The 8 Best Yoga Retreats of 2023

Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health is our pick for best yoga retreat

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The best yoga retreats allow you to escape to a quiet place to find inner peace, relaxation, calming meditation, world-renowned teachers, and knowledgeable dietitians. They build on an ancient practice that, for more than 5,000 years, has offered people the health benefits of improved strength, flexibility, stress relief, and more.

Best of all, there is a perfect yoga retreat for every age, budget, and experience level. Amenities include picturesque ocean vistas, spa days, acres of walking trails to roam freely, and unlimited classes for mind, body, and soul healing.

Here, we've rounded up details on location, price, and pros and cons of eight yoga retreats to help you choose your travel adventure for the perfect self-care getaway.

The 8 Best Yoga Retreats of 2023

Best Overall : Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health


Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

Key Specs
  • Price: Day passes start at $125. Accommodations vary from $95 for a dormitory bed on a weeknight to $595 for a weekend room with double bed, private bath, and a view.
  • Location: Stockbridge, Massachusetts
  • Duration: Single classes, day pass, 2-night minimum stay on the weekend
Why We Chose It

Kripalu has a year-round schedule of retreats taught by world-renowned instructors, scholars, and dietitians, plus other attractive amenities like hiking and massage.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Three meals a day included

  • Unlimited classes 

  • Access to 100 acres of hiking trails, walking paths, and a private lakefront area

  • Beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes offered

Cons
  • 2-night minimum stay on weekends

  • Standard rooms have a shared bathroom

  • Healing arts classes are an additional cost

Overview

A stalwart in the U.S. retreat scene, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health has been offering teacher training courses and retreats since the 1970s. Since it first opened its doors in 1983, the 125-acre property in the rolling hills of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, has been welcoming students who want an immersive experience.

A variety of retreats are offered year-round by world-renowned teachers and scholars. They include everything from yoga teacher training to Ayurveda, yoga therapy, physiology, psychology, and more.

Whether you are looking for a training or a weekend getaway, Kripalu has something for everyone. From YogaDance, an official practice developed by the center, to hiking the trails of the Berkshires to taking cooking classes or booking a massage, the options are abundant.

In the summer, access to the private lakefront beach is perfect for soaking up the sun, while meditation along the lake is common in spring and fall. 

Rates for Kripalu's R&R retreats are $125 to $150 per day, with discounts for nearby residents. The daily rate includes three meals a day, expert-led workshops, daily yoga, and guided outdoor activities. Plus, you can enjoy the property's numerous amenities like the fitness room, sauna, marked hiking trails, and more. Accommodations are available for a separate charge.

Best for Outdoor Lovers : Anamaya Resort and Retreat Center


Anamaya Resort and Retreat Center

Anamaya Resort and Retreat Center

Key Specs
  • Price: Between $795 and $1995 per week for accommodation and three meals a day; classes and activities are billed separately
  • Location: Costa Rica
  • Duration: Base rates are for seven nights
Why We Chose It

If you're looking for a retreat that combines yoga, meditation, the beach, hiking, and zip-lining through lush jungles, consider booking a retreat at Anamaya.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Snorkeling, surfing, horseback riding, and scuba certification are available 

  • Yoga teacher certification courses offered

  • Free waterfall hike included

Cons
  • Must have a valid passport

  • Classes, workshops, treatments, alcoholic drinks, and other extras not included in the price

  • Shared dormitory-style rooms for some reservations

Overview

Set atop a hill overlooking the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Nicoya, this tranquil Costa Rican resort offers customizable yoga retreats with add-ons like surfing, sea kayaking, snorkeling, horseback riding, nature walks, and spa treatments. 

Week-long retreats that run throughout the year are perfect for all levels, whether you're a beginner stepping onto your yoga mat for the first time or an advanced practitioner.

Expect to begin your days with energizing, 90-minute-long vinyasa classes with incredible views of the ocean. In the afternoons, you can practice yin yoga, relax in the saltwater infinity pool or at the spa, or explore the rich Costa Rican countryside. 

Base rates for a seven-day retreat at Anamaya vary depending on the season and occupancy. A double room begins at $1,095 and includes accommodation and three meals a day. Yoga classes are $15 each, as are cooking and salsa dancing lessons. Other fees may apply for additional excursions, workshops, and gratuities.

Best for a Caribbean Getaway : Amanyara Luxury Resort and Retreat


Key Specs
  • Price: Varies based on accommodation type
  • Location: Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Duration: 3 or more days
Why We Chose It

Wellness retreats are devised by the Aman Spa’s team of expert therapists, nutritionists, and medical specialists to deliver lasting change.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • World-renowned instructors and wellness professionals

  • Complete wellness immersion

  • World-class dining

Cons
  • Very pricey

  • Welcoming family and pets policy may not appeal to some

  • Valid passport required

Overview

To cultivate serenity in the face of a stressful lifestyle, Amanyara retreats shift focus inward, using meditation, Qi Gong, yoga, and breathwork alongside specially selected therapies to release tension and promote clarity of thought. For those seeking to purify the body and clear the mind, Amanyara offers a program designed to stimulate detoxification pathways through a holistic program of optimized nutrition, cleansing herbal treatments, and bespoke therapies such as acupuncture and Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage.

Designed for those seeking to regain control of their lives, this whole-body wellness retreat offers physical and mental practices, mindfulness and meditation techniques, centering spa rituals, and healthy meals. Amanyara is perfect for those looking to find inner peace and lasting resilience.

The cost for this retreat varies depending on the season and which level of wellness immersion you are looking for. Generally, prices start around $3,000 a day and go upwards of $5,000 a day. Four- and five-bedroom villas run $16,000 or more per day.

Best for Mindfulness : Miraval


Miraval

Miraval

Key Specs
  • Price: Varies by location and season
  • Location: Texas, Arizona, and Massachusetts
  • Duration: Three or four days recommended
Why We Chose It

A core tenet of Miraval is its "Life in Balance" mission, which focuses on inspiring a sense of mindfulness that participants cultivate on site and continue to nourish after leaving the resort.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • East and West coast locations

  • Vast range of classes offered

  • Hundreds of acres to roam freely

  • Unlimited classes included

Cons
  • Required to unplug from all digital devices except in designated areas

  • Many offered experiences come at an extra cost

Overview

With a digital device-free motto that's strictly enforced, you can unplug and thoughtfully focus on yourself. While there are designated areas throughout the property where you can use your devices if you need to, the resort encourages you to be mindful of the choice to do so. 

Whether you're a new, intermediate, or advanced yogi, you can select from a wide range of offerings that include morning yoga, slow flows, New Age and celestial sessions, and inversion-focused aerial yoga classes. Since most of the sessions are included in the price, you're free to pick and choose, and try new things.

While there is no minimum stay on the properties, Miraval recommends a three- or a four-day trip to have maximum impact. At Miraval Austin, rates begin at around $929 per night, including all meals, workshops, infinity pool, and fitness center access, as well as a resort credit that can be used toward private sessions, wellness lectures, and spa treatments.

The rates are higher at Miraval Arizona, and include meals, complimentary workshops, access to the fitness center, three pools, and hiking trails. But in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, you'll find lower-priced options.

Best for Art & Culture : The Floating Leaf


The Floating Leaf

The Floating Leaf

Key Specs
  • Price: Varies depending on package
  • Location: Bali, Indonesia
  • Duration: Four days, three nights
Why We Chose It

From Bhakti meditations and traditional Balinese purification ceremonies to cooking classes and batik art lessons, the resort has something to offer, no matter the activity level.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Shared rooms available to offset costs

  • Offers yoga, meditation, art, and cooking classes

  • 2,000-square-foot, open-air yoga studio

Cons
  • Valid passport required

  • Extensive travel required for U.S. residents

  • Not within walking distance to the beach

Overview

Welcoming students from all around the world since 2012, The Floating Leaf is a tranquil, wellness-focused resort on the Indonesian island of Bali. Immerse yourself in Balinese culture, find your inner peace, and enjoy cooking and batik art classes all while soaking in the majestic views of Mount Agung and the surrounding rice paddies. The serene property hosts an average of 50 retreats every year.

For example, the six-night Path to Happiness retreat ($1970 to $2580, depending on accommodations) focuses on yoga and meditation, offering participants a chance to connect and go within to discover joy.

A 2,000-square-foot, open-air yoga studio overlooks the peaceful rice paddies that Bali is known for and offers diverse views of Mount Agung, an active volcano, and the Indian Ocean.

Rates include accommodation, three meals a day, yoga and meditation sessions, and airport transfers. Some packages also include Balinese healer sessions, Indonesian cooking courses, art classes, coffee plantations, and village tours. Check out upcoming retreats for dates and availability. 

