6-Day New Year Yoga & Hiking Wellness Escape in Sierra Espuña, Spain

Each day at this retreat balances movement and stillness. Mornings kick off with Hatha yoga to wake the body and set a steady tone, while evenings wind down with Restorative yoga and meditation. The practices suit all levels, with options offered so beginners and advanced students alike find their edge. Meditation is woven throughout—from candle-gazing (trataka) to sound meditation—and the daily workshops dig into the annual theme of Light & Lightness without getting too heavy.

What sets this retreat apart is its setting. Rustic Retreats is a 400-year-old stone farmhouse, rebuilt using traditional mud and timber, and runs entirely on solar power from a spring-fed water supply. You'll practice on an open yoga platform on the mountainside, with views over a valley of lemon and orange trees, a meditation cabin, and hammocks strung between pines. The zero light pollution means the night sky is startlingly clear, and the quiet is broken only by birdsong and the occasional rustle of leaves.

The two guided hikes are a real highlight. One takes you deep into the Sierra Espuña national park, where you'll stop for a barbecue lunch cooked over an open fire—a meal that tastes better for the altitude and fresh air. The other, on New Year's Day, is a sunrise hike to a peak aptly named New Year's Peak, where the group greets the first dawn of the year together.

Evenings bring a different kind of magic. There's a movie night under the stars, an ecstatic dance session (which sounds intense but is really just freeform movement in the open air), and the fire ceremony on New Year's Eve, where everyone shares intentions for the year ahead. Aerial yoga and a sound bath round out the week, so you leave feeling not just relaxed but genuinely reset.

The team here is what guests rave about most. Elliot, who's been cooking for over 40 years (check the source for more), prepares all meals from local, seasonal ingredients, and teachers Chrissy and Ben lead with warmth and expertise. It’s a place that feels like a home away from home, where the personal touch is part of the experience.

What's included

- 5 nights accommodation in shared or private rooms - 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals (vegetarian/vegan) - Daily yoga classes (Hatha, Restorative) - Daily meditation classes - 2 guided nature hikes (including 1 with barbecue lunch) - Specialized workshops on Light & Lightness theme - Cooking class - Welcome drink - Water, tea, coffee served throughout the day - Group excursions and activities (movie night, fire ceremony, ecstatic dance, aerial yoga, sound bath) - Pre and post retreat support from the team - Parking - Wifi connection

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments (e.g., massage €70) - All-day snack bar - Transfers to/from Totana - Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase on-site)