Best Yoga Retreats in the World: From Budget Ashrams to Luxury Escapes

Why a Yoga Retreat Is Not Just a Vacation

A yoga retreat strips away the noise. No emails, no commute, no decisions about what to eat (meals are usually provided), and no distractions from the single purpose of the trip: showing up on a mat, breathing, moving, and sitting in stillness. Whether you practice daily or have never touched a yoga mat, a well-chosen retreat can be a reset button for your body and your mind.

The global wellness tourism industry is valued at over $800 billion, and yoga retreats are one of its fastest-growing segments. Prices range from $10 a day at an Indian ashram to $10,000 a week at a luxury resort in the Maldives. This guide covers 20 of the best retreats across the spectrum, with specific details on yoga styles, pricing, what is included, duration, and the intangibles that make each one worth the journey.

How to Choose the Right Retreat

Before diving into the list, here are the key questions to answer:

Yoga Style

• Hatha: Gentle, foundational. Holding poses with an emphasis on alignment and breath. Best for beginners and those seeking a meditative practice.
• Vinyasa (Flow): Dynamic, linking breath to movement. Moderate to vigorous intensity. Best for those who want a physical workout.
• Ashtanga: Rigorous, set sequence of postures performed in the same order every session. Physically demanding. Best for disciplined practitioners.
• Yin: Slow, holding floor-based poses for 3 to 5 minutes to stretch deep connective tissue. Best for flexibility and recovery.
• Kundalini: Combines movement, breathwork (pranayama), meditation, and chanting (mantra). Focuses on energy work. Best for those interested in the spiritual dimension of yoga.
• Iyengar: Precision-focused, using props (blocks, straps, bolsters) for exact alignment. Best for injury recovery and those who want technical depth.
• Restorative: Completely passive, using props to support the body in comfortable positions for extended holds. Best for stress relief and burnout recovery.

Duration

• Weekend retreats (2 to 3 days): Good for a first retreat or a regular reset. Common in the US and Europe.
• Week-long retreats (5 to 7 days): The most popular format. Enough time to establish a routine and feel meaningful change.
• Multi-week immersions (14 to 30 days): For serious practitioners or those pursuing teacher training (200-hour YTT programs typically require 21 to 28 consecutive days).
• Open-ended ashram stays: Some ashrams in India allow stays of any length, from a few days to several months.

Budget vs. Luxury

Category	Price Range (per day, all-inclusive)	What to Expect
Budget Ashram	$10-30	Shared dormitory, vegetarian meals, 4-6 hours of practice daily, basic amenities
Mid-Range Retreat	$80-200	Private or semi-private room, healthy meals, 2-3 yoga sessions daily, some excursions
Luxury Retreat	$300-800	Private villa or suite, gourmet meals, personal instruction, spa treatments, scenic location
Ultra-Luxury	$800-1,500+	All of the above plus private chef, bodywork, holistic health consultations, secluded property

The 20 Best Yoga Retreats in the World

1. Parmarth Niketan -- Rishikesh, India

Style: Hatha, Meditation, Pranayama

Duration: Open-ended (minimum 1 night)

Cost: Donation-based (suggested 500 to 1,500 INR per day, approximately $6 to $18 USD, including room and meals)

What Is Included: Shared accommodation, three vegetarian meals daily, morning and evening yoga and meditation classes, evening Ganga Aarti ceremony on the banks of the Ganges

Rishikesh is the "Yoga Capital of the World," and Parmarth Niketan is the largest ashram on the Ganges, housing over 1,000 rooms. The experience is communal and stripped-down: you rise before dawn, attend chanting and meditation, practice asanas in an open-air hall overlooking the river, and eat simple but nourishing vegetarian meals in a communal dining hall. The evening Ganga Aarti -- a fire ceremony on the riverbank with hundreds of participants -- is deeply moving regardless of your spiritual background.

Best For: Budget travelers, spiritual seekers, those interested in traditional yoga and Vedic culture.

Book Through: parfrmarth.org or simply show up (walk-ins are accepted, though booking ahead is recommended for peak season from October through March).

2. The Yoga Barn -- Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

Style: Multi-style (Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Kundalini, Ecstatic Dance, Sound Healing)

Duration: Drop-in classes or multi-day packages (5 to 21 days)

Cost: Drop-in class 150,000 IDR ($10 USD); 5-day retreat packages from $500 to $1,200 depending on accommodation level

What Is Included: Varies by package. The retreat center offers classes, workshops, healers, an on-site restaurant (Kafe), and accommodation referrals.

The Yoga Barn is less a single retreat and more an ecosystem. Nestled in the rice paddies of Ubud, it offers 15 or more classes daily across multiple studios, from sunrise meditation to evening ecstatic dance. You can design your own schedule or join a structured retreat program. Ubud itself is a hub for wellness, with dozens of cafes, healers, and nature walks within walking distance.

