Wellness Escape with Yoga, Hiking & Lake Adventures in New Hampshire

The retreat is hosted at Aqua Inn & Spa, a small boutique property owned and run by Jenny and Rudi. Jenny is a doctor of holistic health and a physical therapist who cooks many of the meals, and Rudi is a former tour operator who leads the hikes and kayak outings. The two keep the group small, capping it at eight guests, which means each day can bend around the weather and what people feel like doing.

Mornings often begin with yoga, either on the summit of Mount Sunapee, at the lake harbor, or alongside the brook in the garden. Susan, a part-time instructor, teaches a mix of vinyasa and hatha, and the class location changes depending on conditions. Afternoons lean toward water—swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding—or a longer hike to a secluded lake or a historic tundra bog.

A 1.5-hour narrated cruise around Lake Sunapee is a set piece, and guests also visit a lavender farm where they can pick lavender and taste lavender ice cream. Depending on timing, there are optional trips to a glassmaking factory in Vermont, the Hayes estate gardens, Quechee Gorge, and the towns of Woodstock or New London. Evenings wind down with a 30-minute massage (one is included), time in the infrared sauna or salt room, and dinner around the fire pit.

Because the inn is at the junction of two state parks—Lake Sunapee State Park Beach is a seven-minute walk, and Mount Sunapee State Park is ten minutes—you can head out on your own for a hike or a beach afternoon. The property also has a garden with produce that ends up in your meals, and guests are free to make juice or smoothies from the fruit and vegetable bins whenever they want.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) - Snacks throughout the day - Water, tea, and coffee available all day - 30-minute massage (one per guest) - Daily yoga classes - Group excursions and activities, including lavender farm visit, lake cruise, and hikes - Nature hikes with a trusted guide - Use of the infrared sauna and salt meditation room - Welcome drink - Parking - Wifi connection - Transportation during the retreat - On-site juice and smoothie bar ingredients

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments (extra massages, etc.) - Airport transfers (available for an additional fee) - Add-on days - Personal expenses - Alcoholic beverages (not mentioned, but guests may purchase their own)