3-Day Mountain & Lake Wellness Retreat in New Hampshire

The retreat runs over three days and two nights from the Aqua Inn & Spa in Newbury, New Hampshire. You arrive between 3pm and 6pm on day one, get shown your room and the grounds, then meet the other guests for drinks and hors d'oeuvres before dinner. The structure is loose after that — each day has a plan, but the hosts adjust it around the weather and the group's energy, which keeps the weekend from feeling regimented.

Mornings start with breakfast at the inn, followed by a yoga session that moves to a different spot depending on conditions: down by Lake Sunapee, up on Mount Sunapee, in the panoramic rose garden, or alongside the brook. The instructors are Susan, a yoga and meditation teacher who splits her time between the inn and outdoor life, and Jenny, who brings her physical therapy background into the sessions. After yoga, you take the chairlift to the top of Mount Sunapee for the view, then hike one of the trails — the full-day program includes a hike up to a lake within the mountain.

Afternoons are centered on the lake. The itinerary includes a cruise on Lake Sunapee (weather permitting), plus kayaking and paddleboarding at the state park beach. Guests are free to mix it up — swimming, sitting on the beach, or taking one of the other nearby activities like mountain biking or disc golf within a mile of the inn. Early evenings, before or after dinner, you get the sauna, the salt room, or your complementary 30-minute massage and stretching session. Nights wind down around the firepit by the brook or in the sitting areas scattered around the property.

Day three starts with a walk to a prehistoric bog, which has pitcher plants, wild orchids, cranberries and blueberries depending on the season. After that it's back to the inn for brunch, then departure. The inn is at the junction of Lake Sunapee and Mount Sunapee State Parks, which puts hiking, water sports, and quiet forest trails all within a short walk. Extra days can be added on at 40 per night for accommodation only, or $245 for a single room night if you're mid-retreat.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation in a private room - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) plus snacks - Welcome drink - Water, tea & coffee throughout the day - Daily yoga classes - 30-minute massage & stretching session - Chairlift ride up Mount Sunapee - Guided nature hikes - Lake cruise on Lake Sunapee (weather permitting) - Kayaking & paddleboarding (seasonal) - Use of salt room & infrared sauna - Transportation during the retreat - Parking & wifi - Add-on days available

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional spa treatments - Airport transfers (available for a fee)