Welcome to the devotional India Tour. Please read this page carefully before submitting the form.
A FEW WORDS ON THE TOUR
Our journey begins with a 5-day Silent Hridaya Retreat, guided by Phoebe Douglas. As an experienced Hridaya teacher in Mexico, Phoebe's unwavering devotion shines through her beautiful way of teaching. Last year, she completed her second 49-day solitude retreat, ever-deepening her wisdom and understanding.
After this we will have the privilege to visit some extraordinary places. For example Ramana's and Anandamayi Ma's Ashram, where the presence of these masters continues to resonate deeply. We are also honored to visit living Saints, whose company and wisdom kindle a beautiful Self-remembrance.
Our travels will take us further to Rishikesh, where the Ganges River majestically flows amidst the backdrop of the Himalayas. Rishikesh is known as the Yoga capital of the world.
Continuing our pilgrimage, we will arrive in Varanasi, the city of eternal light and the mystical Ghats. In this place, we will engage in selfless service, embracing the transformative power of compassion and serving others.
The last stop is a place revered for its devotion: The Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya. The place where the Buddha attained enlightenment.
During our tour we will regularly Sit in Silence together and do the practice of Hridaya Hatha Yoga. In addition, there will be moments of free time, allowing for personal reflection and individual exploration of the surroundings.
A FEW WORDS ON INDIA
India holds great depth and spiritual richness. There are numerous Sacred places and many Masters have graced its grounds, leaving a deep-rooted imprint on the land. Traveling through India can be a beautiful, transformative and enriching experience.
India’s unique challenges
However, it is also important to be prepared for its unique challenges. The country has a lot of contrasts, making it difficult to summarize in a few words. India has extreme poverty, reminding us of the complexities of life and the need for compassion and empathy.
Noise and cleanliness
India is also a place of vibrant chaos, there is always a lot of noise, many people in the street, and cleanliness standards may differ from what you are accustomed to. That said, please don't worry about the accommodations, we picked clean ones. Additionally, plans may not always go as expected, requiring your understanding and flexibility.
Purifications may arise
It is furthermore important to acknowledge that visiting Sacred places and engaging in spiritual practices can bring forth purifications on various levels—body, mind, and emotions. Should anything arise during your journey, please observe it as the witness, recognizing it as part of the transformative process. We will elaborate more on this during the retreat.
Before submitting…
Before submitting this form, we kindly request you to consider if this tour aligns with your expectations and intentions. It requires a willingness for self-responsibility and to embrace challenges and uncertainties that may arise.
TOUR DATES AND SCHEDULE
Dates: 28-10-2023 - 20-11-2023
28-10 Start tour 3PM in Greenland Ashram in Tiruvannamalai
29-10 till 2-11 Hridaya 5-day Silent retreat, Tiruvannamalai
3-11 till 4-11 Tiruvannamalai
5-11 till 10-11 Rishikesh
11-11 till 17-11 Varanasi (selfless service, volunteer work)
17-11 till 20-11 Bodh Gaya
THE PRICE OF THE TOUR
The price of the tour will be in between ₹ 84.305 = 1027 USD and ₹ 93.000 = 1133 USD
Depending on which rooms you sleep in. This does not include flights, taxi's and more. Read the text below to see what is included and what not.
WHERE THE MONEY GOES
Please note that we are not earning money with organizing this tour. We will take care of the expenses for Phoebe and only partly for the expenses of the organization. Our intention is purely rooted in creating a beautiful experience for all participants.
As part of our commitment to giving back, a portion of the funds will be donated to the Aghor Foundation Varanasi. This beautiful organization works tirelessly to support the poorest of poor in India, including providing education for children and cooking nutritious meals for those in need. During our visit there, we will not only contribute financially but also offer a helping hand. Another part of the money will go to a fund in Mexico to support people in need.
Underneath this document you will find an overview of all the costs.
FOOD AND DRINKS
Our tour package includes the meals and beverages for the majority of our journey. However, please be aware that meals in Rishikesh are not included, as well as on some other days. During these specific occasions, you will have the opportunity to eat outside.
Luckily the food and beverages in India are very affordable and delicious;-). This means that these additional costs are expected to be within reasonable limits.
OTHER ADDITIONAL COST
Taxi costs are also not included in the package. The amount for taxi expenses you can find below.
VISA AND PASSPORT
To visit India you need a visa, please take care of this yourself. Also, your passport needs to be valid for at least 6 months after coming to India.
IMPORTANT! FLIGHTS
We would like to kindly inform you that the tour package does not include flights. It is your responsibility to book all flights related to the tour, including the flights to and from India.
