Your first yoga retreat: what's included and how to choose

A yoga retreat is a week away to practise, rest and share sangha with other yogis in a beautiful place. On each of my retreats, your price includes your room, yoga twice a day and most of your meals. Flights are extra on every retreat. Prices start at £895 per yogi.

I have shared Lotus Love Yoga retreats from Kerala to Costa Rica. Each venue sits in a place of natural beauty, by the sea, in the Tuscan hills or among Bali's rice paddies. This is what a week with me looks like, and how to pick the one that is right for you.

A day on retreat

Each day begins with a sunrise sadhana. We move through creative namaskars in Vinyasa Flow, Rocket Yoga or Dharma Yoga, depending on the retreat. In the afternoon, we slow down with Yin Yoga and meditation, so your body and mind can rest and renew.

Between the two classes, the day is yours. Relax by the pool, have a massage, walk on the beach or in the countryside, or explore the local area.

What's included

Every retreat includes:

• your room for five to seven nights
• two yoga classes a day, with meditation
• meals at the venue (on some retreats this is breakfast or brunch and dinner, so check each retreat page)

Some retreats include extra treats:

• Kerala: Ayurvedic drinks, one Ayurvedic massage or treatment, a consultation with the resident Ayurvedic doctor, a two-hour sunset cruise on The Lotus Houseboat and use of Neeleshwar's bicycles
• Tuscany: wine with dinner and a fire circle under the stars
• Ithaca: yoga equipment and your transfer from the airport
• Bali: yoga workshops, yoga nidra and a dance performance at Ubud Palace
• The Seychelles: bicycles to explore the island, and kayaks

What costs extra

• Flights, on every retreat.
• Airport transfers, except on Ithaca. In Kerala, Neeleshwar Hermitage can arrange your transfers for safe travel.
• Massages and spa treatments, apart from the one included in Kerala.
• Optional trips, for example the £80 boat trip on Ithaca, surf lessons in Essaouira or snorkelling in La Digue.
• A meal out on our last evening on Ithaca, in Morocco and in the Seychelles.

What you will eat

Food is one of the great joys of retreat. Each venue cooks with local produce:

• Kerala: vegan, vegetarian and fish cuisine, flavoured with spices from Kerala's Malabar Hills
• Tuscany: Italian inspired vegetarian and fish cuisine, freshly prepared with local produce
• Ithaca: home-cooked vegetarian and fish Greek cuisine, with organic vegetables from Ithaca and Kefalonia
• Morocco: a traditional Moroccan brunch in our villa and a candle-lit Moroccan inspired dinner at Le Jardin Des Douars
• Bali: vegetarian Asian and Indian cuisine from The Shala's Organic Cafe and Indian Cafe
• The Seychelles: breakfast at our beach front restaurant, and dinners of traditional Italian cuisine or Seychelles specialties

Ayurveda on retreat

My Kerala retreat is a Yoga & Ayurveda Retreat at Neeleshwar Hermitage, on the shores of the Arabian Sea. Your stay includes Ayurvedic drinks, one Ayurvedic massage or treatment and a consultation with the resident Ayurvedic doctor. More Ayurvedic massages and treatments are available at the Priya Spa throughout your stay.

In Bali, the Darshana Spa at The Shala offers Ayurvedic and beauty treatments, and our practice is inspired by Ayurveda and the yoga tradition.

I am an Ayurveda Health Coach certified by Shakti School. If you would like to bring Ayurveda into your daily life at home, read about my Ayurveda coaching.

Coming with a partner, a friend or on your own

Prices are per yogi. The lower prices are for a shared room: a shared Garden View Cottage in Kerala, a twin room in Tuscany, or a twin or triple room in Morocco. Single rooms are available on every retreat (on request in Morocco).

Couples and friends join my retreats together:

"We have been to quite a few yoga retreats but Heidi's attention to detail both in her teaching and venues keeps us coming back again and again."

Sophie and Pavlos Pavili

"We loved this South Indian experience with you, Heidi. The retreat was brilliant and your efforts appreciated by both of us."

Mike Sant and Marie Shreeve

Coming on your own? Emma Jane Gurhy wrote that "she actively encourages bonds to form between participants, taking great care to ensure that no one is left out."

Read more from past yogis on my retreat reviews page.

How to choose your first retreat

Start with what you would love to do when you are off the mat:

• Ayurveda and Indian culture: Kerala, with temples, Hindu villages and a Theyyam performance nearby
• Countryside, food and wine: Tuscany, in the hills of the province of Siena, with a day in Siena
• The sea and island life: Ithaca in Greece, or La Digue in the Seychelles
• Sun, souks and surf in a shorter week: Essaouira in Morocco, five nights from £895
• Rice paddy fields and temples: Ubud in Bali

Then look at your budget. Shared rooms cost from £895 in Morocco to £1,650 in the Seychelles. Groups are small: the Seychelles retreat has only 10 places.

If you would like to travel more gently, my sustainability page shows how to offset the carbon footprint of your flights.

My retreats in 2026 and 2027

See photos and full details for every retreat on my Retreats page.

Quick answers

Is a yoga retreat all inclusive?

My retreats include your room, yoga twice a day and meals at the venue. Flights are extra on every retreat, and airport transfers are included only on Ithaca. Massages and optional trips cost extra.

How long is a yoga retreat?

My retreats are five to seven nights.

How much does a yoga retreat cost?

On my retreats, a shared room costs from £895 to £1,650 per yogi, plus flights.

Can I come on my own?

Yes. Every retreat has single rooms. In Morocco, single rooms are on request.

When are the 2027 retreats?

Tuscany is 10 to 16 July, Ithaca is 11 to 18 September and Morocco is 30 September to 5 October 2027. Dates for Bali and the Seychelles are coming soon.

I would love to welcome you on retreat. Book your place and I will be in touch.

Namaste, Heidi

Facts checked on 12 November 2026 on each retreat page. Dates, prices and what's included can change, so check the retreat page before you book.