Women's Wellness Escape in Rural Italy: Slow Living, Gentle Yoga and Community in Umbria and Sardinia

A typical day starts with gentle movement — yoga or stretching — before breakfast. From there the schedule varies. Some days there's a guided walk through the surrounding countryside or a nearby village. Other days include a cooking session where you make fresh pasta, or a wine tasting at a local producer. The afternoons are mostly free: pool time, reading, or a trip into town if you want one. Dinner is served in the evening, usually family-style, and the group tends to linger afterwards.

What separates this from a standard yoga retreat is the emphasis on choice. You can join everything or skip most of it without anyone making it awkward. The weeks are built around a small group of women, and there's a group chat that opens before the retreat so people arrive already knowing each other a bit. That carries on afterwards too, which is a big part of why repeat guests come back.

The Umbria property sits in the countryside, surrounded by farmland and within reach of historic hill towns. Sardinia is the coastal option, with sea views and warmer water in October. Both locations lean into local food and wine rather than resort-style dining.

Olivia, who founded and leads the retreats, is the constant across both. She's the one cooking alongside guests, leading walks, and running the week. Her interest is in Italy itself — the food, the pace, the traditions — and the retreat is built around sharing that rather than teaching a specific method.

Group sizes are kept small. That matters here more than on a big retreat, because the whole format relies on people actually talking to each other over dinner and on walks. If you're at a point where you want company and quiet in roughly equal measure, this fits.

What's included

- 7 nights accommodation at the retreat property - Meals cooked on-site (breakfast, lunch and dinner) - Gentle daily movement sessions (yoga and stretching) - Guided countryside walk - Fresh pasta making session - Wine tasting at a local producer - Excursion to a nearby town or village - Pre-retreat group chat and community forum access - Post-retreat community support

What's not included

- Flights - Travel to and from the retreat property - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Meals out during free time - Optional extras and spa treatments