Best For: Independent practitioners who want flexibility, first-timers exploring different styles, digital nomads combining work and practice.

Book Through: theyogabarn.com

3. Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram -- Neyyar Dam, Kerala, India

Style: Classical Sivananda (Hatha-based with pranayama, meditation, and philosophy)

Duration: Minimum 3 days; Yoga Vacation program is open-ended; TTC (Teacher Training Course) is 4 weeks

Cost: Yoga Vacation from 700 INR/day ($8 USD) for a dormitory bed, up to 2,800 INR/day ($34) for a private room. TTC: $2,250 USD (includes accommodation, meals, and training).

What Is Included: Two yoga classes, two meditation sessions, two vegetarian meals, satsang (chanting and lecture), accommodation

The Sivananda tradition follows a strict daily schedule based on five principles: proper exercise, proper breathing, proper relaxation, proper diet, and positive thinking/meditation. The ashram sits in the forested hills of Kerala, beside a dam and wildlife sanctuary. Monkeys, elephants (occasionally), and tropical birds are regular visitors.

Best For: Those seeking a disciplined, traditional practice; aspiring yoga teachers (the Sivananda TTC is one of the most recognized in the world).

Book Through: sivananda.org.in

4. Blue Spirit -- Nosara, Costa Rica

Style: Multi-style (Vinyasa, Yin, Restorative, Meditation, Breathwork)

Duration: 5 to 10-day retreats; some are week-long teacher trainings

Cost: From $1,300 to $3,500 per person for a week, depending on accommodation (shared dorm to private ocean-view room)

What Is Included: Accommodation, three organic meals daily, two yoga classes daily, access to healing arts center and pool

Blue Spirit sits on a hilltop above Playa Guiones, one of Costa Rica's best surf beaches. The retreat center hosts a rotating roster of international teachers, so the style and focus change week to week. The property includes a saltwater pool, spa, and open-air yoga shalas with jungle and ocean views. The combination of surfing, yoga, and tropical nature makes Nosara one of the world's great wellness destinations.

Best For: Those who want yoga plus active outdoor experiences (surfing, hiking); couples and groups with different interests.

Book Through: bluespiritcostarica.com

5. Kamalaya -- Koh Samui, Thailand

Style: Multi-modality wellness (yoga, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda, detox, emotional well-being)

Duration: 3-day to 14-day wellness programs

Cost: From $2,500 to $8,000+ per person for a week, depending on program and room type. Entry-level "Ideal Weight" and "Stress & Burnout" programs start from $2,800/week.

What Is Included: Accommodation in hillside suites, healthy cuisine (multiple dietary options), daily yoga classes, wellness consultations, treatment sessions (number varies by program), access to pool, fitness center, and plunge pools.

Kamalaya is a world-class wellness resort built around a cave once used by Buddhist monks for meditation. It consistently wins "Best Wellness Retreat in the World" awards from Conde Nast Traveller and Travel + Leisure. The programs are holistic and personalized, blending yoga with naturopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and modern Western medicine.

Best For: Those seeking a comprehensive wellness reset, not just yoga. Post-burnout recovery. Those willing to invest for a life-changing experience.

Book Through: kamalaya.com

6. Absolute Sanctuary -- Koh Phangan, Thailand

Style: Vinyasa, Hatha, Pilates, Detox

Duration: 3 to 14-day programs

Cost: Detox programs from $1,200/week; yoga retreat packages from $900/week for a shared room, $1,400 for a private pool villa.

What Is Included: Accommodation, healthy meals, daily yoga sessions, detox juices (on detox programs), fitness classes, pool access.

Koh Phangan is famous for its Full Moon Party, but the island's quieter northern coast has become a major wellness hub. Absolute Sanctuary offers a Moroccan-inspired hilltop property with sea views, a Pilates reformer studio, and structured detox programs that combine yoga, clean eating, and colonic hydrotherapy.

Best For: Those combining yoga with a physical detox or weight management program.

Book Through: absolutesanctuary.com

7. Six Senses Ibiza -- Spain

Style: Vinyasa, Hatha, Breathwork, Sound Healing

Duration: 3 to 7-day programs

Cost: From approximately 4,000 EUR ($4,350 USD) for a 3-night wellness immersion, including accommodation, meals, treatments, and yoga.

What Is Included: Luxury suite accommodation, organic meals, personalized wellness screening, daily yoga, spa treatments, and access to all resort facilities.

Six Senses brought its global wellness expertise to Ibiza's quieter north coast, creating a luxury wellness resort that is worlds away from the island's party reputation. The property includes an extensive spa, outdoor yoga decks overlooking the Mediterranean, and a biohacking lab with cryotherapy, hyperbaric chambers, and IV nutrient drips.

