7-Day Mountain Wellness & Hiking Retreat in the Italian Alps

Mornings begin at 07:30 with a 60-minute yoga class in the garden or, if it's raining, in the converted hayloft above the barn. The teacher, Marta, has run the classes here for nine years and works with whoever turns up, so the class is a mix of people who've practised for years and people who are standing on a mat for the first time. Breakfast follows at 08:45 — bread, local cheese and honey, yoghurt, fruit, eggs on request.

By 10:00 the group is in the minibus or already walking from the door, depending on the day's route. Monday and Thursday are valley-floor walks, mostly flat, through larch woods and past old stone irrigation channels. Tuesday and Saturday are the harder days: Tuesday climbs to Rifugio Bonatti (about 700 m of ascent, 4.5 hours round trip), and Saturday goes up to a 2,600 m ridge with views across to Mont Blanc on a clear day. Wednesday is a rest day with no hike — the guide runs an optional half-day trip to the Roman ruins at Aosta, or you can stay and do nothing. Friday is a shorter walk, finishing in the village by early afternoon so people can visit the market.

The hikes are led by Luca, a qualified Accompagnatore di Media Montagna (Italian mid-mountain guide) who grew up in the next valley. He carries a radio, first aid kit and emergency shelter, and he sets the pace by the slowest person in the group. Groups are capped at 12 on hiking days.

The guesthouse itself is the reason most people come back. It's been in the same family for three generations, the rooms are simple and clean rather than luxurious, and the cooking is what you'd get if you were invited to an Italian family's house for the week — polenta and venison stew, handmade pasta with butter and sage, a vegetable risotto on the meat-free night. Two of the six rooms have balconies facing the mountains; the rest look out over the garden.

What's different from a standard walking holiday is the yoga and the fact that everything happens from one base — you unpack once, walk from the door most days, and eat dinner in the same room each night. There's no moving between hotels. It suits people who want a walking week with a bit of structure and a teacher who'll correct their downward dog, not people looking for a hard mountaineering trip or a party.

What's included

- 7 nights at the family-run guesthouse (private or shared room) - Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner every day - 6 morning yoga classes with Marta - 5 guided hikes with a qualified mid-mountain guide - Group transfers to and from the local train station - Minibus transport to trailheads - Loan of hiking poles - Sauna session on the ridge-walk day - Optional mobility and stretch sessions - Bread-making session at the guesthouse

What's not included

- Flights to Turin, Milan or Geneva - Airport transfers (can be arranged for an extra cost) - Travel and mountain rescue insurance (mandatory) - Single-occupancy supplement for a private room - Wine, beer and other drinks with dinner - Optional half-day trip to Aosta - Laundry service - Personal walking gear and boots - Tips for guide and guesthouse staff