With the plethora of choices you have in yoga retreats, how do you know you are booking a quality yoga retreat? How can you ensure that your next trip exceeds your expectations? Below are 10 key components that you’ll find in common with any quality retreat. Most importantly, when booking your yoga vacation, be sure to do your homework and ask plenty of questions.
Don’t be shy if you’re looking for a LUXURY Yoga Retreat.
Please join us for a wonderful week of yoga & meditation, relaxation, outstanding organic food, sipping the best margaritas of your life, laughing with friends, watching the star-filled sky and falling asleep to the sound of the waves breaking on the beach. You will be staying at the eco-luxury Prana Del Mar Retreat Center in Baja, Mexico less than a half hour from Cabo San Lucas, near the Southern end of the Baja peninsula nestled between the Pacific ocean and the Sierra del Laguna mountains.
This desert oasis offers 15 luxurious guest suites with swimming pool, spa and a beautiful yoga studio. All rooms and suites have polished travertine floors and worktops, custom teak furniture, pillow-top beds, luxury organic linens, daily maid service and organic bathroom products. They also feature large terraces and balconies with ocean views. The two-room suites even feature complete stainless steel/granite kitchens and spacious living room areas. Prana del Mar has been awarded 5 stars by Eco Hotels of The World.
What do rooms look like?
Pictures do the best job of explaining how luxury the rooms are. All rooms and suites have>polished travertine floors and worktops, custom teak furniture, pillow-top beds, luxury organic linens, daily maid service and organic bathroom products. They also feature large terraces and balconies with ocean views.
I would love for you to join our 8 Day Italian Adventure to Tuscany, Italy led by me and International Travel Guide Jacob Young. We are both passionate about Tuscany, have lived in Italy, and are experienced in the culture! We will be guests at Antico Borgo di Tignano recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site focusing on Tuscan traditions. Stay in your own 10th century restored villa with 1, 2, or 3 bedroom options all with private baths. Peacefully nestled into the hills with epic views of Casole d’Elsa and Volterra in the distance, this is the perfect entryway into the Tuscan countryside. We will travel to many famous Art Cities, including: Florence, Monteriggioni, Siena, Radda in Chianti, San Gimignano, Castellina in Chianti, Tignano, Petriolo Natural Hot Springs & Spa, The Mediterranean, Casole d’Elsa, and Colle Val d’Elsa. Many people decide to spend some time after our trip, to build on the foundation, and we highly recommend it!
Come experience personal growth and a retreat like no other where you can investigate the deepest dimensions of your yoga practice with guided journaling and supportive life coaching all while exploring the rich Italian culture by biking, hiking and walking tours. Truly enjoying being under the Tuscan sun as you lie by the pool or stroll the vineyards. Here is an opportunity to celebrate life and experience the infectious enthusiasm Italians have for their country. Frances Mayes, author of Under The Tuscan Sun puts it best: “Life offers you a thousand chances…all you have to do is take one.”
SPECIAL TUSCAN CULTURAL ADVENTURES ON RETREAT:
Day 1: Arrivals Florence, Deplane Yoga, Walking Tour Tignano, Welcome dinner
Day 2: Monteriggioni & Siena afternoon; aperitivo on il Campo
Day 3: Cycling to Colle Val d’Elsa morning, afternoon Radda in Chianti Private Wine Tasting & walking tour, Gelato in Castellina in Chianti
Day 4: Cycling morning Loop Ride back to Tignano, Volterra afternoon walking tour and shopping
Day 5: Cycling morning, San Gimignano, wine and cheese tasting & lunch
Day 6: Morning drive to the Mediterranean relax on the beach, afternoon lunch and visit to Petriolo Natural Hot Springs & Spa
Day 7: Visit Casole d’Elsa, Tuscan Cooking Class, evening dinner party!
Day 8: Final Yoga, Breakfast and Departures
RESERVATIONS:
$500 deposit to hold your spot.
