Yoga & retreats

Step away from the noise. Come back to yourself.

Inboxes, notifications and back-to-back days can leave anyone running on empty. A few days on the mat somewhere beautiful, with good food and nothing to rush for, can quietly put you back together. Here's how to find the right retreat, even if you've never rolled out a mat.

StillnessNo meetings, no traffic, no to-do list. Just the next breath and the next meal.

A body that thanks youDaily movement, real rest and sleep that finally comes easily.

Nature as your studioPractise to birdsong, ocean waves or mountain air instead of a ticking clock.

Kindred spiritsShare the mat and the table with people who want the same thing you do.

Start here

What kind of retreat do you need?

Every retreat blends movement, rest and reflection, but in very different amounts. Start with how you want to feel when you come home.

Beginner-friendly yoga holidaysTwo gentle classes a day, lots of free time and teachers who explain everything. The perfect first step.3–7 days

Meditation & silent retreatsGuided sitting and walking meditation, often in silence. Ten-day Vipassana courses are run on donations worldwide.2–10 days

Ayurveda & detoxA doctor-led plan of treatments, herbal oils and simple, nourishing food. Proper programmes take one to three weeks.7–21 days

Yoga & adventureMorning practice, then surf, hike, cycle or dive. Ideal if sitting still all week sounds like hard work.4–8 days

Breathwork & sound healingGuided breathing, singing bowls and gong baths to quieten a busy mind and help you sleep.2–5 days

Yoga teacher trainingThe 200-hour course recognised by Yoga Alliance. Many people take it simply to deepen their own practice.3–4 weeks

A hand holding small brass chimes above Tibetan singing bowls on a patterned cloth — Singing bowls are a gentle way into meditation: you simply listen.

Find your style

Gentle, balanced or dynamic?

Retreats usually name the style they teach. Pick the pace that suits you today, not the one you think you should be able to do.

Hatha

Classic postures held for a few breaths, with plenty of guidance. The foundation most other styles grew from.

Good for Complete beginners

Yin

Long, quiet holds of three to five minutes, mostly on the floor, to release deep tension.

Good for Stress, stiffness, better sleep

Restorative

Supported poses with bolsters and blankets. Closer to a guided nap than a workout, in the best way.

Good for Burnout and recovery

Iyengar

Precise alignment, using blocks, straps and chairs so every body can find the pose safely.

Good for Posture, injuries, detail lovers

Kundalini

Breathwork, repeated movement, chanting and meditation, aimed at energy and focus.

Good for Breath and meditation

Vinyasa

Poses linked smoothly with the breath, often to music. Every class is a little different.

Good for Fitness with flow

Ashtanga

A set, demanding sequence practised in the same order every time. Builds strength and discipline.

Good for Committed, energetic students

Where to go

Places that heal

From Himalayan ashrams to Atlantic surf camps, these are the destinations retreat-goers return to again and again. Prices are rough daily guides for a retreat including a room, meals and classes.

A cup of coffee, fresh mint and a frangipani flower on a wooden café table in Bali

First retreats

Bali, Indonesia

Ubud

Jungle shalas, rice-terrace views and plant-based cafés on every corner. Bali makes it easy to arrive knowing nothing and leave with a daily practice.

Morning flow above the jungle
Water-temple blessing
Balinese healing massage

Best time: Apr–Oct
Per day: £60–160
Try: 4 nights+

A temple rising above forested Himalayan foothills in a pink, misty sunrise

Tradition & teacher training

Uttarakhand, India

Rishikesh

Often called the world capital of yoga. Ashrams line the holy Ganges in the Himalayan foothills, and the evening aarti ceremony is unforgettable.

Ganga aarti at dusk
Ashram life
International Yoga Festival (March)

Best time: Sep–Nov · Feb–Apr
Per day: £30–80
Try: 7 nights+

A shady path lined with bamboo beside a calm lake and green hills in Kerala

Ayurveda & deep rest

South India

Kerala

The home of Ayurveda, India's traditional system of wellbeing. Retreats pair gentle yoga with tailored treatments, herbal oils and nourishing food.

