7 Day Surf & Yoga Wellness Escape on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way

The week is anchored by five progressive surf lessons, each one building on the last. Day one covers fundamentals — paddling, popping up, reading the white water. By day five you're working on catching green waves and, depending on your level, linking turns. Lessons happen at beaches about 15 minutes from the lodge, and you'll have proper kit: good boards and eco-friendly wetsuits. After each lesson there's a photo and video analysis session where Alessandro goes through the footage with you and points out exactly what to fix. It's practical feedback, not a lecture.

Yoga happens most days, usually in the lodge's movement room with big windows over Mulroy Bay. The styles vary — Hatha, Vinyasa, restorative, and a few pranayama sessions — and they're timed to complement the surfing rather than compete with it. In the middle of the week there's a guided hike in Glenveagh National Park, a 16,000-hectare stretch of mountains, lakes and woods with a castle and a deer sanctuary at its heart. The afternoon in the sauna is a nice counterbalance to all the cold water.

The lodge itself is a big, comfortable house in the Irish countryside, with two shared bedrooms and two private rooms, all with their own bathrooms. There are two living areas — one doubles as the yoga space and has the kitchen, the other is a proper lounge with sofas, books and board games. Guests consistently mention the welcome from Alessandro and his team, the quality of the surf instruction, and the way the house quickly feels like a shared base rather than anonymous accommodation. The pizza night on day six, where Alessandro cooks in his wood-fired oven, seems to be a genuine highlight.

What's included

- 6 nights luxury accommodation at Winki Surf Lodge - 5 surf lessons with certified instructors - Daily yoga classes - 1 photo/video analysis session - Guided hike in Glenveagh National Park - Breakfast each morning - Water, tea, coffee throughout the day - Free wifi - Use of premium surf equipment and eco-friendly wetsuits

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Airport transfers (shuttle from Letterkenny available at extra cost) - Lunches and dinners - Sauna sessions - Kayaking - Additional activities not listed in the itinerary - Visa fees