Women-Only Yoga & Hiking Weekend in the Belgian Ardennes

The retreat takes over a characterful house in the countryside around Durbuy, often described in reviews as 'fairytale-like'. There's a large garden where you can sit between sessions. Rooms are shared, and so are the bathrooms — this is a house, not a hotel, and that's part of why the group gels the way it does.

A typical day runs: yoga in the morning before breakfast, then a hike in the surrounding hills, lunch back at the house, an afternoon workshop or free time, another yoga or meditation session in the late afternoon, dinner, and something quieter in the evening. The hikes go through genuinely pretty Ardennes landscape — woods, fields, small villages — and are pitched so that beginners keep up while regular walkers still feel worked.

The two workshops are the part people mention most in reviews. They're designed to get you thinking about yourself rather than just stretching — past guests describe one as 'a powerful inner journey'. Helena leads these alongside the yoga. She's the constant across the weekend, teaching with what reviewers consistently call calm, inclusive energy.

Food is entirely plant-based, cooked on site by Jill. Reviews call it 'waan-zinnig lekker' and 'nourishing, colorful, and full of love' — the cooking is clearly a highlight, not an afterthought, and the menu is built around vegetables and whole foods rather than imitation meat. Tell them about allergies or dietary needs when you book.

What separates this from a bigger yoga retreat is the scale and the women-only format. With a small group in a shared house, there's no anonymity — you eat together, walk together, and sit in the garden together. That's either exactly what you want or it isn't. If you're looking for a quiet solo week with a private room, this is the wrong retreat. If you want a weekend where you actually talk to people, it's the right one.

Durbuy itself is billed as the smallest town in the world — worth an hour if you arrive early or stay on Sunday. The surrounding area is rolling Ardennes countryside, with marked walking trails running straight from the door.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation in a shared room - Shared bathroom facilities - All meals from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch - 3 yoga sessions - 2 meditation sessions - 2 workshops - Guided hikes in the Ardennes countryside - Women-only group setting

What's not included

- Travel to and from the retreat - Ayurvedic massage (optional, 4 slots available across the weekend) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Drinks outside of meals