Alpine Yoga & Hiking Retreat in the Kitzbühel Alps, Austria

The day is built around four practice slots. At 6:30am there's a meditation and mantra session, then at 8am a 90-minute asana class that works through the Sivananda sequence — sun salutations, the 12 basic postures, pranayama and a long savasana. Breakfast is at 10am. From 11am to noon you do karma yoga: chopping vegetables, gardening, cleaning, whatever needs doing. It's not optional if you're on a yoga vacation, but it's light work and most people find it breaks the ice.

Lunch is at 1pm, and then the afternoon is yours until 4pm, when there's another asana class (sometimes a workshop on a specific theme like backbends or inversions). At 6pm there's meditation and chanting, 7:30pm dinner, and 8:30pm a talk or reading on yoga philosophy. Lights out is early — most people are in bed by 10pm.

What makes this different from a beach yoga retreat is the setting. Reith is at around 800m altitude, surrounded by meadows and pine forest. The hiking is serious — you can walk straight from the house up to the Hahnenkamm or over to the Schwarzsee lake. In September the trails are quiet and the light is good. The house has an outdoor platform for yoga when the weather allows, and there's a sauna and a small wellness area.

The teaching follows the Sivananda tradition, founded by Swami Vishnudevananda. That means a fixed sequence, Sanskrit chanting, and a bit of philosophy each day. It's not a fitness-style yoga retreat — there's no HIIT, no weights, no goal-setting. It's closer to a traditional ashram stay, but with comfortable rooms and Austrian food.

The instructors are all trained in the Sivananda system, and many have done the four-week teacher training course that the organisation runs in Tyrol and in India. You'll get hands-on adjustments and clear verbal cues, but the classes are large enough (sometimes 20–30 people) that you won't get individual attention unless you ask.

Most guests are between 30 and 70, and a lot of them come alone. The atmosphere is friendly but low-key — no pressure to socialise, but plenty of chances to if you want to. Alcohol and smoking aren't allowed on the property, and meals are vegetarian.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation - 3 daily vegetarian meals - Daily yoga classes (asana, pranayama) - Daily meditation and chanting sessions - Yoga philosophy talks - Karma yoga (light housework) - Use of sauna and relaxation area - Access to outdoor yoga platform

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Airport transfers (can be arranged for a fee) - Massage and spa treatments - Personal expenses - Laundry