Croatia Island Yoga Escape: Daily Adriatic Practice & Cultural Discovery on Brač

Joanna Dunn has been teaching yoga for years and runs retreats in Croatia, Bali, Costa Rica, and the Pacific Northwest. This one is based on Brač, the largest island in Dalmatia, and is organised with Drishti Journeys. The hotel is a small boutique property where the group takes over the patio for morning practice — the same patio where everyone gathers before breakfast.

A typical day starts with an all-levels practice that builds in complexity through the week. Joanna teaches with an emphasis on listening to your body rather than pushing into poses, and she offers modifications for every level. Complete beginners, experienced yogis, and people in their 70s have all come on these trips — some participants choose not to do any yoga at all and just come for the island. Evening sessions are gentler and restorative, usually before dinner.

Afternoons are unstructured. Most people swim in the clear water near the hotel, walk into town, or join an optional excursion. The group takes boat or van trips to nearby historic villages on the island, visits an olive oil producer to see the centuries-old pressing method, and eats long lunches of Mediterranean dishes. On some days nothing is scheduled at all — you can stay local or take a bigger trip off the island.

Dinners are at local konobas, the traditional Dalmatian restaurants, and are included in the retreat. The food is Mediterranean — grilled fish, local vegetables, olive oil from the island, and wine. Meals are a social part of the trip, often running long with people talking and laughing.

What sets this apart from a generic yoga holiday is the combination of a genuinely accessible teaching style and a location that most tourists to Croatia never see. Brač is quieter than Hvar or Split, and the retreat is built around the island's own rhythm rather than a packed itinerary. Joanna keeps the group small so she can give individual adjustments, and she has run these trips long enough to know which local guides, restaurants, and excursions are actually worth the time.

A past participant put it simply: "This retreat reminded me how good it feels to pause, breathe, and connect with like-minded people in a beautiful place."

What's included

- Accommodation at a boutique hotel on Brač - Daily morning yoga classes on the hotel patio - Regular evening restorative yoga sessions - Breakfast at the hotel - Dinners at local konobas - Mediterranean lunches on scheduled days - Boat or van excursions to nearby historic villages - Olive oil tasting and visit to a local producer - Hosting and teaching by Joanna Dunn

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport and ferry transfers - Travel insurance - Personal expenses and shopping - Optional off-island excursions - Some lunches on free days - Alcoholic drinks beyond those served with included meals - Spa treatments and massages