Ayurvedic consultation
Backwater houseboat
Classical Kathakali dance

Best time: Oct–Mar
Per day: £80–200
Try: 7 nights+

A woman holding a back-bending yoga pose on a mat on the beach

Yoga by the ocean

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka's south coast

Sunrise practice on the sand, open-air shalas among the palms and fresh curries for lunch. Add a few days in tea country to complete the trip.

Beach sunrise sessions
Turtle-watching
Tea-country train ride

Best time: Dec–Apr
Per day: £70–160
Try: 5 nights+

Floor cushions and low tables on a hilltop terrace overlooking the sea on Koh Phangan

Community & budget stays

Thailand

Koh Phangan

Beyond the party beaches, the island's quiet north-west is a long-standing hub for yoga, meditation and breathwork with a warm, international crowd.

Drop-in classes daily
Sound baths
Thai massage courses

Best time: Jan–Apr
Per day: £50–130
Try: 5 nights+

Mountains & meditation

Nepal

Pokhara

Lakeside retreats beneath the Annapurna range. Pair your practice with Buddhist meditation and short treks to sunrise viewpoints.

Phewa Lake at dawn
Himalaya sunrise
Gentle hill treks

Best time: Oct–Nov · Mar–Apr
Per day: £35–90
Try: 5 nights+

Sunbeams falling through tall cedars beside a wooden temple and stone lanterns on Mount Kōya

Temple stays & stillness

Japan

Kōyasan

Not a yoga retreat but a rare chance to sleep in a working Buddhist temple: vegetarian shōjin ryōri, dawn prayers and meditation with the monks.

Dawn prayers
Okunoin lantern-lit cemetery
Sutra copying

Best time: Apr–Nov
Per day: £90–160
Try: 1–2 nights+

Read our Japan guide →

A wide sandy beach below rugged cliffs on the Portuguese coast

Yoga & surf

Portugal

Algarve & Ericeira

Golden cliffs, Atlantic waves and short flights from most of Europe. Perfect for a long-weekend reset or your first surf lesson between classes.

Surf lessons
Clifftop sunsets
Fresh seafood & salads

Best time: May–Oct
Per day: £90–200
Try: 3 nights+

Whitewashed houses with terracotta roofs climbing a green hillside above the sea on a Greek island

Luxury & sunshine

Spain · Greece

Ibiza & the Greek islands

The calm side of the Mediterranean: whitewashed villas, olive groves and practice decks above a turquoise sea.

Sunset meditation
Boat days
Mediterranean cooking

Best time: May–Oct
Per day: £150–350
Try: 4 nights+

A surfer carrying a board along the beach at sunset in Nosara

Nature & wildlife

Costa Rica

Nosara

A small Pacific surf town famous for yoga, howler monkeys in the trees and the "pura vida" approach to life.

Jungle shalas
Surf at Playa Guiones
Wildlife walks

Best time: Dec–Apr
Per day: £120–280
Try: 5 nights+

The clifftop Mayan ruins of Tulum above a turquoise Caribbean beach

Ceremony & cenotes

Mexico

Tulum

Caribbean beaches, Mayan ruins and sacred cenotes. Many retreats include a traditional temazcal sweat-lodge ceremony.

Cenote swims
Temazcal ceremony
Clifftop Mayan ruins

Best time: Nov–Apr
Per day: £120–280
Try: 4 nights+

Prices are rough 2026 guides in pounds sterling per person, sharing a room. Seasons and prices vary, so check with the retreat before you book.

Try it now

One minute of calm

You don't need a plane ticket to feel the difference. Choose a pattern, press start and follow the circle as the water flows.

Breathe gently and never force it. If you feel light-headed, stop and breathe normally. If you're pregnant or have a heart or lung condition, skip the long breath-holds.

Ready when you are

Most retreats teach mixed-level classes, with options for every body.

What to expect

A day on retreat

Schedules vary, but most follow a gentle rhythm like this. Everything is optional: rest is part of the practice.

06:30
Wake-up tea & meditationTwenty quiet minutes before the day begins.
07:00
Morning practiceA 90-minute energising class, on an empty stomach.
09:00
BrunchFresh, usually vegetarian, and worth the wait.
10:30
Free timeSwim, nap, read, book a massage or join an optional excursion.
16:30
Evening practiceSlower and softer: yin, restorative or a workshop.
18:30
Dinner togetherThe best conversations of the week happen here.
20:00
Sound bath or fire ceremonyThen early to bed, phone optional.