Best for Yoga & Surfing : Cala Luna


Cala Luna

Cala Luna

Key Specs
  • Price: Varies by season, with room base rates ranging from $452 to $1170
  • Location: Costa Rica
  • Duration: One or more days
Why We Chose It

This upscale Costa Rican getaway offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, all while being quietly tucked inside Las Baulas National Park. 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Two-mile-long walking labyrinth in the rainforest

  • Bike tours, surfing lessons, snorkeling, and fishing offered

  • On-site organic farm grows the produce served to guests

Cons
  • Only three yoga retreats per year

  • Valid passport required

  • Very few spots available for each retreat

Overview

With direct access to Langosta Beach, Cala Luna is the ideal retreat location if you're looking to spend some time on both your yoga mat and your surfboard. In addition to open-air yoga classes, surf lessons, snorkeling, and fishing, the boutique property only has 39 rooms, guaranteeing an intimate getaway. Sustainability is vital at Cala Luna, with an on-site organic farm that grows the produce used to feed guests.

The property also has its own water conservation system, and makes use of solar water heaters as well as biodegradable cleaning products and toiletries. A two-and-a-half acre labyrinth—one of the largest in the world—sits serenely inside a 74-acre forest, allowing guests who walk its two-mile-long path to find a sense of peace.

On average, Cala Luna hosts approximately three yoga retreats each year that are suitable for various levels. If you're staying onsite, you'll have access to a complimentary breakfast, a sunset happy hour, and bike tours to the local town. Fees vary for retreats hosted at Cala Luna and depend on the time of year, length of stay, add-on amenities, and more.

Best for Friends : Yasodhara Ashram Yoga & Nature Retreat


Yasodhara Ashram Yoga & Nature Retreat

Yasodhara Ashram Yoga & Nature Retreat

Key Specs
  • Price: Five-day retreats start at $1,234; seven-day retreats start at $1,535
  • Location: British Columbia, Canada
  • Duration: Five and seven-day retreats
Why We Chose It

Yasodhara is one of Canada's oldest ashrams and an excellent choice if you're seeking to discover a connection with both nature and yourself. 

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Self-development driven

  • Focus on light and the divine feminine

  • Free two-month long karma yoga exchange

Cons
  • Only Yasodhara yoga offered

  • Basic cabin accommodations

  • Passport required

Overview

Founded in 1963 by Swami Sivananda Radha—a German yogi who traveled to India in search of enlightenment and discovered it in guru Sivananda's ashram—Yasodhara is a relaxing yoga retreat set alongside the Kootenay Bay in British Columbia, Canada. 

Offering multiple retreats all year long, Yasodhara is ideal if you are seeking a connection with nature, yourself, and your friends. Restorative retreats range from $965 for a single room for a week to $5,880 for a double-occupancy cabin for three weeks.

Or, gather a group of friends for a weekend retreat in a private cabin. Not only will you grow and be enlightened together, but when you return home after the retreat you can motivate each other to continue practicing all you learned.

In addition to week-long retreats, the ashram also offers yoga teacher training and a series of self-guided retreats for artists, writers, and working professionals like teachers, scientists, and architects, to help de-stress, recharge and tap into their innate potentials. Pro tip: Stop by the Ainsworth Hot Springs, a nearby group of natural mineral-water hot springs. 

Best for Disconnecting : Blue Cliff Monastery


Blue Cliff Monastery

Blue Cliff Monastery

Key Specs
  • Price: Sliding scale, from a donation-only single day to seasonal retreats of $120 per night for two people
  • Location: Pine Bush, New York
  • Duration: Single day visit to five-year monastic training
Why We Chose It

This tranquil sanctuary with pure mountain air, meandering trails and streams, and digital-free environment offers its visitors a perfect place to rest, heal, and grow.

Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Founded by Buddhist monk, activist, and poet Thích Nhất Hạnh

  • Sliding scale fees to fit any income level

  • Five-year monastic training available

Cons
  • Extensive walking meditations may be inaccessible to some

  • 95% vegan meals served

  • Child and teen-friendly camping may not be your preference

Overview

Yoga is more than just asanas or physical postures, which guests can learn for themselves at Blue Cliff Monastery, a Zen Buddhist center in upstate New York.

Mindfulness is key to not just retreats but daily life at the monastery. Each day is spent in mindful meditations, workshops, personal time, and complete silence before bed.

Founded in 2007 by renowned Vietnamese Buddhist monk, activist, and poet Thích Nhất Hạnh, the monastery offers retreats, work exchange programs, and a rigorous five-year monastic training.

