1. Overview: From France to Fazlani Nature’s Nest
Fazlani Nature’s Nest is a wellness retreat in India set on Soex Flora Farm near Lonavala, in the hills between Mumbai and Pune, with lake views and open countryside all around.
French guests come for structured Ayurveda programmes, weight management, detox, stress and sleep recovery, as well as a quieter style of luxury at an Ayurveda retreat near Mumbai rather than in the middle of a city.
In simple terms, the journey looks like this:
Paris or another French city → Mumbai or Pune → scenic drive to Fazlani Nature’s Nest.
You can think of it as an Ayurvedic retreat from France with one long flight, one clear arrival point and then a peaceful road journey into the hills.
2. Best flight options from France
2.1 Main departure cities
Most guests will start from one of the larger French airports:
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY)
Lyon (LYS)
Marseille (MRS)
Nice (NCE)
Toulouse (TLS)
Bordeaux (BOD)
If you are not in Paris, you will usually connect via CDG or a major European or Middle Eastern hub, then fly on to India.
2.2 Typical routing pattern to India
From France you have two broad patterns to reach this wellness retreat in India.
1. Nonstop Paris to Mumbai
There are direct flights from Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Mumbai (BOM) operated by major carriers including Air France and Air India.
Typical flight time is around 8 hours 45 minutes to 9 hours for the nonstop sector.
This is the simplest option if you can easily reach Paris.
2. One stop routes from other French cities
From Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse and others, common one stop patterns include:
Via Paris (CDG), connecting there to the direct Mumbai flight.
Via major European hubs such as Frankfurt (FRA), Amsterdam (AMS) or Istanbul (IST).
Via Middle Eastern hubs such as Dubai (DXB), Doha (DOH) or Abu Dhabi (AUH), then on to Mumbai or sometimes Pune.
For these routings, total journey time from your French departure airport to Mumbai is usually 11 to 16 hours door to door, depending on the length of your layover.
Reaching Pune
There are no regular direct flights from France to Pune.
To use Pune as your arrival point you will normally fly France → Mumbai or Delhi → Pune (PNQ) on a short domestic leg, then continue by road.
2.3 When to arrive
To keep the first day of your Ayurvedic retreat from France calm and simple, try to:
Land in Mumbai (BOM) or Pune (PNQ) between 06:00 and 14:00 local time.
This gives enough space for immigration, baggage, the two to three hour road transfer and a relaxed arrival at Fazlani in daylight.
If you enjoy city time, you can arrive in Mumbai in the evening, sleep in an airport hotel or central hotel, then drive to Fazlani Nature’s Nest the next morning.
2.4 Cabin choice and in flight wellness
Economy class is workable for most travellers, particularly if you plan one proper layover and choose your seat with care.
Premium economy gives noticeably more legroom on an overnight flight and often feels like a good compromise on value for this sector.
Business class is worthwhile if you have back problems, strong jet lag patterns, or if your stay focuses on recovery from stress or burnout and you want to arrive with some sleep already “in the bank”.
Simple wellness tips for the flight:
Drink water regularly, keep caffeine and alcohol modest.
Go for lighter meals rather than repeated heavy courses.
Stand, walk and stretch every couple of hours on the long sector.
Set your watch to Indian time once you board and try to match your main sleep to night-time in India.
3. Indian visa guide for travellers from France
3.1 Do French citizens need a visa to enter India?
Yes. French citizens need a visa to enter India for tourism, wellness or business.
France is on the official Indian e-visa eligibility list, which means French passport holders can normally apply online for an e-visa before travel rather than visiting an embassy in person.
3.2 E-visa or regular visa
For an Ayurvedic retreat from France, most guests use the Indian e-Tourist Visa:
Applied for online through the official Indian government e-visa system, linked from the Embassy of India in Paris.
Suitable for recreation, sightseeing, visiting friends and family, short yoga programmes and short medical or wellness stays.
If you are coming for a clearly medical procedure, a medical e-visa may be more appropriate, although most Fazlani Nature’s Nest stays fit comfortably under the e-tourist visa category.
A regular sticker visa through an Indian mission or visa centre in France is an option if:
You need a different category,
You plan a very long stay, or
Your passport history or travel pattern is unusual.
3.3 Types and duration
For French travellers, typical tourist e-visa options include: evisas.blsinternational.com+1
30 day e-Tourist Visa
1 year e-Tourist Visa
5 year e-Tourist Visa
All are usually multiple entry within their validity. For a single stay at a wellness retreat in India of one to three weeks with some extra time in Mumbai or elsewhere, the 30 day e-visa is usually enough. Frequent visitors often prefer a 1 year or 5 year visa.
Always check the latest rules on the official Indian government and Embassy of India in Paris sites before applying, since categories, fees and eligibilities can change.
3.4 Application basics
Apply only through the official Indian e-visa portal, reached via eoiparis.gov.in or other official Indian government links, not through third party “agent” sites that charge extra.
You will usually need:
A passport valid for at least 6 months from your date of arrival in India, with two or more blank pages.
A digital passport-style photograph.
A scan of the passport information page.
The address and contact details of your first accommodation in India, for example: Fazlani Nature’s Nest – The Wellness Retreat Soex Flora Farm Village, Takwe Badruk (Taluka Maval), Near Lonavala, Maharashtra 412106, India.
A bank card to pay the government e-visa fee and any service fee charged by the payment processor.
Timing guidance:
Official guidance allows applying up to around 120 days before arrival for e-visas. mha.gov.in
A safe practical window is 2 to 4 weeks before departure, which leaves time to correct any issues.
Print or save the e-visa approval and carry both a paper copy and a digital copy on your phone.
3.5 Health, customs and paperwork
Key points for French travellers:
Yellow fever vaccination: India requires a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate if you arrive from, or have transited for more than 12 hours through, a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission in the previous 6 days.
If you fly directly from France to India, or connect only through Europe or the Gulf, this normally does not apply.
Consider comprehensive travel insurance covering medical care, cancellations and baggage.
Carry printed copies of:
Your e-visa approval,
Return or onward flight ticket,
Insurance documents,
Any medical reports and prescriptions if you are joining specific Ayurveda or medical programmes.
Keep prescription medicines in original packaging in your hand luggage and declare restricted items if requested at customs.
4. Choosing Mumbai or Pune as your arrival airport
Fazlani Nature’s Nest is positioned so that you can comfortably arrive at either Mumbai or Pune. Official distance guides note that:
Mumbai – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM) is around 115 to 118 km from the retreat, usually about 2.5 hours by car.
Pune International Airport (PNQ) is around 50 to 55 km away, usually 1 to 1.5 hours by road.
Summary of trade offs
Recommendation for travellers from France
If you are departing from Paris, the simplest option is usually Paris CDG → Mumbai (BOM) nonstop, then a private car or resort transfer to Fazlani Nature’s Nest.
If you are travelling from elsewhere in France and find a good connection into Mumbai, follow the same pattern.
If you prefer a shorter road journey and do not mind one extra domestic flight, consider routing France → Delhi or Mumbai → Pune, then making the shorter drive from Pune airport.
5. Arriving in India: immigration, baggage and SIMs
Whether you land in Mumbai or Pune, the steps are similar for international arrivals:
Follow signs for Immigration / Foreign Passports / e-Visa.
At the desk, present your passport, printed e-visa approval and boarding pass. You may have fingerprints and a photo taken.
Proceed to baggage reclaim, collect your luggage, then pass through customs. If you have nothing to declare, use the green channel.
In the arrivals hall you will find:
ATMs and currency exchange desks for Indian rupees,
Food and coffee outlets,
Mobile network counters (Jio, Airtel, Vi) that can issue a local SIM card with data and calls. A passport copy and photo may be required.
Many French guests also arrive with an international eSIM already installed that begins working once you land in India. This can be combined with a small amount of cash from an ATM for local use.
Keep your phone charged so you can contact the Fazlani team or your driver as soon as you clear customs.
6. Getting from Mumbai or Pune airport to Fazlani Nature’s Nest
6.1 Nearest airports
Pune International Airport (PNQ)
Around 50–55 km from Fazlani Nature’s Nest, usually 1 to 1.5 hours by road.
Mumbai – Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)
Around 115–118 km from the retreat, usually around 2.5 hours by car, depending on traffic and weather.
6.2 Fazlani’s airport transfers
Fazlani Nature’s Nest offers airport pick up and drop services from nearby airports and stations, including Mumbai and Pune, on a pre-booked, chargeable basis.
When you confirm your stay, send the reservations team your full flight itinerary.
They can arrange a private car and driver to meet you in the arrivals area with a signboard.
Sharing your flight details allows the team to monitor any delays and adjust your pick up time.
You can reach reservations using the contact details on the official website: Fazlani Natures Nest
Email: reservations@fazlaninaturesnest.com
Tel: +91 22 6630 0000
6.3 Prepaid taxis and ride hailing
If you would rather organise your own transfer:
Both Mumbai and Pune airports have prepaid taxi counters in the arrivals hall. You pay at the counter, receive a slip, and meet your driver outside.
Ola and Uber run from both airports, with designated pick up zones in the car parks or linked areas. The app will guide you to the correct pillar or zone.
Simple safety notes:
Check that the vehicle registration matches what is shown in your app.
Make sure the driver starts the trip in the app before you leave the airport.
Avoid handing over cash to anyone offering “special taxis” outside the official counters and apps.
6.4 What the drive feels like
The drive from Mumbai or Pune to this Ayurveda retreat near Mumbai is already part of the reset:
From Mumbai you join the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, with long views of the Western Ghats, tunnels and dramatic hillsides.
From Pune you move through greener outskirts and open country towards Lonavala.
Close to Fazlani, the road quietens, with farmland, trees and glimpses of the lake, until you turn into Soex Flora Farm and the landscaped grounds of the retreat.
7. Layover and airport wellness ideas
From France, your layover is most likely to be in Paris (if you are connecting), Dubai, Doha or Istanbul, depending on the routing you choose. Here are a few gentle ideas for each.
Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
If you connect through CDG from another French or European city before the long sector to Mumbai:
Use one of the airline or pay per use lounges for a shower and a light meal if you have access.
Take a 15–20 minute walk through the terminal rather than sitting the whole time, to prepare your body for the long overnight flight.
Dubai (DXB)
Visit the Zen Garden in Terminal 3, a calm indoor space with plants, water features and seating that offers a real break from the busy concourse.
Use one of the marhaba or airline lounges for showers, snacks and a quiet corner to rest between flights. dubaiairports.ae
Doha (DOH) – Hamad International Airport
Spend some time in The Orchard, a 10 000 square metre indoor tropical garden with trees, plants and a central water feature that feels surprisingly peaceful.
For long layovers, consider the Vitality Wellbeing & Fitness Centre at the Oryx Airport Hotel, which offers a 25 metre pool, gym, spa treatments, squash court and a golf simulator for a fee.
Istanbul (IST)
If you route via Istanbul, YOTELAIR Istanbul Airport (airside or landside) offers short stay rooms with comfortable beds and powerful showers, which can be very welcome between night flights.
A layover that includes one decent meal, a shower, a bit of walking and, if possible, a short nap, makes your arrival at Fazlani Nature’s Nest significantly smoother.
8. Sample travel day plan from France
Here are two realistic itineraries for an Ayurvedic retreat from France.
Example 1: Direct from Paris to Mumbai
Day 1 – Late morning / midday
Depart Paris CDG on a nonstop flight to Mumbai (BOM).
Day 1 – Late night / early Day 2
Arrive in Mumbai, clear immigration and customs.
Check in to an airport hotel for a full night’s sleep.
Day 2 – Morning
After breakfast, meet your pre-arranged Fazlani transfer or private driver at the hotel or airport.
Drive along the Mumbai–Pune Expressway towards Lonavala.
Day 2 – Early afternoon
Arrive at Fazlani Nature’s Nest, check in, enjoy a light Ayurvedic meal or herbal tea, meet the wellness team and rest.
Example 2: From Lyon via Paris and Dubai to Pune
Day 1 – Morning
Fly Lyon (LYS) → Paris (CDG) and connect to an afternoon or evening flight Paris → Dubai (DXB).
Day 1 / Day 2 – Night and early morning
Overnight flight to Dubai.
Short layover in Dubai, time to walk, shower and visit the Zen Garden.
Connect Dubai → Mumbai or Delhi → Pune (PNQ) on a morning flight.
Day 2 – Midday / early afternoon
Land in Pune, meet your driver and travel by road to Fazlani Nature’s Nest, arriving by mid to late afternoon.
You can adjust these patterns for other French cities by swapping in your home airport and preferred hub.
9. Wellness focused travel tips
Travelling from France to a wellness retreat in India is already part of the healing process. A few deliberate choices set the tone for your stay at Fazlani Nature’s Nest.
Pack for calm and comfort
Light, breathable clothing, a shawl or jumper for cool cabins and evenings, comfortable trainers and sandals, and swimwear.
Simple yoga or exercise clothes if you plan to join daily sessions.
Support your digestion
Choose lighter meals during the journey and avoid constant snacking.
Drink water steadily, keep alcohol and very strong coffee to a minimum.
Move often
On the long flight, walk the aisle when you can and stretch in your seat.
On the road transfer, ask for a short comfort stop if your back or legs need it.
Protect your sleep and your nervous system
Use a good neck pillow, eye mask and earplugs or noise cancelling headphones.
Treat the flight and drive as a transition zone: read, listen to soft music, avoid heavy work calls or emails.
Prepare your intention
Before you arrive, decide what you most want from this Ayurveda retreat near Mumbai – deeper sleep, lighter body, less pain, emotional space, or a full reset.
Share this honestly with the Fazlani team at your first consultation so that your programme matches your real needs.
Once you come through the gates of Fazlani Nature’s Nest, the travel from France is done. From there, the lake air, the hills and the daily rhythm of Ayurveda take over, and your only task is to let your system soften and recover.