Yoga & Culture Retreat on the Adriatic: Dubrovnik & Montenegro

The week is built around two anchors: a yoga class in the morning and another in the late afternoon or evening, with the hours in between given over to the destination. In Croatia, that means walking the city walls of Dubrovnik, taking a boat out to the Elaphiti islands or the neighbouring coast, exploring the old towns on foot with a local guide, and eating at family-run places in the region. On the June 2027 departure, the itinerary also crosses into Montenegro, so you spend time in both countries, including Kotor Bay and a spa day near the end of the week.

The yoga schedule is what you'd expect from a retreat that has run this route repeatedly: a mix of Vinyasa and slower, longer-held styles depending on the teacher leading that week. On a past Croatia departure, the classes were led by Alexa DeRiggs, who teaches Yin, Power, Hatha and Vinyasa. Other weeks have been led by different teachers — check the departure you're booking for who's teaching. Classes are usually held at the retreat accommodation or on a terrace, and the schedule is designed so that people with no yoga experience at all can join.

What separates this from a standard yoga retreat is the amount of actual travelling and eating involved. This is not a week of sitting on a mat at a resort. On a typical day you might do a morning class, drive or walk into the old town, have lunch somewhere local, take a boat, come back, do a second class, and then go out for dinner. The operator describes it as experiencing yoga on and off the mat — practically, that means the sightseeing is treated as part of the retreat rather than an add-on.

The location is the reason people book. Dubrovnik's old town is a UNESCO-listed walled city on the sea, and the surrounding area has vineyards, olive groves and islands within easy reach. Croatia is often called the riviera of Eastern Europe, with Mediterranean weather and food but lower prices than Italy or France. It's also a strong coffee culture, so mornings before class aren't a problem.

The 2027 Croatia & Montenegro week is the upgraded version of the trip, listed as a classic/luxury departure. It includes guided walks in historic old towns in both countries, private boat outings, coastal scenery, and a spa day towards the end. It's also the week to pick if you want a more structured, slightly more polished itinerary than the standard Croatia retreat.

The operator, EAT.PRAY.MOVE, has run this Croatia trip for years as part of a wider portfolio that includes Bali, Tuscany, Morocco, Iceland, India and others. A portion of Croatia trip bookings goes to the Croatian Scholarship Fund, which pays university fees for Croatian students who couldn't otherwise afford higher education. The current student they sponsor is called Erika, and updates about her studies are posted on the operator's blog.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation in Dubrovnik - Daily breakfast - Daily yoga and meditation sessions with a qualified teacher - Guided walks in Dubrovnik old town - Boat excursion to the Elaphiti islands or equivalent - Wine and olive oil tasting in the Pelješac region - Spa day (June 2027 departure) - Day trip to Montenegro including Kotor Bay (June 2027 departure) - Airport transfers - Welcome meeting and group dinners

What's not included

- International flights - Travel insurance - Visas or border fees (if applicable) - Lunches and dinners not listed in the itinerary - Alcoholic drinks outside of included tastings - Personal expenses and shopping - Optional spa treatments beyond the included day - Gratuities