No one needs convincing that a doze of bright sunshine doesn’t just help to perk you up on a gloomy day – it’s actually pretty good for you. A winter sun retreat is just the ticket.

In fact, in winter it might be very necessary for your wellbeing. If you’re starting to feel sluggish, low, and struggling to focus, this may be down to the fact that UK winter sunshine just isn’t packed with all that much Vitamin D goodness.

Our answer? Swap the winter blues for the blue waters of our winter sun retreats in Cuba, India, Sri Lanka and the Canaries. You’ll feel the difference.

Beach bliss in Sri Lanka
You’ll find one of our most stunning winter sun retreats this year at Bentota Beach in Sri Lanka. Stay at a colonial villa surrounded by beautiful gardens, enjoy vegetarian feasts and rejuvenate with twice-daily yoga. Courtesy of AdventureYogi.
20–29 February or 3–12 March 2015, from £1,050pp for 9 nights

Lakeside sunbathing and snoozing
Come for yoga and Ayurveda, or just to relax and unwind – it’s up to you. Named ‘best yoga retreat in the world’ by The Observer, this lakeside hideaway in Sri Lanka is also perfect for enjoying nature, sunbathing and snoozing in a hammock.
Until March 2016, from £1,965pp for two weeks, full board, including yoga

Fun, sun, sand and surf
Yoga on the white sandy beaches of Fuerteventura are just what the doctor ordered for those dark, freezing days. Add to that beauty and massage treatments at a bargain price, and the excellent surfing, and you have summer’s getaway in winter.
Anytime, from €400pp for 7 nights, sharing twin/double room

Want to continue your search for winter sun retreats and other holidays? Do it on our website, or sign up to our monthly e-newsletter. It’s free.

The post Summer fun on winter sun retreats appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

If a hangover and a lazy lie-in are not your idea of a well-spent New Year’s Day, then you’ve come to the right place.

Escape from the usual boozy countdown to midnight, and start the new year as you mean to go on. From Sussex and Norfolk to Fuerteventura, our New Year getaways will let you begin with a fresh mind and a spring in your step.

Think we’re giving you too much notice? Don’t be fooled – it may only be September, but New Year getaways are getting booked up fast, so don’t miss out.

You don’t have to go far there are New Year retreats in the UK. And if you’re looking for a Christmas escape too, take a look at our brilliant Christmas retreats.

‘Yoga for happiness’ – a Sussex New Year retreat
Come for daily yoga, meditation practice, walking, and optional holistic treatments to fully relax, plus of course, a fitting New Year’s celebration. Courtesy of The Yoga Root and The Joanne Sumner Studio.
From £445 for 3 nights, full board, sharing (single £550)

Head to Oxfordshire for a peaceful yoga retreat
This winter wellbeing retreat with at a beautiful manor house in Oxfordshire will revive you with its peaceful setting and twice-daily yoga. Quote Neal’s Yard Holidays for a free massage.
From £265 for 2 nights for a couple/friends sharing

Feisty fun on Fuerteventura
One of our top New Year getaways, this retreat makes for a truly exciting start to the new year, with its white sandy beaches, optional surfing, and dramatic volcanic landscape. A chance to rejuvenate and reconnect in a fun and friendly atmosphere.
From €465 for 7 nights sharing (singles available)

Finally, if you need something for after the party, why not relax with yoga and a hot-tub soak at Raw Horizons’ North Yorkshire detox retreat? From £450 pp (single) or £345 pp (sharing) for 2 nights.

Whichever one of our New Year getaways you go for, and whatever you get up to, we wish you a fantastic New Year celebration and a great start to the new year!

The post Where to go for Christmas and New Year retreats – the top getaways appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Red roses, heart-shaped chocolate boxes, expensive dining, mass-produced Valentine’s Day cards…

You get the picture. One of the most commercialised holidays of the year is just around the corner. Right about now you might be thinking about how best to shield yourself from the usual Valentine’s Day paraphernalia. Regardless of whether you are your own Valentine or there is a significant other in your life.

So we thought we’d help you reclaim February 14 and make the holiday your own. We’ve selected for you some of our favourite wellbeing getaways this Valentine’s Day. More than just an escape, they are sure to help you rediscover romance and time just for you.

Here’s our pick of holidays, to suit different budgets and with a great variety of activities.

Wellbeing escapes for a fulfilling Valentine’s Day

1. Luxury yoga retreat, West Sussex: Love yourself and escape on a five-star Valentine’s-weekend spa break. With holistic therapies and indoor pool. From £325 for 3 nights.
2. Ayurveda and yoga in South Wales: The right combination to help you relax and unwind, surrounded by ancient woods and beautiful countryside. From £495 for 3 nights.
3. Wellbeing yoga retreat in Oxfordshire: Nourishing yoga, meditation and massage in stunning, peaceful surroundings. From £265 for 2 nights.
4. Yoga holiday in Sri Lanka: Ready for some winter sun and yoga? No better place for it than the stunning Bentota Beach. From £725 for 10 nights.

