Your retreat
Get a feeling of what The Chettinad is like from a real retreat hosted here.
We know that planning a retreat can be a daunting task with many details to consider and decisions to make. Aside from the challenge of organizing a memorable and rewarding week for your students, financial viability is also an important issue particularly for teachers without prior retreat experience. The Chettinad understands this and works closely with teachers and retreat leaders to support and guide them through the planning process. We provide clear and precise information, respond promptly to your questions, and are very much hands-on to offer tips and suggestions. We know that a solid pre-arrival preparation is the foundation for having satisfied teachers and students.
Whether this is your first retreat or you have hosted many around the world, our knowledge from years of experience in the retreat and hospitality industry, in addition to our professional backgrounds in corporate event planning and creative production, bring added value to better assist you. Once your booking is confirmed, you will receive access to our Guest Page which includes maps, directions, transportation details, contact numbers, house policy, details on available therapies, a road book of what to do and see on the island, and other useful information. You will be welcomed at check-in, introduced to our head housekeeper and gardener/caretaker, and taken on a full tour of the property. Once we hand over the keys, The Chettinad is all yours for the week! For the entire duration of your retreat, we are highly responsive and easily reached by phone, text or email for special requests, troubleshooting, or to offer any necessary assistance.
Good life at the Chettinad
Yoga
This is most likely the central focus of your retreat and you want conditions to be right whether holding class at sunrise, high noon, or well after the stars have made their appearance in the night sky! Outdoor yoga platforms can leave you exposed to wind, strong sun, humidity, glare, and insects. In our geodesic dome, a protective sphere bathed in soft diffused light, your students will be inspired by their environment to make the most of their practice.
Massages and other treats
Retreat guests often flock to the island to escape the stress of urban lives, to revitalize and pamper themselves. Well-being treatments such as Ayurvedic full-body warm oil massage, reflexology, lymphatic drainage, deep tissue massage, aromatherapy, sound healing, facials, and Japanese gold leaf facial masks are available upon request.
healthy meals
Our chefs design locally sourced, plant-based menus tailored to your retreat’s theme, dietary requirements or restrictions. Whether raw food, vegan, detox, fitness, gluten or lactose free, organic ingredients are used whenever available to create inventive and visually pleasing dishes that are both nutritionally sound and flavorful.
Excursions
Your hosts have been living full-time on the island for years and are ready to recommend things to do and see on the White Isle: guided walks to discover the historic old town or Ibiza’s verdant valleys, quiet mountain paths, spectacular rock formations, and breathtaking cliffs above shimmering seas, a culinary tour in the acropolis to sip local wines and hierbas while savoring a bite of jamón ibérico and other tapas, a whirl through the famed Hippy Markets, an afternoon boat trip, village hopping, a visit to Phoenician ruins and other UNESCO World Heritage Sites, or a drum session on the beach.
what’s included
The standard retreat is 6 nights and runs from Saturday to Friday.
Check-in begins at 15.00 and check-out should be completed by 10.00.
Maximum occupancy is limited to 12 guests + teacher.
All rental rates are for 6 nights accommodation and includes towels, linen, utilities, local telephone, and exclusive use of the property, pool, yoga dome and props.
We are equipped with yoga mats, bolsters, bricks, blocks, belts, wedges, eye pillows, and heavyweight blankets.
Optional catering is available through one of our referred chefs. You are also free to use our fully-equipped kitchen to prepare your meals, or to bring your own chef. Please see our FAQ page for further information on catering terms and conditions, menus and costs.
Daily cleaning is available at a supplementary cost. Generally a minimum of 4 hours per day is recommended to keep the common areas and bathrooms sparkling clean. Depending on the level of service that you would like to offer your participants, more (or less) hours may be necessary. Please see our FAQ page for further information on housekeeping terms, conditions, and costs.
A range of well-being therapies are also offered on an optional basis as per your retreat’s needs.
Teachers and retreat leaders are responsible for running their own retreats. The Chettinad does not facilitate arrivals, departures, or manage the daily functioning and logistics of hosted retreats nor of the services offered by teachers/leaders to their retreat participants.
WINTER RETREATS, a special word
There are yoga retreats on the island year-round, but there is a particular clientele for every season. Off-season bookings are a bargain, and those who are not coming for the fun & sun element adore the quiet and beautiful winters...sunshine, warmth in the days, a lush green island blanketed in flowers, deserted beaches, the peace and tranquility of a sleepy island, and evenings around a roaring fireplace. Strolling the old fortressed town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is best done in the off-season. It is also the ideal time for taking guided walks to discover the island's natural treasures.
With the exception of Terra Cottage heated by a reversible air conditioning unit, the entire villa has floor heating which makes it cozy and comfy in the winter. So it all depends on how you market your retreat to attract those who are looking for that kind of experience. Wine and tapas around a warm fireplace in a local bar...with actual locals around you...is what some folks appreciate far more than a frozen margarita at the beach.