Dive into old world charm on a yoga retreat in Italy.
Yoga Retreat in Italy October 2023
2023 dates: 8–15 October | 15–22 October
2024 dates: 21–28 April | 6–13 October | 13–20 October
We’ll be hosting our yoga retreat in Italy on the wonderful island of Sicily, near the charming town of Siracusa. One of the most beautiful towns in Italy, Siracusa has lovely squares and outdoor markets, a stunning coast, seaview terraces and delicious restaurants.
It’s the perfect place to enjoy the simple pleasures in life – fresh local food, a leisurely stroll in town, bike rides along the coast, sandy beaches and a very gentle pace. You’ll get a chance to unwind in a gorgeous setting by the sea at our 5* hotel, surrounded by Italian beauty, history, and culture.
The weather in April and October is sunny and warm enough to relax on our private beach and spend the day outdoors, but not too hot so we can still practice yoga outside.
Come and soak in the culture, history and wonderful food of this region, practice yoga by the sea, treat yourself to a well-deserved break, and discover a little piece of paradise in Sicily!
Italy Yoga Retreat
Highlights
- Yoga twice a day by the sea
- Gorgeous 5* hotel and spa
- Delicious Italian food and wine
- Private beach & swimming coves
- The most beautiful town in Sicily
- No rules, no mandatories
- Friendly group atmosphere
- Boutique shopping
- Day trips to beaches and towns
- Personal service
Italy Yoga Retreat Highlights
- Yoga twice a day by the sea
- Gorgeous 5* hotel and spa
- Delicious Italian food
- Private beach and swimming spots
- The most beautiful town in Sicily
- No rules, no mandatories
- Friendly group atmosphere
- Boutique shopping and people-watching
- Day trips to beaches and towns
- Personal service
What to expect
Our yoga retreat in Italy is the perfect balance between excellent yoga classes and enjoying all the richness and beauty that Sicily has to offer. The food, the wine, the art, the culture, and the easy way of life – we’ll be there to show it all to you!
We’ll practice yoga outdoors on a terrace surrounded by the sea, we’ll relax on our private beach, take day trips to baroque towns and bike rides along the coast. We’ll take you to nearby beaches, have dinners at typical Sicilian restaurants, go on a wine tasting tour at a lovely castle, and treat ourselves to delicious gelato.
There’s so much to discover, but this is your break – it’s completely up to you to enjoy as you like, perhaps just relaxing by the pool or getting a massage at the hotel spa. We have no rules and we’re completely flexible with everything.
We welcome all yoga levels, many people come on their own, all ages and from many countries.
To book our luxury yoga retreat in Italy, contact Laura:
Prices
8–15 October 2023
15–22 October 2023:
Seaview rooms:
Shared room per person: GBP £1950
Single-occupancy room: GBP £2350
Classic garden-view rooms:
Shared room per person: GBP £1850
Single-occupancy room: GBP £2250
21–28 April 2024
6–13 October 2024
13–20 October 2024:
Seaview rooms:
Shared room per person: GBP £2100
Single-occupancy room: GBP £2500
Classic garden-view rooms:
Shared room per person: GBP £2000
Single-occupancy room: GBP £2400
Deposit: 30% to secure your place
Balance due: 90 days prior to start of the retreat
Check prices in your local currency here:
Currency Converter
Note: a separate tourist tax of €10 is charged by hotels in Italy directly to guests at check out.
