SwaSwara
Karnataka, India
Style Luxury yoga eco-haven
Setting Karnataka's aptly-named Om Beach
Taking good care of yourself and your spiritual needs is at the centre of a holiday at boutique retreat SwaSwara in Karnataka: this eco-friendly, serene hideaway promises to make you emerge thoroughly relaxed. Surrounded by untouched vegetation and close to breathtaking beaches, you’ll find yourself removed from everyday stresses yet with all the comforts you crave. Simply furnished, although stylish, SwaSwara's villas look out over the ocean, boasting vast beds to sink into after a day of meditation or jungle trekking.
Need to know
- Rooms 24 thatched split-level villas.
- Rates Double rooms from $440.81 (€334), excluding tax at 12 per cent.
- More details Rates include breakfast.
- Facilities There is internet access in the rooms but otherwise you can enjoy the quiet in a TV- and music-free environment, air-con in the bedrooms, emperor-sized beds (plus extra pull-out bed), and a lounge area for making tea or coffee.
- Check-out Normally 11am (midday check-in), but flexible depending on the season.
- Children The menu can be specifically tailored to the little ones. Butterfly-watching and special yoga classes should keep them more than happy. Baby-sitting can be arranged at no extra cost. More...
- Eco-friendly Extremely eco-friendly: packaging-reduced bathroom toiletries, reminders about water conservation, harvesting of rainwater, on-site bio-gas converter – ecological impact is minimised wherever possible.
- Also Idyllic locations like this come with mosquitoes, so be prepared, but there are emergency creams available. Smoking is not encouraged since the focus is on health and wellbeing, but it is permitted outdoors. Five-night minimum stay.
Food and drink at SwaSwara
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Hotel restaurant
Three equally delightful dinner venues are used in rotation: the thatched terrace, poolside and beach grill each provide a tranquil setting for chilled dinners. Healthy is the keyword with the cuisine, so expect lots of fresh vegetables and fish. -
Dress code
This is not the place for your little black dress or suit. As with everything else, comfort is most important: a floaty tunic and your favourite flip-flops should do nicely. -
Top table
Each of the three settings has its own charm, but perhaps the beach grill is the most attractive option for those who just can’t tear themselves away from the sea. -
Last orders
Lunch is available from 12.30–2.30pm; dinner, 8–10.30pm. No beer or liquor – embrace healthy living. -
Hotel bar
There is no bar as such but guests are welcome to lounge in the library to enjoy a glass or two of local wine.
SwaSwara Donibhail, Om Beach, Gokarna, Uttara Kannada, Karnataka, 581326
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Free transfers to and from Goa airport
In the know
Our favourite rooms
All villas are identical, built in the local Konkan style of clean, uncluttered spaces, using natural materials. Air-conditioning has been discreetly fitted without interfering with the authentic design. The lower level comprises a sitting area to unwind in the evenings, and the upper section contains a semi-open bathroom and calm bedroom area. Assume your favourite yoga position on the upper deck.
Packing tips
Comfortable clothes for yoga, good walking shoes (the main mode of transport here, and the terrain can be tricky), sun protection, and during monsoon you’ll need wet-weather gear. Should you forget anything, there’s a shop.
Also
SwaSwara aims to help guests on the road to self-discovery, so meditation, yoga and Ayurvedic therapies are central to its philosophy.
