HIGHLIGHTS
* Daily yoga and meditation classes with an experienced teacher
* Staying in a remote village in Svaneti region, getting a taste of Georgian rural life * Hiking on mountain trails to spectacular views of the Caucasus mountains * A daytrip to magical Ushguli village * Attending a local singing and dancing show |
Simple accommodation in a family-run lodging in Lakhushdi Village with a stunning view of Mount Ushba
* Doing yoga on a huge meadow with the view of Mount Ushba * A ten-minute drive away from the center of Mestia * Famous homemade Georgian food prepared by our hosts |
YOU WILL LOVE THIS RETREAT IF...
... discovering unique landscapes and rich history is what you expect from a good holiday
... you want to explore both the countryside and hiking trails of this still mysterious land ... you are curious about yoga and meditation and want to develop your own practice ... you love doing yoga outside in fresh mountain air and a flowering meadow as your mat ... hiking, visiting remote villages, and discovering rich food and wine culture of the region comes close to your idea of a perfect holiday ... you’re craving some nature connection ... you are excited about discovering new tastes of a cuisine that is not so well-known, but it is for sure going to blow your mind ... you love the idea of staying in a simple but cozy family-run lodging with the best view for morning tea and sunset yoga practice that you can imagine ... you are looking forward to having some peaceful me-time, to wind down and reconnect with yourself and nature |
LOCATION
This retreat takes place in the magical landscapes of rural Georgia - under the mighty Caucasus mountains, in between the glaciers, above deep river canyons, on blooming meadows and hills dotted with centuries old stone towers and houses.
Lakhushdi is a picturesque village in Svaneti, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The village offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers, as well as opportunities for hiking and exploring ancient stone towers.. Mestia is only a ten minute drive away and the famous Ushguli Village is an hour and a half away with its dramatic landscape and dreamy towers. Numerous hiking paths start literally in front of our doorstep. With no distractions in sight, it will be an easy task to have time for yourself, contemplate and take care of your needs. |
YOGA & MEDITATION
We will practice yoga two times a day. We will practice outside on a big grassy meadow with a breath-taking view of Mount Ushba. In case of bad weather, we will practice on the roofed terrace of our lodge.
The overall theme of the retreat is embodying our yoga. We all know that yoga reaches much beyond executing certain asanas. During this week we will try to explore and experience how we can bring our yoga practice off the mat and into our daily lives. Marija teaches Hatha yoga, focusing on mindful movement, body awareness, and proper alignment rather than on achieving specific postures. The primary aim of these classes is to better understand your body and the underlying principles of yoga and meditation practice. The classes are organized as workshops, during which we will explore the different physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the practice. To read more about Marija and her teaching style, click here. The retreat is suitable for all levels. Beginners will have the chance to get a taste of yoga and build a strong foundation for their yogic journey. More experienced yogis will deepen their understanding and get some inspiration to further develop their practice. |
PROGRAM
We usually start our morning with an energizing yoga class, which is 90 minutes long. After the class, we will enjoy a well-deserved fresh, delicious brunch. After yoga and food, we set out for one of our daily adventures through Georgian countryside.