Price includes:
- Morning 1.5 hr Vinyasa classes
- Afternoon 1 hr Yin yoga classes
- 7 nights at a 5* beach hotel
- Full buffet breakfast
- Private beach with sunbeds
- Outdoor jacuzzi
- Wi-fi throughout hotel
- Rep on site to plan trips & dinners
Price includes
- Morning 1.5 hr Vinyasa yoga
- Afternoon 1 hr Yin yoga classes
- 7 nights at a 5* beach hotel
- Full buffet breakfast
- Outdoor jacuzzi
- Private beach with sunbeds
- Wi-fi throughout the hotel
- Rep on site to plan trips & dinners
Luxury Accommodation
5* Grand Hotel Minareto
We’ll be staying at the Grand Hotel Minareto, a 5-star luxury hotel set on a cliff with stunning views across the sea to Ortigia island. Situated in a quiet location on the coast, yet only ten minutes drive to the center of Siracusa and close to several nearby towns. We think it’s the best location to enjoy peace and quiet by the sea, yet close enough to explore the area easily.
The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and a private beach with sunbeds, as well as a spa with a variety of massages and treatments. There are also additional sunbeds by the cliff with wonderful views and more swimming spots.
You can stay in either an Ortigia Seaview room or in a Classic garden-view room, up to you. Both have air-conditioning, wifi, and housekeeping twice a day.
Local Cuisine
The food in Sicily is one of the highlights of the yoga retreat. You’ll find everything from delicious pasta dishes to veggies, salads, fish and meat dishes, and everything in between. All made with fresh olive oil and natural ingredients.
And Sicily is famous for its wine – both reds and whites are wonderful, especially the ones from the area around Mount Etna, we’ll try a few with the group.
Eat and drink what you like
A yoga retreat in Italy wouldn’t be the same without trying all the wonderful local Italian food. So we don’t have any rules on food and drinks, you can eat and drink what you like, and we’ll take you to some great restaurants where you‘ll be glad there are no restrictions! And there are plenty of options for vegetarians, vegans, gluten-free, or if you have a specific dietary need.
We’ll have breakfast together after yoga, with espressos and cappuccinos, omelets, fresh juices, fresh fruits and cheeses, and a selection of tempting Sicilian sweets. Some people wander into town for a light lunch or enjoy an afternoon snack by the pool.
We’ll plan a group dinner in Siracusa town at a different restaurant each evening. We’ll take you to our favorites – from family-run small restaurants to wonderful pizzerias and seafood restaurants.
The buffet breakfast / brunch is included in the price. We purposefully didn’t include snacks and dinners so everyone can decide what they like to eat and spend accordingly, rather than have pre-set dinners at the hotel which would be more expensive. You only pay for what you eat and drink, there are many nice restaurants and they’re very reasonably priced.
Where we are going
Where is the yoga retreat located?
Our yoga retreat in Italy is located in Sicily, near the beautiful town of Siracusa (see Siracusa on a map) and the pedestrian island of Ortigia.
Our 5* hotel is on a marine reserve with a private beach just ten minutes from the center of town – the perfect combination. There’s a sense of peace and quiet at the hotel, and many people spend the day on the beach, by the pool, or on a sunbed by the cliff with views of the bay. Our yoga terrace is right above the cliff with wonderful views out to sea.
The hotel is close to many things nearby – beautiful beaches, towns, cycling, shopping, archaeological sites, and wine-tasting tours.
And it’s easy to reach with direct flights from several European cities. The closest airport is Catania Airport.
About Sicily and the town of Siracusa
Siracusa town – and the charming island of Ortigia – is the gem of the area, with its majestic baroque buildings and famous squares, lively outdoor market, peaceful side streets and wonderful views out to sea from the castle. An evening stroll in town is truly memorable, as is dinner in the fantastic restaurants – we’ll take you to the best ones!
Surrounding Siracusa are several lovely baroque towns, including Noto and Taormina. All have their unique charm, attractions and local food specialties, and are definitely worth a day trip.
There are also several gorgeous beaches around the area, including San Lorenzo and Fontane Bianche just a few minutes away, with crystal clear water and soft white sand. We’ll be sure to go!
What yoga means to us
Yoga is at the heart of our retreats, and we offer the real deal. You’ll definitely get a good workout, but the goal of the physical practice is to challenge you physically so you can begin to let go and quiet the mind. That’s what yoga is all about – calming the mind. And that’s what we teach on our yoga retreats. You will feel re-energized and restored both physically and mentally.
