Description

$150 for bookings before the end of March!

Join us for our Luxury 5 night Yoga Retreat on this hidden gem of an island, Ischia, the “green” neighbour of Capri and the Amalfi Coast.

Indulge in a thermal spa at 5* hotel Regina Isabella (named one of the “Best Hotels in Italy” by Forbes), just as the crowds leave, but while the water is still invitingly warm.

Taste mouthwatering cuisine, wine, and take walks to the mysterious castles, beaches, and gardens. Enjoy daily yoga and meditation classes with the retreat theme of “MINDFUL MOVEMENT” and beautiful sea views to help us reconnect to ourselves.

Considered the “green island” and visited by the more “in-the-know” scene, as contrasted by the neighbouring island of Capri and the Amalfi Coast, Ischia is a volcanic island in the Bay of Naples and one of the must-sees of the area.

Historically, the island has been inhabited by the Greeks, Syrausansa, Romans, Heruli, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Normans, Saracens, Turks, and Aragonese, and plenty of ruins remain to suggest the lineages of these colonies.

With its wonderful climate, nice location from the mainland, and richness of therapeutic hot-springs, it’s not hard to see why it was a landscape worth fighting over!

Ischia was one of the world’s first health spa destinations. For centuries people have flocked to Ischia to indulge in its volcanic muds and waters, rich with healthful minerals.

Doctors even prescribe stays here to reap the benefits of bathing in the healing springs. In addition to all its natural wonders, one of the most appealing things about Ischia is the hospitality of the people themselves. You’re sure to experience the island’s welcome and relaxed way of life while during your stay.

Yoga

Style and class levels will be determined and moulded to fit participating students’ needs, and with a small intimate retreat class size, students will be able to get personalised attention and comfortability to deeply explore their practice.

Depending on each retreat location, classes will be held in a dedicated indoor yoga space and some also offer outdoor options as well for us to use if the weather is agreeable.

Day trips

Experience the richness of the Italian island life with trips to the other villages and towns on the island. Day trips will add arts, culture, adventure, and natural beauty to your retreat experience.

We will visit the star of the island, Ischia Ponte, where the Aragonese Castle sits out in the sea connected by a footbridge and overlooks the coast.

This town, made famous by the film The Talented Mr. Ripley is rich in natural beauty and we’ll enjoy a winery visit and castle tour. Another day will be spent on our own private boat circumnavigating the entire island while we stop for swimming in picturesque grottos, stop for lunch, have aperitivo on board, and visit the town of Sant’ Angelo.

A free afternoon in Forio will give guests time to explore the narrow streets, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy the laidback style, while we’ll have a private guided tour of the famous Mortella Gardens before sunset.

Cuisine

Healthful, vegetarian food is part of the retreat experience, including breakfasts and dinners daily, as well as dining in the hotel’s award-winning restaurants (including a Michelin-starred meal on the final evening) and in amazing restaurants in nearby towns.

The cuisine is simple, delicious and Italian, using fresh ingredients from the local markets and on-site gardens. Selection is seasonal, and you can guarantee to love and appreciate each bite. Not only do we enjoy savouring the Italian cuisine, but guests will also get to learn more about the region’s flavours on a wine-tasting experience overlooking the Aragonese Castle and Ischia Porto, at a cantina which is the most ancient on the island, dating back to 1017.

Accommodation

This magnificent yoga retreat will take place at the acclaimed 5-star hotel, Regina Isabella. The Regina Isabella was built in the 1950s in the charming village of Lacco Ameno d’Ischia.

The hotel’s founder was Angelo Rizzoli, the legendary publisher and film producer. He had long been fascinated by the island’s villages and by the tradition of thermal baths, and in 1956 he extended the historic Baths of Queen Isabella, constructing a hotel complex on the ancient Greco-Roman ruins. Legendary figures such as Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, Maria Callas, Charles Boyer, Clark Gable and William Holden all graced it with their presence, making it one of Italy’s most desirable and glamorous resorts.

Named one of the “Best Hotels in Italy” by Forbes:

While the perennially glitzy isle of Capri draws countless revellers every summer, Ischia, the volcanic island just under 20 miles from Naples, has a wild beauty and less-traveled charm all its own. There, presiding over the tranquil seaside village of Lacco Ameno in the island’s northwest, you’ll find the L’Albergo della Regina Isabella, where the ineffable Italian glamour of a seemingly forgotten age endures.

The Regina Isabella’s considerable charm lies largely in an innately Italian sophistication that recalls a bygone age. It doesn’t aspire to be a sleek, cookie-cutter property, to its great credit; instead, the hotel carefully cultivates an ambience that makes guests feel as though a young Sophia Loren might pull up on a Vespa and sashay through the lobby at any moment.

Its 128 large, airy rooms boast majolica ceramic tile floors—a dazzling hotel hallmark that also decorate the common areas—and elegant furnishings in a range of inspired colour palettes (think moody blue walls with curtains and cushions trimmed in lush magenta velvet). Most feature balconies…

The cuisine at the Regina Isabella is equally refined. At Indaco, its al fresco fine dining restaurant, Michelin-starred chef Pasquale Palamaro creates exquisite dishes like quenelle of sea urchin (artfully served in the spiny shell) with potato purée, and brochette of sea bream with seaweed and foie gras. Palamaro has also recently taken the reins at DolceVita, the hotel’s main eatery, which was revamped this past summer with the addition of an open-air terrace and a thoughtful redesign that maximises the ocean breeze while minimising direct sunlight.

Retreat Price

6 days / 5 nights (May 26-31, 2024)

Inclusive Retreat Price = $3,895 per person (standard shared room*) Upgraded and single rooms available. See sign up page for full list.

Deposit to hold space = $950

Max # Guests = 12
* Many of our guests come alone and we match up based on guest profile

Included

• Luxury 5-star hotel accommodation (spacious bedrooms, private bathrooms)
• Daily Breakfast
• Dinners at hotel and restaurants on daytrips
• Michelin-starred tasting dinner
• Arrival/Departure Group Transfer (see details below) to/from Naples
• Transportation to/from day trips
• Meditation and yoga classes
• Use of estate premises (private beach, spa, thermal pools, etc.)
• Thermal spa day + treatments
• Winery tour + tasting lunch
• Visit to Ischia Ponte to see the Aragonese Castle
• Aperitivo and afternoon in Sant’ Angelo
• Guided visit to La Mortella Gardens
• Private boat trip around the island with stops in swimming grottos, lunch out, and thermal beaches
• Shopping day in Forio

Not included

* airfare not included
** all included dinners are vegetarian. special dietary restrictions can be accommodated

What past guests have said

“I know all of us on that retreat are huge Erin fans and can’t sing the EAT.PRAY.MOVE praises loud enough. It is the most incredible way to travel. Erin has every detailed covered and it takes the stress out of international travel. I know I am getting an amazing travel experience at an incredible value. The accommodations are always world-class and the activities and adventures always provide cultural immersion with local experiences.” CURT \ TEXAS, USA

“Thank you so much, Erin! I can’t imagine a better planned & executed retreat. You really shined and provided our group with an amazing trip. Very grateful to you and hope to enjoy another one of your retreats in the future.”  CHLOE \ FLORIDA, USA

“Dear Erin and Michelle: What a treat it was to spend time in Italy with you two last week. I had an amazing time and have come home refreshed and energized. thank you for posting the pictures and information. The retreat was truly a reflection of you. Everything was well thought out and realized. Loved the hotel and all the lovely places we visited. Thank you so much and I hope to see at some point in the future.” RINA \ TENNESSEE, USA

What to pack

• Besides the basic packing and travel needs, here are a few things to think about bringing with you.
• Bathing suit (on-site pool, spa)
• Comfortable shoes (city walking, country hiking)
• Yoga clothes
• Plug adaptors / converters

How to get here

Lacco Ameno, Ischia Island – Bay of Naples, Italy

Nearest international airports: Naples Capodichino International Airport (NAP), Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO)

Nearest train station: Naples Central (Napoli Centrale)

From Naples there are regular high-speed ferries to Ischia

One group transfer will be offered on the start day at 2pm from Naples Central train station to our hotel and one group transfer will be offered on the end day at 10am from our hotel to the Naples Central train station. For guests arriving at other times, we can give you all of the information of how to arrive on your own or with a private transport.

Booking

$150 for bookings before the end of March! To book this retreat, please complete the form below and we will get back to you within 24 hours.