OPEN SKY CIRCLES
Dandeli, Karnataka
Mixed Gender
Find Your Tribe
Escape the Ordinary. Embrace Your Extraordinary
This retreat is for all misfits and rebels who dare to stand out in a world that’s forcing them to fit in. Join us on a 3-day adventure retreat in the land of dense forests and exquisite wildlife with an intimate group of 12 people. Rejuvenate in nature, push your comfort zone, and find your tribe.
Picture this scene..
You are paddling your raft on the Kali River in sync with your new friends. The roar of the river fills your ears, as you pass through the mighty rapids. Water splashes across your face and body and you feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins.
You take a deep breath and open your eyes to gaze at the Kali River while standing on a yoga mat. You feel the gentle breeze across your face as you hear the chirp of a hornbill perched on a tree.
You gaze up at the night sky full of stars in awe. A silent gasp escapes your lips, igniting a spark of forgotten dreams within you.
You are on sitting on a jeep passing through the dense deciduous and semi-evergreen forests. This isn't just a safari; it's a glimpse into the heart of the wild. You witness the raw power and beauty that thrives in the heart of Dandeli.
Sunshine splashes your paints, the Kali whispers secrets in your ear. Let the river's rhythm guide your brush, go wild with colors! This creative art workshop is a heart-to-heart with nature.
But there's something more — a sense of belonging you never knew you craved. Here, amidst the untamed beauty and shared adventures, you discover a tribe of kindred spirits.
Welcome to Dandeli - and this is ONLY the beginning!
Adrenaline surges one moment, replaced by peaceful mindfulness the next. Your spirit soars with newfound freedom, then finds solace in the heart of the wild. Days brim with adventure, pushing your limits and igniting your creativity. Evenings whisper secrets under a canopy of stars, fostering a deep connection with nature and newfound friends.
This isn't just a retreat, it's a rediscovery of your wild, vibrant self.
Tentative Itinerary
DAY 01: PERSPECTIVE
We leave Bangalore to Dandeli in private transport or by train + private transport *
We reach Dandeli in the afternoon. Rest, freshen up and have lunch at the resort before we start the program
Today, let's fully immerse ourselves in the wonders of nature, from the smallest bee to the vastness of the stars, and be truly present in the moment
We take you to Honey Park: where you can learn about bees & learn how honey is made
Mindfulness exercise in nature that will take you on an inward journey. This is a group activity.
Evening Yoga session overlooking Kali river run by a certified yoga instructor. Followed by a writing exercise
Dinner at the resort
After dinner, we take you to a special spot for star gazing along with a guide for a memorable night under the stars :)
*Transport: it would be either private transport like Tempo Traveler or a combination of train & private transport. We’ll keep you posted on it when we iron out the details.
DAY 02: hornbill fiesta
Dandeli is famous for its hornbills, so today we go on a quest to learn and spot these elusive birds. If you are an avid birder, this is going to be an unforgettable day for you.
We start the day with bird Watching with a local guide where you might spot birds like Hornbills, Kingfishers, bee-eaters, etc
Introductory session on hornbills where we will learn about the life story about these elusive birds that mate for life (just like penguins).
After, we’ll go to a local place for a special North
Karnataka-style lunch.
Creative art workshop in beautiful surroundings hosted by an artist. We’ll provide all the supplies. (you might be painting a bird ;)).
We were lucky to spot the hornbill male feeding the hornbill female during nesting season.
DAY 03: WILD ADVENTURE
Brace yourself for a day full of wild adventures!
Try the best White Water Rafting in South India. Be ready to get splashed & drenched!
Jungle Trek with Surprise activity planned for you - Let’s just say we aim to give back to the community & interact with locals ;)
Next, we head to Kali Tiger Reserve for a Jungle Safari to experience the dense & mysterious forest during sunset.
We have dinner & leave Dandeli for Bangalore.
DAY 04
We reach Bangalore early morning the next day.
Your Stay: A Riverside Cottage of Your Dreams
Imagine waking to the symphony of rapids, a chorus replacing the city's monotone hum. Sip your morning tea on the private balcony while the cool breeze whispers secrets through the trees.
This exclusive cottage isn't just a room; it's your sanctuary, where nature's lullaby lulls you to sleep each night and the river's rhythm sets the pace for your adventure.
Relax in this secret river-view cottage with comfy beds, private bathrooms, and expansive riverside balconies available on a 2-sharing basis.
If you are looking for budget friendly option, we can provide a deluxe cottage on a 2-sharing basis. This is Non-AC.
Stay: You’ll be staying in either an exclusive river-view cottage or a deluxe cottage on a 2-sharing basis.
Meals: All meals (breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner) on Day 1, 2, and 3 are covered.
Transport: Transport from Bangalore, traveling in and around Dandeli, and transport back to Bangalore is covered. As mentioned before, we will be choosing between a tempo traveler or a combination of train & tempo traveler. Please check with us while booking.
Activities:
- White Water Rafting
- Jungle Safari Entry Ticket
- Jungle Trek with a local guide
- Creative Art Workshop with an artist
- Morning yoga and mindfulness with a certified instructor
- Bird Watching with a local guide
- Star Gazing with a guide
- Entry fee to Honey Park
- Surprise Activities
All supplies related to creative workshops, yoga, and mindfulness exercises will be provided to you at appropriate times.
What’s Not Included
- Any optional activities
- Personal expenses like shopping
- If you choose to opt for photos and videos during rafting, that needs to be paid separately to the vendor
- Camera charges for safari
- Alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks not included in the meals.
- Any additional meals/snacks not mentioned above
- Travel and medical insurance
- Anything we haven’t mentioned above is not included in this trip
- The activities mentioned above may be subject to change based on availability or things outside of our control. We’ll keep you informed about any changes that may arise.
- Since this is an adventure and experience-based trip, we expect our participants to have a basic level of fitness to be able to enjoy the activities on offer.
Early Bird (Till August 31st)
Stay Category | COST | Deposit Amount | Balance Amount |
River View Cottage (Cost per person) | Rs. 31,499/- | Rs. 15,749/- | Rs. 15,750/- |
Deluxe Cottage (Cost per person) | Rs. 28,499/- | Rs. 14,249/- | Rs. 14,250/- |
Standard Retreat Cost (from september 1st)
Stay Category | COST | Deposit Amount | Balance Amount |
River View Cottage (Cost per person) | Rs. 32,999/- | Rs. 16,499/- | Rs. 16,500/- |
Deluxe Cottage (Cost per person) | Rs. 29,999/- | Rs. 14,999/- | Rs. 15,000/- |
- Deposit Amount: We request you to pay 50% of the package cost as a deposit amount to confirm the booking.
- Balance amount: The remainder of package amount (50%) needs to be paid before the due date (1st October 2024).
Cancellation Policy
You may cancel your holiday anytime provided you notify Open Sky Circles in writing. The Deposit Amount is non-refundable. The balance amount is subject to refund. The following amount will be refunded on any cancellation:
- 15 days or more: 25% of the balance amount
- 1 - 14 days or no-show: 0% of the balance amount
Unlock Exclusive Bonuses with Your Dandeli Retreat!
- Exclusive Access to our Future Member Only Events and Workshops
- Free 1-hour Photography Workshop before the retreat (Rs. 2000)
- Free Souvenir Box (Rs. 1500)
- Free Yoga Mat to keep (Rs. 600)
Get Bonuses Worth Rs. 4100/- for FREE!
The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams
Oprah Winfrey
What Others Say About Us
I really loved the retreat and everything about the Dandeli retreat - the meticulous planning, dedicated involvement and supreme professionalism of the two Super-girls, the exclusive experiences that we got - river-rafting with the Kali river all to ourselves, the therapeutic painting session, yoga by the river, room with a beautiful view, mindfulness exercises in nature, sessions by experts on the species they have dedicated their lives to - hornbills and bees! Plus the nature walk and treks involved some physical activity that is the need of everyone, but seldom got in cities.
Avichal
There’s something so authentic and heartwarming about the way Raksha travels and shares her experience with others. Highly recommend.
Ratna
Full credit to both the Raksha for introducing me to scuba diving. I am not into adventure - I might not trek but genuinely think I’ll come back and do scuba diving. It was nothing like I've seen before, and you have to see it to believe it. I don't think that photos would also do justice to it. The preparation before going underwater, and when you do - everything just goes in the background and it's just so much more calmer and peaceful. At the same time, there’s so much to see and experience. It didn’t feel like I spent 40 minutes underwater. The entire experience was special.
If I have to describe my retreat in just two words, I would say it's soul satisfying. Every single thing that I did here - scuba diving, yoga sessions, the wellness journaling, everything was very well curated, very well thought of. And generally when we go on curated trips, it's all about like going to sightseeing places. This was more than that. We had different activities, but at the same time we had enough time to just relax, soak in the vibes of that place and just be ourselves. So I'm very thankful for that. I highly recommend Open Sky Circles and their amazing retreats!