Choosing well

How to pick the right retreat

A great retreat feels effortless because someone has thought of everything. These questions help you spot it.

Look for

Qualified teachers. A 200- or 500-hour certification (for example Yoga Alliance RYT) and years of teaching.
A clear daily schedule showing class length, style and level.
Small groups, ideally under 16, so teachers can help you individually.
Honest pricing: what's included (meals, transfers, treatments) and what isn't.
Recent, detailed reviews that mention the teachers by name.
A fair cancellation policy and help with getting there from the airport.

Think twice if

The retreat promises to "cure" illness or uses extreme fasting without medical supervision.
Teachers' training and experience aren't listed anywhere.
You're pressured to pay in full immediately, or to pay by bank transfer only.
The schedule is vague, or the "retreat" is really a party with a morning class.
There are no reviews, or every review sounds the same.

Going alone

Arrive alone, leave restored

Retreats may be the most solo-friendly trips there are. Meals are shared, the timetable is planned for you and everyone arrives looking for the same thing. Many guests come by themselves, and most say that's what made it special.

Share a room to save. Twin-share rooms avoid the single supplement, and retreats pair you with someone of the same gender.
Start short. A long weekend close to home is a gentle way to see if retreat life suits you.
Say what you need. Tell the hosts about dietary needs, injuries or anxiety when you book, not on arrival.
Women-only retreats are widely available if you'd feel more at ease.
Give yourself a soft landing. Book a quiet day at home afterwards before diving back into work.

A woman holding a graceful back-bending yoga pose on a pink mat on the beach — Some of the best practice happens with sand between your toes.

Bring it home

Keep the calm going

The real gift of a retreat is what you bring back. Small rituals keep that feeling alive long after the tan fades.

Ten minutes a morningA short practice before your phone beats an hour-long class you never get to.

A digital sunsetScreens off an hour before bed. Your sleep will notice within a week.

One mindful mealOnce a day, eat without a screen and taste every bite.

Find a local classA weekly class keeps you practising and connects you with people nearby.

Retreat etiquette

Good manners on the mat

Arrive earlySettle in a few minutes before class. Walking in late disturbs the calm.

Eat lightly beforehandLeave two or three hours after a big meal before practising.

Tell your teacherMention injuries, pregnancy or health conditions before class, privately.

Shoes and phones offLeave both outside the practice space.

Respect the silenceMany retreats keep quiet hours. Smile, nod and enjoy the break from small talk.

Honour the rootsYoga comes from India's spiritual traditions. In ashrams, dress modestly and follow house rules on food and alcohol.

Questions

First retreat worries, answered

I'm not flexible. Can I still go?

Absolutely. Flexibility is a result of yoga, not a requirement. Choose a retreat labelled "all levels" or "beginners", and teachers will offer simpler versions of every pose.

I've never done yoga. Is a retreat too much?

Many guests are complete beginners. Try a couple of local or online classes beforehand so the basic poses feel familiar, then pick a gentle style such as Hatha or Yin.

How long should my first retreat be?

Three to seven days is ideal. A long weekend gives you a taste; a week lets you properly slow down. Leave longer silent retreats and teacher trainings for later.

Is it religious?

Most retreats are spiritual rather than religious. You might hear chanting or the word "namaste", but nobody expects you to share a belief. Ashrams and temple stays follow their own traditions more closely, so read the house rules.

Will there be Wi-Fi?

Usually yes, though some retreats limit it or ask you to keep phones out of shared spaces. Many guests find a few days offline is the best part.

Do I have to stay silent or give up coffee?

Only on retreats that say so. Silent retreats and detox programmes are clear about their rules in advance. Everywhere else, the only rule is to do what feels good.

How much does a retreat cost?

Anything from about £30 a day in an Indian ashram to £300 or more in a boutique Mediterranean villa. Flights, transfers, massages and travel insurance are usually extra.

Your mat is waiting.

Choose a place, block the dates and give yourself permission to rest. The world will still be here when you get back, and you'll meet it calmer.

Plan my retreat Visit Backpacker's corner

Step away from the noise. Come back to yourself.

What kind of retreat do you need?