A stay at Gaia is short: you arrive on day one, have two full days in the house, and leave on the fourth. That makes it a realistic option for a long weekend, especially if you're coming from elsewhere in Germany or flying into Frankfurt or Hanover and taking the train to Kassel.

The days follow a simple pattern. Mornings start with practice in the hall, either yoga or a guided meditation depending on which retreat you've booked. Breakfast follows, then more instruction or practice. Afternoons usually leave room for a walk through the surrounding woodland, a sauna session or just reading. Evenings close with a quieter session and a shared dinner.

The Meditation Retreat focuses on how to meditate day to day: simple techniques you can keep using at your desk or before bed, not just on a cushion in the countryside. The Yoga & Wellness Retreat leans more towards the body, with more yoga and more time in the sauna, aimed at people who mainly want to sleep better, move more and lower their stress for a few days.

What sets Gaia apart from many similar yoga weekends in Germany is that everything is taught in English and the guest list is international. People come from across Europe and further afield (one reviewer flew in from the United States), so this is a good fit if your German isn't great or if you'd like a mixed group.

The location is the other draw. The Geo-Naturpark Frau-Holle-Land is named after the Brothers Grimm fairy tale of Frau Holle, which legend ties to the Hoher Meissner mountain nearby. It's gentle, walkable country with beech forest, meadows and small villages, and there's very little traffic noise. You're close enough to Kassel to get there easily, but it feels a long way from the city.

The house also takes group bookings of 3 to 10 nights, so teachers and facilitators can rent the whole place for their own courses. When Gaia runs its own retreats, though, the house team leads them.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation in your chosen room type - Daily meals cooked in the house kitchen - Daily yoga and/or meditation sessions taught in English - Use of the practice hall - Use of the sauna - Time and space for walks in the surrounding nature park

What's not included

- Travel to and from Gaia - Transfers from Kassel (unless arranged with the house) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Any extra treatments or activities not part of the programme