Vandana
About Open Sky Circles
Our mission is to empower misfits to push their limits and deeply experience a place while giving back to the community with a group of amazing people.
Our vision is to build a world where everyone can embrace adventure and transform their lives through unforgettable experiences.
Your Hosts
Two woman travelers who live life on their terms despite what the society says.
They have a LOT more in common than their name so they came together to build a community for all the misfits who crave an open-minded community to foster deep and meaningful connections.
They are expert solo travelers who are well-versed in planning long complicated trips from end to end. They have been traveling for over 9 years each and explored 84 countries combined.
Raksha Rao
A Software Engineer who discovered a traveling heart in her 20s. She is a self-taught marketer and a brand builder. She considers herself a lifelong learner and hates small talk!
Raksha is a big fan of slow travel where you experience a new place like a local. She slow traveled in Europe for 3 months and Central Asia for 2.5 months.
Happily married to a rebel!
Countries Visited: 34 Countries
Raksha Nagaraj
A Product Manager, travel blogger, and entrepreneur based out of Sydney and Bengaluru. Raksha is an animal lover and dreams of owning an animal sanctuary one day.
She has visited all 7 continents, including Antarctica, the Southernmost continent. She has scuba dived in over 10 countries including the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and between two continents in Iceland.
Countries Visited: 50
faq’s
Why is the package expensive?
Haha! We think our trips are fairly priced. If you're just chasing cheap thrills, this probably ain't your jam. This is an all-inclusive, highly customized experiential retreat in an offbeat place in South India. We’ve hand-picked all the activities to provide a first-of-its-kind Wilderness Retreat in Dandeli. Retreats of this kind are usually at least 2-3x the cost. We’ll be limiting the participants 8-12 people.
What do I need to carry for this trip?
For mornings and nights, it’s suggested to carry a warm jacket as it might be chilly. Carry light breathable clothes & shoes for trekking, light and quick dry clothes and slippers for rafting. Of course, sunglasses and cap to protect yourself from the sun.
Can I get my friend on this trip?
Yes, of course. You can ask your friend to join as well. But we don’t encourage big groups as this retreat is designed to meet new people.
What will be the weather like in Dandeli?
November is the winter season, so it will be a pleasant time in Dandeli
Can I choose who my roommates are?
Same gender roommates will be assigned. If you are traveling with a friend, we’ll ensure that you get assigned the same room. Otherwise, we will be assigning the rooms as we see fit. If you are not happy with it, you are welcome to inform us.
Will we do the activities in the same order?
November is the winter season, so it will be a pleasant time in Dandeli
What if I don’t want to participate in any of the activities mentioned above?
Of course! You are welcome to not take part in any of the above-mentioned activities if you choose not to. Unfortunately, we may not be able to provide compensation as it’s pre-booked.
What kind of meals are available?
We have an option for both meals - vegetarian and non-vegetarian local food at the place where we are staying. We’ll check with you regarding your dietary preferences so that we can serve you better!
Are the hornbill sightings or animal sightings in the jungle safari guranteed?
Kali Tiger Reserve is not a ZOO but a protected tiger reserve. As with any wild animal, sighting can never be guaranteed. Join us with an open-mind and you’ll enjoy the experience!
What can I expect from this retreat?
This is NOT your run-of-the-mill Dandeli sightseeing that any online tour operator provides. We have traveled to Dandeli ourselves and picked only the best things that it has to offer and designed a retreat-style experience so that you have an adventurous and transformational experience in Dandeli.
Will Raksha & Raksha be hosting the reteat?
Yes, Raksha & Raksha will be traveling along with you and hosting the retreat. So if you want any help or guidance, they will be able to assist you.
How to Apply for the Retreat
In order to curate a like-minded group, we only accept applications on an invite-only basis.
1.
Fill up the form with basic details
FILL THE FORM
2.
We’ll reach out to you to determine if it’s the right fit for our group.
3.
If yes, you pay the deposit amount to confirm your seat
Address
Headquarters: Bangalore, India
Contact
Phone: +919880993583, +916361169361
openskycircles@gmail.com
Join our Community
If you like what we are doing, join our Whatsapp community so that you are the first to know about our future retreats. You can also follow us on Instagram as well to stay updated.
Thank You
We are elated that you have shown interest in our unique retreat. Looks like you have good taste ;) We can’t wait to take you on our trips and show you the world! 🌎
Can’t make it to our Dandeli retreat?
No sweat! We have other exciting retreats in store for you! 🌎