Book now at http://www.alchemytours.com Please email hello@alchemytours.com or call 872-228-9642 (2AT-YOGA)
INVESTMENT: REFER A FRIEND EARN $75
$1999 Triple
$2400 Double
$2700 Single
INCLUDED IN THE TRIP PRICE:
• 7 nights/8 days of accommodation in 1, 2 bedroom apartments with private baths
• Delicious daily breakfast, lunch, dinner and all snacks and drinks for each day’s activities
• Airport transfers
• All day trips and walking tours
• Private wine tours and tastings
• Social hours on select evenings
• Traditional Tuscan cooking class
• Italian language class
• All private transportation during the trip
• Visits with ALL transportation included to Art Cities: Florence, Monteriggioni, Siena, Radda in Chianti, Castellina in Chianti, Tignano, Petriolo Natural Hot Springs & Spa, The Mediterranean, Casole d’Elsa, Colle Val d’Elsa
• Soaking in the healing waters of the Petriolo hot springs
• 12 Yoga classes with Silvia Mordini
• Restorative Yoga
• Guided Meditation Practice and Pranayama
• Partner Yoga
• Goal writing and wellness coaching
• Private evening Dharma talks facilitated by your Guides Jacob and Silvia
• Entrance fees to all group events
• Informational cycling and safety clinic with Jacob Young
• A quality bicycle and an experienced cycling guide with knowledge of the greatest rides in the region
• All gratuities for special events, transfers, lodging and meals.
• A special goodie bag with trip-specific comfort items
• Comprehensive trip literature
NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP PRICE:
Airfare to and from the trip and gratuities for your guides.
WHERE WE WILL STAY
We will be guests at Antico Borgo di Tignano–a classic Tuscan farmhouse which our friend, Gabriella 
has converted into a stylish yoga retreat center. Gabriella guided a team of architects and licensed contractors to renovate this medieval village and now you get to see the completion of her vision. With epic views of Casole d’Elsa and Volterra in the distance, this is the perfect entryway into the Tuscan countryside.
The actual Borgo was a 16th century rural residence. Its original name, Borgo di Tignano, has Roman origins. It is the probable birth-place, in the 4th century, of Saint Attinia, a venerated saint from the Volterra area. Amongst its illustrious guests in the 1800’s, during the time the Borgo was a summer retreat from the ‘Scolopi‘ fathers, was Pope Pius the ninth. This Borgo is overall a place to enjoy with your heart, surrounded by a soft landscape and a peculiar light which often brings back forgotten emotions.
In the local tradition, one says that the Berignone Forest, which faces the Borgo, is what inspired Dante Alighieri to write about the “Selva Oscura”–the location in which his Divine Comedy story starts.
The gardens of the Borgo, with lavendar-lined paths combine with aromatic herbs, juniper hedges, myrtle and evergreens to reproduce a Mediterranean environment. The characteristic ‘Osteria’, which used to be the old olive press, is the ideal place for a romantic candlelight dinner overlooking the amazing countryside, or a light lunch on the panoramic terrace.
A beautiful, large swimming pool and lounge area welcome you to get the most out of the sun. There is a reading room that also has a wireless internet point. There is a golf course within 30 minutes drive from the Borgo.
THE YOGA SPACE
The yoga room is a large room (about 90 square meters) with tile floor and natural light.
MEALS
Gabriella is not only a great architect, but she is also an amazing chef. She takes joy in delighting your palate with her favorite, local dishes–which is the best way to discover the authentic, Tuscan cuisine.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation is in apartments with one, two or three bedrooms; all bedrooms have private bath.
All the apartments are independent, personalized and fully furnished, with ample garden and terrace areas for leisure. The perfume of flowers and plants surround the swimming pool.
*Visit http://www.alchemytours.com/2011/01/tuscany-2013/ for more details
Are you looking for paradise?
Well, we’ve found it and want to share it with you! Come experience a retreat like none other on the famous “Green Island!” Right next to the more famous Isle of Capri, the greener sister Island of Ischia (pronounced Iss-Key-Ah) has a more natural, untouched feel. As one of the world’s first health spa destinations, Italians (and Romans, before that) in the know would flock to Ischia to indulge in its mineral-rich volcanic mud and waters. Today, Italian 
Doctors literally prescribe time here to reap the benefits of bathing in the healing springs. Just off the Amalfi Coast, Ischia boasts natural wonders such a dormant volcano, lush gardens, thermal spas, clear beaches, ancient ruins, and endless views across the Bay of Naples.
We will be guests at the pristine Villa Lina, which is situated perfectly on a quiet nestle of olive trees and overlooks the Mediterranean. Soak in the incredible pool—filled with the famous thermal waters from an aquifer 150 meters below the island. Relax on the panoramic sun decks with breath-taking views. Take time to stroll the olive grove and lemon tree-lined terraces, gardens, and hiking trails to the beach. We will hold twice daily yoga classes in one of two amazing yoga spaces (one indoor and one outdoor), both overlooking the sea and lush vegetation.
But we will enjoy so much more than just yoga! We will ride Vespas to visit ancient port villages (such as the picturesque Castello Aragonese). Enjoy artisanal shopping in Ischia Porto. Look for the famous thermal mud bath treatments, rucolino liquors, lemon candies, or the handmade sandals. We will watch the sun rise from Monte Epomeo, and enjoy a hike to the natural thermal seaside cave of Baia di Sorgeto. Visit the lovely town of Sant’ Angelo and spend a day at one of Ischia’s popular thermal spa parks where you can hop from pool to thermal pool experiencing various temperatures, ancient therapy techniques, and opt for some treatments like a massage or facial. The week will end with an exciting boat ride to Capri, where we will see the hidden beaches and grottos where we will swim where the romans did, in the ancient ocean waterfalls.
In addition to all its natural wonders, one of the most appealing things about Ischia is the hospitality of the people themselves. You’re sure to enjoy the island’s welcome and relaxed way of life during your stay.
SPECIAL WELLNESS PROGRAMS DURING OUR 7 DAYS:
Day 1: Arrivals Naples, Ferry to Ischia, Evening Yoga, Welcome Social Hour and dinner
Day 2: Ischia Porto: Visit to the Castello Aragonese, shopping, beach
Day 3: Ride motos to Baia di Sorgeto (open thermal beach) and visit Forio
Day 4: Wellness Day at Thermal Spa Park with 10 pools, Cooking class
Day 5: Hike to Mount Epomeo and enjoy amazing overlooks and historic cave dwellings, Visit seaside town of Sant’ Angelo, sunset aperitivo & wine tasting
Day 6: Boat Ride to Capri and island grottos
Day 7: Final Yoga, Breakfast and Departures to Naples
SAMPLE DAILY AGENDA
8:00am-9:15am Yoga
9:30am-10:30am Breakfast
10:30am–12:00pm Free time to relax at the villa
12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm-6:00pm Special trips
6:30pm-7:30pm Yoga
8:00pm-9:30pm Dinner
RESERVATIONS:
$500 deposit to hold your spot. Book now at http://www.alchemytours.com
INVESTMENT:
$2,400 Double per person (shared room, private bath)
$2,700 Single per person (private room, private bath)
INCLUSIVE RETREAT PRICE:
• 7 days and 6 nights private Villa accommodations (spacious bedrooms each with private bathrooms, linens)
• All meals (one lunch will be on your own, to explore)
• Beverages during meals – including wine!
• Transfer from Ferry
• Use of estate premises (terraces, pool, beach access, etc.)
• Two Daily Yoga Classes and Evening Group Activities
• Scenic boat tour, visit to Capri
• All day trips and walking tours
• Private wine tasting
• Traditional cooking class
• Soaking in the healing waters of Baia di Sorgeto
• Visits to Thermal Spa Park with 10 pools
• Sunrise Hike to Mount Epomeo
• Trip to Sant’ Angelo for an amazing sunset
• A moto on select day
• Entrance fees to all group events and activities
• All transportation during the trip
• Comprehensive trip literature
• Use of yoga mats
• Taxes
NOT INCLUDED IN TRIP PRICE:
Airfare to and from the trip, extra excursions and gratuities for your guides.
WHERE WE WILL STAY THE ISLAND OF ISCHIA
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Bay of Naples on the mid-southeastern coast of Italy. Located 30km from Naples mainland, it measures just 34km in diameter and is profiled by Mount Epomeo peaking at 788 meters above the sea. Historically, the island has been inhabited by the Greeks, Syrausansa, Romans, Heruli, Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Normans, Saracens, Turks, and Aragonese, and plenty of ruins remain to suggest the lineages of these colonies. With its wonderful climate, nice location from the mainland, and richness of therapeutic hot-springs, it’s not hard to see why it was a landscape worth fighting over!
Nicknamed the “Green Island”, Ischia was one of the world’s first health spa destinations. For centuries people have flocked to Ischia to indulge in its volcanic muds and waters rich with healthful minerals. Doctors even prescribe stays here to reap the benefits of bathing in the healing springs. In addition to all its natural wonders, one of the most appealing things about Ischia is the hospitality of the people themselves. You’re sure to enjoy the island’s welcome and relaxed way of life while during your stay.
ACCOMMODATIONS THE VILLA LINA
This yoga retreat will be hosted at the beautiful Villa Lina. An “agriturismo”, Villa Lina is a country villa situated perfectly on a plantation of olive grove and citrus overlooking the Mediterranean. The property boasts two pools, one of which is filled with the famous thermal waters of the island, and the other with sea water.
A private location, the Villa is nestled in gardens of flowers, olives, palms, and lemon trees. Rooms are nicely furnished with balcony or terrace with sea view. Positioned between the beautiful villages of Forio and Sant’ Angelo, this location is perfect for a hike to Mount Epomeo, the Baia di Sorgeto, and one of the island’s most famous thermal spas.
Lovingly run by Nicola, one can easily see the care and passion put into the villa and the respect of the land of the estate. This property is a piece of paradise and an oasis of pure nature.
THE YOGA SPACE
The indoor yoga room is a large studio (about 90 square meters) with tile floor and natural light. It has a beautiful view of the ocean. The outdoor yoga space is about the same size and also boosts a tremendous ocean view.
CUISINE
Nicola is also an amazing chef and he will delight you with typical dishes and you will have a chance to discover the authentic Ischian cuisine. Healthful, vegetarian and pescaterian food is part of the retreat experience, and while eating at Villa Lina you’ll enjoy typical cuisine of Ischia prepared by the Chef, all with the freshest of produce and ingredients. Vegetables come from the on-site gardens or other farmers on the island, and of course you’ll enjoy some of the best local wines. Selection is seasonal, and you can guarantee to love and appreciate each bite. Special diets can be accommodated as well.
SURROUNDING AREA
Not only will you enjoy the grounds of Villa Lina with the sundecks, terraces, gardens, thermal pools, and yoga space, but the retreat also includes carefully-planned day-trips to offer guests a full experience of Ischia. The island is full of various natural wonders, from a dormant volcano, lush gardens, and rich agriculture, to thermal spas, clear beaches, ancient ruins, and endless views across the Bay of Naples.
We will visit the village of Ischia Ponte for a visit to the picturesque Castello Aragonese and artisanal shopping in Ischia Porto. Look for the famous thermal mud bath treatments, rucolino liquors, lemon candies, or the handmade sandals. A day will be spent hiking to Monte Epomeo for unparalleled views across the island, as well as a hike to the natural thermal seaside cave of Baia di Sorgeto. We’ll also visit the lovely town of Sant’ Angelo and spend a day at one of Ischia’s popular thermal spa parks where you can hop from pool to thermal pool experiencing various temperatures, ancient therapy techniques, and opt for some treatments like a massage or facial. The week will end with an exciting boat ride to Capri and around the island seeing the hidden beaches and grottos.
HOW TO GET THERE?
You will fly into Capodochino Airport (NAP – Naples). Alternatively you could fly into Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO – Rome) and take the train to Naples.
