Six Senses Vana

Six Senses Vana

India, Indian Subcontinent

Set on the gentle slopes of a lychee and mango plantation, the dense Sal forest to the west and the hills of Mussoorie to the north, Six Senses Vana is akin to a modern-day Maharaja’s palace, with incredible architecture and vast public spaces, triple-height ceilings, curvaceous sweeps of cloud-white walls, knock-out art installations and tactile natural furnishings. When it first opened in 2014 it was without doubt a real game-changer that knocked traditional wellness off its perch. It was so progressive and comprehensive, suiting those who needed to sort their weight or have a detox alongside those who needed help to heal or grieve.

The scale of the various therapies and treatments on offer is perfectly reflective of Six Senses Vana’s commitment to this purpose. The objective is to help guests achieve real and lasting change through three distinct practices: Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Tibetan Healing, all offered in their purest forms possible to give the most potent and transformational effects.

Nurturing doctors, trained in Eastern and Western medicine perform an in-depth consultation and carefully design a programme that is bespoke for each client. This 360-degree approach puts them still, in our view, at the very top of the class.

The food at Six Senses Vana is also something to shout about. You don’t come here to starve, and the variety is astonishing – it’s all organic and locally-sourced, and there is incredible attention to detail, with every morsel made from scratch on site. The micro-desserts, like the chocolate mousse, are hard to resist but contain far fewer calories than you might imagine. There are vast, help-yourself lunches with homemade curries and soups, all types of breads and delectable salads, with fish & meat dishes on offer too. Six Senses Vana is not about deprivation; it’s about tuning in to what your body wants at that time. The lovely attentive restaurant staff will also steer you gently to what is best for you.

There are group classes aplenty throughout the day - all types of Yoga and meditation, as well as delicious, soul-rising sound healing. There are aqua classes in the indoor pool and carefully curated exercise classes in the gym daily. No wonder Six Senses Vana has such a huge following, it is simply impossible to beat. It has matured beautifully over the years since it opened, and it delivers something for everyone, whatever it is that you seek. Feel that life-force fire up and return you to your best self.

Nearest Airport: Dehradun Airport

Transfer Time: Approx. 60 minutes

Sample Weekly Group Activities

Sharing from £1689.00£1689.00 pp

Singles from £2019.00£2019.00 pp

Sharing from £1879.00£1879.00 pp

Singles from £2389.00£2389.00 pp

Including transfers, accommodation, full board and a 3 night programme

Recommended for

Detox | Yoga | Ayurveda | Emotional Healing

SUBMIT AN ENQUIRY

Room Types

Garden Room

A cozy and comfortable space to rest with a neutral palette of colors featuring a king-size bed for a guest on their own, or two guests together. The room leads to a balcony overlooking the gardens and heart of the retreat.

Forest Room

A cozy and comfortable space to rest with a neutral palette of colors featuring a king-size bed for a guest on their own, or two guests together. The room leads to a balcony overlooking the dense sal forest complete with birdsong and nature all around.

Bodhi Suite

Named after the sacred fig tree, the Bodhi Suite has a unique layout and is decorated and furnished in a natural and neutral palette of colors. It offers an abundance of extras, from its generous living area with desk, to its separate dining and lounge area, two private balconies and – like nowhere else – an ensuite meditation room. This space is inspired by Buddhist philosophies and features paintings of the Medicine Buddha to promote health and healing.

Forest Suite

Embrace the natural light! The unique location and spacious layout of our Forest Suites feature huge windows facing the forest. Designed in muted, soothing tones, each suite offers a bedroom, separate living room with dining table, and balcony with outdoor furniture. A beautifully fitted and spacious walk-in dressing room adds to the grandeur.

Esteva Suite

The epitome of our design philosophy: contemporary aesthetics, bespoke and natural materials, exceptional comfort, thoughtful lighting and design, and simplicity. Located on the top floor of the highest residence, it has scenic view of the nearby mountains. The neutral palette of colors and beautiful artworks evoke a sense of harmony and well-being to rest, reflect, and connect with nature.

Two Bedroom Casa

The two sun-lit bedrooms – ideal for a family of three or four – are interconnected, yet are large enough to serve as private spaces of their own. A large living room at the centre of the house offers the perfect space for relaxing, lounging, or mediation. For small daily needs, a pantry provides basic utilities.

Three Bedroom Casa

This duplex style layout offers three interconnected bedrooms, sleeping six. A large living room at the centre of the house offers the perfect space for relaxing, lounging, or mediation. There's an outdoor terrace with swings overlooking a beautiful orchard. For small daily needs, a pantry provides basic utilities.

Vana Suite

Located on the top floor of the residence, this spacious suite features a bedroom, treatment room, and sundeck with private plunge pool. A small kitchenette with attached pantry and dining room can comfortably host a meal for eight guests. There is a separate meditation inspired by Buddhist philosophies and featuring paintings of the Medicine Buddha to promote health and healing. There's also the possibility to add an additional room to make a two-bedroom suite.

