Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a visa for India?
Yes, a visa is required when you're at your airport of departure before you board your plane. You must have a valid visa to enter India. Contact your Indian embassy for the most recent information on Indian visas. To apply for an e-Visa, which will be sufficient for most guests at Purple Valley Yoga Centre, visit this page. To apply for a regular visa, visit this page. Applying in good time is advisable!

How do I get to India?
Check Sky Scanner for best connections and prices from the wide world to India

How do I get to Goa?
Goa is a small state on the southwest coast of India. The local airport is called Goa Dabolim, which serves international charter flights from some European countries. There are also many domestic airlines from gateway cities in Goa, the most frequent being New Delhi, Bangalore and the nearest Mumbai (Bombay) which is a 1-hour flight. To book local flights check ClearTrip or MakeMyTrip.

How do I get to the retreat from the airport?
We're happy to organise transfers between Goa Dabolim airport and the retreat. Please email us for more details. You can change money at the airport on arrival as drivers only accept Indian rupees. You should pay the driver directly. You will need to send us your flight details, including the day, date and time of your arrival, airline and flight number and city of departure, ideally within 4 weeks of your arrival. Cancellations or delays to your arrival times have to be notified to avoid taxi charges. Please note that drivers take a maximum of 2 guests due to size of vehicle and comfort. If your travel dates don't match the course you've chosen, get in touch with us and we'll provide you with a list of alternative accommodation.

Do I need to have vaccinations to travel to Goa?
It's recommended that you visit your GP, personal physician or a travel health clinic 4 to 8 weeks before your departure to India. Recommended vaccinations often include hepatitis A, typhoid, tetanus and polio. Goa is not a high-risk area for malaria and the tablets can be considered controversial. We recommend you do some research and make your own decision on this.

How do I exchange money?
In some countries you can buy rupees, the local currency, in the departures side of the airport, otherwise you can exchange cash at exchange bureaus near the retreat and there are also a couple of ATMs 5 to 10 minutes' drive from the retreat.

What kind of clothes will I need?
If you visit in December and January the early mornings and late evenings can be cool, so a sweater and some warm yoga clothes for the start of your practice will come in handy. As soon as the sun comes up the temperature averages 28 to 30 degrees and you can lie in the sun all day. Goans are used to Western tourists and you don't need to cover your shoulders and arms unless visiting churches or temples. One of the benefits of Purple Valley is our 24-hour, very affordable laundry service which means you don't have to pack too many items.

What should I bring with me?

• Bathing suit (it’s very difficult to buy a bathing suit nearby)
• Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, beach towel/sarong, beach bag, mosquito repellent
• Flip flops dedicated for inside use (our terrace/dining area is shoe-free)
• Ear plugs, probiotics, small medical kit (for example: tea tree oil, plasters, antihistamine cream if sensitive to mosquito bites, Paracetamol)
• Torch or headlamp (you can expect a power outage or 2)
• International driver’s license if you plan to rent a scooter or motorcycle
• More than one method of getting cash or credit (for example: 2 ATM cards from different banks or 1 debit and 1 credit card)

Can I walk to the beach from the retreat?
Purple Valley is in a secluded area away from the main tourist areas and the beaches are accessible by small taxis that are usually waiting at the retreat. Most guests group together and share a taxi to the beach. And of course we do have a large pool set within a beautiful garden where many guests relax during the day.

I would like to take a course at the retreat but am staying somewhere else, is that possible?
In some workshops we do have a couple of places for non-residential guests. Please contact us to enquire about availability.

I would like to attend the course but my partner does not do yoga, can they stay at the retreat anyway?
Yes, we do have limited availability for a 'room and meals only' rate for non-yogi partners on most courses. Please contact us to discuss the rates.