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The experiences
Eight ways to slow down.
Every day is a gentle invitation back to the senses. Guided by local artists, practitioners and the forest itself. No itinerary to race through, only rhythms to fall into.
Nature has a rhythm. Unhurried, balanced, and deeply present.
For most of human history, we lived much closer to that rhythm. We moved with the seasons, gathered around shared meals, learnt from our communities, and spent our days connected to the natural world. Somewhere along the way, that connection became easier to overlook.
Vann Vibe was created as an invitation to return to it.
Set in and around the forests of Kanha, Vann Vibe is a slow living retreat that brings together nature, culture, food, traditional knowledge, and meaningful human connection. It isn't about escaping life for a few days. It's about experiencing a different way of living, one that feels more grounded, intentional, and connected.
Our days unfold through forest walks, community experiences, local food traditions, creative practices, conversations, and simple rituals that encourage us to slow down and pay attention. We learn from the people who call these landscapes home, share meals prepared with care, spend time outdoors, and discover how much wisdom exists in slower ways of living.
At the heart of Vann Vibe is a belief that meaningful travel goes beyond sightseeing. It is about building a relationship with a place, understanding its people, and allowing yourself to be changed by the experience.
You may arrive for the forest. But you leave carrying stories, connections,
and a renewed appreciation for a pace of life that feels a little more human!
An Invitation
More Than a Retreat
What It means to Live Like Nature Intended?
The Forest Stay
Our Home in Kanha
Surwahi Social EcoEstate
There are places you travel to, and places you feel into. Surwahi Social Ecoestate, our home for Vann Vibe belongs to the latter.
A forest-edge homestead built around a simple idea: living in closer relationship with the land. Designed using local materials and traditional techniques, it offers a slower rhythm of living where nature is part of your everyday experience.
Built With the Land 🏡
Built consciously, with local materials and traditional techniques, every space here carries the memory of the earth it came from.
Forest at Your Doorstep 🌿
Wake up to birdsong, walk beneath native trees, and spend your days surrounded by the sights and sounds of Kanha's forest landscape.
Food Rooted in Place 🍲
Meals are prepared using seasonal ingredients and local recipes that celebrate the flavours of Central India. Simple, nourishing food shared slowly and together.
Thoughtfully Sustainable 🌏
Built and operated with sustainability at its core, Surwahi supports local livelihoods, traditional knowledge systems, and environmentally conscious practices.
Before you apply
Is this your kind of slow?
Is Vann Vibe For You?
This is for you if
Then you'll probably feel at home here.
May Not Be For You If...
And that's okay.
Vann Vibe isn't designed for everyone.
Still Wondering ? Trust Us, You don't need to be a yogi, a naturalist, or a slow-living expert. Just someone willing to be present.
Vann Community
Reflection from our Participants
"What stood out to me about Vann Vibe was that it wasn't just about the forest. I got to spend time with local people, hear their stories, learn about their way of life and understand the region in a much deeper way. Those interactions ended up being some of the most memorable parts of the experience. As someone who works in travel, I don't come across many experiences that feel this genuine, and that's what made Vann Vibe special for me."
Nicole Dane, Founder
Bharatvaas Travels
"I've been visiting the forests of Central India for years, so I thought I knew them quite well. What surprised me at Vann Vibe was the Forest Bathing session. It made me slow down and pay attention to things I usually overlook when I'm out in the forest. Instead of looking for wildlife, I found myself noticing sounds, textures and little details all around me. It was a completely different way of experiencing a place I've known for a long time."
Dr. Sarika Khanwilkar, Scientist
Conversation Leader Wild Tiger org
"Vann Vibe reminded me how exciting it can be to stay curious. Throughout the retreat, I found myself learning something new every day, whether it was about nature, local traditions or the people around me. Nothing felt rushed or performative. It felt like an opportunity to slow down, pay attention and experience the forest in a more meaningful way. Looking back, it's the sense of wonder and discovery that I remember most."
Sharmishtha Das, Traveller
MA Tourism & Travel, IITTM
The retreat package
Your Vibe Pass
Choose the stay that feels right for you. Every option includes accommodation, meals, and the complete Vann Vibe experience.
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Double Sharing
Comfortable forest canopy suites that are lux and sustainable.
₹ 30,000
/ person
Community Dorm
An 8 bed traditional mud-built dormitory social and affordable stay.
₹ 23,000
/ person
What's Included
✓ 4 days and 3 nights stay in Kanha
✓ All meals and curated food experiences
✓ Wellness sessions, and mindful movement practices
✓ Forest immersions and outdoor explorations
✓ Cultural experiences and hands-on workshops
✓ All facilitation, materials, and retreat activities
What's Not Included
✗ Travel to and from Kanha
✗ Airport, railway station, or bus station transfers
✗ Personal expenses, shopping, and souvenirs
✗ Alcohol or beverages outside programme
✗ Travel or medical insurance
✗ Medical expenses beyond basic first aid
Day wise vibe flow
Afternoon
Arrive at Surwahi Social Ecoestate and ease into the slower rhythm of life in Kanha. Take time to settle into your surroundings before exploring the property and the sustainable systems that quietly shape everyday life here.
