The Best Yoga Retreats to Book

After years of more staying at home more than anyone would like, travel has finally resumed—including for yoga retreats.

Yoga retreats are a way to unplug from the outside world, dive deeper into your practice, and gain in-depth instruction from world-class teachers. Spending a few days practicing yoga in a gorgeous place? We can think of nothing better.

Whether you’re looking for a yoga retreat close to home or one on the other side of the world, we’ve got you covered. These stunning yoga destinations span almost every continent. Between oceanside California centers and Indian ashrams, every yogi will find their dream destination on this list.

Read on to discover our favorite yoga destinations around the world—and learn about their 2022 retreat offerings.

Section divider

North America

Feathered Pipe Ranch

Helena, Montana

Teacher and Yoga Journal cofounder Judith Hanson Lasater has been hosting yoga retreats at this spacious ranch since 1975. “It’s like summer camp for yogis,” she says. “Jaw-dropping scenery in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, magnificent food, fresh spring water, twice-daily yoga classes, and a week steeped in the silence of nature.” To pay respect to the sacred Native American land the retreat rests on, founder India Supera created the Feathered Pipe Foundation to help preserve ceremonial traditions of the Cree people. Feathered Pipe continues to foster humanitarian efforts that give life to new nonprofits while maintaining missions such as the Veterans Yoga Project and the Tibetan Children’s Education Foundation.

Visit: From late spring to early fall, you can enjoy a variety of health and wellness retreats at Feathered Pipe Ranch, including a weeklong Mindful Unplug Experience. See the complete retreat schedule here.

Upcoming retreats: 

• Time for YOU: Yoga & Ayurveda Women’s Retreat, June 1–4, 2022
• Balanced Being: Montana Yoga & Sound Healing Retreat, June 4–11, 2022
• The Body & Beyond: A Transformational Vinyasa Yoga Retreat, June 11–18, 2022
• Big Sky Bhakti Bliss: A Montana Yoga Retreat, July 9–15, 2022
• Cultivating Everyday Awe: Yoga, Nature And You!, July 23–30, 2022
• Energy Medicine Yoga: Finding Joy In The Sacred Science Of Yoga, August 20–27, 2022
• Transformative Yoga Therapy Retreat: Blending Strength, Softness, Relaxation & Play For Every Body, September 3–9, 2022

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Stockbridge, Massachusetts

With an international network of 2,000 instructors teaching more than 700 programs to 30,000 guests a year, education is front and center at this verdant campus in the Berkshires. For the past decade, Kripalu has led the way in groundbreaking research on yoga and trauma in collaboration with experts from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Visit: You can opt to book a day pass or stay for an overnight, self-guided retreat.

Esalen Institute

Big Sur, California

This cliff-side retreat opened in 1962 with a series of workshops on yoga and personal growth. Key counter-cultural figures such as Joan Baez and Joseph Campbell were among its early guests and lecturers. Today, renowned wellness leaders and yoga teachers like Andrew Weil, Dean Ornish, and Janet Stone share expertise on trending topics, including the energetics of consciousness and meditation as medicine.

Visit: You can book a self-guided stay at the Esalen Institute or opt to attend a variety of courses or workshops.

Upcoming yoga, meditation, & mindfulness workshops:

• COME ALIVE: Meditation for People Who Can’t Stop Thinking, April 18–22, 2022
• Meditation and Modern Life: A Zen Meditation Retreat, April 29–May 1, 2022
• Effortless Mindfulness Embodied: Awakening, Glimpse by Glimpse, May 1–6, 2022
• Awake in the Wild Meditation Retreat: Opening to Joy, Wonder and Awe in Nature, May 6–8, 2022
• Radiant Rest Retreat: Yoga Nidra, Self-Inquiry, Sankalpa, May 13–15, 2022
• Amplified Yoga, June 17–19, 2022
• Resource and Renew: A 5Rhythms® & Mindfulness Workshop, July 11–15, 2022

Drala Mountain Center

Boulder, Colorado

Boulder’s vibrant mindfulness community has been growing since the 1970s when Tibetan meditation master Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche—the 11th incarnation of the Trungpa Tulku—established Naropa University, a Buddhist liberal arts college, and Drala Mountain Center (formerly known as Shambhala Mountain Center) in a valley above town. While Rinpoche’s legacy has been rocked by scandal, Naropa and Drala remain pillars of Buddhist values and mindful practices.

Visit: You can visit Drala Mountain Center for the day or book a self-guided retreat.

Upcoming retreats: 

• Retreat & Renewal, April 15–17, 2022
• Wisdom of the Body: Yoga and Meditation Retreat, April 21–24, 2022
• Sitting in Beauty: A 5-day Silent Meditation Retreat, April 26–May 1, 2022
• The Awakened Heart: A Yoga and Mindfulness Retreat | Extended, May 5–8, 2022
• Silent Meditation Intensive: The Cradle of Loving-Kindness, May 27–29; October 14–16, 2022
• The Art of Meditation: A Weeklong Retreat, September 11–18, 2022
• See the complete retreat schedule

Bonus: The Hanuman Festival, taking place July 14–17, 2022, attracts top yoga educators and teachers such as Sreedevi Bringi, Seane Corn, Tiffany Cruikshank, and many others.

Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine

Los Angeles

Paramahansa Yogananda, one of the first Indian spiritual teachers to make his home in the West, called Los Angeles “the Benares of America” (Benares is another name for the Indian city of Varanasi) when he arrived in the 1920s. After setting up the Self-Realization Fellowship’s international headquarters atop Mount Washington, he opened a clifftop compound in Encinitas and a waterfall and shrine-studded campus on Sunset Boulevard, where a portion of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi are laid to rest. Today, the Lake Shrine—with its waterfront meditation garden and gold lotus–topped temple where resident monks hold services and give lectures—remains an oasis for contemplation.

Visit: You can reserve a time to visit Lake Shrine or submit a request to book a private retreat.

Krishnamurti Educational Center

Ojai, California

A bustling hub of ashrams, yoga centers, and spiritual retreats— and dubbed Shangri-La by locals (a nod to the surrounding valley’s cameo as the fictional utopia in the classic film Lost Horizon)—Ojai’s surrounding Topatopa and Sulphur mountains are what attracted Indian philosopher J. Krishnamurti in the 1920s. Today, his teachings continue via programs at the Krishnamurti Educational Center, which offers retreats, residential programs, and more.

Visit: The Krishnamurti Educational Center is open to the public. Check out the calendar to view upcoming events and learning opportunities.

Chopra Center for Wellbeing

Various locations

Through the Chopra Center, experts in hypnotherapy, integrative oncology, and pranic healing (a form of no-touch energy healing) combine holistic practices and Western medicine for a unique healing and wellness experience. Choose from a twice-monthly Health Retreat in Carefree, Arizona, where itineraries feature daily yoga and meditation, Ayurvedic meals, and spa treatments. Or, dive deeper into your practice with an immersive retreat at one of the Chopra Center’s experiences across North America

Upcoming retreats: 

• Meditation Immersion in Maui, Hawaii; May 13–17, 2022
• Infinite Possibilities in Mont Tremblant, Canada; July 7–11, 2022
• Silent Awakenings in Yosemite, California; September 25–October 1, 2022
• Well Within in Rancho Palos Verdes, California; October 6–9, 2022
• 7 Spiritual Laws in Marco Island, Florida; November 30–December 4, 2022

Omega Institute

Rhinebeck, New York

While New York City has long been known as a hub for yoga and meditation, 90 miles north in the lush Hudson Valley lies a true respite from the hustle of the city—the Omega Institute. The sprawling, 250-acre campus was founded in 1977 as a hub for learning, spiritual exploration, and community. The campus also includes the Omega Center for Sustainable Living—a home to explore and learn about eco-friendly building practices—and the Women’s Leadership Center.

Visit: From May to October, you can sign up for Omega’s self-guided Rest & Rejuvenation retreats, where you can enjoy all the amenities of the campus in your own time (no workshop attendance required).

Upcoming retreats & workshops: 

• Practical Mindfulness, May 29–June 3, 2022
• Insight Meditation for Beginners, June 3–5, 2022
• The Yoga of Love, June 10–12, 2022
• Essential Kundalini Yoga, July 8–10, 2022
• Youth Yoga & Mindfulness, July 10–15, 2022
• Yoga Nidra with Tracee Stanley, July 15–17, 2022
• Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, August 5–7, 2022
• See the complete schedule

Garrison Institute

Garrison, New York

Located on the grounds of a former Capuchin monastery, the Garrison Institute hosts multiple in-person retreats throughout the year. This center aims to address social and environmental concerns through a combination of reflection and action. Its specific focus on social initiatives will help you contextualize your practice in the larger world.

Upcoming retreats: Pause + Press Play, June 24–26, 2022. This retreat for women of color, hosted by Crystal McCreary, a Yoga Journal contributor, in partnership with Marla Teyolia, focuses on self-care and personal rejuvenation.

Section divider

Europe

Mountain Yoga Festival

St. Anton, Austria

This event, held in the birthplace of modern skiing, offers a heavy dose of outdoor wellness. Intimacy is part of the draw: Fewer than 300 attendees and teachers from around the world gather to fill their souls with music and movement.

Upcoming event: September 1–4, 2022

Suryalila Yoga Retreat Centre

Cadiz, Spain

The Om Dome (an igloo-shaped yoga hall) at this Andalusian retreat might be the most magnificent place to practice in all of Europe, says yoga teacher Tiffany Cruikshank. The geometric studio was designed to resemble a Nepalese temple topped with a golden stupa. Wholesome farm-to-table organic meals are another reason Cruikshank enjoys leading retreats here. Regular teacher trainings by Vidya Jacqueline Heisel, founder of vinyasa-focused Frog Lotus Yoga, and Carol Murphy, founder of Green Lotus Yoga, are other highlights

Visit: You can opt to book a stay without attending a retreat at the center’s hotel. In addition to regular retreats, this center also offers horseback riding and teacher training. Yoga retreats are offered on an almost-weekly basis throughout the year and are hosted by a variety of teachers.

Upcoming retreats: 

• Adventure and Yoga Retreat, April 30 to May 6, 2022
• Relax and Restore, April 30 to May 7, 2022
• Movement and Breathwork 6 Day Retreat, May 16–21, 2022
• Summer Sanctuary Retreat, July 3–9, 2022
• See the complete retreat schedule

Reclaim Your Self Yoga Retreats

Various locations

Reclaim Your Self Yoga Retreats hosts numerous retreats throughout the year across Europe. With a focus on environmental sustainability and community care, the company offsets all guest travel emissions, supports small businesses and fosters connections with the outside world on every retreat.

Visit: You can book one of their upcoming retreats across Europe. Additionally, this summer, Adam Husler, a Yoga Journal contributor, will host a slow-living retreat called Norfolk Yoga Weekend (June 3–6, 2022) and Woodland Summer Yoga Weekend in Bath, England (July 8–11, 2022).

Blissed Yoga Retreats

Various locations

Combining adventure-centric travel with a focus on wellness, Blissed Yoga Retreats fuses calming yoga retreats with community-based travel experiences.

Visit: In May, Travis Eliot, a Yoga Journal contributor, is hosting two week-long retreats with Laura Eckstrom in Dubrovnik, Croatia (May 1–7; May 13–19, 2022). Located on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, this historic coastal city is the perfect place for a temporary escape.

Section divider

Africa

Bodhi Khaya Nature Retreat

Stanford, South Africa

Located at the Southern Tip of the African continent, this serene retreat center is a sanctuary that combines nature and sustainability with spirituality. Intended as a place to reconnect with yourself and with the natural world, Bodhi Khaya offers everything you need for a peaceful and remote retreat—including hiking trails, swimming ponds, meditation and yoga classes, and even a labyrinth.

Visit: Choose any weekend to book a personal retreat at Bodhi Khaya, which includes accommodations, three vegetarian meals per day, meditation, yoga, and the use of facilities. Additionally, each visitor will be given an indigenous tree to plant as part of their reforestation initiative. Or you can select one of the retreat center’s facilitated retreats.

Surf Maroc

Centre Ville Tagahzout, Morocco 

Over the past two decades, a booming surf-and-yoga scene has sprung up in this sleepy fishing village five hours south of Casablanca. Take holiday with Surf Maroc (one of the area’s first surf-yoga retreat companies) for daily “creative vinyasa, powerful pranayama, laughter yoga, restorative, yin, yoga nidra, and meditation.” Between yoga sessions, surf instructors provide hands-on coaching whether you’re a first-timer or a seasoned rider. For a taste of the locale, the property’s neighboring rooftop yoga studio offers public classes and a chance to mingle with the local yoga community.

Visit: Book a stay at one of Surf Maroc’s three villas or opt to attend one of their yoga surf retreats, which are hosted on a regular basis.

Section divider

Central + South America

Willka T’ika

Cusco, Peru

Traditionally, travelers here head straight to historic sanctuary Machu Picchu—but culturally immersive retreats nestled in the heart of the Sacred Valley offer a new draw of their own. Willka T’ika, an eco-friendly retreat center, incorporates Andean traditions and Q’ero healers. Portions of retreat proceeds support childhood education in remote villages. Organic gardening, sustainable living, and acts of generosity are all woven into the fabric of Willka T’ika.

Visit: You can book a stay at the center’s boutique hotel or choose from one of its many upcoming group retreats, which are hosted by a variety of studios and teachers.

The Yoga Forest

San Marcos La Laguna, Guatemala 

Travelers looking to escape the growing yogi crowds in Mexico have set their sights on the emerging yoga scene in Guatemala, where, in the Mayan village of San Marcos la Laguna, The Yoga Forest sets the stage for responsible tourism, funding community projects such as shoreline restoration via reed planting and midwife education.

Visit: Drop in for a class or embark on a personal or group retreat to study Jnana, Ashtanga, Bhakti, and Karma Yoga with their pros.

Upcoming group retreats:

• Passion to Purpose: Yoga Forest Signature Retreat, April 10–15, 2022
• Guatemala Glow, April 16–22, 2022
• Reconnect Retreat, April 23–27, 2022

Blue Spirit Costa Rica

Nosara, Costa Rica

Universally considered a yoga mecca, Nosara is home to 32 retreats with serious yoga cred. Both Don Stapleton, longtime director of Kripalu, and Stephan Rechtschaffen, co-founder of the Omega Institute, set up yoga and wellness retreat centers here in the 1990s. At Rechtschaffen’s Blue Spirit, you can experience a learning vacation that includes workshops on unlocking your purpose and Rechtschaffer-led lectures on finding the path to longevity. Located in a blue zone (where a large percentage of the population lives longer than average), the vivacity of Nosara is intimately intertwined with its people and practices.

Visit: Blue Spirit frequently hosts yoga retreats, as well as teacher trainings. A variety of studios and teachers from around the world host retreats at this coastal sanctuary. Typically, at least one retreat is offered every week. See the complete retreat schedule here.

Section divider

Caribbean

Mhai Yoga

Havana, Cuba

Cuba’s dynamism reminds us that yoga is really about community. Eduardo de Jesus Pimentel Vázquez—the godfather of Cuban yoga—has trained more than 12,000 yoga practitioners through the Cuban Yoga Association, which he founded in 1990. He often drops in to teach a class during one of Mhai Yoga’s week-long retreats. Gorgeous views surround this Caribbean retreat center, including a direct view of the ocean from the rooftop. You’re just a few steps away from the beach at this slice of paradise.

Visit: You can book one of the retreats offered by a variety of studios and teachers throughout the year.

Jungle Bay Resort & Spa

Soufriere, Dominica

Since opening their rainforest retreat center in 2005, yoga teacher Glenda Raphael and her husband, Sam, have been pioneers of sustainable tourism, stocking up on goods from island farmers, local fishermen, and artisans. Yoga teacher Chrissy Carter has held numerous retreats here. Don’t miss Victoria Falls, Champagne Beach, and the Boiling Lake, the name given to one of the world’s few lakes that actually boils, says Carter.

Visit: Book a stay in one of the center’s gorgeous rooms or register for one of their wellness-oriented retreats.

