Yoga & Wellness Escape in the Catalonian Mountains: Sau Reservoir Retreat

Ashiyana Spain runs this retreat out of Hotel La Riba, an old hotel from the 1960s that was abandoned when the Sau reservoir flooded the village below and the family moved uphill. The building has been restored as a yoga centre, and the original high-ceilinged reception and living rooms still look out over the water. The famous image of the area is the church spire of Sant Romà de Sau poking out of the reservoir — it's visible from the property and from several of the walking trails.

A typical day starts with a yoga class before brunch at 10am, which is granola, fruit salad, chia mousse, nuts, eggs, homemade bread and jams. There's usually a second yoga or meditation session later in the day, and dinner is at 7pm: pumpkin soup, a main like Thai green curry or lentil bake, salad, steamed vegetables and a dessert such as chocolate balls or mango cheesecake. The kitchen uses local Mediterranean produce — fruit, vegetables, legumes, fish and plenty of olive oil.

What sets this apart from a standard yoga holiday is the location. The retreat sits inside a national park with hundreds of hectares of forest, and trails start right by the centre. You can hike to rivers, waterfalls, ancient Roman bridges and chapels, or visit the Buddhist monastery nearby. The town of Vic, 25 minutes away, has a Roman temple, a medieval market and the Museu de Arte Medieval, one of the most important Roman and Gothic collections in Europe. Adventure activities on the doorstep include kayaking, SUP, climbing, rappelling, white-water rafting, cycling, Nordic walking, archery, slacklining and hot-air ballooning — the team can put together a programme around whatever you want to do.

The yoga teaching comes from Ashiyana's senior team, many of whom are now based in Spain. Chris Nelson leads The Ashiyana Journey™, a wellbeing programme that combines retreat time with follow-up online coaching and app support. Other teachers include Tobie, Charlotte, Zoe, Jen, Gina and Ceri, who run retreats, teacher trainings and workshops through the year. The centre has been running yoga teacher trainings since 2010 and is Yoga Alliance certified for its 200-hour courses.

The hotel has 7 double/twin bedrooms, 1 double, 2 singles and 2 suites, spread between the main building and nearby villas, for a maximum of 25 guests. Rooms are en-suite and quiet, with the kind of thick walls and big windows you'd expect from a 1960s hotel. If you want more than the group schedule, you can book private one-to-one yoga, breathwork, meditation or an Ashiyana Guide Session — a yoga-based therapy session that ends with a personalised practice to take home. Massage and bodywork are also available.

What's included

- Accommodation in en-suite rooms (shared or private) - Two daily meals: brunch at 10am and dinner at 7pm - Daily yoga classes (as per schedule) - Meditation and breathwork sessions - Access to trails and national park - Wifi - Free parking - Water, tea and coffee throughout the day

What's not included

- Flights - Travel insurance - Airport transfers (can be arranged for a fee) - Lunch on day trips and outside the centre - Spa treatments and massage - Private one-to-one sessions - Adventure activities (kayaking, climbing, ballooning, etc.) - Personal expenses - Additional nights