Mountain Yoga Week in Lovćen National Park, Montenegro

A typical day starts early, with the sunrise over the mountains before the morning class. That first session is the physical one: asana, pranayama and meditation woven together to wake the body up, build strength and mobility, and set you up for the day. It is held in Ašuma's shala, a large space surrounded by beech forest.

After class comes brunch, a vegetarian buffet drawing on Ayurvedic ideas about eating for balance. The kitchen uses cheeses and produce from local farms, plus herbs and berries that grow wild in the park. The middle of the day is free — walk one of the park trails, take the short trip into Cetinje, use the dry sauna or the traditional one, or go in the cold plunge with the mountains in front of you. There is a tea room, wifi, and coffee, teas, purified water and fresh fruit available throughout.

Afternoons bring the second class, which is quieter: restorative work, mindful movement and subtle breath work, aimed at helping you sleep well. Amelia and Liz have over fifty years of teaching between them and adjust the group classes to the people in front of them, so a stiff shoulder or a bad knee gets worked around rather than ignored. Dinner follows, and on at least one evening the group eats a farewell dinner and celebrates the full moon around the fire pit.

What separates this from a generic yoga week is the two-teacher setup. Amelia is a senior yoga teacher; Liz is a yoga therapist and physiotherapist. That combination means the morning classes can push a bit and the afternoon ones can be genuinely therapeutic, with someone qualified to make that call. The two have been running retreats together for over ten years.

The location is the other difference. Ašuma is glamping, not a hotel — eco-tents with proper bathrooms, spread across 10 hectares so they almost disappear into the trees. You are in a national park with over two hundred bird species and plant species with medicinal and aromatic properties found in these forests and meadows. Lovćen has its own microclimate, milder than the coast below, which is why the evenings are brisk enough for a fire.

A guided walk in Lovćen National Park is part of the package. Two optional group activities cost extra: the Wolf Trail, a mostly flat two-to-three-hour walk through forest and past historic sites where the mountains meet the Adriatic, and a boat trip on Lake Skadar, a UNESCO-listed Biosphere Reserve where you can see turtles, water lilies and hundreds of bird species, with a swim stop before the return.

What's included

- 7 days glamping accommodation in a single, twin-share or four-person eco-tent - Well-equipped bathroom in each tent - Two vegetarian meals daily: brunch and dinner - Two yoga classes each day, morning and afternoon - Use of the dry sauna and traditional sauna - Cold plunge with mountain views - Tea room - Guided walk in Lovćen National Park - Farewell dinner with full moon celebration around the fire pit - Arrival and departure private taxi transfer from Tivat or Podgorica Airport - Wifi - Coffee, teas, purified water and fresh fruit

What's not included

- Flights - Transport to the pickup points at Tivat or Podgorica Airport - Smoothies and extra drinks (order and pay at the lounge) - Optional Wolf Trail walk (extra cost per activity) - Optional Lake Skadar boat trip (extra cost per activity) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses