INDIA PILGRIMAGE 2026

The deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE and also NON-TRANSFERABLE.

YES! There will be an automatic payment plan when signing up.

The payments will be:

• Deposit due at booking: $1000

• Due March 15th: Private $1200 / Shared $1,050 / Couples $975

• Due June 14th: Private $1200 / Shared $1,050 / Couples $975

• Final payment October 1st: Private $1200 / Shared $1,050 / Couples $975

If you'd like to create a different plan to support your financial needs, reach out directly and we can do that. We are happy to work with you.

The deposit is non-refundable to hold your space. There are no exceptions or transfers.

If you decide to cancel after making the total final payment, all payments are non-refundable. However, if we are able to fill your spot we may be able to reimburse the total payment minus a service fee of $250. We understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances arise, please let us know as early as possible and we will do our best to help fill your space and get you a refund.

Travel Insurance Recommended

In the event of cancellation at any time, for any reason, and by any party, Nat Kendall Yoga WILL NOT be held responsible for refund of airline tickets, ticket change fees or other travel expenses. For these reasons we encourage you to purchase travel insurance to protect your investment.

We recommend flying to Bengaluru, where we will pick up all guests at our two recommended hotels. The airport is called Kempegowda International Airport (BLR). We also recommend flying home from BLR unless you are traveling on to other parts of the country. On our final day, we will return all guests to a convenient hotel in Bengaluru located just 10 minutes from the airport.

If you do not fly into Bengaluru, you will still need to get to one of our selected hotels in Bengaluru for shuttle pick up on November 3, 2026.

We will pick up all guests from our two recommended hotels on the morning of November 3rd, 2026. We highly recommend coming at least a day or two before so that you can settle, acclimate and prepare for the journey. Please keep in mind that you will lose time as you travel from the U.S. When booking your flight, please be sure to check your arrival date AND time to make sure you are in Bengaluru in advance of our departure on the morning of November 3rd.

We have two recommended hotels that you can book before we pick you up to begin the journey on November 3rd.

• Taj West End: Upscale heritage property that's an oasis in the city

• Bloom: Hotel with value for money and close to airport to avoid city hustle

After the retreat we will bring all guests back to Bloom Hotel, which is ten minutes from the airport. You can decide to stay there for the night and book your flight home for the following day, or travel on from there on your own. Late evening flights after 10pm on the 13th will be possible. Bloom Hotel is not included in the retreat price. You will need to pay for that yourself if you decide to stay.

As we get closer to the retreat we will coordinate with all guests for the arrival/departure information.

We will pick guests up at our recommended hotels in Bangalore on November 3rd in the morning and return guests to a convenient hotel airport on November 13th in the later part of the day. Please do not book flights home until November 14th, or very late on the 13th. No sooner than 10pm would be recommended.

Uber is the best way to get around the city. Use Uber Black at the airport, it is the easiest and the wait time isn't as much as other services.

We will be in the southern state of Karntaka, India, between Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

U.S. citizens can apply for an India e-Tourist Visa entirely online, with options for 30-day, 1-year, or 5-year validity. We recommend applying several weeks ahead of your flight to allow time for processing. Your passport must be valid for at least six months from your arrival date and have two blank pages for immigration stamps. The application requires a digital passport photo and a scan of your passport's biographical page. Once approved, the e-Visa is sent to you electronically—no embassy visit required.

Make sure to fill out the online arrival card 24-72 hours before landing.

Apply directly through the official Indian government portal: https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html

We recommend bringing about $200 USD in cash and planning to exchange that for INR, Indian Rupees. $200 USD will be approximately 18,000 INR. This will be used for shopping for saris and clothing, Ayurvedic treatments, hotel tips, spices, keepsakes as well as the occasional miscellaneous expenses.

The easiest place to exchange will be in the airport but this will not be the most favorable rate. A better option is using an ATM to withdrawal Rupees directly. You'll get much better rates, just make sure your bank doesn't charge too high of a fee.

Another option is to check with your hotel upon arrival. Some hotels may be able to exchange USD, or can at least point you to a nearby bank/ATM.

While India offers incredible culinary experiences, it's wise to take some simple precautions, especially if you're not accustomed to the local cuisine. We recommend drinking only filtered water (or bottled if filtered is unavailable), avoiding raw vegetables and salads unless at a trusted establishment, and eating at reputable restaurants where food is freshly prepared and cooked thoroughly. Street food can be tempting and delicious, but it carries higher risk—if you choose to try it, opt for items cooked to order in front of you.

• Tea and coffee are safe since they have been boiled.

• Fruits that you can peel such as bananas, oranges are safe.

• Avoid dips/chutneys from places where you are unsure of the water being used as these are not boiled.

• Do not drink tap water. Take care to even use only the filtered water provided in each room to brush your teeth.

We have vetted all hotels/restaurants we'll be at to assure that they use RO (Reverse Osmosis) filtered water in all food and beverage preparation.

Most travelers do just fine by listening to their bodies, eating mindfully, and being selective about where they dine. It's also a good idea to bring along any digestive remedies or medications you typically use, like probiotics, Imodium A-D (over-the-counter (OTC) anti-diarrheal, etc.

This will be a wondrous pilgrimage and journey. We will start many days with a yoga practice before adventuring out on group excursions and typically conclude with some type of evening practice or gathering. India requires a certain mindset of fluidity to navigate, please know that part of your yoga practice will be exercising patience, collaboration and trust as we move through the experience together.

You will be fed incredibly well on this journey! 90% of the meals will be traditional Indian cuisine with the occasional options for a more 'Western' choice. We have vetted all the locations to ensure that each restaurant upholds good practices and safe reverse osmosis filtered water for cooking to minimize the risk of any stomach issues.

We’ll send out a detailed packing list as time gets closer. In general, plan to bring comfortable clothing for yoga, good shoes for hiking and proper clothing for temple visits. We will do one stop in a local town so that everyone in the group can purchase saris for women or dhotis for men. This traditional clothing is what we will recommend for visiting temples as a gesture of respect and reverence. Please also plan to bring a travel yoga mat. Here is a good option: https://bit.ly/49sC02W

Yes, not all of our locations will have mats so we are encouraging students to bring their own foldable, travel mat. This is a good option: https://bit.ly/49sC02W

November in southern India is warm, lush and perfect, ranging from 63 to 81 degrees. There will be minimal rain, ample sunshine and refreshing, cooler evenings.

While no vaccines are technically required for U.S. citizens entering India, vaccination against Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B is recommended for travelers, and typhoid vaccine is recommended for most travelers. All international travelers should be up to date with their routine vaccinations, including measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), and it's wise to ensure your COVID-19 vaccination is current.

Your healthcare provider can help you determine exactly what's right for your trip. For comprehensive vaccine information, visit the CDC's India travel page at https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/india

Yes! It is very common for people to attend on their own. The retreat is a great opportunity to connect deeper with yourself and also make new friends.

It's always good to be familiarized with yoga before coming however it's not necessary to have previous experience to join this retreat. If you are starting your yoga journey, you will be amazed by how much you can learn in such a short amount of time.