Many of our brilliant wellbeing holidays provide a great range of activities, treatments and accommodation at affordable prices. So how can you tell which ones offer the absolute best in terms of low cost and great service?

Good question. So good, in fact, that we’re starting a new series of blog posts, all about our best-priced escapes* – cheap retreats that also offer great value.

To give you plenty of time to pack, we begin with cheap retreats that offer amazing value this August. It’s a peak time for holidaymakers around the world, and especially all of us in the UK who’re trying to bag a bank-holiday bargain.

We travel across Europe, where the weak euro and warm sun beckon. And we stop off in Asia, where August’s monsoons are offset by low prices and the best period for Ayurveda treatment.

August cheap retreats in Europe

Sun and surf
Small classes for yoga and Pilates, surfing, white sandy beaches and a rugged volcanic landscape – all packed into this neat retreat on sunny Fuerteventura. See image at top.
From €465 for 7 nights.

August cheap retreats in Asia

Time for Ayurveda
Head to Sri Lanka for authentic Ayurvedic treatment at the best time of the year for this type of healing.
From £698 per week.

Looking for something different in August, or going away at another time? Check out all our great holidays by activity, date and destination, as well as our current offers and discounts.

Next week we look at luxury summer retreats – escapes that don’t only rejuvenate but pamper you in style too. Catch you then!

* How did we come up with the list? We looked at factors like quality of accommodation, board, choice of activities, airport transfers and other add-ons. We then compared these with length of stay and price to come up with a list of retreats that are not just fantastic getaways but are good for the wallet too.

The post Top 7 cheap retreats this August appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

The summer is the perfect time of year to swim, whether that’s in a pool, a lake or the sea. With hot weather, it’s important to find ways to keep cool and a quick dip can be just the thing, so we’ve picked some of the best health retreats for swimming.

This health retreat in Turkey is just a 10-minute walk from Paradise Bay where you can swim in the sea that’s warm for eight months of the year. Another nearby beach stretches for half a mile and is perfect for a relaxing break in the sun. Take a cruise to nearby bays where you can swim in crystal clear waters. The yoga centre is situated on the edge of a pine forest which offers a route into the local town. Enjoy a traditional Turkish Hamam and a range of yoga for a truly relaxing experience.

Or maybe a luxury health retreat in Italy is what you need. Practice yoga on the terrace with a beautiful view of the sea, then go for a swim in it afterwards. Or enjoy the hotel’s own swimming pool and private beach. There’s charming cafes and Italian restaurants nearby serving delicious, local food and wine. Enjoy yoga, massages and facials in this luxury 5-star setting that will certainly leave you refreshed and rejuvenated.

Sri Lanka offers some fantastic yoga retreats and this tropical health retreat is no exception. Here, you can swim in natural spring water from the mountains which run into the huge on-site lake. This retreat is nestled in between the water and paddy fields and jungle. Stay in traditional adobe huts and take part in optional, but inclusive, yoga twice daily or unwind with Ayurveda treatments. The surroundings are truly exquisite and a perfect place to unwind. Lie in the hammocks, watch the monkeys, go kayaking or swimming and just ‘be’. This retreat is open from June to August.

For more health retreats that offer swimming, see our website. We look forward to helping you plan your summer getaway.

The post Our hand-picked Health Retreats for Swimming appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

THE holiday month of the year, August!  Time to cool off and get away from it all on a wellness holiday or revitalising yoga retreats.

To feel spoilt for choice, check out our “Where to go on holiday in August”.

The whole Mediterranean basin – as well as our own sceptred isle – is ringed by wonderful yoga and activity retreats this August: here are just some of our favourites.

Let’s start with a Spanish Island. On the Canaries, you can enjoy Azul’s mix of yoga, pilates and surf holidays set inland against the dramatic volcanic backdrop of Fuerteventura; or enjoy beauty and massage treatments after being pummelled by the surf with their beachside option.

From the UK hop across the Channel to France, near Toulouse, peaceful La Roane offers top value for yoga and creativity holidays. Located in a nature lovers’ paradise, with its own swimming pool and award-winning chef, it’s a real treat.

Perhaps you’re ready for something really off the beaten track, but still in Europe?

For many, though, it’s the Greek Islands for yoga retreats – with their simple beauty and lifestyle – warmed by brilliant sunshine, yet cooled by the “meltemi” sea breezes. See our wide choice of Greek holidays.

The post Where to go on holiday in August for yoga retreats plus appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.