You will depart for Ischia from Naples through the Port of Naples. We will meet you in Ischia with two options are to arrive in at either of these Ferry Docks: Ischia Porto (most frequent stops) or Forio (closer to villa). The Villa Lina is located in the countryside of Panza in the area of Forio, Ischia
WHERE WE WILL STAY WHILE ON TUSCANY YOGA RETREAT:
We will be guests at a classic Tuscan farmhouse converted into a stylish yoga retreat, Gabriella’s Borgo which is located in Tignano, a recently renovated medieval village, close to Casole d’Elsa and Volterra, in the Tuscan countryside. The wonderful host, Gabriella, will charm and welcome you at arrival as if seeing an old friend again.
The actual Borgo used to be a rural residence dating back to the 16th century. Its original name, Borgo di Tignano, has Roman origins. It is the probable birth-place, in the 4th century, of Saint Attinia, a venerated saint from the Volterra area. Amongst its illustrious guests in the 1800’s, during the time the Borgo was a summer retreat from the ‘Scolopi‘ fathers, was Pope Pius the ninth. This Borgo is overall a place to enjoy with your heart, surrounded by a soft landscape and a peculiar light which brings back forgotten emotions of interior freedom. It’s also a place, where one can experience a genuine Tuscany, with its tradition and land culture.
In the local tradition, one says that the Berignone Forest, facing the Borgo, is the one that inspired Dante Alighieri to write about the “Selva Oscura” where his Divine Comedy story starts.
The gardens of the Borgo, with paths lined with aromatic herbs, juniper hedges, myrtle and evergreens, reproduce a Mediterranean environment. The characteristic ‘Osteria’, which used to be the old olive press, is the ideal place for a romantic candlelight dinner overlooking the amazing countryside, or a light lunch on the panoramic terrace.
The swimming pool is available during the warm months (May through September) and it is 16 x 8 meters large. There is a reading room that also has a wireless internet point. There is a golf course within 30 minutes drive from the Borgo.
YOUR ACCOMMODATIONS
Accommodation is in apartments with one, two or three bedrooms; all bedrooms have private bath.
All the apartments are independent, personalized and fully furnished, with ample garden and terrace areas for leisure. The perfume of flowers and plants surround the swimming pool. There is beauty all around!
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Dear Friends,
We travel the world researching and trying out various places, retreat centers, speciality locations to bring you the BEST. And we are happy to say that we are proud to support 3 of the top 10 yoga retreat centers according to Yoga Journal. And Haramara is considered 1 of the top 5 most luxurious!
You’ll find us at Haramara Retreat Center March 23-30, 2013!
LINK TO HARAMARA: http://www.haramararetreat.com/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=108&Itemid=117&year=2013&month=03&day=30&title=alchemy-tours-yoga-a-adventure&uid=66ae885283cab0212918a459c1e7d656
Here’s what Yoga Journal had to say about Haramara:
Sayulita, Mexico
A Huichol word, haramara means “mother sea,” the place where everything comes from, says owner Sajeela de la Borbolla. And with its warm, familylike atmosphere and fresh gourmet cuisine, this gracious retreat center does feel like the source of something sacred. “You’re taken care of from the moment you arrive,” says Ashtanga Yoga teacher Peggy Orr, who has led nine retreats here. Located just 40 minutes from Puerto Vallarta on the Riviera Nayarit;a 
sleepy stretch of coast dotted with resorts, the property includes a private beach and 12 acres of tropical jungle.
The yoga space is an open-air, thatched palapa with a 360-degree view of the ocean and rainforest. Guests stay in simple but beautiful palm-thatched casitas, with open-air walls on three sides that invite in the ocean breeze and the sounds of the pounding surf. Charming bathrooms, oil lamps, and canopy beds with handmade quilts complete the look—a blend of rustic and elegant that Orr describes as “Robinson Crusoe meets Architectural Digest.”
Don’t Miss: The homemade granola at breakfast, the spectacular moles at lunch, and the just-caught seafood at dinner—plus VIP treatment by the chef, who will prepare a meal based on your dietary needs.
Alchemy Tours 