Wellness & Yoga Retreat in the Hills Above Marbella, Spain

Shanti-Som is adults-only and deliberately kept small. With just 15 rooms in Marbella, the atmosphere is closer to staying at a friend's very well-organised house than checking into a hotel. You won't find a lobby full of strangers or a packed breakfast buffet. Instead, there's a group of maybe a dozen people at most, all there for similar reasons.

The daily rhythm centres on twice-daily practice — morning and afternoon sessions of yoga, pilates, meditation or movement, depending on your programme. Classes are small and adapted to individual levels, so it doesn't matter if you've never done yoga before or if you're a decade into a daily practice. The teachers adjust.

Meals are included and built around fresh, seasonal ingredients. Nothing fried, nothing processed. The kitchen handles vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free without fuss — you just mention it when you book. If you're on the detox programme, you'll be on juices and broths, carefully designed to support you through the week.

The spa menu is extensive, and treatments are woven into whatever programme you choose. Beyond that, you can add extras — more massages, specific therapies, whatever you need. The team will help you build something that makes sense for your goals.

Marbella town is about 20 minutes away if you want trendy shops, a beach club or a good restaurant. But most guests find they don't leave the property much. The pool, the gardens, the mountain quiet — it's enough.

What's included

- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Daily group yoga, pilates or movement classes - Meditation sessions - Selection of spa treatments (programme dependent) - Access to pool and gardens - Wellness team consultations - Take-home guidance and tools

What's not included

- Flights to Málaga - Airport transfers - Beverages - Additional spa treatments beyond programme inclusions - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Gratuities