Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime retreat—an extraordinary immersion into the roots of devotion and yoga in North India.
Led by Lesley Desaulniers and Seema Johari, this journey will take you through some of India’s most sacred and vibrant places, where tradition, spirituality, and culture come alive.
Our adventure begins in Delhi, where the old and new weave together in a captivating tapestry of history and modernity. After a night in the capital, we take a short flight to Varanasi, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Here, we will stay at a riverside hotel, waking each morning to yoga practice with the sounds of temple bells and devotional chants in the air. Our days will be filled with temple visits, explorations through ancient streets, and quiet moments of reflection, culminating each evening with the sacred Ganga Aarti by the river.
From Varanasi, we travel to Haridwar, where we will stay in the Johari family home. In Haridwar, we will visit renowned temples, craft our own malas at Om Prakash, spend time at the Anandamayi Ma, and nourish ourselves with lovingly prepared, healing meals. A stay at the Johari house is always a heartwarming highlight of these retreats.
Next, we move to Rishikesh, where optional Ayurvedic treatments, sunrise mantra practice on the Ganga, evening Aarti, and vibrant markets await. After a brief return to Haridwar, we set off for our final destination: Jaipur, the Pink City, where we’ll soak in its rich heritage, stunning architecture, and vibrant energy.
Our journey concludes with a celebratory dinner in Delhi before flying home, carrying the essence of this sacred pilgrimage in our hearts.
Lesley Desaulniers
Lesley has been studying yoga and meditation since 1996, taking her practice to New York, Russia, India and back. In her early twenties, Lesley was a resident at Ananda Ashram in upstate New York, where she intensively studied Sanskrit, meditation, philosophy, yoga, and chanting. She was later certified by master teachers Sharon Gannon and David Life and went on to teach at the Jivamukti Yoga Center in downtown Manhattan.
Seema Johari
Seema Johari Agarwal is the daughter of Sri Harish Johari, a highly regarded spiritual teacher who wrote many books on the chakras, numerology, Ayurveda, geometry, gemstones and philosophy. Seema has made it her life's work to honor her creative and spiritual heritage by sharing the beneficial knowledge she grew up with. She gives courses and workshops around the world and founded the 'Harish Johari House' in Haridwar, India.
Retreat At A Glance
Dates:
March 16, 2026 through March 29, 2026
13 Nights/14 Days
Cost:
$ 4,595 for a shared double room
$5,795 for a single room
What’s Included:
Shuttle to and from the airport in Delhi, 13 nights accommodation, private bus in between towns, all meals, unless you go out on your own, all yoga, entry tickets, all stays, transportation, and activities.
What’s Not Included:
Round-trip airfare to Dehli, India, gratuity for hotel staff, internal (domestic) flight to Varanasi, and any souvenirs you want to buy.
To hold your spot, a deposit of $900.00 will be collected. Deposits and final payments are nonrefundable and nontransferable. No exceptions will be made to this policy.
The full amount is due by October 1, 2025.