Yoga Holidays and Retreats

Why go

A yoga retreat gives you a rhythm that is hard to find at home: two classes a day, wholesome meals, time to walk, swim or read, and early nights. Most people come home stronger, calmer and sleeping better, and with a practice they can keep up. The best retreats are in beautiful places, so the setting does half the work.

How to choose

Start with the style. Hatha and yin are slower and gentler; vinyasa flows and is more dynamic; Iyengar is precise and uses props, which suits anyone with stiff joints or past injuries. Check the teacher as much as the venue, since most retreat centres host visiting teachers week by week. Then decide between a simple, sociable retreat centre with shared meals and a luxury wellness resort with spa treatments and private sessions. Ask about class sizes, the level, rooms with private bathrooms and how much free time there is.

Our picks

Our favourites range from friendly retreat centres to some of the world's great wellness resorts. Price bands are a typical cost per person for the holiday or course described, excluding flights.

• Huzur Vadisi

  Göcek, Turkey

  £

  • Retreat centre
  • 7 nights
  • April to October

  Best for Friendly first retreats

  Turkey's longest-running yoga retreat, in a pine-forest valley near the coast, with a shala, pool and excellent vegetarian food. Refurbished under new owners, with en-suite cabins.

• Suryalila

  Andalucía, Spain

  £

  • Retreat centre
  • 3 to 7 nights
  • All year

  Best for Sun, olive groves and a choice of retreats

  A converted olive hacienda in the hills of Cádiz province with three yoga halls, a saltwater pool and over a hundred retreats a year, plus flexible stays you can book any week.

• Yeotown

  North Devon, England

  £££

  • Wellness retreat
  • 4 nights
  • All year

  Best for A reset close to home

  Small groups, a full daily programme of yoga, coastal hikes and nourishing food, all in a peaceful valley a few miles from the sea.

• Euphoria Retreat

  Mystras, Greece

  £££

  • Wellness resort
  • 5 to 7 nights
  • All year

  Best for Yoga with spa and history

  A five-star wellbeing resort in the foothills of Mount Taygetos below the Byzantine town of Mystras, with yoga and mindfulness programmes and a remarkable spa.

• Kamalaya

  Koh Samui, Thailand

  £££

  • Wellness resort
  • 7 to 14 nights
  • November to April

  Best for Winter sun with serious wellbeing

  A hillside sanctuary built around a monks' cave, with yoga, Pilates, holistic therapies and a superb healthy kitchen.

• Ananda in the Himalayas

  Rishikesh, India

  ££££

  • Wellness resort
  • 7 to 21 nights
  • October to April

  Best for Yoga at its source

  A maharaja's palace estate above the Ganges valley, with classical yoga, Ayurveda and Vedanta in one of the world's finest destination spas.

• COMO Shambhala Estate

  Ubud, Bali

  ££££

  • Wellness resort
  • 5 to 7 nights
  • April to October

  Best for Tropical luxury and personal programmes

  Jungle villas above the Ayung River, with daily yoga, healthy cooking and programmes tailored by resident experts.

• Rancho La Puerta

  Tecate, Mexico

  ££££

  • Fitness resort
  • 7 nights
  • All year

  Best for A sociable, active week

  A legendary wellness resort with dozens of classes a day, mountain hikes and an organic farm, sold by the week from Saturday to Saturday.

Price guide: £ Under £1,000 per person · ££ £1,000–2,500 per person · £££ £2,500–5,000 per person · ££££ £5,000+ per person

When to go

Retreats run all year, so pick the climate you want. Southern Europe is lovely in spring and autumn; Thailand and India are best from November to March; Bali is driest from April to October. Avoid high summer in Spain and Turkey unless you like the heat.

Going solo or with a partner

Yoga retreats are wonderfully easy to join alone: meals are shared and the group forms quickly. Many centres offer single rooms, though some charge a supplement. If your partner doesn't practise, choose a resort with a beach, spa or walking, where yoga is one option among many.

How to book

Our advisors can find the right course or retreat, check the teacher and dates, and wrap it into a complete trip with flights, transfers and a few extra nights somewhere lovely before or after. Speak to an advisor.