Six Senses Vana, the first dedicated wellness retreat from the Six Senses brand, sits on 21 acres in the Shivalik Mountains foothills near Dehradun, close to Rishikesh — the traditional birthplace of yoga. "Vana" means forest in Sanskrit, and the retreat draws inspiration from that surrounding woodland, positioning itself around protecting and nurturing guests through immersive nature. It's one of the few places in the world to formally offer Sowa Rigpa, complete Tibetan medicine, alongside a broader fusion of Ayurveda, yoga and natural healing therapies. Every stay begins with a pre-arrival assessment followed by an on-site consultation with a doctor — including a traditional pulse reading to establish dosha imbalances and a high-tech wellness screening measuring around 40 biomarkers — pairing ancient diagnostic tradition with contemporary science before a personalised retreat plan is built.
Wellness programs run from a minimum stay of three nights up to 21, organised around specific intentions: Sleep, Detox, Tibetan and Yoga programs typically require five nights; Weight Management and Ayurveda programs run 14 nights; and a full Ayurveda Panchakarma cleanse extends to 21 nights. A specialized Mindful Menopause program addresses the physical, emotional and mental changes of that life stage specifically. Every stay, regardless of program, includes full-board accommodation with personalised nutrition, a wellness screening and consultation, a daily health retreat program with private treatments, and access to group activities — supplemented by optional extras like Subtle Energies treatments, acupuncture, reflexology and structural realignment work. On arrival, guests can also use compression therapy, heated back belts and massage percussion devices to ease travel fatigue before their program begins.
The retreat's daily activity schedule runs from 7am to 7pm and is genuinely extensive: four yoga classes throughout the day (Pratah, Madhyan, Nidra and Sandhya), at least one meditation session (seated or walking), Raag therapy — meditative sessions built around the hypnotic sound of a flute, with a different theme daily — fitness sessions spanning aqua workouts, body balance and circuit training, chanting, and music offerings. Guests can also float in a warm Watsu pool, create their own personalized spa products according to their dosha type at the Alchemy Bar, join cuisine and apothecary lessons, and attend talks on Traditional Chinese Medicine, natural alignment and reflexology. Since 2023, Vana has also introduced Grow With Six Senses, dedicated activities for children aged six and up, extending the retreat's wellness philosophy to younger family members through art, music, movement and nature-based storytelling.