From five-star service with Ayurvedic meals in India to hiking and cold plunges in Sweden, these spiritual sanctuaries offer so much more than a downward dog.

For lovers of luxury

Amanbagh, Rajasthan, India

As the birthplace of yoga, India has an almost magnetic pull for devotees of the practice. But if no-frills ashrams aren’t your style, perhaps madam or sir would prefer a five-star resort? In Rajasthan’s Aravalli Hills, Amanbagh’s rose-coloured cupolas and archways were inspired by a Mughal palace.

The luxury resort offers bespoke yoga and mindfulness immersions that cater to everyone from first-timers to experienced yogis, and span four-day breaks to month-long programs. It begins with a consultation with the resident Ayurvedic physician, who develops a daily itinerary that might include guided sunrise walks, private yoga classes and Ayurvedic abhyanga massages to aid muscle recovery, plus a personalised nutrition plan that uses ingredients from the resort’s organic garden.

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For cold-climate yogis

Shambala gatherings, skinnskatteberg, Sweden

Rewild your soul at this Nordic lakeside retreat, surrounded by dense forests where sightings of wild moose abound. A rotating line-up of meditation and yoga instructors from all over the world lead three- to five-day courses at Shambala Gatherings in Skinnskatteberg, northwest of Stockholm.

Open year-round, you can hike, kayak and swim during the warmer months, but winters, when the landscape is dusted with snow, are particularly magical. In between downward-facing dogs, unfurl in the floating wood-fired sauna before taking a plunge in the icy lake. The retreat runs on renewable energy and meals are organic and vegan.

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For creative spirits 

Sagrada wellness, California, USA

The love child of an architect and an acupuncturist, this family-run ranch is set on 45 acres on California’s Central Coast, between LA and San Francisco. Surrounded by ancient oak woodlands, Sagrada Wellness offers private and communal rooms and cottages, and themed retreats that combine yoga with hiking and meditation, or writing and music.

More laid-back than its counterparts, the emphasis here is as much on having a good time as it is on lunges and forward folds. There’s a saltwater pool and hot tub, and organic vego meals can be enjoyed with a glass of wine because, well, balance is key. 

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For the cool kids

Soma, Byron Bay, Australia

If its slick timber and galvanised-steel building (and geodesic yoga dome) look familiar, you may have seen them in Nine Perfect Strangers, the small-screen adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s eighth book, starring Nicole Kidman. Stretching across 22 acres of Byron Bay hinterland, Soma is as picture-perfect as it gets – and comes complete with freshwater infinity pool, infrared sauna and ice bath.

But it’s more than just a pretty face. Rooted in Vedic philosophy, the retreat is led by meditation and mindfulness expert, Gary Gorrow, who counts Cate Blanchett among his former students. Soma’s three-day yoga retreats combine ancient and modern teachings, Ayurvedic meals and massages in timber-clad cabins.

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