Cuisine

Nature and ecology are forever present in how the seasons and Six Senses Vana's supply chain influence their menus, which match the Eat With Six Senses guiding principles of natural ingredients, local and sustainable, and less is more.

You’ll find nutritional information on all menus to help you make informed choices. Six Senses Vana are not prescriptive unless it is essential for a particular retreat objective. Their cuisine wholeheartedly embraces the joy of food and might just be one of the highlights of your retreat!

Expect beautifully presented, delicate, pure, uncomplicated flavors and fragrant yet not overly spiced curries, savory and naturally sweet dishes. Six Senses Vana include allergy-friendly, vegetarian, and vegan options as well as mindfully sourced meat, fish, and poultry. The plentiful buffet lunches and à la carte dinners ensure you never go hungry and still shift a surprising amount of weight.

Six Senses Vana's cuisine is also a vital contributor to the preservation and revival of our culture and traditions. Food has always been seen as an offering to the divine and they consider the food that they create as an offering to their Vanavasis.

Another bridge between the traditional medicine systems and cuisine is Six Senses Vana's apothecary. Prescribed by their doctors and based on principles of Ayurveda, Sowa Rigpa, and naturopathy their apothecary creates decoctions, infusions, herb mixtures, and topical applications that are grown in, not flown in, and indigenous and intentional.

SALANA

Salana’s contemporary wellness cuisine draws inspiration from life. Its focus on nutrition, creativity, nature, and low food miles reflects Six Senses Vana’s core philosophy. Menus change with the seasons, and at lunch and dinner each day. Whether you eat indoors, outdoors on our terrace, or while enjoying each other's company around a long table, their cuisine is a retreat highlight.

ANAYU

Anayu is derived from the Sanskrit words “ana” and “ayu” meaning “nourishment/food” and “life”. It brings together Indian-inspired recipes and Ayurvedic principles. Anayu’s menu is crafted to serve each of the three body types – Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. Six Senses Vana believe that food is a gift and eating it is a reverent experience.

Activities

Classical music performances
Yoga
Meditation
Lectures
Cooking lessons
Hiking
Fitness classes
Tennis

Facilities

Wellness centre
Yoga studios and pavilion
Indoor heated pool
Outdoor heated pool
Hot tub
Watsu pool
Steam room
Ice fountain
Fitness centre
Tennis courts
Padel courts
Badminton courts
Meditation Cave
Bodhi Tree
Two restaurants
Tea and Juice Bar
Sketchbook meeting space
Cinema Paradiso
Library
Boutique
Earth Lab
Alchemy Bar
Reflection Garden
Walking trails
Organic vegetable and herb gardens

Access For Guests With Disabilities?

Yes. Please enquire for further details.

Location

Set on the gentle slopes of a lychee and mango plantation, the dense Sal forest to its west, the hills of Mussoorie to its’ north, Six Senses Vana is located in the Northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, in the Himalayan foothills.

Directions to Six Senses Vana:

Travelling by plane

Dehradun Airport - approx. 60 mins

Reviews

My Return To Vana By Frances Geoghegan

I have been visiting Vana since it first opened in 2014, so it was with great trepidation and genui…

Catherine - January 2023

I was apprehensive about returning to Vana after a five year gap and management takeover by Six Senses, I needn’t have worried, Vana is still the same unique destination. Many of the team, with the same ethos are still working at Vana.

The treatments are authentic and world class, the therapists calm, kind and professional.

The food was wonderful and varied, this time we throughly enjoyed the oriental flavours on offer.

Every team member does their utmost to make your stay as enjoyable and seam free as possible, whether it is in the dining room, the ‘ guest’ desk or the Dukan (shop!).

Do not hesitate to return to Vana, not much, if anything at all has changed. It is a wonderful place to find peace and renewal, but pampered at the same time. I don’t think many places can make this claim.
I would love to return soon to Vana and previous ‘Vanavasis’ should to, you won’t regret it.

Margaret - October 2019

What can I say, everything was perfect. Beautiful surroundings, cheerful staff who went out of their way to meet our aims for the retreat. Amazing food with great attention to detail and presentation. So much choice. Plenty of treatments and activities to ensure a truly healing environment and experience. Loved the Kurta pyjamas that everyone was requested to wear, making everyone equal no matter what their background. Also enables you to travel light as everything you could possibly need is available there. A truly loving and spiritual environment. Definitely out of this world.

Alan - June 2019

Six Senses Vana is quite simply the best retreat we have stayed at over 30 years of health and wellness travel. Excellent people, a 7 star facility, superb and very thoughtful food and medical/nutritional advice and the most helpful , friendly and caring staff in every area.

Michael - 09 January 2019

Six Senses Vana is AMAZING! The level of professionalism and the attention to details are to a standard that I never experienced elsewhere. They go the extra mile. The place is eco-friendly and makes it a personal commitment to stand behind their words. They have high standards and won't compromise because it is their belief. They believe in nature, spirituality, humanity and making Six Senses Vana a unique place. My experience there was life-changing. After Six Senses Vana I can honestly say that I became a new person! The quality of life, the people, the staff, the quality of the treatments, the professionalism and knowledge of their specialists, the food, etc. It was fantastic! I have learned so much on so many levels: mentally, spiritually, in terms of nutrition, health, etc. Six Senses Vana has brought me closer to my inner self and has also allowed me to realise what I want to achieve to be content with my life.