Best For: Luxury travelers who want cutting-edge wellness alongside traditional yoga. Those who want to combine a beach vacation with serious wellness programming.

Book Through: sixsenses.com/ibiza

8. Amansala -- Tulum, Mexico

Style: Vinyasa, Bikini Bootcamp (a signature program combining yoga, circuit training, and beach activities)

Duration: 3 to 7-day packages

Cost: From $1,800 to $3,500 per person for the Bikini Bootcamp 6-day program, depending on room type.

What Is Included: Beachfront accommodation (eco-chic cabanas), three healthy meals, two yoga classes daily, group fitness sessions, kayaking or paddleboarding, spa treatments.

Amansala coined the "Bikini Bootcamp" concept: a blend of yoga, high-intensity fitness, clean eating, and beach activities designed to leave you feeling energized and toned. The property sits directly on Tulum's white sand beach, with open-air yoga platforms facing the Caribbean. Tulum itself has become a global wellness destination, with cenotes (natural swimming holes) and Mayan ruins within cycling distance.

Best For: Active travelers who want yoga blended with fitness; groups of friends; those drawn to Tulum's bohemian-luxury atmosphere.

Book Through: amansala.com

9-12: Asia Continued

9. Shreyas Retreat -- Bangalore, India

Style: Hatha, Ashtanga, Pranayama | Duration: 3-night minimum | Cost: From $350/night all-inclusive

One of India's most luxurious yoga retreats, set on 25 acres of organic gardens outside Bangalore. Maximum 24 guests. Private yoga instruction, Ayurvedic treatments, cooking classes, and volunteering opportunities at local schools. Named "Best Yoga Retreat in the World" by Conde Nast Traveller multiple times.

10. Como Shambhala Estate -- Ubud, Bali

Style: Multi-style | Duration: 3 to 14-day programs | Cost: From $550/night

A luxury wellness estate set in the jungle above the Ayung River gorge. Resident yoga teachers, Ayurvedic practitioners, and a dedicated wellness team create personalized programs. The infinity pool over the jungle canopy is iconic.

11. Samahita Retreat -- Koh Samui, Thailand

Style: Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Pranayama, Meditation | Duration: 3 to 21 days | Cost: From $90/day including yoga and accommodation

More serious and practice-focused than many Thai retreats. The Ashtanga program follows the Mysore self-practice tradition. The beachfront location, reasonable prices, and strong teaching make it a favorite among committed practitioners.

12. Aro Ha -- Queenstown, New Zealand

Style: Vinyasa, Mindfulness, Functional Movement | Duration: 5-day and 7-day retreats | Cost: From NZD 5,500 ($3,250 USD) for 5 days

A carbon-negative luxury retreat on a remote hillside overlooking Lake Wakatipu. The program integrates yoga with sub-alpine hiking, kayaking, and farm-to-table meals grown on-site. Maximum 32 guests. Architecture and sustainability are integral to the experience.

13-16: The Americas and Europe

13. Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health -- Stockbridge, Massachusetts, USA

Style: Kripalu (a compassionate, self-paced approach), plus guest teachers covering all styles | Duration: Weekend to week-long programs | Cost: From $200/night for a shared room, $350 for a private room (includes meals and yoga classes)

The largest retreat center in North America, housed in a former Jesuit novitiate in the Berkshire Hills. Kripalu runs hundreds of programs annually, from yoga and meditation intensives to creative writing, cooking, and psychology workshops. The teaching staff includes many of the biggest names in Western yoga.

14. Esalen Institute -- Big Sur, California, USA

Style: Various (yoga, meditation, bodywork, psychology, creative arts) | Duration: Weekend to week-long workshops | Cost: From $850 for a weekend workshop (shared accommodation and meals included); $1,800+ for 5-day programs

Esalen is not strictly a yoga retreat -- it is a human potential center that has shaped Western wellness culture since 1962. The cliffside hot springs overlooking the Pacific are open to workshop participants at all hours, and the grounds perched above the Big Sur coast are staggeringly beautiful. Workshops range from Hatha yoga to Gestalt therapy to shamanic practice.

15. Suryalila Retreat Centre -- Cadiz, Spain

Style: Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Restorative | Duration: Weekend to week-long retreats | Cost: From 600 EUR ($650 USD) for a weekend, 1,200 EUR for a week (shared room, meals, and yoga included)

A converted olive mill in the Andalusian countryside, Suryalila hosts visiting international teachers year-round. The saltwater pool, meditation temple, and rolling views of wheat fields and olive groves create a peaceful setting. Nearby Cadiz and the white villages of Andalusia add cultural depth to the retreat.