And you can find even more February retreats and Valentine’s Day escapes on our website.

The post 10 getaways to love Valentine’s Day again appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Don’t let the winter blues get you! Read our tips on where to go for January retreats.

January is a great month to travel. There are plenty of deals and cheap flights to be found – whether you’re looking for well-deserved sunshine and pure relaxation, or want help with your New Year’s resolutions.

Many of the Neal’s Yard Holidays and retreats offer detox programmes, so you’ll be able to rid yourself of festive excess and return home feeling well prepared for yet another year.

A yoga and Ayurveda retreat in beautiful South Wales will help you start the new year relaxed and rejuvenated. Join in daily yoga sessions, blow away the cobwebs with a walk in the ancient forest, and end your day with a soak in a hot tub. Detox programmes are available, and all food is vegetarian based on Ayurvedic principles and organic produce.

Pure bliss and relaxation wait for you at two of Neal’s Yard Holidays’ most popular retreats. South Coast and West Coast Ayurveda in Sri Lanka both offer top quality Ayurveda treatments including body massages, herbal baths and steams, and rejuvenating scrubs. You’ll enjoy delicious food prepared from fresh, local and, wherever possible, organic ingredients. Book early to avoid disappointment. You’ll feel a world away from wet and cold January in the UK!

For more January and winter holidays see our website.

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Want to get away from it all this Christmas? It may not be too late. Here is Neal’s Yard Holidays’ handpicked list of last minute Christmas retreats.

It happens to the most organised of us. We start off with the best intentions to book our Christmas holiday early this year. Then, before we now it, it’s upon us and all the best places are booked up. But it may not be too late… availability can be subject to change and it’s worth double checking.

While most of our long-haul holidays are indeed now full, there are still some other options for a last minute Christmas or New Year retreats, especially if you’re happy to stay closer to home.

For more inspiration see also our overview of other holistic holidays. Whatever you decide to do, have a wonderful Christmas and New Year!

The post Last minute Christmas Retreats appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.

Wondering where to go for a retreat in February?
Here is our handpicked selection of the best holistic holidays for the month.

By February, the cold weather and short days are starting to catch up with most of us. Time to head for warmer pastures and stock up on some much needed winter sun. Both South and Southeast Asia are ideal destinations for this time of year – warm and sunny, but not too hot yet.

In fact the destinations are so popular for winter sun that it’s advisable to book before mid December or as soon as possible.

If a long-haul holiday is out of the question, there’s always the option for a short-break in the UK. A weekend of detox, yoga or meditation will leave you rejuvenated whatever the weather.

February retreats Sri Lanka:

Just as tranquil and relaxing, West Coast Ayurveda Resort in Sri Lanka allows you to discover the wonderful health benefits of Ayurveda. Enjoy synchronised full body massages, herbal steams and freshly prepared remedies, and yoga, right by a tropical sandy beach. Or stay at the popular South Coast Ayurveda Resort, nominated ‘Best chill-out resort’ by Harpers Magazine.

February short breaks in the UK:

Last but not least, you can recharge your batteries here in the UK.

In South Wales you’ll find a peaceful retreat surrounded by acres of private land and ancient forests. Enjoy yoga and Ayurveda treatments, and relax in the sauna or out-door hot pool after a country walk. Receive a 10% discount if you book before 15^th December 2013 for a winter getaway between now the end of February 2014.

For more February and winter holidays see our website. For travel tips and latest offers sign up to our newsletter.

Keep warm!

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Is the thought of dark, wet November days getting you down?
Want to recharge your batteries before winter with relaxing November retreats?

It’s the time to grab a winter holiday in the sun – and avoid high-season fares and rates.  Or just treat yourself to a rejuvenating weekend retreat in the UK. Here’s a choice of November retreats handpicked by Neals Yard Holidays.

In the warm winter sun of the Canary Islands, enjoy the unique Yoga, Pilates and Surf Holidays on Fuerteventura.  With white sandy beaches, set against a dramatic landscape of volcanoes, the retreats offers yoga, pilates and meditation classes.

If that sounds a bit too energetic, try the South Coast Ayurveda Resort in Sri Lanka – nominated best chill out spot by Harpers Magazine.  Offering some of the island’s best Ayurvedic treatments, it’s a “real pampering, a true healing experience”. 10% reduction until 20 December.

November’s your last chance this year to sail with WildQuest and swim with dolphins in the Bahamas.  Snorkeling lessons, daily sailings, coral reefs – and meeting dolphins, plus yoga and a free massage when you mention Neal’s Yard Holidays.

Then, on our doorstep, there’s a great choice of relaxing and rejuvenating weekend breaks. Two great yoga retreats are running in southern England by Chillout in Sussex.

This November, just enjoy chilling out – before the Big Winter Chill hits.
For Neal’s Yard Holidays’ latest offers and travel tips, sign up to our newsletter.

Happy travelling.

The post Where to go for November retreats appeared first on Neals Yard Holidays Blog.