There are two internal flights within India that need to be arranged:
· The flight from Bangalore to Delhi
· The flight from Delhi to Varanasi
Once you have subscribed to the tour, we will provide you with specific flight details, ensuring that we can all travel together as a group. Also we will let you know what is the best way to find good tickets.
Based on past experiences, it is generally advisable to book internal flights approximately 2 to 3 months in advance, as prices tend to be lower during this period. Internal flights may vary between 40 to 100 USD. However, please note that this is not a guarantee and prices may vary.
PAYMENT
To secure your reservation and confirm your participation in the tour, we kindly request a downpayment of 250 USD within one week after receiving the email notifying you of your inclusion in the tour. The downpayment amount will be subtracted from the total tour cost, ensuring your place.
Full Payment
To complete your payment process, we kindly ask that the remaining balance of the tour cost be settled 6 weeks prior to the tour's commencement. This will be on the 16th of September 2023. This final payment will allow us to finalize all necessary arrangements and ensure a seamless experience.
Payment Method
Detailed payment instructions will be provided after registration.
Please remember that by submitting your downpayment, you acknowledge and accept the terms and conditions outlined in this document.
IMPORTANT! CANCELLATION POLICY
We understand that unexpected circumstances may arise, necessitating the cancellation of your tour participation.
Please take note of the following policy:
· In the event that you need to cancel your tour participation, we kindly request that you inform us as soon as possible.
· If there is a waiting list for the tour and someone else takes your spot, we will refund the full amount minus 50 USD administration costs.
· However, if there is no waiting list, refunding the full amount becomes challenging for us. As some of the spots have been booked and paid for. Since our tour is not driven by financial gain, it becomes difficult to absorb the costs incurred due to cancellation.
We genuinely regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding for these unique circumstances.
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE
As many people already asked us if they could join the tour. We work with a first come first serve. After this we will make a waiting list. You know you can join the tour after we send you a confirmation email. This can take maximum two weeks.
TO KEEP THINGS TRANSPARANT THESE ARE ALL THE COSTS
All prices are in Indian Rupees.
To give you an idea, at this moment ₹ 1.000 = 12,18 USD
Tiruvannamalai
8 nights including food, total amount per person.
2 persons in 3 person Bungalow ₹ 17.360
3 persons in 3 person Bungalow ₹ 14.720
2 persons shared room (bathroom shared with 3-4) ₹ 10.920
Single room (bathroom shared with 2-3) ₹ 15.960
Tuition 5 day silent retreat
Goes mostly to charity in India and Mexico and partly for expenses for flight teacher.
₹ 14000 total amount per person.
Rishikesh
5 nights, excluding food, total amount per person.
Double room ₹ 3.250
Varanasi
7 nights, including food, total amount per person.
Double room ₹ 9.500
Charity donation (required) ₹ 5.950
Bodh Gaya
3 nights, including food, total amount per person.
Single (private bathroom) ₹ 4.800
Single (common bathroom) ₹ 4.200
Double (private bathroom) ₹ 3.750
Double (common bathroom) ₹ 3.150
Triple (private bathroom) ₹ 3.450
Triple (common bathroom) ₹ 2.850
Dormitory (common bathroom) ₹ 2.550
Extra costs
Flight expenses, accommodation, taxi costs, food and drinks for teacher and partly organization
and setting up Sound of Silence Foundation. ₹ 30.135 per person.
Below an overview of the other costs that you can expect and that will be paid directly on location.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE!
These are some of the additional costs you can expect. Please note that the prices mentioned below are subject to change as they have not been finalized yet.
Prices per person
Taxi Chennai - Tiruvannamalai (₹ 4.000) or Bangelore - Tiruvannamalai (₹ 5.600): prices vary depending on which airport you land and if it is possible to share the Taxi.
Taxi Tiruvannamalai - Bangelore: ₹ 1.200 - 1.900
Taxi Dehradun - Rishikesh: ₹ 250
Taxi Rishikesh - Haridwar day trip: ₹ 540
Taxi Rishikesh - Vashishtha day trip: ₹ 400
Taxi Rishikesh - Delhi: ₹ 1.440
Taxi Varanasi Airport - Ashram: ₹ 250
Boat ride Aarti Varanasi: ₹ 375
Taxi Varanasi - Bodh Gaya: ₹ 1.063
As previously mentioned, there may be additional expenses for food, drinks, and occasional TukTuk rides during the tour. These amounts will not be so much, as India is not an expensive country.
DONATION FOR TEACHER
At the conclusion of the tour, there will be an opportunity to make a donation to Phoebe, as she will only have her expenses covered.
ANYMORE QUESTIONS?
If you have any further questions, please contact us on hello@soundofsilence.one
Disclaimer: While we strive to provide accurate and reliable information, there is a possibility of human error or unintended mistakes in the text and prices.
