Six Senses Vana

Six Senses Vana is a sanctuary where your wellness journey will take many twists and turns, somewhere that you can contemplate life and be guided to realign with nature, your own rhythms, and the values that matter most. Hidden on the outskirts of Dehradun, south of the Himalayan foothills and surrounded by dense forest, it’s a luxury wellness retreat in the truest sense. From the moment we arrived, there was a sense of calm that is hard to describe, as though the weight of everyday life had already begun to lift. Phones are not allowed in public spaces which means no one is scrolling, photographing or emailing. Instead, people talk to each other, sit quietly and read, or simply pause. Mealtimes become shared experiences where food is enjoyed without the pressure of capturing that perfect shot. At first it felt strange not reaching for our phones to capture each colourful and beautiful dish, but very quickly it became liberating. The focus is quite simply on being present, and this is woven into everything Six Senses Vana offers.

Our home during this retreat was a beautiful Forest Suite, designed to immerse us in the natural surroundings which it most certainly did. The large windows throughout our suite meant the forest was part of our living space, with endless shades of green filtering into the room and offering glimpses of the wildlife that call the forest home. Inside, everything was about comfort and restoration. A supremely comfortable bed invited deep rest, the large bathtub was perfect for slow evening soaks, and a thoughtful selection of dosha specific herbal teas and healthy vegan snacks meant we always had something nourishing at hand. For once, we didn’t switch on the television to check the news, it felt far more rewarding to simply listen to the sounds of the forest outside. Our Forest Suite became more than just a place to sleep, it became part of our wellness journey itself.

Wellness at Six Senses Vana

Wellness at Six Senses Vana is not a bolt on extra, it is the very essence of the retreat. It begins with a personal consultation with one of the in house doctors who takes time to listen, observe, and measure before creating a tailored programme. This sets the tone for everything that follows. Treatments are led by experts, whether in Ayurveda, acupuncture, massage or alignment therapies, each one felt deeply considered and perfectly delivered. Our schedule included yoga, meditation, and breathing sessions which offered both relaxation and learning. We also enjoyed sound therapy sessions which took us on a relaxation journey with the hypnotic sounds seeming to reach deep inside us. There were talks, films and workshops to add knowledge alongside the treatments, giving us tools to take home as well as moments of peace during our stay at Vana. Every day felt full of discovery and restoration, a balance of activity and stillness.

The Vegan Food at Six Senses Vana

The food at Six Senses Vana was a highlight, not just because of the flavours but because of the thought and care behind every dish. Meals are created in alignment with your wellness programme, with the doctors passing information directly to the kitchen so the chefs can create exactly what you need. At breakfast, a digestive supporting green juice always arrived first, while in the evenings we were served herbal teas chosen to support our dosha. The breakfast buffet was a feast of healthy, plant based choices: coconut yoghurt, vegan cheese, pumpkin, walnut and hazelnut butters, beetroot granola, amaranth muesli, and chia puddings. There were nut milks, kefirs, smoothies, kombuchas, and freshly baked breads, all alongside an à la carte menu from which we enjoyed Indian favourites like brown rice idli, ragi dosa, and masala uttapam. At lunch and dinner, the variety was equally impressive, from light broths and vibrant salads to warming curries and beautifully balanced thali.

Every plate was colourful, fresh, and blessed with delicate flavours, prepared with skill but served with humility. Chefs often came to the table to check how we were enjoying our meals, and this personal touch made the dining experience even more special. Without our phones at the table we didn’t take photos of the food, but the images shared with us by the resort give a sense of just how stunning the dishes were. The Eat with Six Senses philosophy is built on three guiding principles: natural ingredients cooked from scratch, local and sustainable produce, and the belief that less is more. During our stay we saw how Six Senses Vana lives and breathes this approach, setting the standard for how these principles can be woven into every meal.

The Vegan Food Quest Essentials

As any of our readers will know, we are big fans of Six Senses having first experienced what they offer on our honeymoon in 2010 at the stunning Six Senses Ninh Van Bay. Their commitment to sustainable and responsible tourism is what keeps us coming back for more and we continue to be impressed by what they do. Since 1995 they have always used refillable ceramic dispensers for bathroom amenities, something the rest of the industry took many years to implement. Since 2003 all water has been produced on site and served in reusable glass bottles, something that sadly still hasn’t happened industry wide. Since 2016 plastic straws have been removed from all resorts and in 2017 Earth Lab was launched, allowing guests to learn about these and many, many other sustainability initiatives alongside handy life hacks that can help them be more sustainable at home. When you combine all of the above with the unique and holistic approach to wellness, the feel good factor whilst staying at Six Senses Vana is quite literally off the scale and we loved it.

The Vegan Food Quest Verdict

We’ve stayed in many luxury resorts and wellness retreats, but Six Senses Vana is in a category of its own. It is more than just a beautiful place to relax, more than just a wellness programme, and more than just incredible vegan food. It is all of these things and something more intangible too, a place where you are cared for deeply, where you can let go of the demands of everyday life, and where you leave feeling transformed. Six Senses Vana is not just a retreat, it is a journey of renewal, and one that we know we will one day return to.

We were guests of Six Senses Vana but please rest assured that their generosity in hosting us didn’t influence our views.

Six Senses Vana
Mussoorie Road
Dehradun, Uttarakhand 248001
India

Telephone: +91 135 3511111
Email: reservations-vana@sixsenses.com
Cost From: £755 / $938 (July 2025)