Blue Cliff offers a sliding scale for all retreats at its serene southern Catskills property. Prices range from around $70 to $120 per person per day for simple, dorm-style accommodations; children under the age of six stay for free.

Camping is also available for $35 to $100 per night. All meals, 95% of which are predominantly vegan, are included in the registration fee. Check out the calendar of events to find out about retreat details throughout the year. 

Final Verdict

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health is our clear winner for the best overall yoga retreat due to the wide variety of classes and activities offered year-round by world-renowned teachers and scholars. You can enjoy everything from yoga teacher training classes to Ayurveda, yoga therapy, physiology, psychology, meditation, and more. Additional activities include YogaDance, hiking the trails of the Berkshires, cooking classes, and relaxing massages.

Guide to Choosing the Best Yoga Retreat

Choosing a yoga retreat should be a fun process. Start by making a list of things you'd like to get out of a retreat. They might include:

  • Learning a new yoga practice
  • Improving self-guided meditation
  • Visiting a new country
  • Meeting like-minded yogis
  • Exploring a plant-based diet

Consider why you are looking for a getaway and go from there. Some retreats offer a chance to digitally detox; others are located in lush Costa Rican jungles where yoga is popular, or right up on the beach, providing prime access to the warm waters of the Caribbean. 

Budget can be limiting, but many retreats offer shared room options. If you find a place you love, reach out to the retreat to see if there is an option for cost-sharing (or recruit a friend to join you).

Our picks for best yoga retreats include a variety of yoga styles, locations around the world, and amenities offered, but choosing a yoga retreat is highly individual choice you'll want to make for yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Yoga Retreats Worth It?

Yoga retreats can reduce stress and give you the inspiration and motivation you need to make some lifestyle changes. In fact, research has shown that yoga retreat participants experience mental and physical benefits, both immediately and long-term. You may discover a new favorite yoga discipline, adopt a meditation practice, discover mindfulness, and begin to address any emotional issues or health concerns you might be struggling with.

What’s Included in an All-Inclusive Retreat?

Each retreat will be different, but for many retreats and resorts, the fee includes the cost of yoga classes, accommodations, and meals. Additional activities like art and cooking classes, surfing, diving, or guided tours usually cost extra. But this differs from one retreat to the next, so it’s best to research rates and add-ons before selecting your preferred escape. 

Do I Have to Take Every Yoga Class Offered During the Retreat?

While some retreats may be more class-intensive and require full participation, most are casual and completely voluntary. It’s best to check with your getaway organizer on the rules for skipping a session and if you can take the morning or afternoon off if desired.

Should I Purchase Travel Insurance?

A week-long yoga retreat is much more than just an investment in your well-being. Depending on the retreat you pick, it can be a significant financial investment as well.

And, while you may hope that everything goes according to plan, unexpected events do occur, so purchasing travel insurance is highly recommended. Most travel insurance plans cover medical emergencies, trip cancellation, trip interruption, delays, medical evacuation, and lost, damaged, or stolen luggage. Before purchasing insurance, make sure you read the fine print to ensure you fully understand what is covered, and what is not. Also, check with your primary health insurance and credit cards for travel coverage.

Methodology

For our top picks for yoga retreats, we made sure that the getaways were both international and domestic picks that suited a variety of yoga styles and practices. To do this, we evaluated the best yoga retreats on various factors, including the time of year, the number of retreats offered, size, accessibility, location, pricing, and past reviews.

Each yoga escape offers something different to participants, whether it be location, outdoor activities, or mindfulness lessons. Beginners, intermediates, and advanced practitioners of yoga will all find something to gain from each yoga retreat in our selections.

Yoga

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Article Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. American Osteopathic Association. The benefits of yoga.

  2. Djernis D, O'Toole MS, Fjorback LO, et al. A short mindfulness retreat for students to reduce stress and promote self-compassion: pilot randomised controlled trial exploring both an indoor and a natural outdoor retreat setting. Healthcare (Basel). 2021;9(7):910. doi:10.3390/healthcare9070910

By Christabel Lobo
Christabel Lobo is a Registered Yoga Teacher and freelance writer. She has written for AllRecipes, LIVESTRONG, Leaf.TV, Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, and more. 

Edited by
Ally Hirschlag
Allison "Ally" Hirschlag

Ally is a senior editor for Verywell, who covers topics in the health, wellness, and lifestyle spaces. She has written for The Washington Post, Scientific American, The Guardian, BBC Future, and more.

Learn about our editorial process