Wellness Escape - Yoga and Hiking Week by the Mediterranean

The retreat runs Sunday to Sunday at a restored stone finca near the village of Benimantell, inland from Benidorm in Spain's Alicante province. There are two yoga sessions most days: an active practice (vinyasa or hatha) in the morning before breakfast, and a slower session in the late afternoon or early evening — yin, restorative, or breathwork. Wednesday morning's practice is a rest-day session, shorter and mostly stretching, since the afternoon is left completely free.

The hikes are guided by a local mountain guide and cover two distinct terrains. The Bernia ridge walk follows an old Moorish trail round the north face of the Sierra de Bernia with views to the sea; there's a slightly exposed section with a fixed rope, which the guide sets up for anyone who wants to try it. The Cala del Moraig walk drops down a limestone gorge to a pebble beach with clear water, where you can swim before walking back up. A third walk is a gentler 6km through almond and olive terraces above the Guadalest valley. Transport to the trailheads is included.

What separates this from the dozens of yoga-plus-hiking weeks on the Costa Blanca is the scale — 14 guests maximum, a single teacher who is present for the whole week, and a menu set by a resident cook rather than an outsourced caterer. The finca is also genuinely remote: no other buildings visible from the pool terrace, but the village bakery and two restaurants are a 15-minute walk.

The yoga is taught by the week's lead instructor, who has 12 years of teaching experience and multiple 200-hour and 300-hour certifications (see instructor bio). Classes are held on a wooden deck under a vine-covered pergola facing the valley, with mats, blocks, straps and two bolsters per person provided. If weather turns, there's an indoor studio with underfloor heating on the ground floor of the casa.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation at the finca - Breakfast and lunch daily (and dinner on five nights) - Two daily yoga sessions (morning and late afternoon) - Three guided hikes with a local mountain guide - Transport to and from all hike trailheads - Yoga mats, blocks, straps and bolsters - Saltwater pool, garden and sauna access - Welcome tea and farewell dinner - Wifi in communal areas

What's not included

- Flights to Alicante or Valencia - Airport transfers (available at extra cost) - Travel insurance - Two dinners in the village (Friday and one free evening) - Massages and other spa treatments - Alcoholic drinks - Personal expenses and tips