Wild at Heart: Yoga and Adventure in Mavrovo National Park, North Macedonia

Days start with yoga on the balcony, then breakfast at the villa. After that the group heads out — one excursion a day, rotating between hiking, biking, horseback riding and the optional ATV tour. You're back for a second yoga session later in the day, dinner cooked at the villa, and often circle time around the campfire. There are also morning intention-setting sessions built into the schedule.

The hiking day goes to one of the nearby peaks with a guide who explains the local flora and fauna, and includes a stretch of 'forest bathing' in the untouched parts of the national park. The biking day covers the 31 km track around Lake Mavrovo, which sits at 1,200 m above sea level, with deciduous and coniferous forest on all sides and the 1850 submerged church as the stop most people remember.

The ATV option is a one-hour ride through Bistra Forest, after which the group meets at the old Mavrovo tavern for a hearty regional dish. It's organised on request and isn't included in the retreat price. A trip to Galichnik, the best-known village in the national park, with its traditional mountain architecture, is also available on request.

The villa has five rooms across two floors, three bathrooms, two kitchens and living areas, with dining on the second floor overlooking the lake. The balcony is the yoga space; the garden and campfire area are where the group tends to gather. Check-in is 15:00 and check-out 14:00.

What separates this from a standard yoga week is that the excursions are led by locals who know the terrain, and the food is cooked on site from ingredients supplied by surrounding farms and markets. It's a five-day trip, not a fortnight, and the pace reflects that — one big activity a day, with yoga on either side of it.

What's included

- 4 nights' stay at the villa in Mavrovo - Twice-daily yoga instruction - Morning intention-setting sessions - One daily excursion (hiking, biking or horseback riding) - All meals: homemade vegetarian Macedonian cuisine - Fresh herbal teas, coffee, fruit and healthy snacks during the day and on excursions - Campfire circle time - Guided hike with local flora and fauna commentary

What's not included

- Travel to and from Mavrovo - ATV tour (organised on request, not included in the price) - Excursion to Galichnik (organised on request) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses