Italian Riviera Yoga & Hiking Wellness Escape in Cinque Terre

The retreat runs out of Ginepri country house, a restored stone farmhouse and barn in the Lunigiana hills, roughly an hour from Pisa airport and positioned halfway between Cinque Terre and the Versilia coast. The property has a private pool, gardens, a library, and views of the Apuan Alps — it's the kind of place where you can sit on the terrace with coffee and watch the light change on the mountains.

Yoga happens daily with Maité, an E-RYT 500 teacher with nearly twenty years' experience. She teaches Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin, adjusting to the group's level. Sessions are on the terrace or in the garden, depending on weather and mood. The classes are designed to complement the hiking — opening up the body in the morning, winding down in the evening.

Two of the hikes are led by Marco Brizzi, a certified local guide who knows the trails beyond the tourist routes. He takes the group to hidden coves and beaches that don't show up on the standard Cinque Terre itinerary. One day is dedicated to visiting the five villages themselves — Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, Riomaggiore — by train and boat, with time to wander and swim.

The food side is handled by Lilla, who trained at Suryalila in Andalusia and prepares all the daily meals, and Mirco, a local chef and musician who runs a restaurant in La Spezia and comes to the villa for cooking show-dinners. There's also a wine tasting session set in a lemon garden, which is exactly as picturesque as it sounds. Meals are vegetarian at lunch, with broader options at dinner, and the kitchen works with local farms for ingredients.

Léone, the retreat host, doubles as the photographer. She runs a styled photoshoot for each guest — think 'Dolce Vita' fashion shots in Italian settings — and documents the week so everyone leaves with a set of professional images. Optional Thai yoga massage is available from Lilla between activities.

The group size is seven to twelve people, mixed ages from under thirty to over sixty, mostly women but men welcome. Solo travellers make up a good portion of guests. The atmosphere is social rather than silent — meals are shared, hikes are together, and the week is built around collective experience rather than individual introspection.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation at Ginepri country house - 3 daily meals (breakfast buffet, vegetarian lunch/picnics, dinner) - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Welcome drink - Daily yoga classes with E-RYT 500 instructor - Specialized wellness workshops - 2 guided hikes with certified local guide to hidden beaches - Day visit to Cinque Terre villages - Wine tasting experience in lemon garden - 2 cooking show dinners with local Italian chef - Personal Dolce Vita photoshoot - Professional event photography throughout the week - All transportation during retreat (shuttle, train, boat) - Luggage storage on arrival/departure day - Wifi connection - Pool access - Yoga mats and equipment

What's not included

- Flights to Pisa Airport - Travel insurance - Visa fees (if applicable) - Airport transfers (available for €180 per person each way) - Additional spa treatments (Thai yoga massage optional extra) - Activities not listed in the itinerary - Personal expenses and souvenirs