Fiona - June 2018

Six Senses Vana!! WOW! What a beautiful Forest. Home to my soul and absolutely a little Piece of Heaven on Earth! I feel so blessed and so very grateful that Six Senses Vana was my choice of refuge. My six weeks there was amazing, so much love, kindness and nourishment from all the beautiful Vana team and surroundings, it was enlightened, blissful and left me with such a grounded feeling of being.

Anne - 24 April 2017

Six Senses Vana is a special place.You need to go with an open mind and not to expect a conventional hotel with spa activities attached. It is very much a retreat with a spiritual element as well as providing an excellent individual treatment programme. From the design of the building and gardens to the presentation of the delicious and nourishing food everything was pleasing to the senses and the soul. It felt as if every member of staff had your wellbeing at heart. I sampled Chinese, Indian and Tibetan therapies; massages every day; a visit to Rishikesh and a trek in the Himalayan foothills. All in all, a wonderful, safe and nurturing place to go to de-stress, relax and switch off.

DK - 28 Jan 2016

Six Senses Vana was the perfect place for a retreat. I enjoyed getting to know the other guests and having time to myself for meditation and reflection. I felt that the staff really took the time to get to know me, and the advice I was given was very thorough. This has been my favourite holistic retreat to date, and I am looking forward to booking another stay with Healing Holidays in the future!

Jessica - 8 Dec 2015

I have never been to a more extraordinary, exquisite place than Six Senses Vana. Everything about Vana is immense-the architecture-the location-the staff-the food. I had to be persuaded to stay a minimum of 10 nights by Tracy at Healing Holidays, she was absolutely right. To go for any less would have been a big mistake. I was surprised by the depth of offering they had at Six Senses Vana, and I happily had a programme that combined Ayurveda with Chinese medicine, as well as fantastic Tibetan massages. I want definitely to go back and do a full Panchakarma with them.

Insider's Tips

"Travel light, you get super comfy organic kurta pyjamas daily, so that’s one thing less to worry about." - Frances Geoghegan, Owner & Founder
"There is a well stocked library at Six Senses Vana, no need to take books either." - Anna, Wellness Advisor
"Dine at the communal table at mealtimes. Most evening you are joined by one of the Six Senses Vana doctors or specialists, its fun and very informative." - Frances Geoghegan, Owner & Founder
"Take a meditative walk in the yoga orchard, and enjoy the magical bird song." - Klaudia Orr, Wellness Advisor

Healing Holidays Exclusive Offers

Although Healing Holidays offer a best price guarantee we often receive special offers with very limited booking windows from our partners. As these are sometimes not reflected on our website it is always worth checking with us to ensure that the cost you are being quoted is the very best available.

Room Upgrade (Exclusive To Healing Holidays)

Enjoy a guaranteed upgrade from Garden Room to Forest Room
Enjoy an upgrade from a Bodhi Suite to Forest Suite (subject to availability)
Valid for stays until 20 Dec 2025. T&C's apply.

Added Value Offer (Exclusive To Healing Holidays)

Guaranteed early check-in and late check-out when you book a stay in a Garden or Forest room
Valid for stays until 20 Dec 2025. T&C’s apply.

Programmes

If you would like to extend your time in India beyond your wellness programme then checkout our extension options: The South - Mumbai & Kerala, The Golden Triangle - Delhi, Agra & Jaipur, Into India's Soul - Rishikesh, Varanasi & Khajuraho

Filter Retreats By

Retreat Type

Six Senses Vana Stress Relief Hiking

Six Senses Vana | India

3 nights

The Stress Relief Hiking programme at Six Senses Vana is a transformative wellness journey that combines the beauty of nature, physical activity, and therapeutic relaxation to leave you feeling rejuvenated, balanced, and more in tune with your wellbeing.Available over 3 nights, it's an opportun…

Sharing from £1689.00£1689.00 pp

Singles from £2019.00£2019.00 pp

Six Senses Vana | India

5, 7, 14, 21 or 28 nights

This package is ideal for those who are not looking to pursue a specific health goal, but still want to improve their lifestyle and wellbeing.Available over various durations, this packcage includes a personalised meal plan, a wellness consultation and one private treatment per day.You will also ha…

Sharing from £1739.00£1739.00 pp

Singles from £2159.00£2159.00 pp

Six Senses Vana | India

5 nights

The Chakra Balancing Yoga programme at Six Senses focuses on balancing the energy centres, or chakras, in the body through Yoga, meditation, breathwork and other holistic techniques, including lifestyle adjustment.Available over 5 nights, it will help you to be better equipped to manage stress, cop…

Sharing from £2529.00£2529.00 pp