Croatia Wellness Retreat: Yoga, Acupuncture & Island-Hopping

Day to day, this is a wellness retreat with a lot of moving parts. Mornings usually start with yoga or guided meditation, followed by a breakfast basket at your villa — fresh pastries, fruit, local cheeses, coffee. On some days there's an acupuncture session (Melissa practices on guests using the same gentle needling technique she uses in her clinic) or a massage. One afternoon is set aside for a group sound bath. The rest of the day is given to exploring: an e-bike ride, a beach stop, a hike, a wander through an ancient olive grove, or a boat trip to a neighbouring island.

Evenings matter here. Five dinners are included across the week, two of them at Michelin-starred restaurants. The rest of the time you're free to book your own table, order in, or join an optional group meal. The retreat moves between two bases: the first stretch at the Plant Villas on Pag, then a transfer to Hvar, where the hotel sits with sea views and an optional spa. It's a schedule that expects you to show up for the wellness sessions and group outings but doesn't fill every hour.

The Korčula add-on (June 27–30) suits people who want a slower finish. Korčula's old town is walled and compact, with quiet coves a short walk out. You'll be responsible for your own time there, though Melissa and Steve typically stay on and can point you toward restaurants and swimming spots. Accommodation for the extra nights is picked from garden or sea-view doubles.

What separates this from a standard yoga week is the food and the logistics. Two Michelin dinners and a handful of other top-rated local restaurants are built into the price, and every transfer — including airport pickups from Split and the ferry or drive between Pag and Hvar — is handled. Melissa's background is in acupuncture rather than fitness instruction, so the wellness programming leans toward traditional treatments and restorative practice rather than high-intensity training. If you're after a bootcamp, this isn't it; if you want a well-fed week of yoga, bodywork and island-hopping with a small group, it's a strong fit.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation (Plant Villas on Pag and boutique hotel on Hvar) - 5 dinners, including 2 at Michelin-starred restaurants - Gourmet breakfast baskets on Pag and hotel breakfasts on Hvar - Daily yoga and guided meditation - Acupuncture sessions with host Melissa Vidaic - Massage therapy session - Relaxation sound bath - Group outings: e-biking, hiking, beach exploration, olive grove tour, island hopping - Boat excursion - Transfer from Split airport on arrival - Transfer back to Split airport at the end - Transfer from Pag to Hvar - Retreat host Melissa and co-host Steve throughout

What's not included

- International and domestic airfare - Travel insurance - Lunches (except breakfast baskets and included dinners) - 2 dinners not specified in the package - Alcohol - Optional additional excursions - Additional spa services - Boat tour extras - Over-water beach cabana rental - Room upgrades - Personal expenses and gratuities - Korčula extension (booked as a separate add-on)