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There are journeys that change your life, and there are journeys that help you remember why you came here in the first place.
This pilgrimage is one of those rare journeys. A return to the heart of yoga in its birthplace, Rishikesh.
For centuries, seekers have walked the banks of the Ganga, meditated in caves, and sat in the presence of masters in search of truth.
In 2026, we invite you to walk that same sacred path with us; to slow down, to listen, and to let life itself be your teacher.
Path of Yoga’s Sacred Pilgrimage to Rishikesh is an 8-day spiritual journey through the holy cities of Rishikesh and Haridwar, guided by James French, co-founder of Path of Yoga, and India Williams, one of our most loved senior teachers.
Together, they will lead you through yoga, meditation, kirtan, sacred rituals, and visits to some of the world's leading Hatha Yoga Teachers, Living Enlightened Masters and Gurus, Revered Temples and Ashrams, creating a journey that nourishes body, mind, and spirit.
This is more than a retreat.
It is a living pilgrimage, a step into the heart of yoga itself.
This pilgrimage is ideal for yoga practitioners, teachers, and sincere seekers of all levels. Throughout the journey, you’ll be carefully guided, supported, and held in a grounded, well-paced container.
1. Holi Festival
The dates of our Pilgrimage were chosen intentionally so that you would have the opportunity to celebrate the World-Famous festival of Holi!
Holi is one of the planet's most joyful, fun and renowned spiritual celebrations! A day when the world explodes into colour, music, laughter, and pure joy. Friends and strangers alike flood the streets, dancing and throwing clouds of vibrant powder into the air, until everyone is joyfully unrecognisable. You can choose to participate on the streets or observe the fun from your hotel balcony.... It’s a festival of love, renewal, and freedom.... and life is celebrated at full volume. Wild, beautiful, playful and deeply human, Holi is a festival that you feel in your skin, your heart, and your soul and for first-timers is usually "the most fun I've had in years!".
2. A Private Group Meeting with an Enlightened Guru!
Sri Prem Baba is a spiritual master of rare depth, warmth, and presence. He is renowned for his heart-centred teachings on love, truth, and inner freedom, and for the profound peace people feel simply by sitting in the same room as him! He has been James' Guru for more than a decade, and during this Pilgrimage, our group will receive a private meeting with Baba! An intimate opportunity for each of us to connect directly with him, ask personal questions, and experience his guidance firsthand in a way that is both deeply human and quietly life-changing.
We will visit some of India’s most revered sacred sites, including:
• Vashishta Cave
• Anandamayi Ma’s Ashram
• Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
And more!
Each day will include a variety of activities such as:
• Yoga and meditation practices led by India Williams
• Morning Yajna ( a sacred fire ceremony held after practice, where mantras are chanted and offerings are placed into the fire as a gesture of gratitude, purification, and intention. It’s a quiet, powerful way to seal the practice... clearing the mind, opening the heart, and aligning personal energy with something larger than ourselves as the day begins.)
• Evening kirtan
• Sunset rituals on the banks of the River Ganga
• Yoga class with a Himalayan Hatha Yoga Master
• Attending Satsang (a gathering in the presence of a spiritual teacher, where teachings, silence, questions, and music help align you with what is real and essential.) For many these can be life-changing!
• Night-time singing and meditation around a Bonfire
There will also be time to rest and reflect or go on other adventures such as exploring the Beatles Ashram (where the Fab Four had their spiritual awakening), wander across Laxman Jhula & Ram Jhula, bathe in the Sacred Ganga, and experience the unique rhythm of sacred life in Rishikesh.
We stay in carefully selected hotels, personally chosen by James for their warmth, comfort, and authentic Indian hospitality.
Expect simple, cosy, heartfelt places that support rest and spiritual immersion rather than luxury.
This pilgrimage is for those who feel the quiet pull of something deeper... those ready to remember why yoga exists beyond the mat.
Come not as a tourist, but as a seeker, and leave changed, connected, and touched by the living spirit of India.
🌞 Morning: We will start the day with a Yoga practice followed by a delicious breakfast. Then we will set off to visit a sacred site or go to Satsang with a Guru.
🌿 Afternoon: Exploring a temple, attending a Ritual and perhaps a dip in the Ganga.
🌙 Evening: Kirtan, Ganga aarti, and shared reflection time.
In the second half of our pilgrimage, we’ll move closer to Prem Baba’s ashram to immerse ourselves more deeply in the energy of the teachings and the serenity of the space.
(Subject to small updates as we finalise timings and locations.)
