8 Day Women's Wellness & Yoga Discovery Retreat in Sicily

The retreat is hosted by Yoga Elements & Retreats, founded by 500-RYT Whitney Andrews, and anchored at a villa set inside the only accommodation in Sicily located within an Integral Nature Reserve. The land around the villa is protected, meaning the vineyards, olive groves, and rolling valleys you wake up to are pretty much as nature shaped them. It's quiet, grounded, and a genuine step away from the usual resort experience.

Mornings are unhurried — breakfast, a bit of meditation, then a gentle yoga practice on the villa's deck or among the trees. By mid-morning you're often heading out to explore. The week is structured around immersion, not touring: you ride e-bikes through the temples of Selinunte, join the olive harvest (October is harvest season), watch ricotta being made at a family-run dairy, and cook a multi-course Sicilian meal with local cooks. Each experience is hands-on, the kind that makes the island stick with you.

The variety is part of the point. Palermo's vibrant markets contrast with the quiet medieval streets of Erice at sunset. Trapani's salt pans and windmills feel entirely different from the coastline of the Egadi Islands, where you'll swim and snorkel from a private boat. Evenings often end with yin, restorative yoga, or Yoga Nidra.

Villa life is simple and modern — eco-sustainable design, natural materials, A/C, private bathrooms, and Wi-Fi. There's a terrace jacuzzi for unwinding under the sky after long days. The booking experience is smooth too: free cancellation up to 60 days before arrival, and the host offers the same price everywhere. If you want to extend, an extra night is available as an upgrade.

October is a beautiful window for this — warm days, cooler evenings, quieter than summer. The Mediterranean is usually still swimmable, and the olive harvest is in full swing. You'll come home with more than photos: the rhythms of the place tend to linger.

What's included

- Airport Pickup & Drop-off - 7 nights in a private Sicilian countryside villa - Delicious Sicilian meals featuring fresh, local ingredients - Guided e-bike tour through the ancient ruins of Selinunte - Olive oil and fresh ricotta tasting experience - Guided exploration of vibrant Palermo - Sunset dinner in the medieval hilltop town of Erice - Evening visit to the natural thermal springs - Visit to Trapani's beautiful salt pans - One massage for every guest - Professional photographer capturing moments throughout the retreat - An intimate women’s experience centered on culture, connection, and intentional travel - Traditional Sicilian cooking class and local wine tasting - Private boat day exploring the Egadi Islands with swimming and snorkeling - Daily accessible yoga and meditation practices - Group airport transfers and transportation for scheduled activities

What's not included

- Flights costs - Travel insurance - Additional treatments - Some meals are left open for cultural exploration and will not be included