcome. Our retreats are designed to support beginners and experienced practitioners alike, with options to modify or deepen your practice as needed.