DAY 1
Transfer to Rishikesh
Tour of Laxman Jhula
DAY 2
Attend Satsang
Tour of Ram Jhula
Attend Aarti at Parmarth Niketan Ashram
DAY 3
Visit Yogrishi Vishvketu and Anand Prakash Ashram
Visit Neelkanth Mahadev Temple
Meditation and bathing in the Ganga
DAY 4
Move to second hotel
Attend Satsang
Visit Dhyan Mandir Ashram and take part in activities
DAY 5
Holi celebration day
DAY 6
Satsang with Prem Baba
Visit Vashishta Cave
Visit the Hare Krishna Temple
Private meeting with Prem Baba
DAY 7
Satsang with Prem Baba
Visit the ashram of Anandamayi Ma
DAY 8
Morning Satsang
Transfer to Delhi Airport
For this special journey, we’ll be staying in two beautiful, handpicked hotels that combine comfort, authenticity, and a sense of peace, the perfect setting for reflection and connection throughout the pilgrimage. Both venues offer shared and private en-suite rooms, comfortable beds, Wi-Fi, and nourishing breakfasts each morning. They have been carefully chosen to provide simplicity, warmth, and comfort - a supportive home base for our journey through the sacred lands of Rishikesh and Haridwar.
For those who feel called, you may extend your stay to join a short silent retreat following the pilgrimage. A space to integrate, reflect, and deepen your connection.
Early Bird (ends December 31, 2025)
Shared room: $1,647 USD
Private room: $1,847 USD
Full Price (from January 1, 2026)
Shared room: $1,847 USD
Private room: $2,047 USD
Spaces are limited to ensure a small, connected group.
Following morning practice, a delicious vegetarian breakfast will be prepared for you each day. Breakfast is included.
At lunch and dinner, you’re free to join the group or wander out to sample the flavours of Rishikesh - from riverside cafés serving fresh thalis and chai to small local spots filled with the aroma of spices and wood-fired bread, there is no shortage of cullinary experience waiting for you here.
There are journeys that change your life, and there are journeys that help you remember why you came here in the first place.
This pilgrimage is one of those rare journeys.
A return to the heart of yoga in its birthplace, Rishikesh.
For centuries, seekers have walked the banks of the Ganga, meditated in caves, and sat in the presence of masters in search of truth.
In 2026, we invite you to walk that same sacred path with us; to slow down, to listen, and to let life itself be your teacher.
What makes this pilgrimage truly special is that it is woven around two extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime experiences: the chance to celebrate the world-famous festival of Holi in India itself, and a private group meeting with an enlightened living master, offering rare, direct access to authentic spiritual transmission that few ever experience.
Just as importantly, the journey is held within a calm, well-paced, and supportive container, guided by experienced retreat leaders. James is the founder of this school and has been returning to India almost every year for over two decades... He is part of the Rishikesh community and has lead dozens of trainings and retreats... so you can relax fully, knowing you are being carefully looked after every step of the way.
There are journeys that you plan, and there are journeys that call you.
If your heart feels the whisper of this one, we invite you to listen.
Join the Path of Yoga Sacred Pilgrimage to Rishikesh.
Let this be your return to yourself, to the teachings, and to the heart of yoga.
Secure your spot with a USD 400 deposit; the balance is due by December 31. Spaces are limited, so we recommend early booking if this call resonates with you.
We have incorporated a group practice every day into our plan. However the pilgrimage is more of a spiritual journey in a place rich in yoga tradition than a formal retreat. We’ll gather for various practices; asana, meditation, reflection, and connection, along with chanting and meditation. Each day we’ll experience different practices; sometimes in a shala, sometimes in an ashram, or even on the banks of the Ganga. We’ll also visit James's Hatha teacher.
The first hotel has a shala for practice, and at the second, we’ll use the nearby ashram’s shala.
During our pilgrimage we will visit Master Sri Prem Baba - an enlightened master and James’s guru.
He is a master teacher in the Sachcha spiritual lineage of northern India, having been recognized by his guru, Sri Sachcha Baba Maharaj Ji.
His teachings, presented through his method "The Path of the Heart," combine ancient Eastern wisdom with psychological insights.
His mission is to help people find their purpose, awaken to their true selves, and live in alignment with love through practices and self-inquiry.
Before his spiritual path, he worked as a humanistic psychologist, yoga teacher, and shaman in Brazil.
Departing from Delhi Airport/Aerocity February 28th 2026 @ 9:00am
Arriving back at Delhi Airport/Aerocity March 7th 2026 @ 9:00pm
Book your flight to Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL).
Departing from Delhi Airport/Aerocity February 28th 2026 at 9:00am
Arriving back at Delhi Airport/Aerocity March 7th 2026 at 9:00pm
Secure your spot with a USD 400 deposit; the balance is due by December 31. Spaces are limited, so we recommend early booking if this call resonates with you.
