Planning your stay, step by step.
How long to go for, when, how to get there, the visa, what it costs and what to pack.
1. How long
A real rest
A taste of the routine: massage, Shirodhara, yoga and early nights. Not long enough for Panchakarma.
Shortest Panchakarma
Time for the three stages, if the centre keeps a tight schedule. Good for stress, sleep and stiffness programmes.
Panchakarma, unhurried
Each stage gets its proper time, with a slower return to normal food. What we usually suggest.
Panchakarma and rebuilding
Adds a rebuilding phase (rasayana) after the cleanse. For people who can take a month.
2. When to go
In Kerala, the monsoon months are Ayurveda's traditional season: cooler, quieter and green. Many people still prefer the dry months for the weather.
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kerala | ||||||||||||
| Himalayan foothills | ||||||||||||
| Bengaluru |
3. Getting there
Fly into the airport nearest your centre. Transfers are usually included, and someone from the centre meets you.
TRVTrivandrum
For Somatheeram and the south Kerala coast
Direct flights from several Gulf cities; from elsewhere, connect via Delhi, Mumbai or a Gulf hub
COKKochi (Cochin)
For Carnoustie, Kalari Kovilakom and central Kerala
Direct flights from the Gulf and some Asian hubs; otherwise connect via Delhi, Mumbai or the Gulf
DEDDehradun
For Ananda and Six Senses Vana in the Himalayan foothills
About an hour's flight from Delhi; or about five to six hours by road
BLRBengaluru
For Soukya
International flights from many cities, including the Gulf, Europe and Asia
4. The visa
- 1Choose your centre and dates. The centre sends a letter confirming your programme.
- 2Check your passport on India's official e-Visa site. The site lists an e-Medical visa for Ayush purposes, which uses the centre's letter.
- 3Apply online at least a few weeks before you travel. If your passport isn't eligible for e-Visas, apply through the Indian mission where you live.
- 4We check the route for your passport and get the letter for you. Nobody can guarantee a visa decision, so book flexible flights.
5. What it costs
The stay itself
Room, doctor, treatments, herbal medicines and meals, per guest
About $2,850–$11,200 for 7–14 days, depending on the centre
International flights
Into Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Trivandrum or Bengaluru
Depends on where you live; from the Gulf, often a few hundred dollars
Domestic flight, if needed
For example Delhi to Dehradun or Kochi
Usually $60–$200 one way
Visa
Paid online to the Government of India
Depends on your passport
Travel insurance
Check it covers your stay and activities
Varies
6. What to pack
- Loose, light cotton clothes (oil gets everywhere; some centres provide clothing)
- Old underwear and a dark towel you don't mind staining
- Comfortable sandals, and a warm layer for the Himalayas
- A list of every medicine you take, with doses
- Recent reports or letters from your doctor, if you have a health condition
- Books, a notebook, and patience with slow wifi
House rules, at most centres
- Vegetarian food, set by your doctor
- No alcohol or smoking
- Phones and laptops kept to a minimum
- Early nights and regular mealtimes
- Rest after treatments, and no strenuous exercise during Panchakarma
Questions
Which visa do I need for an Ayurveda stay?
India's official e-Visa site lists an e-Medical visa for Ayush (traditional Indian medicine) purposes, which needs a letter from the centre. Whether you can apply online depends on your passport, the same as other e-Visas. We check which applies to you and get the centre's letter.
Can someone come with me who isn't having treatment?
Yes. Many centres welcome companions, who usually pay a lower rate for room and meals. They can join yoga and some treatments.
Do I have to be vegetarian?
During the stay, at most centres, yes: meals are vegetarian and set by your doctor. Alcohol isn't served at traditional centres.
What should I tell my own doctor?
That you're planning an Ayurveda stay, what it involves, and that you'll be taking herbal medicines. Ask whether anything in your health or medicines means you should wait, and don't stop prescribed medicines without their advice.
What happens when I get home?
You leave with a plan for food and routine. Some centres send herbal medicines home with you; check your country's rules on bringing them in, and tell your doctor what they are.