Why I Started Roots & Retreats
Roots & Retreats wasn’t born from a business plan - it began as a quiet feeling.
Hi, I’m Rhea.
My journey with the Himalayas began on a trip with my father, drawn by a shared fascination with the mountains and the stories of sages who once walked these ridges. A few months later, I returned with friends for two weeks… and stayed five months. It wasn’t just the beauty that drew me in, it was the stillness, the rhythm of life, and the way the land quietly invites you inward. That’s how I’ve always loved to travel: not as a tourist, but as a listener, getting to know the people, the culture, and the land beneath my feet.
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Over the years, this way of traveling deepened. I’ve cooked with local families, hiked sacred trails, and sat with herbalists, naturalists, artists, and wisdom keepers, in the mountains, along the coast, and everywhere in between. Each journey reminded me:
“More people need to experience this, not just for the landscape, but for the way it rewires how you listen, feel, and move through the world.”
That’s how Roots & Retreats came to life, not from a business plan, but as a heartfelt offering. A space for slower, more meaningful travel. For creative expression, nature-based practice, and soulful reconnection.
From the high stillness of the Himalayas to the wild cliffs of Goa, I curate journeys that blend wellness, storytelling, and place - guided by the land and shaped in collaboration with incredible teachers, artists, and healers.
Each retreat is designed as a pause.. to listen deeply, move gently, and come home to yourself.
I’d be honoured to walk that path with you.
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With love,
Rhea​
The Roots That Guide Us
Our retreats are shaped not just by place, but by values.
Here are the guiding principles that hold every journey we create.
Safety is Sacred
Your safety matters deeply. These are places I know intimately - not just the roads and trails, but the people. Many have become like family. Every journey is thoughtfully designed with care, comfort, and local support, so you can feel held and safe as you explore.
Intimacy Over Itineraries
These retreats are not mass tourism. They’re small, soulful experiences where we walk slowly, listen deeply, and take time to be with the land and each other. There’s space to reflect, to feel, and to just be.
Honour the Land
We travel with humility and respect not to consume the beauty of the Himalayas, but to walk gently through it. We learn from the forests, temples, and mountains as living beings, and tread with reverence.
Learn From the Locals
The heart of these journeys is its people - Pahadi communities who carry ancient wisdom, traditions, and stories. We listen, learn, and support building real relationships and honouring local ways of life.
Sacred Travel, Soulful Return
Each journey invites you to slow down and tune in — with daily practices like meditation, sound, and movement gently guiding you back to yourself, to what matters, and to the living spirit of the land.