16. Yoga Rocks -- Crete, Greece

Style: Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga (rotating guest teachers) | Duration: 7-day retreats | Cost: From 800 EUR ($870) for a week (shared room, meals, twice-daily yoga)

A small, intimate retreat on the south coast of Crete, overlooking the Libyan Sea. The yoga deck is perched on a cliff edge, classes are capped at 14 students, and the Greek food is outstanding. Afternoons are free for swimming, hiking the gorges, or visiting Minoan ruins.

17-20: Unique and Off-the-Beaten-Path

17. Ulpotha -- Sri Lanka

Style: Hatha, Ayurveda | Duration: 1 to 2-week sessions | Cost: From $110/day all-inclusive

An off-grid eco-village in Sri Lanka's dry zone, with no electricity, no WiFi, and no hot water. Accommodation is in open-air mud huts. The yoga and Ayurveda programs run during specific seasons (January through March and June through September). This is a radical digital detox as much as a yoga retreat.

18. Findhorn Foundation -- Moray, Scotland

Style: Holistic (yoga, meditation, nature connection, community living) | Duration: Experience Week (1 week) | Cost: From 475 GBP ($595 USD) for a week (includes shared accommodation, meals, and program)

A spiritual community founded in 1962, known for its ecological innovation and communal living model. The Experience Week introduces visitors to the community's practices: meditation, group sharing, working in the organic gardens, and yoga. Not a traditional retreat, but transformative for those open to it.

19. Anamaya Resort -- Montezuma, Costa Rica

Style: Multi-style (Vinyasa, Yin, Aerial Yoga) | Duration: 7-day retreats | Cost: From $1,600/week (shared room, meals, yoga, and waterfall excursion included)

Perched on a cliffside above the Pacific with an infinity pool that appears to merge with the ocean. The property is surrounded by jungle, and howler monkeys provide the morning alarm clock. The combination of yoga, surf lessons, waterfall hikes, and wildlife makes this an active, adventurous retreat.

20. Ananda in the Himalayas -- Uttarakhand, India

Style: Hatha, Pranayama, Meditation, Ayurveda, Vedanta | Duration: 3 to 21-day programs | Cost: From $500/night all-inclusive (accommodation, meals, spa, yoga, wellness programs)

Built in the former palace of the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal, overlooking the Ganges valley and the Himalayan foothills, Ananda is consistently ranked among the world's top destination spas. The Ayurvedic programs are led by physicians, and the yoga is rooted in classical Himalayan tradition. This is the pinnacle of luxury wellness in India.

Booking Platforms for Yoga Retreats

• BookRetreats.com: Largest aggregator with over 10,000 retreats worldwide; user reviews and comparison tools
• RetreatsForMe.com: Curated selection with a focus on quality over quantity
• BookYogaRetreats.com: Good for teacher training programs
• TripAdvisor Experiences: Reviews for established retreat centers
• Direct booking: Always check the retreat center's own website for the best rates and most current availability

What to Pack for a Yoga Retreat

• Yoga mat: Many retreats provide mats, but bringing your own ensures comfort and hygiene. The Manduka PRO ($120) is the gold standard; the Liforme ($140) has alignment markings. For travel, the Manduka eKO SuperLite ($45, 1 kg) folds into a suitcase.
• Comfortable practice clothing: Breathable, stretchy fabrics. Bring at least 3 sets (you will sweat).
• Light cover-up: For meditation sessions, which can feel cool even in warm climates.
• Insect repellent: Essential for tropical retreats (Bali, Costa Rica, Sri Lanka, Thailand).
• Journal: Many retreats incorporate journaling into the program.
• Earplugs and eye mask: Shared accommodation is common at budget retreats.
• Open mind: This matters more than any gear you bring.

Let TripGenie Plan Your Wellness Journey

Choosing a yoga retreat involves matching your intentions, budget, travel logistics, and preferred style to the right program at the right time. TripGenie can help you build a complete trip around your retreat -- including flights, visa requirements, pre-retreat acclimatization (especially important for high-altitude destinations like the Himalayas), and post-retreat exploration of the surrounding region. Let TripGenie handle the planning so you can arrive at your retreat already relaxed.

Final Thoughts

The best yoga retreat is not the most expensive one or the most Instagrammable one. It is the one that meets you where you are. If you have never practiced yoga, a gentle Hatha retreat in Bali or Costa Rica with small class sizes and flexible scheduling is ideal. If you are a committed practitioner seeking depth, an ashram in Rishikesh or a Mysore-style Ashtanga program in Thailand will challenge and inspire you. If you are burned out and need a full-system reset, a luxury wellness program at Kamalaya or Ananda will address body, mind, and spirit with professional care.

Whatever you choose, give yourself permission to disconnect fully. The retreat will work best if you let it.