The Wild Times runs small yoga retreats in the UK, Sweden and Morocco, and this is their Swedish one. The venue is Shambala, a yoga community that started in 2005 as an artists' group living in the forest and slowly opened up to retreat guests. It's still run that way. International volunteers live on site and you'll see them cooking, gardening and sometimes joining the yoga classes. The setup is modest: seven buildings in the woods, two yoga shalas, a dining room, a yurt, a small library, a lakeside deck and a sauna that floats on the lake.

The days are built around two yoga classes. Mornings are vinyasa with meditation at 7.30am (8am on Sunday), and late afternoons are yin at 5.30pm. Thursday night and the first evening also include yoga nidra, a guided lying-down relaxation practice, to help you sleep. Classes run 60 to 90 minutes, there are seven in total, and each is themed around a natural element, so the first day is about the Earth element, grounding and rest. Mats, bolsters, blankets and blocks are provided.

Breakfast is eaten in silence. The idea is that you use it to think, write in a journal or just look at the lake rather than chat. After that you have several free hours before lunch. On Friday and Saturday afternoons there's a workshop, a guided walk or a talk. One is a creative workshop with Celeste Hartley, a UK artist and poet known for small blue ink drawings, and there's also a 'surprise workshop' included in the price.

The lead host is Maya Howell, who teaches vinyasa, yin, restorative and nidra yoga in East London and has hosted Wild Times retreats in the UK, Sweden and Morocco. Her classes give options for every level and she isn't strict about alignment. Expect bent knees, breathwork, poetry and good playlists. The included list also names Jenny Clark (Jen), the founder of The Wild Times, as a yoga teacher, and past guests mention her by name. Hosts can change depending on availability.

What sets this one apart from a typical yoga weekend is the setting. The Bergslagen forest around Skinnskatteberg is one of the best places in Sweden for wildlife. Moose and beavers live around the lakes, and wolves, bears, lynx and owls are seen in the region. The venue runs on 100% renewable energy, and you can go from the sauna straight into the lake. It's simple rather than fancy, and that's the point.

If you're new to Sweden, the hosts suggest adding a night or two in Stockholm before or after, and the welcome pack includes recommendations. The group is capped at 25 guests, and return transfers from Arlanda are included.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation in a shared room, solo room or bell tent - All meals, snacks and hot drinks - Fika (tea and sweet treats) on arrival - Seven yoga classes of 1 to 1.5 hours each - Daily guided meditation - Yoga nidra sessions - Daily sauna sessions in the floating wood-fired sauna - Optional wild swimming in the lake - Paddleboard and canoe use - A creative workshop and a surprise workshop - A bonfire evening - Yoga mats, bolsters, blankets and blocks - Luxury goodie bag - Return transfers between Stockholm Arlanda Airport and the venue - Welcome pack with travel and Stockholm tips

What's not included

- Flights to Sweden - Travel insurance (required) - Massages and treatments - Extra nights in Stockholm - Personal expenses

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