Upcoming yoga retreats:

• Yoga Adventure Retreat with Sally Bassett & Kristen Barfield, November 5–12, 2022

Section divider

Asia

Soulshine Bali Hotel & Yoga Retreat Oasis

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

There’s a reason Bali is famous for its yoga retreats. In the jungles of Ubud, musician Michael Franti invites guest performers to enliven the asana practices at his Soulshine Bali Hotel & Yoga Retreat Oasis. Of course, the island’s biggest party happens during BaliSpirit Festival, a week-long celebration that draws big names like Shiva Rea and Tymi Howard, plus local Indonesian presenters such as Aikikdo, Made Janur, and musician Krisna Floop.

Visit: You can opt to stay at the Soulshine Bali’s hotel or book one of the Soulrocker Yoga Retreats.

Upcoming retreats:

• Soulrocker Yoga Retreat, October 8–15, 2022
• Soulrocker Yoga Retreat, November 5–12, 2022

Dwarika’s Resort

Dhulikhel, Kavre, Nepal

If replenishment is what you’re after, then Dwarika’s Resort—tucked into the hillside just 30 miles from the Tibetan border—should top your short list. After a consultation with an Ayurvedic health care provider, you will be prescribed soothing appointments on your custom itinerary: time in the respiratory-cleansing salt house, a visit with the retreat’s resident naturopath, a walk through the meditation maze, sessions in sound- and color-therapy chambers, and stargazing with an astrology master. Yoga classes offer the ultimate view—distant snow-capped mountains of the Himalayan range.

Visit: You can choose to book a stay at this resort or select one of its multi-night packages, including a five- or seven-night Yoga Package.

Bhutan Spirit Sanctuary

Paro, Bhutan

Enjoy daily yoga and acupuncture sessions at this all-inclusive retreat center in Paro, Bhutan—a historic valley town surrounded by sacred Buddhist sites. Each room has views of the Eutok Samdrupcholing goenpa monastery, where resident monks welcome guests for morning meditation. Bhutan is known for its medicinal herbs, and guests are encouraged to join spa therapists on foraging excursions in nearby hillsides.

Visit: You can book your own stay at this center or select one of the four-night “Glimpse of Bhutan” or eight-night “Essence of Bhutan” packages.

Phool Chatti Ashram

Rishikesh, India

Rishikesht, nestled along the sacred Ganges River in northern India, is a preferred jumping-off point for many teachers and travelers making the pilgrim-age to the birthplace of yoga. Hindus believe that a saint came to the river to offer penance and was forgiven by the god Vishnu. Phool Chatti Ashram, a remote center in the Himalayan foothills, offers a seven-day yoga and meditation retreat for beginner- and intermediate-level yogis. You’ll engage in nature walks, various yoga practices, meditation sessions and traditional ceremonies over the course of the program.

Visit: The center offers Ayurvedic treatment sessions and Indian cooking classes, in addition to its seven-day retreat program (multiple dates throughout 2022).

Ananda

Rishikesh, India

This luxurious resort is famous for its Ayurvedic treatments. Located on a hill overlooking the city of Rishikesh, Ananda offers a variety of yoga and meditation retreats. The resort’s Yogic Detox Retreat is offered as a seven-, 14- or 21-day program. You’ll participate in Ayurvedic therapy sessions, individualized yoga sessions and a variety of wellness-oriented consultations. The resort’s other yoga-focused program, the Yoga Retreat, is also available as a five-, seven- or 14-day program.

Visit: You can opt to book a hotel stay at this luxurious resort or participate in a specific wellness program.

Ulpotha

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has no shortage of stylish beachside yoga retreats, but world-class therapists and teachers—such as Parisian Alexandre Onfroy and Californian Rob Hess—make the trek inland to immerse themselves in local culture at Ulpotha. Located in a working rice village, a committee of locals take part in all decision-making, and guest fees fund a free area clinic. Eleven simple mud huts are sprinkled across 22 acres of dense forests, and monks still live in remote temples in the mountains above. There’s a dedicated yoga shala, but classes also take place beneath the branches of an ancient banyan tree.

Visit: You can opt to book a stay at this village or participate in one of their retreats.

Upcoming retreats: 

• Soul Awakening from Within with Jules Jenkinson, June 12–26, 2022
• Kundalini Yoga Remedy Retreat with Kiranjot, June 26–July 10, 2022
• Prana Flow Yoga Retreat with Rob Hess, July 10–24, 2022
• Sun & Moon Yoga Retreat with Tanja Mickwitz, July 24–August 7, 2022
• Soul Awakening from Within with Jules Jenkinson, August 7–21, 2022

Kamalaya Koh Samui 

Koh Samui, Thailand

Teachers Rodney Yee, Colleen Saidman Yee, Richard Freeman, and Mary Taylor are regular hosts at this retreat founded by John Stewart, a former monk who lived in the Himalayas for 18 years, and his wife, Karina, a doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, who built the seaside sanctuary around a jungle-shrouded cave that was once a spiritual retreat for Buddhist monks. Guests can book à la carte therapies and classes such as detoxification, Chi Nei Tsang, and Hatha Yoga, or multi-day packages meant to remedy modern ailments such as technology addiction.

Vist: You can choose to book one of the center’s multi-day wellness programs or opt to book a stay without participating in a specific program.

Hariharalaya Yoga & Meditation Retreat

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Teacher Puravi Joshi calls Cambodia one of the most peaceful places to practice. Immerse yourself in the history and culture of Siem Reap at the Hariharalaya Yoga & Meditation Retreat, named after the Vedic capital of Cambodia. Temples dating to 800 CE surround the two-acre campus. A team of international yoga and meditation instructors lead six-day retreats with Integral Yoga, silent meditation, Dharma talks, and nourishing vegan cuisine.

Visit: You can opt to book a two-, four-, six- or eight-week all-inclusive retreat.

Section divider

Australia + New Zealand

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

Tallebudgera Valley, Queensland, Australia

It’s not uncommon to see wallabies and ’roos hopping across the 500-acre grounds set high up in the ancient gum trees of the Tallebudgera Valley. Mornings focus on yin-inspired movements such as qi gong and restorative yoga, while afternoons are devoted to yang-type activities such as boxing and hiking. This wellness destination center hosts retreats on a regular basis, giving you the ideal opportunity to disconnect from the world.

Visit: You can opt to book a two-, three-, four-, five- or seven-night retreat package, or a three-night yoga retreat (2022 dates available).

Aro Ha

Glenorchy, New Zealand

Six- and eight-day retreats, many led by yogi and founder Damian Chaparro, focus on rejuvenating mind and body against some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking landscapes. Think sunrise yoga, kayaking excursions, and strenuous hikes on the trails of New Zealand’s Southern Alps and along the shores of sapphire-blue Lake Wakatipu. Days end with restorative yoga and nourishing, paleo-friendly cuisine.

Visit: You can opt to book a six- or eight-day retreat.

Upcoming retreats:

• Revive & Thrive, various dates
• Revive & Thrive Plus, various dates
• Core Reset, May 21–26, 2022
• Winter Wellness, various dates
• Awaken & Become, August 23–28, 2022
• Awaken & Heal, September 28–October 3, 2022
• Harness Your Habits, October 19–24, 2022

Byron Yoga Center

Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia 

The quintessential beach town, Byron Bay overflows with juice bars, organic cafés, and boutique yoga studios. Byron Yoga Centre, founded in 1988 by John Ogilvie, is one of Australia’s longest-running yoga schools. Ogilvie’s signature style of Purna Yoga focuses on integrating physical postures and philosophy

Visit: You can opt to book a seven-, five- or three-day retreat at the Byron Bay Wellness Centre. Retreats are offered on a weekly basis. Speciality retreats are also offered.

Upcoming speciality retreats:

• Women’s 3 Day Yoga Retreat – June 2022, June 17–19, 2022
• Women’s 3 Day Yoga Retreat – September 2022, September 16–18, 2022
• Women’s 3 Day Yoga Retreat – December 2022, December 16–18, 2022

---

About our authors

Jen Murphy travels the globe reporting on adventure travel, wellness, food, and conservation. She writes the Wall Street Journal’s What’s Your Workout column and is the author of The Yoga (Man)ual. Additional reporting by Kyle Houseworth, Ellen O’Brien, and Erin Skarda.

This story was originally published in 2019 and has been updated with new information.