* Daily hikes - Lakhushdi Village is perfectly situated to offer easy access to some of Svaneti's best hiking trails. During the week we will go to at least two daily hikes. The length and the difficulty level of the hikes will be adapted to the group. * Daytrip to Ushguli - A day in Ushguli can be spent exploring its ancient stone towers, hiking to nearby glaciers, or simply enjoying the breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains while savoring traditional Svanetian cuisine at one of the local guesthouses. * Exploring our village - Lakhushdi is a picturesque village in Svaneti, renowned for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. The village offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and glaciers, as well as opportunities for hiking and exploring ancient stone towers. * Hiking - Sierra de Tejada offers a network of trails, showcasing picturesque mountain scenery, deep valleys, and the opportunity to explore the diverse flora and fauna of this natural haven right in front of our doorsteps. * Visit to a local winery - Winemaking in Svaneti is a long-standing tradition, with local families producing their own wine using traditional Georgian grape varieties. Depending on the preferences of the group, we can organize a visit to one of the local wineries, enjoy their wine, and learn about their wine-making process. We finish the daily activities with another hour-long yoga class, followed by a mouth-watering dinner. |
TENTATIVE DAILY SCHEDULE 8.00 - 9.30 am - Morning yoga 9.30 am - Breakfast 10.30 am - Hiking/Sight seeing or free time 6.30 - 7.30 pm - Afternoon yoga 7.30 pm - Dinner All activities and classes are optional, and everybody is welcome to skip any of them any time they feel like it. |
STAY
We will spend the week of our retreat in Lakhushdi, a tiny village in the upper Svaneti. This peaceful village is only 15min drive away from Mestia, a lively and busy town.
We will be staying in a very simple family-run mountain lodge with welcoming hosts and most spectacular views of the area. The lodge has 10 rooms, with a mix of en-suite and shared bathrooms. There is also big common living room, a dining room, and a roofed balcony. Right behind the house is a large meadow which we will use as our yoga space. The accommodation is simple but cozy and the best part of is the view and our wonderful hosts. |
FOOD
Two meals a day are included in the price of the retreat: brunch and dinner. It is possible to order lunch at an additional cost, or to have lunch during our visits to Mestia and Ushguli.
The meals will be freshly prepared by a local chef, and made up of local ingredients - local honey, fruits and vegetables, dairy, freshly baked bread every day. We will have the chance to taste many of the famous dishes of Georgian cuisine, adapted to vegetarian diet when needed. All the meals at the retreat will be vegetarian. If you have specific dietary requirements (e.g. vegan, gluten-free, etc.), it is essential that you mention that prior to booking. We will do our best to cater to all of your dietary needs, but we do need to know about them beforehand. |
GETTING THERE
Lakhushdi Village is located in the Upper Svaneti, the most beautiful part of Georgia, but also very remote. There are several ways to reach our retreat location.
WizzAir has flights to Kutaisi from several European cities. We can organize transfer from Kutaisi to the retreat lodge, which will take around 4.5 hours.
From Tbilisi, you can take a train to Zugdidi. From Zugdidi, you can take a local bus to Mestia, or we can organize a group transfer for you from Zugdidi to the retreat lodge. The transfer will take 2.5 hours.
The third option is to take half an hour long inexpensive flight to Mestia. Lakhushdi village is 10km away from the airport. The company operating these flights is VanillaSky. Please bare in mind that there's only one flight per day and that it's not easy to get hold of the tickets so you should consider other options as well.
If you need any assistance or advice regarding your trip to Georgia, feel free to write to us at [email protected]
WizzAir has flights to Kutaisi from several European cities. We can organize transfer from Kutaisi to the retreat lodge, which will take around 4.5 hours.
From Tbilisi, you can take a train to Zugdidi. From Zugdidi, you can take a local bus to Mestia, or we can organize a group transfer for you from Zugdidi to the retreat lodge. The transfer will take 2.5 hours.
The third option is to take half an hour long inexpensive flight to Mestia. Lakhushdi village is 10km away from the airport. The company operating these flights is VanillaSky. Please bare in mind that there's only one flight per day and that it's not easy to get hold of the tickets so you should consider other options as well.
If you need any assistance or advice regarding your trip to Georgia, feel free to write to us at [email protected]
BOOKING
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
* all yoga and meditation classes * 7 nights accommodation * two meals per day |
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
* any additional food or drinks * personal expenses * daytrips and entry tickets * airport transfers |
7 nights half-board
(per person)
Dorm shared by four guests
600 EUR |
Triple room
700 EUR |
Twin or double room
800 EUR |
Single room
950 EUR |
For more information and for special deals, contact us at [email protected]