Vinyasa Yoga and Yin Yoga
We offer two yoga classes a day on our yoga retreat in Italy: an active morning Vinyasa flow class to get you going, and a slower Yin class in the afternoons. Both classes are suitable for all levels.
Your yoga teachers and host
Sarah Scott & Erin Dusek
Sarah Scott and Erin Dusek will be the teachers on our yoga retreats in Sicily.
They’ll modify the classes and poses for all levels, and will give you options so you can practice at your own pace. If you’ve been practicing for a while or are just starting out, you’ll be able to follow all the classes.
Sarah will teach from the 8-15 October 2023, from the 21-28 April 2024, and from the 6-13 October 2024.
Erin will teach from the 15-22 October 2023.
Check back here to find out who will be teaching from the 13-20 October 2024, we’ll be updating this soon.
You can try out one of Erin’s gentle yoga stretch for beginners class online on Youtube here.
Laura will also be there on every retreat to plan day trips and group dinners, so you can relax without a worry.
Find out more about our team: Meet the Team
A Typical Day
We’ll practice yoga twice a day with time to relax on the beach, take a day trip, and indulge at the spa:
Activities & Excursions
There’s plenty to do in between yoga classes:
Day trips to charming towns
Take a day trip to Noto or Taormina and discover the glory of Sicily’s baroque past. Beautiful architecture, typical Sicilian scenes straight from a movie.
Sicily is well known for its top-quality wines, from crisp whites to hearty reds. We’ll visit a winery nearby to taste a variety of wines paired with typical Sicilian dishes.
Bicycle rides
Grab a bike and take a ride along the Sicilian coast to a beautiful beach, wander into a nearby town and stop to taste the local food, or continue into Siracusa town.
Time to unwind – treat yourself to a relaxing massage or beauty treatment at the hotel’s spa in between yoga classes.
Siracusa is home to many well-preserved Greek and Roman ruins, easily visited in an afternoon and well worth the experience.
Relax at the Hotel Minareto’s private beach, or discover one of the beautiful beaches nearby, we’ll take you!
Have a question we’ve not yet answered? View our FAQs
What people are saying
“I’ve been on yoga holidays before but this was the first one to strike the right balance of uplifting and restorative yoga mixed with fun evenings and plenty of time to relax. Thanks Laura for a fantastic week in Mykonos, I’ll certainly be back.”
Jules, London
Getting to Sicily
Plan to arrive at some point on the first day of the retreat, we’ll have a group dinner together for those who can make it, and yoga classes will start the next morning. The last class is the afternoon on the day before we leave, and people will leave throughout the day on the last day, depending on flights. If you wish to arrive earlier or stay longer, please let us know, we can help arrange that for you with the hotel.
Fly to Catania Airport in Sicily – several airlines fly to Catania from various European cities. Low cost airlines also have direct flights, including Easyjet. Alternatively, there are many flights with a stopover in Rome.
Car Transfer
Once in Catania, you can book a car transfer to the hotel, the agency we recommend is New Travel Services:
- info@newtravelservices.net
- Tel +39 0942 985445
- Mobile: +39 338 8855528
- www.newtravelservices.net
Here is their direct link for booking a transfer:
https://www.newtravelservices.net/en/1-181-content/services/book-a-transfer?s=0&c=1
Pair up to share a car transfer to the hotel
We can pair you up with others who arrive around the same time so you can share the transfer to the hotel. Let us know and we’ll put you in touch closer to departure. Alternatively you can rent a car and drive to the hotel, which is a good option so you have it to explore the area during the week. People often do this, it can be less expensive than car transfers, the drive is approximately 45 minutes and very easy – the roads are good.
Inspired to join us?
+44 (0) 791 869 5085
laura@yoga-escapes.com
Please check your Spam folder – sometimes our replies get stuck in there!