Wim Hof Winter Wellness Escape on Lake Lipno, Czechia

The retreat runs from Monday to Friday, with the core Wim Hof training packed into three full days. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday each include guided breathwork sessions, mindset training, workshops on the science of the method, and the day's main cold exposure practice. The lake plunges are the centerpiece—you walk from the annex to the lake's edge, step into the freezing water, and then warm up in the group's private lakeside sauna. This is the moment most guests say they're most nervous about, and the one they're most proud of afterward.

Radek and Charlie (known as 'Mr and Mrs Ice Bath') are both certified Wim Hof Instructors with a combined 30+ years of teaching experience between them. Radek came to the method after decades of struggling with asthma and allergies—he now uses cold exposure, breathwork, and mindset work to control the condition. Charlie is a former secondary school teacher and fitness instructor with a background in endurance sports. Together they've developed a mindset coaching course that runs alongside the physical training, helping guests work through their hesitations and extend their comfort zones.

The setting is the Hotel Resort Relax in Dolní Vltavice, a tiny hamlet on the shores of Lake Lipno, at the foothills of the Šumava Mountains. The hotel is a 4-star property with a full wellness center: indoor swimming pool, outdoor hydromassage whirlpool, Finnish sauna, bio sauna, aroma steam room, plus cooling buckets and an outdoor cold plunge pool. The group has exclusive use of a private apartment annex with a multifunctional space for breathwork and theory sessions, complete with glass sidewalls overlooking the lake. Meals are served in the main hotel, and lunches sometimes take place at off-site restaurants depending on the day's activities.

This is a winter retreat through and through. Daytime temperatures hover around freezing, dropping as low as -15°C at night—exactly the conditions the method is designed for. The itinerary includes one guided hike up Kramolín Mountain with a traditional Czech 'warming' meal at the summit, and there's time to explore the nearby town of Český Krumlov, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Transfers from Prague (by minibus, car, or train) are included, which makes the logistics straightforward for international guests.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation at the 4-star Hotel Resort Relax - All meals from Monday dinner through Friday lunch - Water, tea, and coffee served throughout the day - Daily meditation classes - Daily guided breathwork classes - 3 days of Wim Hof Method instruction (breathing, cold exposure, ice plunges) from 2 certified and fully insured Wim Hof Instructors (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) in English - 1 hour of lakeside sauna per day (as a group) - 2 hours of Wellness & Spa facilities per day - Specialized workshops (science, theory, functional breathing) - Group excursions and activities - Guided hike up Kramolín Mountain with a traditional Czech 'warming' meal at the summit - Transportation during the retreat - Pre- and post-retreat support from the team - Free parking - Wi-Fi connection

What's not included

- Airport transfers (unless you book through the retreat's transfer service, which is available at an additional cost) - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments (spa, massages, etc.) - Additional activities not included in the itinerary