When people look for a yoga retreat in Dehradun, or anywhere in Uttarakhand, they usually end up thinking of Rishikesh. It deserves its reputation, but it’s also busy: big ashrams, packed schedules, and a lot of people chasing the same sunrise on the ghats.
Dehradun is about 45 km up the road, and it offers something different. At Shivoham Retreat, a family-run homestay in Malsi near Robber’s Cave, yoga is taught in the same Rishikesh tradition, but to eight guests at most, on an open-air deck, with the Mussoorie hills in front of you. This post explains what a yoga stay here actually looks like, so you can decide whether it suits you.
Want to plan a yoga stay? WhatsApp us, call +91 99170 03456, or send your dates. We reply within 4–6 hours.
What makes a small yoga retreat different
A retreat built around eight people works differently from one built around eighty. Sessions are small enough to adjust to whoever turns up: a stiff back, a first-timer, someone who has practised for twenty years. Nothing runs on a timetable you have to keep up with, and you never have to compete for a spot on the floor.
Yoga here is taught slowly, with breath before posture. Meditation and breathwork follow the same unhurried approach: sit, watch the breath, and let the practice settle rather than perform it.
What you can practise
Yoga and pranayama
Hatha and pranayama sessions at sunrise on our open-air deck, plus Yoga Nidra and private one-to-one sessions. Suitable for all levels, including complete beginners.
Meditation and breathwork
Vipassana-style silent sits, guided visualisations, pranayama techniques and journalling, taught without doctrine and without pressure.
Nature walks
Forest bathing, dawn ridge walks, guided treks and bird watching. Robber’s Cave is 500 m from the gate if you want cold stream water after your practice.
A typical day
- Sunrise: Hatha and pranayama on the deck as the light comes over the hills.
- Breakfast: sattvic vegetarian food, much of it from our own permaculture garden. Breakfast is included in every room rate.
- Late morning: a forest walk, a visit to Robber’s Cave, or nothing at all.
- Afternoon: rest, read, journal in the garden. This is part of the practice, not a break from it.
- Evening: a short meditation or Yoga Nidra, an early dinner and an early night.
Most experiences begin the morning after you arrive. Your first evening is just for settling in. Most guests combine two or three experiences over a few days; you choose what you want and we arrange the teacher and the space before you come. See everything on offer on our yoga and meditation experiences page.
Dehradun or Rishikesh: which suits you?
| Shivoham Retreat, Dehradun | Typical Rishikesh ashram or school | |
|---|---|---|
| Group size | 8 guests at most | Often large groups |
| Schedule | Built around your stay | Usually a fixed daily timetable |
| Room | Private room with attached bathroom, AC and Wi-Fi | Varies, often shared or basic |
| Setting | Village homestay, garden and hill views | Riverside town, busy in season |
| Good for | Couples, families, beginners, a few quiet days | Long immersive courses, the ashram experience |
Many guests do both. Rishikesh is about 45 km away, so you can spend a day at the ghats and come back to a quiet house in the evening.
Who it’s for
Beginners who would feel lost in a big class. Couples who want a calm weekend with a morning practice. Burnt-out professionals who need a few days without notifications. Delhi weekenders: the new expressway puts Dehradun roughly three hours away (see our 2-day weekend plan). It isn’t a party place or a fitness bootcamp, and we’re happy to say so.
Where you stay
Three rooms, all on the same property in Malsi, just off Mussoorie Road:
- Luxury Valley Facing Room: private balcony facing the sunrise, from ₹3,500 a night
- Luxury Studio Room: spacious, good for longer stays, from ₹4,000 a night
- Harmony House: the entire two-bedroom house for up to four, from ₹6,000 a night
Room rates include breakfast, Wi-Fi and free parking. Yoga, meditation and guided walks are arranged on request, so ask us for current session rates when you send your dates. See the rooms or browse the gallery.
Want to go deeper? The 200-hour teacher training
If a retreat leaves you wanting more, our 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training in Dehradun is a Yoga Alliance registered (RYS 200) day course, spread over four months on the same property. It’s led by Tripti, with only 7–8 students per batch.
Tell us your dates and what you’d like to practise. WhatsApp us, call +91 99170 03456, or send your dates. We reply within 4–6 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a full-time yoga retreat with a fixed programme?
No. It’s a small homestay where yoga, meditation and walks are arranged around your stay. You pick what you want, and we set up the teacher and the space before you arrive.
Can complete beginners join?
Yes. Sessions are small and suitable for all levels. Teachers adjust the practice to whoever is in the room.
Are yoga sessions included in the room rate?
Room rates include breakfast, Wi-Fi and parking. Yoga and meditation sessions are arranged on request, so ask us for the current rate when you send your dates.
How far is Rishikesh from Shivoham Retreat?
About 45 km, so a day trip to the ghats is easy.
What food do you serve?
Only sattvic vegetarian food, using produce from our permaculture garden and farms within 20 km.
How do I book a yoga stay?
WhatsApp or call +91 99170 03456, or send your dates through the booking page. We reply within 4–6 hours.