Evening
Meet your fellow participants through a light-hearted introduction circle designed to encourage connection, curiosity, and presence from the very beginning.
Night
Gather for a guided Bach Flower experience exploring the world of flower remedies, self-reflection, and the subtle wisdom found in nature. End the day with a nourishing meal and a quiet evening under the forest sky.
6 am Ritual
Begin the day with a guided forest bathing experience. Through mindful walking, breathwork, and sensory awareness, you'll learn to engage with the forest in a deeper and more meaningful way.
Morning
Return to Surwahi for a leisurely breakfast and time to pause, reflect, or simply enjoy the slower pace of the retreat.
Afternoon
Spend time with local knowledge keepers exploring traditional forest remedies and nature-based practices. Followed by a hands-on culinary experience where local ingredients and traditional cooking techniques come together over a shared meal.
Evening
Unstructured time to rest, wander through the property, journal, or simply enjoy doing nothing at all.
Night
Close the day with a sound healing session, allowing the body and mind to unwind through the gentle resonance of healing frequencies.
Sun Rise Yoga
Practice yoga by the Banjar River, experiencing movement not as exercise, but as a way of connecting more deeply with yourself and the natural world around you.
Morning
Step into the monsoon landscape and experience rice paddy plantation alongside local communities, gaining insight into seasonal farming practices and rural life in Central India.
Afternoon
Slow down over a shared lunch before immersing yourself in the vibrant world of Gond art. Through colours, patterns, and storytelling, discover one of India's most celebrated indigenous art traditions.
Evening
Enjoy free time at Surwahi to rest, connect with fellow participants, or simply soak in the atmosphere of the forest.
Night
Gather for a closing reflection circle to share experiences, insights, and moments that stayed with you throughout the retreat, followed by a final community dinner.
Gentle forest Morning
Unstructured morning time to wake gently, follow your own rhythm, and greet the day.
Breakfast
A slow morning, one last cup of tea, final conversations, and take in the final moments.
Late Morning
Shared reflections, photographs, and take away new perspectives, meaningful connections, and a renewed appreciation for a rhythm of life that feels a little closer to nature.
Travel planning
How to reach Kanha.
Meeting point: Surwahi Social EcoEstate, Kanha
ARRIVAL
24 July 2026
The retreat begins. Please arrive at Surwahi Social EcoEstate by 2:00 PM for a smooth check-in and welcome session.
Departure
27 July 2026
The retreat concludes. Please book return travel after 12:00 noon, for breakfast, closing conversations, and checkout.
By air
Nearest airports
Gondia Airport
127 km
approx. 3 hrs
Jabalpur Airport
157 km
approx. 3 hrs 50 mins
Nagpur Airport
280 km
approx. 5 hrs 40 mins
By rail
Nearest stations
Gondia Station
130 km
approx. 3 hrs 30 mins
Jabalpur Station
146 km
approx. 3 hrs 50 mins
Nagpur Station
261 km
approx. 5 hrs 20 mins
Meet our facilitators
Rushant Dhanwatay
Nature's Gentle Translator
A zoologist and certified Forest Bathing facilitator, Rushant is reimagining how people experience forests beyond safaris. Through immersive nature experiences and community-led tourism, he helps participants slow down, engage their senses, and build a deeper connection with both the natural world and local communities.
Khushi Gandhi
Keeper of Slow Rhythms
Believing that wellness begins with simple, mindful practices, she guides participants through yoga, and relaxation sessions that feel accessible and welcoming. Her gentle approach encourages people to slow down, reconnect with themselves, and leave feeling more grounded, refreshed, and present.
Sanaaya Doust
Flower Healer
After leaving a career in law, Sanaaya followed a more heart-centred path into holistic wellness. Through Bach Flower Remedies, mindfulness, and reflective practices, she creates gentle spaces for self-discovery, helping participants slow down, reconnect with themselves, and explore emotional well-being with curiosity and compassion.
Sanjay Pancheshwar
Self Taught Gond Kalakar
Entirely self-taught, Sanjay transformed childhood sketches on mud walls into a distinctive Gond art practice inspired by the forests around Kanha. Through intricate patterns, vibrant colours, and storytelling, his work brings indigenous traditions and wildlife narratives to life, connecting local culture with audiences across the world.
Purushottam Parihar
Kanha's Miyawaki Expert
Purushottam has spent years collecting wild forest seeds and growing native trees through his community nursery, helping preserve Kanha’s ecological heritage. Participants will visit his traditional earthen home, share a local meal, and hear stories from someone whose life is deeply rooted in the forest.