In May 2026 I swapped London for the foothills of the Himalayas and spent a week on a Comprehensive Holistic Detox at Ananda. This is what it was like, and why I now recommend it to clients looking for real change rather than just a pretty spa break.
Why Ananda, and why now
Ananda in the Himalayas has been on my radar for years. It has spent 25 years refining its blend of Ayurveda, yoga and Vedanta, and it keeps picking up accolades, including Best Wellness Retreat at the Tatler Asia Best Awards. Recommending somewhere like this properly means experiencing it yourself.
So when the lovely Justine of Hidden Doorways, Ananda’s UK representation, suggested we visit together, I didn’t hesitate. We flew out of Heathrow on 11 May and I checked in the next day for seven nights. It was a hosted stay, but everything below is my honest experience of it.
The journey starts before you pack
What struck me first is that Ananda starts working with you weeks before you arrive. Once my booking was confirmed, I was invited onto the Ananda Wellbeing app to complete a detailed health assessment. It runs to nine sections, each looking at a different aspect of your health through an Ayurvedic lens.
Those answers then shape a video consultation with one of Ananda’s Ayurvedic physicians. Mine was with Dr Priyanka, a few days before I flew. We talked through my health, my routines and what I actually wanted from the week.
Her recommendation was the Comprehensive Holistic Detox. It is not a programme you simply pick from a menu, and that is the point: it is shaped around you. I boarded the plane already feeling that someone had listened.
Arriving at the Palace Estate
From Delhi, a short domestic hop brought us into Dehradun just after midday on 12 May. Ananda’s driver was waiting in the arrivals hall with a placard, and from there it was a scenic drive up into the hills.
Ananda sits on the Palace Estate at Narendra Nagar, in the Tehri-Garhwal region of Uttarakhand. The name means bliss in Sanskrit, and arriving at a former Maharaja’s palace high above the Ganges valley, you understand why.
My home for the week was a Deluxe Valley View Room. On arrival you’ll find soft cotton kurta pyjamas to wear around the estate if you like, and it’s worth doing. It is the easiest way to leave your everyday self at the door.
A week of detox, movement and stillness
The Comprehensive Holistic Detox brings together Ayurvedic therapies, a tailored diet and guided practice, all overseen by the physicians who designed it. Every day had its own rhythm, but a few things held it together.
Around my personal treatments, I could join Ananda’s small-group sessions, all included in the stay:
- Yoga and meditation, from gentle morning flows to guided stillness
- Vedanta talks, which gave the philosophy behind everything a real grounding
- Fitness classes for those who like to keep moving
- Cooking classes showing how Ayurvedic principles translate to the plate
- Treks and nature walks through the surrounding hills
The food deserves a special mention. Ananda has just published its first cookbook, The Healing Plate, and after a week of eating this way I can see why guests asked for it.
Then there’s the digital detox. Phones are not allowed in the restaurant, the spa or any of the wellness spaces. I thought this would be hard. Instead, it was one of the most restful parts of the whole week.
One evening we left the estate for Rishikesh to join the Ganga Aarti, the ceremony of prayer, chanting and fire held at dusk on the banks of the Ganges. Sitting among the crowds as the lamps were raised over the river was the perfect counterpoint to the quiet of the retreat.
The palace from above
I travelled with my DJI Mini 3, hoping to capture the estate from the air. Ananda’s team were brilliantly helpful, sending me clear guidance on flying in Uttarakhand before I even left home.
Drones are welcome, used discreetly, around the Palace façade, the Palace lawns and the golf course. They’re kept away from the rooms, spa, pool and restaurant, which protects the calm everyone is there for. From above, you really see how the estate sits on its ridge, with the valley falling away below.
If you’re a keen photographer, check your drone’s weight and battery rules for Indian domestic flights before you go. Ananda can advise.
The journey doesn’t end at checkout
Many retreats wave you off at the gate. Ananda keeps going. A few weeks after I got home, a post-stay health assessment appeared in the app so I could look honestly at what had changed.
Then came an invitation to a 45-minute follow-up consultation on Zoom, around 30 days after departure. It’s a chance to review your progress, raise any concerns and get guidance for the months ahead.
This is what sets Ananda apart for me. The week is the catalyst, but the real work is the habits you bring home. Their own philosophy puts it well: wellbeing is less about repairing yourself after burnout and more about small daily rituals that keep you well.
Is Ananda right for you?
Ananda is for anyone ready to commit to a genuine reset, whether that’s recovering from burnout, tackling a specific health goal or simply learning to slow down. It’s an adults-only sanctuary: guests must be 14 or over, and spa therapies are for over-18s. Alcohol is restricted on wellness programmes, and the whole estate is smoke-free.
My practical tips:
- Complete your app assessment early. Your consultation and programme are built on it.
- Pack for movement. Bring trainers, walking shoes for the trails, activewear, swimwear, sunglasses and a sunhat. Yoga mats are provided.
- Allow at least seven nights. Detox programmes need time to work.
- Embrace the phone-free spaces. You’ll be glad you did.
Why Book Ananda with Liv& Travel®
My week at Ananda has already sparked real interest among friends and colleagues. I can now recommend it from first-hand experience, which makes all the difference when choosing the right programme, room and time of year.
Liv& Travel® is a proud member agency of Takumians by Traveller Made, an invite-only global collective of leading travel designers recognised for precision, discretion and exceptional client experiences. Membership opens the door to a trusted network of the world’s finest hotels, where eligible stays can include VIP recognition and exclusive benefits such as early check-in and room upgrades, subject to availability.
When you book with us, you also enjoy:
- First-hand advice. Impartial guidance on the right programme, room category and season, from someone who has stayed.
- Seamless logistics. Flights, Dehradun airport transfers and a Delhi stopover arranged around you.
- Financial protection. Eligible bookings are ATOL and ABTA protected through our partnership with Major Travel.
- Flexible payment. Deposit options and payment by card, bank transfer or crypto.
- Support that never switches off. A 24/7 WhatsApp line before, during and long after your stay.
Planning Your Own Ananda Wellness Journey
There is no single right way to experience Ananda. Some guests need a deep detox, others a gentle reset or a focused programme for stress, sleep or weight. Our role is to understand what you need and match you with the programme that feels right. You can also explore more of our tailor-made wellness holidays.
Ready to begin your own wellness journey? Book your stay at Ananda in the Himalayas now.
Prefer to talk first? Call +44 (0) 1869 228 026 or message us on WhatsApp.
Discreet. Personal. No obligation.
With thanks to Ananda in the Himalayas and Hidden Doorways for hosting my stay.
