Top European Retreats for Mind, Body and Soul Rejuvenation

Top European Retreats for Mind, Body and Soul Rejuvenation

In today's fast-paced world, finding time to reconnect with oneself has never been more important. Across Europe, a diverse array of retreats offers the perfect escape to soothe the mind, body, and soul. Whether you're seeking creative inspiration, deep relaxation, or transformative experiences, these carefully selected destinations provide unique opportunities to change your life or simply unwind in beautiful surroundings.

Art and Play in Montenegro

Nestled on a farm outside the stunning Bay of Kotor, the Art and Play holiday in Montenegro centres on pure playfulness. This family-friendly retreat is expertly designed to reignite joy and help participants reconnect with their inner child, making it ideal for solo travellers, couples, and parents with children alike. Creative sessions span a wide range of activities, including dance and painting, while ample time is allocated to enjoy the farm itself—feeding animals, collecting eggs, or helping harvest vegetables for delicious, farm-fresh meals.

Excursions feature hikes to hidden beaches, kayaking adventures, and trips to the historic towns of Kotor and Budva. For those preferring relaxation, there's plenty of time to chill by the pool. Evenings are dedicated to board games, live music, and cosy campfires. Accommodation options are varied, ranging from camping and glamping to charming cabins, a unique treehouse, and a beautifully restored farmhouse.

Creative Ceramics in Greece

Unlock your artistic potential on the week-long Exploring Ceramics retreat on the picturesque Greek island of Aegina. Led by renowned artist Marina Coriolano-Lykourezos, this meditative and playful experience emphasises self-discovery, presence, and sheer enjoyment. With a maximum of six participants per retreat, it offers a hands-on approach, dedicating around six hours daily to exploring clays and techniques in the studio—no prior experience is necessary.

Accommodation is provided in the Grape House or neighbouring Lemon House, both surrounded by lush vines and a pistachio orchard, just a short walk from the studio and Aegina port. The package includes breakfast at home and lunch from local tavernas, along with organised excursions. Aegina Retreats also runs various other workshops and holidays, including painting and creative writing sessions.

Nature Connection in Devon

Founded over two decades ago by Mac Macartney, Embercombe is a 20-hectare rewilding site and educational charity located on the edge of Dartmoor. Its retreats and learning weeks are designed to help visitors reconnect with nature, purpose, and community. The flagship offering is the Journey, a six-day guided retreat focused on reflection, self-discovery, and nature connection, aimed at helping participants identify and act on how they wish to live their lives.

Accommodation consists of shared or private yurts dotted across the site, offering basic yet cosy lodgings. Hearty vegetarian meals are enjoyed feast-style in a communal dining tent. Embercombe welcomes people from all backgrounds, fostering an inclusive environment for personal growth.

Restorative Haven in Andalucía

Highly recommended by the experts at the Global Retreat Company, the Yellow House is a new luxurious sanctuary offering restorative escapes in nature, situated approximately 40 miles north of Seville. Activities extend beyond yoga and meditation to include mindful walks, sound healing sessions, visits to rescue donkeys on an organic farm, and horse-drawn carriage rides.

Accommodation is in the former mayor's house in the pretty village of Higuera de la Sierra—a beautiful six-bedroom refuge featuring original tiles, antique furnishings, and a courtyard with a plunge pool. Food is a standout highlight, focusing on southern Spanish cuisine with dishes like fish stew and stuffed peppers, with options for vegetarians and vegans. This retreat is one of several operated by Iberian Wellness Retreats.

Off-Grid Experience in Mid Wales

Spirit Horse is an off-grid retreat centre set on an 80-hectare rewilding site in a valley in Powys, surrounded by forested mountains, flower-filled meadows, and tumbling waterfalls. Its busy summer programme celebrates both eastern and western traditions, featuring meditation, storytelling, women's and men's circles, and a festival-style "tribal" gathering, all held in Celtic roundhouses, yurts, and temples.

The signature Enlightenment Intensives, held three times a year, cater to those seeking deep self-inquiry through exercises, silent walks, and lectures. This is a place to embrace the wild—there are no hot showers, but natural bathing pools, waterfalls, and a sauna offer refreshing alternatives. Three healthy meals a day are served in the main barn.

Healing with Horses in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Founded by Katherine Beaumont after her recovery from a traumatic accident through meditation and equine interaction, Meditate With Horses offers therapeutic retreats drawing on the benefits of spending time with animals. The week-long Healing on Horseback break in Bosnia is based at a ranch in Livno and includes yoga, meditation, hiking, and equine therapy.

Daily rides provide opportunities to see some of Europe's last wild horses, while activities also include swimming in the river and evenings around the fire. A new trip to Mallorca, featuring meditation, shiatsu, and swimming with horses, launches in November.

Recharge in Portugal

Quinta Marugo is a wellbeing retreat centre in rural Alentejo, southern Portugal, designed to help people slow down and connect with nature. It offers a range of group retreats, from mindfulness in nature to transformational breathwork, or the option to create a bespoke retreat for solo travellers or friends.

The personal four-day Deep Rest Retreat allows guests to recharge in peaceful surroundings, relax by the pool or fire, and enjoy a massage and organic meals from the farm. Optional extras, such as yoga, qigong, and nature connection sessions, can be tailored to individual preferences.

Men's Rewilding in Cornwall

Both Sides Retreats cater exclusively to men, providing space to escape daily stresses and reconnect with purpose and the natural world. Held in locations across the UK and Europe, they combine activities like cold water immersion, martial arts, and bushcraft. The upcoming Men's Summer Rewilding Retreat at Cabilla Cornwall on Bodmin Moor includes yoga, saunas, breathwork, river swims, and walks in an ancient temperate rainforest.

Song and Asana in Turkey

This week-long Zen Yoga, Singing, and Sound Healing retreat in Dalyan, near Turkey's south-west coast, is designed for deep restoration. Run by yoga teacher Jane Morgan Jones and singer Sarah Warwick, it combines yoga sessions with uplifting chants, mantras, and African and indigenous-inspired songs, suitable for all levels.

Additional features include sound baths, meditation, time in nature, a boat trip, and optional massages and hammam visits. Daily Turkish brunch and two vegetarian suppers at the hotel are included. Sarah also runs singing events in the UK, from a four-day retreat in Hampshire to day workshops in London.

Deep Inner Work in Italy

For those seeking profound change, the Path of Love is an intensive week-long programme of deep inner work, held at various locations worldwide. Blending western psychology and eastern spiritual practices, it includes individual and group work, active and silent meditations, writing assignments, and more, all led by psychologists and counsellors.

While challenging, participants often report life-changing results. The Miasto retreat centre near Siena, surrounded by rolling Tuscan countryside, is one venue option.

All prices were accurate at the time of publication, offering a wealth of choices for anyone looking to embark on a journey of wellness and self-discovery across Europe.