Touch of Spirit Tours

The ‘Heart of Presence’ tour to incredible India met my needs in so many ways!
 Mela handled all the logistics and provided us beautiful places to stay with excellent food. From the moment I landed, transportation and support was provided. If I wanted time to explore on my own, I could take it. Diane offered morning or sometimes early evening yoga in the most beautiful of settings, tailored to our needs in the moment. She led us in the creative process with knowledge, humor and appreciation that flowed into every day.
 I was looking for a personal shift and found it. I was afraid to come to India and you gave me a safe and loving space to really feel my own experience with the group. The journey supported me in more ways than I could have imagined. It was a pleasure and a privilege to be traveling and experiencing this beautiful journey with every member of our little group.” ================================= The ‘Beauty Unwound’ tour was an incredible opportunity to learn about embroidery and textiles from the artisans who make them, in their homes and studios. We were welcomed to remote villages and tucked away textile museums as well as visiting the more touristy places I always wanted to see but was afraid to go to for fear of overcrowding. The whole experience was made complete by the best tour guide I ever, and one of the most kind and interesting people you'll ever have the privilege of knowing. I can't wait to go on my next tour.

Venturing India with Touch of Spirit Tours was awesome. At all times, I felt so well cared for and safe. The tour offered experiences of India beyond my expectations. Mela has such a passion for all things Indian, that it is infectious. She was always concerned about our happiness, allowing flexibility in the itinerary. We were just one big happy family. Thank you so much Mela, I look forward to travelling with you again!

What a wonderful way to experience India for the first time! Mela set up an excellent Heart of Presence tour that provided us with insight to the various religions and cultures of northern India and allowed us to experience them with local people. The yoga kept our traveled bodies in shape and kept us centered in environments that were sometimes unsettling and always full of sensory input! The creative process sessions added dimensions and perspectives to the experiences. You don’t need prior experience in any of the yoga or creative processes to participate and gain from them, and you certainly don’t have to be in super shape or be an artist. Thanks to Mela and Diane, I knew I was in good hands throughout the trip. Because of their efforts I was able to experience a lifelong dream in a safe, enriching way that provided opportunities for self-reflection and growth and gave me memories that will last the rest of my life! Lynette Myhre, Harrison, Idaho, USA

“Thanks Mela, I had a very special time on your North India Ashram & Spiritual tour and I would recommend it to all who want a unique Indian experience. The sites we saw and the activities we did e.g. aarti, were very special. Also, the accommodation was very good particularly near the national park and Delhi. My favourite part of the tour was the ashram. It was a beautiful experience and it really helped me to deepen my understanding of yoga. The sight seeing was great - the guides English was very clear. Jay is a major asset to the tour. His Hindi I’m sure opened many opportunities for us. He was very knowledgeable about India and was happy to introduce us to his parents and take us to a wedding which were unexpected treats. He was very helpful and had solutions to any worries we had. The tour has helped me to strengthen my yoga practice and helped me to understand the philosophy behind it. Also, seeing the way the religions in India pervade everyday life was inspiring. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in India.”

The Touch of Spirit North India trip was a dream that totally met my expectations. For one who has done a lot, traveled a lot, loves creativity, and did not want a “tour”, it was perfect. I was able to reap not only information and sights, but also have experiences, get to know people, and participate spiritually. I take with me brown eyes meeting my blue eyes heart to heart, prayer flags flying in the wind, and so many colors and tastes. I’ve found that new edges of perception, one’s that I never imagined, are possible. Thank you Mela and Diane.

I really loved Southern India, with its incredible contrast of modern technology, ancient history, brilliant colours and happy people! The tour was well organized, hassle-free and our accommodation was great. My favourite places were the out-of-the-way places including a small orphanage, where we practiced the hokey pokey with the gorgeous kids, the animal shelter where we were met by an excited 3-legged dog and the national park, where we saw a wild elephant on the side of the road. There is so much more to see and I can’t wait to go back

The Ashram and spiritual tour of India was excellent and exceeded all of my expectations. From communication before the tour to the tour itself, everything was fantastic. Mela your prompt reply to questions and support arranging flights as well as provision of information via email was invaluable and eased any anxieties, making for smooth preparation leading up to and during the tour. You ensured we were well looked after. Our tour leader, Jay always made sure we got the most out of each experience and went out of his way to ensure all of our needs and expectations were met. All guides and drivers were fantastic with their knowledge and had a genuine interest in making the experience informative and ensuring that we all had a great day. All places visited were relevant to the tour and I enjoyed them all. Jay’s wisdom, knowledge and genuine caring about each of us on the tour and a desire to help us on our individual journeys was what made this tour one I will remember for a long time. The tour provided enough reflective time and experiences that enabled me to delve deep, peel back layers and heal, all of which has supported my spiritual growth and allowed me to move forward on my spiritual journey. Thank you Touch of Spirit Tours. The tour exceeded all of my expectations and I would highly recommend this tour to others

As a person who loves fabric, sewing and quilting and travel, the Beauty Unwound Textile Tour was the perfect tour. This jam packed tour covers a lot of ground - from Mumbai, to Bhuj in Gujarat, a centre of excellence for superb embroidery, to Ahmedabad, Lucknow and the golden triangle of Jaipur, Delhi and Agra. The tour takes people into the homes and ateliers of some amazing craftspeople - to meet the craftspeople, watch them working, enjoy demonstrations of their craft and have the chance the buy some beautiful, handmade textiles. There were LOTS of these visits - not just one or two. This was wonderful. It would be just so difficult, if not impossible, to gain this access as an ordinary tourist. As well, we visited a number of craft museums which were all of a high quality and fascinating. This tour really delivers on the access to craftspeople. The architectural wonders of India are not neglected on the tour. We visited some beautiful 'stately homes', historical ruins, the Amber Fort, the British redoubt in Lucknow, some beautiful mosques and of course Fatepuri Sikri and the Taj Mahal. An 'off the radar' but wondrous sight was the step well - Chand Baori - between Jaipur and Agra was a highlight. The delicious food in India is showcased on the tour by visits to a range of excellent restaurants to enjoy local specialties -in Gujarat, in Lucknow and Agra and a visit to a long standing famous 'hole in the wall' in Delhi to sample samosas and jalebis. An early evening visit to watch the sunset at the White Desert the Rann of Kutch and a morning visit to a bird sanctuary provides a look at the natural world in India. Both excursions were wonderful. The guide on this tour, Sunita, is superb. She is experienced, knowledgeable about life, history and culture in India and, of course, textiles, multi-lingual, kind, patient and smooths the way... something that can, at times, be quite difficult in India. Her witty sense of humour helps with this. The hotels were generally of a good standard. There were three internal air flights. The majority of the the tour was done in a comfortable mini bus with good drivers. This tour is exceptional - in terms of access to craftspeople, exposure to a wide range of textile craftspeople, visits to craft museums and sight seeing. It was well run, covered a LOT of ground and very very good value. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED