From a morning yoga practice at sunrise on the beach to a candle lit sunset meditation on a mountain in the midst plenty of azure seas and glorious sunshine, Europe has got it covered with an abundance of retreats to choose from. Here’s our recommendations on the best places in Europe for a yoga retreat.
Greece – Best for Beaches
Though having one beach to wander and relax upon is great, in Greece you are able to choose between hundreds of beaches. Since the country is home to 227-inhabited islands, it is in the cards that you will find that one special beach that allows you to escape and truly enjoy yourself. Not all beaches are created equal in Greece as some have white sand while others have red or black sand covering the shores
Recommended Retreats
Pilates and Yoga Retreat in Santorini, 12 – 19 May/19 – 26 May/14 -21 July/21 – 28 July/1 – 8 September/8 – 15 September
Imagine doing a fluid practice of yoga and Pilates in one of the world’s most beautiful islands. An island that erupted over 3600 years ago to reveal the best sunset in the Mediterranean. With cascading white bungalows down sheer cliff drops into the Aegean Sea, blue skies forcefully embracing turquoise waters and the only navigable sea crater in the world, Santorini Greece is your perfect destination to rekindle that fire within and enjoy a week of amazing yoga and Pilates.
Your backdrop for your Sky Pilates and Yoga Retreat will needless to say leave you captivated, enlightened and elevated to another realm. You won’t want to miss this incredible opportunity to transform your yoga and pilates practice and your view on the splendors of nature.
The Pelagos Hotel in Oia Santorini will be hosting what will be your most memorable healthy holiday. This boutique hotel is the perfect setting for a relaxing and fun Pilates and Yoga holiday, with a beautiful 30’ x 40’ practice shala where all classes will take place. All your materials for all your classes will be provided so you can bring your body, mind, and spirit to the mat. Prepare to reconnect with your love of health and the warmth of the mediterranean sea.
The Alchemist Meditation and Yoga Retreat, Lefkada Greece, 12th – 19th May
Join us for a beautiful and transformative Indian Yoga and Meditation experience in the scenic backdrop of Lefkada Islands, Greece. Learn to go inside through deep Buddhist meditation and classical yoga in order to release our blockages and undo the cycles of our past, while simultaneously applying this powerful knowledge in order to heal the body through tantra, ayurveda and reflexology practices.
Winner of the Luxury Travel Guide Awards 2017 for Asia and Australia region and Service Excellence by Tripadvisor this is an intensive spiritual experience, where with the back drop of pure nature you can learn to go inside, let go off the pain, the cycles of limitations and expand beyond your original self through simple direct work on and into the mind which the Yogis have practiced for thousands of years.
Our luxurious back drop if the Urania Luxury Resorts, standing on top of a mountain overlooking the 7 Ionian Islands and the beautiful Ionian sea.
Discover yourself: Yoga and Wellbeing Retreat in Greece, 30 April – 4 May/5 – 9 May
Discover yourself on our Yoga and Wellbeing Retreat in Greece. To us luxury is time to enjoy doing what we love surrounded by tranquility, peace, comfort and nature while feeling pampered and relaxed. To be able to do what we love: yoga, meditation, spiritual guidance, pampering treatments, time to yourself. Our aim is to provide you with the opportunity to experience the practices of yoga and meditation, while relaxing in a hassle free, beautiful environment.
This retreat is focused on guiding you to reconnect with the Self, re-balance, and learn mindful and wellbeing skills that restore peace and tranquility within, to bring into your daily practice of everyday life. 360 Wellbeing hopes to make your experience as comfortable as possible while being mindful of the environment. Just pack your yoga or gym clothes and bathing suit and you are ready to join this retreat.
To us luxury is time to enjoy doing what we love surrounded by tranquility, peace, comfort and nature while feeling pampered and relaxed. To be able to do what we love: yoga, meditation, spiritual guidance, pampering treatments, time to yourself. Our aim is to provide you with the opportunity to experience the practices of yoga and meditation, while relaxing in a hassle free, beautiful environment.
Discover the best retreats in Greece
Spain – Best for sun worshippers
The excellent climate is a great appeal for travellers and with an average of 300 or more days of sunshine each year along the Mediterranean coastline; Spain is the sunniest country in Europe.
Siesta time may not be adhered to religiously throughout Spain, however the pace is slow, and the climate warm. Whilst on holiday, relaxing midday is a great part of the Spanish culture to indulge in. Choose the right location and settle into the swing of things; Spain is the ultimate location for fully recharging the batteries.
Recommended Retreats
Learn Spanish, Pilates & Yoga Retreat in Murcia, Spain 14 – 21 April/15- 22 September/27 October – 3 November
Costacalida Spanish invites you to this yoga retreat with Spanish learning and Pilates classes in Murcia, Spain. This holiday will be held in spring and autumn when the weather can be glorious. Your holiday will include yoga practices in a beautiful studio overlooking the sea, relaxed informal morning Spanish lessons, Pilates classes, historical visits, guided excursions so you can learn about the area, wine tasting, cycle rides, activities and much more. Of course all activities are optional. If you prefer to relax in the apartment or have time at the beach, the choice is yours. Join Costacalida Spanish for a holiday in the beautiful Bay of Mazarrón for a totally bespoke holiday and a chance to explore this undiscovered unspoiled corner of Spain.
Mazarron itself and the coastal areas are separated by Sierra de las Moreras, Sierra de las Herrerias and Sierra del Algorrabo being the ideal area for the practice of outdoor activities such as walking, hiking, cycling or climbing. If this is your thing, we can arrange this for you. Evenings will be spent eating in different local Spanish restaurants. Single travellers, solo travellers, couples and small groups are all welcome on our holidays.
Yoga and Hiking Retreat with Yoga Breaks Spain, 22 – 27 March/12 – 17 April/4 – 9 October
Escape to Spain for 5 nights and immerse yourself in warm sunshine, ‘drink’ fresh clean sea air, feast on delicious tasty food, open your body in twice daily amazing yoga and hike in stunning natural scenery. And, if you fancy exploring further, you can go biking and horse trekking, cook up a delicious paella lunch or simply chill in the sun.
Our yoga and hiking retreats in Spain are the perfect blend of two complementing exercises. Whilst hiking is great for the heart and lungs it can create tight leg muscles and an aching back but, with the addition of delicious yoga to lengthen, open and strengthen your posture, you’ll loosen your hamstrings, build strength, mobilise joints and deepen your breathing. The simple fusion of yoga and hiking on one retreat means you receive a complete boost to your health and fitness.
Ibiza
Midsummer weekend wellness retreat with Yoga Trip Ibiza, 21st – 25th June
Join Yoga Trip Retreats for a wellness weekend during midsummer and the summer solstice, when the day is longest, magic happens and energies are strong.
Great yoga program, summer solstice celebration with sound bath and pampering. Plus lots of fun!. Some of our mornings start with (optional) brisk silent walk or jog to the seaside and back to get our energies flowing, followed by yoga practice.
Other mornings we flow straight into our pranayama, meditation and yoga practice after our supercharged power shot. Seasonal, delicious vegetarian brunch follows with time of to digest, lounge by our pool and relax. Afternoons we have workshops, endure for a hike in stunning Ibizan nature or soothe our bodies and minds with restorative or Yin yoga practice.
Dinners are long affairs here – often accompanied with laughter and lots of great stories. To celebrate the longest day of the year you will enjoy summer solstice rituals, and light hearted ceremony to enhance your wellbeing and positive powers. We will be taken for a sound healing journey at the retreat house’s gardens, amazing natural spot to enjoy the therapeutic power of sound. To top the retreat off, you are going to be indulged in body or energy healing treatment of your choice. And our authentic Finnish sauna will be heated for a purifying sauna session. The retreat is accessible to all levels, including beginners.
All meals and full program is included. All you need to bring is a positive spirit and curious mind. Come and join us!
Canary Islands
Azulfit Lotus Retreat – the boutique beach yoga holiday in Fuerteventura
Salute to the sun as it rises over the ocean, explore the endless white sandy beaches or learn to surf in the beautiful turquoise ocean. Azulfit’s Lotus Retreat in Corralejo, Fuerteventura, Canary Islands is a little oasis for you to experience an unforgettable beach yoga holiday. With world-class instruction from a team of international instructors, an inclusive full body massage and delicious, wholesome breakfasts, the retreat is made for holidays that enliven body, mind and spirit.
With small class sizes, world-class instruction and massage treatments all set in the stylish accommodation of a luxury villa, this is the perfect way to rejuvenate and reconnect whilst enjoying a beach holiday. For extra exhilaration surf courses are available. This retreat offers beach yoga, Pilates, TaiChi and meditation sessions led by inspiring and highly qualified instructors who give personal attention to each and every student. As well as beach yoga and Pilates, you will also have the chance to experience blissful yoga and meditation classes at the retreat. Drink in the sunset from the yoga terrace or enjoy our spacious indoor studio and drift away into savasana.
Balearic Islands
Yoga and Wine Tasting Holiday in Randa, Mallorca 1st – 5th May
Come to Mallora where the sun has not ended yet and enjoy a weekend yoga and wine tasting holiday with vegan and vegetarian gourmet meals, hiking and free time at the beach beach. Get to know the amazing wines of Mallorca and experience yoga in a winery!
Grapespiration is our special pairing of yoga and wine tasting! An international team of yoga teachers to match a wine and sake sommelier to enjoy Majorca in a new way! Breath in, breath out, practice yoga, relax and taste wines in a magical environment such as the beautiful island of Majorca.
Our special pairing of yoga and wine tasting delivers a unique experience. We will visit two outstanding wineries of the island while we will get an insight to local wine production. We will mindfully taste wines and learn about winemaking traditions of the island.
Join us for four days of yoga practiced at exclusive wineries, Majorcan finest wines tastings, bodegas tours, delicious vegetarian and vegan cuisine or a private chef service, dining in the vineyards, sake tastings, cultural routes with official guides, pampering and massage, free time at the beach and much more!.
Discover the best retreats in Spain & the Canary Islands and the beautiful Balearic Islands.
Italy – Best for food and wine (with a side of yoga)
It’s an old saying, but in Italy, what grows together truly goes together. Eat to live and not live to eat. How could you go to Italy and not enjoy the food? It is, of course, one of the delights of travelling in Italy. But food in Italy is more than about taste. It’s about respect for the land, the people who produce food and wine and the ancient knowledge and traditions that have been developed and refined over many centuries.
Recommended Retreats
Gaia Gourmet Cuisine & Culture Retreat in Italy with chef Naga & Liz Lindh, 1st – 8th October
Join us for Gaia Gourmet in Tuscany! We have crafted a delicious week with cooking classes, wine & cheese tasting, truffle hunting, sight seeing, shopping, daily Yoga and more! All of our culinary delights and adventures have been curated by Chef Naga in alignment with our Gaia Gourmet philosophy. We have chosen foodie-focused excursions (everything is optional), and have also left some unstructured time for you to explore on your own or relax with some quiet moments on this beautiful property (massage services available).
We will journey to another Sanctuary in the Chianti region of Tuscany, the heart of the “Golden Triangle” between Senna, Arezzo and Florence; La Selva di Giordano. This magical property, overlooking the gentle slopes of the Arno valley, is a vast 32 acre natural garden of ancient oaks, olive groves, grape vines and overflowing meadows with indigenous wild flora and fauna. Similar to our beloved Sanctuary in Costa Rica, two flowing streams of water enhance the potent high vibration of the land. The totally restored 17th century farmhouse, two additional smaller villas, a spacious studio specifically for Yoga, four salt water swimming pools and an outdoor amphitheater are peacefully nestled into this healing environment, intertwined as if in symbiosis.
7 Day Vino and Vinyasa Italian Yoga Tour Holiday, 24th June – 30th June
Silvia is a yoga teacher, healer, author and international guide who is passionate about Tuscany and has lived in Italy on and off her entire life, and is experienced in the culture! You will be guests at Antico Borgo di Tignano recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site focusing on Tuscan traditions. Stay in your own 10th century restored villa all with private baths. Peacefully nestled into the hills with epic views of Casole d’Elsa and Volterra in the distance, this is the perfect entryway into the Tuscan countryside.
Some say you can fall in love with a place just as you can with a person. This is certainly true of Toscana! The tastes, sights and people of Tuscany will nourish your spirit and renew your sense of joy. Experiencing life under the Tuscan sun is something that stays with you forever. In Italy, you slow down to enjoy each breath, each sip of chianti, each taste of antipasto. You may in fact realize that you are actually home: the home of your heart. And life will never be the same after that. Tuscany teaches us to savor each moment and live inspired by the details that might have otherwise passed us by. Silvia’s years of guiding in Italy ensures that you will experience the joy of La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life).
EAT.PRAY.MOVE yoga retreat in Puglia, 9th – 15th September
On this wonderful retreat we will stay at the luxurious Masseria Fumarola and experience the landscapes and activities of this incredible rising star of Italy.
Besides daily yoga classes, our new MOVE+MANIFEST retreats offers a series of mindful workshops that will guide you in the exploration of creative self-expression in your life. We will have meaningful discussions and fun activities intended to help you tap into your own inner wisdom and heartfelt desires. And between the beauty and serenity of Puglia alongside the sea and ancient olive trees, the atmosphere will surely ignite your being with an energy perfect for the creative process.
We will tour through Puglia’s famous trulli; cone shaped houses in the town of Alberobello, a UNESCO world heritage site. After walking around the town and enjoying a delicious tasting lunch, we will make our way back to the stunning Masseria Fumarola, an ancient farmstead that will be our home for the week.
There will also be a relaxed day at the beach where we will explore the incredible coastal part of the region, followed up with an amazing and unique dining experience in a cliffside grotto. In this open cavern, we will eat while looking down upon the sea at Polignano al Mare, one of the most picturesque villages of Puglia.
Sicily
Detox, Yoga, nourish and glow retreat in Sicily, 14th – 21st April
This special 7-day cleanse provides guests with an immersive experience of mindful nourishment in the heart of Sicily. Far from your average detox, the serenity and natural beauty of Danena offers a sacred space for guests to to journey inwards and cleanse in comfort. Delicious local, plant-based cuisine from the surrounding landscape will be served up alongside eye-opening mind-body workshops from health coach Jennifer Carr.
Guiding guests with practical techniques and tips towards eating for optimal digestion, energy and weight loss, Jennifer and the Danena team look forward to assisting you on your journey towards a more vibrant self. Daily hatha yoga (all levels) and meditation classes support the cleanse process with positive movement and conscious breathing.
The week’s schedule is perfectly balanced to enable plenty of free time as well to swim in our infinity pool, explore the island’s raw beauty on a beach walk or take an invigorating hike through local orange groves.
Discover the best retreats in Italy
France – best for culture and heritage
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, over 80 million people travel to France every year. People from all over the world are drawn to France’s sophisticated culture, heritage sites, delicious wine, sheer diversity, mountain range and charming little towns. It’s time to discover some of the gems of this country with our recommended yoga and wellness retreats in France.
Recommended Retreats
Join us in the beautiful French Alps for an alpine yoga and hiking holiday adventure. After touring around the French Alps, we love hiking in this area. With so many routes to choose from and breathtaking views, you won’t want to go home! Stay in our beautiful rustic Chalet style accommodation nestled on the mountainside surrounded by alpine pastures. Start and end the day with yoga to stretch out your hiking limbs, and soothe them with a sauna and hot tub, or treat yourself to a massage. We have been running these alpine adventures since 2008 and have worked out the perfect formula for your active relaxation.
Step out of the chalet and the mountain trails are yours for the picking. If you’ve not visited the French Alps in the summer time, you’re in for a treat. As the winter snow melts away in the spring, the mountains take on their summer mantle of bright green grass and colourful alpine flowers. The views are equally as spectacular in the summer as they are in the winter.
After a long walk reward yourself with a swim to cool off in a refreshing glacial lake. There are so many hikes to choose from, at blue, red or black levels. Enjoy views of Mont Blanc in the distance. If you feel like a day off from walking why not try paragliding or white water rafting, or enjoy the Olympic sized pool in Bourg St Maurice. Or simply relax in the garden of the chalet and catch some sun whilst enjoying a good book.
A 5 day retreat at award winning Yobaba Lounge to re-establish a rich, soulful connection to your yoga and meditation practice. Located in a picturesque medieval village in the southern French Pyrenees, the house feels like a temple, the rooms are large and stylish.
The gourmet vegan food has been described as sensational, outrageous, alchemical, the best ever, and more. It is often raw, always free from dairy, meats, gluten, and sugar. The food supports the practice and quickly rebalances digestion. Retreat facilitator Gertrud shares her practice of Embodied Meditation, which is the yoga of breath, mindfulness and movement. Without excessive effort, the practice strengthens your core, legs and hips, tones your parasympathetic nervous system and sets alight your inner space.
There will be periods of free time each day, which gives you opportunity to just relax in the walled garden, pamper yourself or explore wild swimming in nearby lakes and rivers. You will be held within a clear daily structure. The Yobaba Lounge team will look after all your practical needs whilst you let go and spend time with your self. Our retreats include periods of delicious silence (until mid-day each day) to help you reflect and integrate what arises during practice. The retreat is intended for all those in need of rejuvenation, rest and relaxation, and those who are seeking a more mystical connection to their existing yoga and meditation practice. Nevertheless, it is suitable for beginners or those already proficient in either yoga or meditation.
EAT.PRAY.MOVE Yoga PROVENCE Retreat, 10th – 16th June
Join us in the chic south of France during lavender season. Enjoy daily yoga, day trips, amazing tastings, and scenes of the beautiful Cote d’Azur! Bastide Avellanne is the ideal location to visit Provence. Situated only 30 minutes from the sea and from the Cote D’Azur between Cannes, St Tropez and Hyeres, with its hundreds of kilometers of white beaches, rocky capes and wild bays is considered the most beautiful coastline of France – 300 kilometers of coast accompanying the Mediterranean Sea, white sandy beaches, a preserved landscape, protected islands and famous locations renowned worldwide. It looks just as you see in postcards, fields of lavender, medieval villages, chateaux, markets full of colours where you can find local products and exotic spices, lively small towns with a slow way of life.
Day trips will allow guests to add arts, culture, adventure, and natural beauty to their retreat experience. Trips may include visits to small villages, large cities, and outdoor activities, even a gorgeous spa day in near the Cote D’Azur where guests can swim, enjoy a healthy lunch, schedule spa treatments, or simply enjoy the sun. See smaller villages that few tourists go, and get a true education and taste of France with various tastings of regional wines, aperitifs and cheese.
Portugal – best for nature lovers
For nature and landscape lovers, Portugal will amaze the most difficult to impress visitor. From volcanic islands, green national parks, waterfalls, caves, stunning long white beaches, valleys, mountains, vast golden fields of wheat, Portugal has it all.
Whether you just like to take pictures, hiking through nature, or just contemplate post-card like landscapes, you’ll love the spectacle Portugal has waiting for you.
Recommended Retreats
Yin Yoga Retreats Portugal, 11 – 17 March/13 – 19 May
Our yin yoga retreats are for those going through a stressful life period or work situations and need to rest, heal and recharge batteries, while spending some quality time with themselves. Living in the world, balancing love, work, family, finances and health is not an easy feat. There are always incredible moments to be enjoyed but they are usually sustained and financed by long days of hard work. To maintain our health in such busy rhythm is often challenging and there are moments when one needs to take a break, a wholesome break, both for the body and the mind.
This retreat offers exactly that, quality yoga and mindfulness teachings, therapeutically holistic treatments, healthy food and lots of time and space for you to disconnect and reconnect. Welcome to this unique opportunity to heal and open your heart, supported by the softest side of yoga and the loving guidance of Jenny and Igor at Vale da Lama, Algarve Portugal.
Yoga Retreat Portugal – Vale de Moses, open April to October
Vale de Moses is a family run yoga retreat in the heart of the Portuguese mountains. Spend a week or more practicing yoga, receiving massage and acupuncture treatments, walking in forests, swimming in natural river pools and eating delicious nutritious food. Stay in one of the beautifully restored stone cottages, Soulpads or in a Tipi. Our retreat home is perfect for those in need of a break, rest and relaxation. We are surrounded by nature and forests, peace and tranquility – the perfect ingredients to restore your body and mind.
The combination of good food and sleep, clean mountain air and water, therapeutic massage and acupuncture, hill walking and river swimming, all create a highly restorative context in which to begin, or to deepen, your yoga practice. Retreat week run from April to October. A variety of styles of yoga are taught at Vale de Moses through the year by some delightful and inspiring teachers who will take care of you on your mat. Please do not worry about being “good” enough. Or flexible or thin enough. Or whatever enough. We prefer to think you are perfect just as you are. Whatever your capability or experience may be, you are truly welcome. It might be your first yoga retreat, perhaps your first yoga class, or maybe you’ve been practicing regularly for decades.
Discover the best retreats in Portugal
Want more wellness travel inspiration? Sometimes all we all need is a change of scenery and a beautiful view to bring a new perspective to our lives. Here’s our round up of Recommended Retreats to uplift, inspire and nourish you.
Having trouble choosing? Email us at retreats@soulseedmedia.com and we will help you find and book your perfect retreat. Follow our travels on Instagram @soulseedtravel.
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