Modern life can be stressful – constantly glued to our phones, endless scrolling on Instagram, looming uncertainties around us like climate change and politics – so more and more people are choosing to get away from it all and reconnect with nature, even if just for a few days.
If you’re into self-care, there’s a good chance you’ve at least considered going on a retreat on your next vacation. Do you like the idea of sunrise yoga, plant-based meals, morning hikes, detox massages, poolside breathing exercises and meditation with the sun shining in the background giving you a healthy dose of Vitamin D? Then why not combine wellness with your next trip to Europe, where you’ll find a plethora of yoga, surfing and spiritual retreats in some truly ideal locations.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best wellness retreats in Europe to visit this summer.
Fit & Flow Retreat at Pine Cliffs Resort, Portugal
(Fit & Flow Retreat)
Fit & Flow Retreat
London trainers Kim Hartwell and Katie Gray will return to the Algarve on the first bank holiday weekend of May 2020 to once again host a Fit & Flow Retreat.
Enjoy fitness and yoga classes that combine strength, movement, Pilates and meditation, plus plenty of relaxation and pampering in the spa.
The package includes five nights at a five-star resort, two workouts a day, a cliff walk and a 60-minute massage.
Location: Pine Cliffs Resort, Portugal
Pikes Hotel Ibiza Rock-Overley Wellness Retreat
Pike’s Wellness Retreat
Widely regarded as one of the White Isle’s most hedonistic hotels, Pikes Ibiza is offering something rather unusual this summer – its first-ever wellness retreat – but with a touch of rock ‘n’ roll, of course.
Described as “a celebration of exploration for those who are lost or want to be lost,” Rockover Retreat will include wellness workshops, breathing classes, sunrise sessions, sunset yoga, crystal bowls, vitamin injections, Ibiza rituals and more.
The four-night programme has been designed by Ibiza-based personal trainer and nutritionist Frankie Vincent.
The price for Rockover Retreat is €1,500 per person, or €1,250 per person if two people share a room.
Kindred Yoga Retreat, Paros, Greece
Kindred Yoga Retreat, Paros
Women’s Health Retreat by Escapada (Spain)
Escape
This women-only wellness retreat focuses on four pillars: holistic treatments based on Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, mindful movement, nutrition, and ‘ultimate me-time.’ The retreat begins with an in-depth consultation about what you want to get out of your stay and includes yoga and meditation sessions, acupuncture, expert demonstrations and talks. With only 12 people attending each retreat, it’s the perfect place to relax and escape the stresses of everyday life.
In Mallorca, the Spring Cleanse (sold out but with a waiting list), Women’s Health Escape and Gentle Autumn Cleanse are already scheduled for 2020. Escapada also runs retreats in Germany and Ireland and most recently in Antigua.
Event period: April 22-26, May 28-June 1, September 25-September
Our Retreats Spain and Italy
Our Retreats
Want a wellness retreat in a dream location? Our retreats offer week-long luxury retreats combining yoga, pilates and HIIT sessions in spacious villas in Spain, Italy, France and the UK. During your downtime, relax by your private pool or explore the beaches of Sardinia before enjoying nutritious, indulgent meals prepared by the retreat’s private chef.
Location: Ibiza, Sardinia, Chamonix
Dates: Ibiza: October 4-10, 11-17; Chamonix: March 1-7, 8-14; Sardinia: Dates TBA
Mountain Beach Fitness Retreat, Switzerland
Switzerland (Mountain Beach Fitness)
Mountain Beach Fitness
Verbier isn’t just a winter destination. When the snow melts, the Swiss Alps turn into an adventure-lover’s paradise. The team at Mountain Beach Fitness Retreats makes the most of this opportunity, offering Winter Ski Fit Retreats as well. They run mountain retreats all summer long, where you can take part in high-altitude training, yoga, paddle boarding on a glacial lake, boxercise at 2,200 metres, sunset hikes in the mountains, trail running and much more.
For a more laid-back vibe, opt for fitness-focused retreats in Tuscany, Sardinia and Iceland.
Location: Verbier, Switzerland
Dates: Throughout the year
Adventure Yogi Retreat, Greece
(Adventure Yogi)
Adventure Yogi
With yoga retreats offered in Montenegro, Norfolk, and even Botswana, the hardest part of any Adventure Yogi Retreat is choosing a destination, but a stay in Santorini, Greece, is not to be missed. Spend eight sun-drenched days on Greece’s most famous island, with daily yoga classes, meditation as the caldera sunsets roll in, coastal walks, and even a day to explore the island by yacht, dine on hearty meals, and snorkel beneath the island’s cliffs.
Sianci Wellbeing Resort (Türkiye)
(Sianji Well-Being Resort)
Sianji Wellbeing Resort
The Turkish port city of Bodrum has emerged as a luxury destination in its own right with a string of luxury hotel openings in recent years. Why not combine a summer getaway with a week of wellness? With a private beach and surrounded by 100 acres of gardens, the resort offers retreats to suit everyone, from master detoxes to raw food detoxes to alkaline detoxes. Retreats begin with a consultation, and guests can take part in yoga, tai chi and martial arts fitness classes, book into Muu Spa, enjoy a Turkish bath or take a cooking class.
Location: Near Bodrum, Türkiye
When: Throughout the year
Vinyasa Yoga Retreat with Dr. Patrick Bloom (Germany)
Ellmau Castle
If you still don’t know the difference between Yin and Iyengar yoga, Schloss Elmau will. Home to world-class spas (there are three on-site, including a ladies-only spa and a 5,400-square-foot hammam), Schloss Elmau also hosts amazing retreats.
With retreats scheduled throughout the year, each focusing on a different practice from prana to jivamukti and featuring famous yogis, this is the place to be if you’re serious about enhancing your flow state.
When: Throughout the year
MasQi: Energy House, Spain
Maski
Located in the rolling countryside between Alicante and Valencia in Spain, these boutique retreats (with just eight rooms) are perfect for short breaks or holidays of up to three weeks or more. Along with yoga and meditation overlooking the Spanish countryside, they also offer one-on-one healing sessions, Ayurvedic massages, cooking classes and sessions with visiting practitioners. With so many retreats to choose from, including yoga, detoxes and cleanses, the hardest part will be deciding which one to get.
Location: Banyeres de Mariola, Spain (near Alicante)
When: Throughout the year
Shambhala Yoga Retreat, Portugal
Shambhala Yoga Retreat
Located just an hour from Lisbon, near the enchanting Portuguese city of Sintra, you’ll find one of Europe’s best yoga retreats. Shambhala Yoga & Meditation Retreat is located right on the seafront, so you can enjoy the soothing fresh sea air while you practice. For avid surfers, we also offer a Yoga & Surfing Retreat that includes surfing lessons, yoga, and meditation classes. All meals are provided, and you’ll be sure to explore the rugged natural beauty of the area during your stay.
Location: Near Sintra, Portugal
Dates: Every Monday to Saturday
