Under the Olive Trees
Yoga and Meditation Retreat
Stari Bar (Montenegro)
Highlights
- Daily yoga and meditation classes with an experienced teacher
- Two delicious nutritious freshly prepared vegetarian meals per day
- Accommodation in a beautiful more-than-a-century-old stone building turned into a stylish hotel with a lush garden
- Pristine mountain river pools just in front of our doorstep
- Going on a coastal hike through small seaside villages and ending up on a secluded beach
- Daytrip to Skadar Lake National Park with kayaking, delicious lunch, and a beautiful sunset view
- Hiking through the countryside to several waterfalls and hidden river pools
- Visit to Stari Bar charming old town and medieval fortress
- Spa day in a gorgeous spa center
You will love this retreat if...
- You are searching for a quiet authentic place surrounded by spectacular mountains, steps away from a medieval fortress and a short drive away from the seaside
- Spending time in nature away from urban centers is what recharges your batteries
- You enjoy doing yoga daily and would like to deepen your practice
- You are curious to practice and learn about meditation
- Swimming in pristine mountain streams and lakes sounds like something you definitely don't want to miss
- Having delicious vegetarian home made local food can keep your belly happy
- You would like to stay in a gorgeous hotel, in a centuries old stone building, with a lush garden, a plunge pool, and beautiful view over the surrounding olive groves
- You are looking forward to having some peaceful me-time, to wind down and reconnect with yourself and nature
Location
Stari Bar is a hidden gem of Montenegro, offering you the unique opportunity to have both unspoiled nature and centuries of history at your arm's reach.
We will be staying in a beautiful cozy hotel tucked away between olive groves and rocky mountains. Although it feels like we are miles away from any form of urban life, our accommodation is actually just 10 mins walking distance to the charming old town of Stari Bar with several cute cafés, restaurants, a spectacular spa center, and a medieval fortress. The area offers plenty of opportunities to hike through the countryside and reach several hidden waterfalls and river pools.
This is a perfect location for all nature lovers who enjoy peace and quiet, but also like the comfort and the social aspect of urban life. The retreat is a great opportunity to discover a somewhat remote part of Montenegro, be active outdoors, but also to fully rest and pamper yourself with classy accommodation, delicious food, spectacular views, and possibly a spa day.
The closest airports are in Podgorica and Tivat, both around an hour away.
Yoga & Meditation
On most days, we will practice two times a day either in our beautiful garden, or, in case of cold weather, on a yoga deck inside the hotel.
Marija teaches Hatha yoga, with a lot of emphasis on mindful movement, body awareness and the proper alignment of the body. The primary aim of these classes is to gain a better understanding of and more appreciation for our bodies. Apart from asana (posture), we practice pranayama (breathing), as well as meditation in each class.
The classes are organized as workshops, during which we will explore different physical, mental and spiritual aspects of the practice.
To read more about Marija and her teaching style, click here.
The retreat is suitable for all levels. Beginners will have the chance to get the taste of yoga and build a strong foundation for their yogic journey. More experienced yogis will deepen their understanding and get some inspiration to further develop their practice.
Program
Mornings are reserved for our practice, which will usually take around 90 minutes. We'll have an early start, and after the class, we will have a freshly prepared brunch.
Afternoons are filled with various activities – we will go on hikes into the mountains to admire some of the stunning viewpoints, or visit a tucked away river pool.
The Old Town of Stari Bar and its spectacular fortress are less than 200m away, waiting to be explored.
Skadar Lake National Park is about an hour away and we will pay it a visit for a day of kayaking, swimming, bird watching, visiting some of the historic monasteries on its shores, and paying a visit to the ruins of an ancient island prison.
Since we will be less than 5km away from the seaside, one day will be a designated beach day. We'll go on a stunning coastal hike that finishes on a secluded beach.
All activities and classes are optional, and everybody is welcome to skip any of them any time they feel like it.
Evenings will see us back in the center, having another shorter class (1–1.5 hours) before delicious home cooked buffet-style dinner around 7.00 PM. After dinner, there is free time for everybody.
Tentative daily schedule
- 8.00 – 9.30 amMorning yoga and meditation class
- 9.45 – 10.45 amBreakfast
- 11.00 am – 2.00 pmHeading out for the daily activity
- 2 – 5.00 pmFree time
- 5.00 – 6.30 pmAfternoon yoga and meditation class
- 7.00 pmDinner
Stay
We will stay at a beautiful fully renovated stone house — an old olive mill turned into a stylish hostel The Grove. The house is located in Stari Bar, just below the impressive fortress.
It features spacious private rooms and dorms, huge common area with a fireplace, modern open kitchen, luscious garden with a plethora of trees and plants, and a plunge pool. A mountain creek gushing just in front of our yard, stone bridges and mountains in the background complete the postcard-like scenery. All rooms are newly furnished, completing the dreamy atmosphere of the place. The seven private rooms have en-suite bathrooms, while each of the two dorms has one bathroom. Each dorm will be shared by up to three people.
Food
We'll have two buffet-style meals a day — brunch and dinner, which will be served as full hearty meals. And in case you get hungry during the day, there are many charming restaurants 10 mins away from our accommodation.
The meals will be freshly prepared by our cook, made up mostly of local ingredients — seasonal fruits and vegetables, dairy, local honey, jams, and freshly baked bread every day. All the meals at the retreat will be vegetarian. If you have specific dietary requirements (e.g. vegan, gluten-free, etc.), it is essential that you mention that prior to booking.
We will do our best to cater to all of your dietary needs, but we do need to know about them beforehand.
Getting there
Stari Bar is 50 km away from both Podgorica and Tivat International Airports and the cost for a taxi is approximately 40 EUR.
We can organize it for you or help you coordinate with other participants, so that you can share a ride.
If you are arriving by train or by a ferry to Bar, Stari Bar is only 5 km away and easily reachable by taxi.
If you need any assistance or advice regarding your trip to Montenegro, feel free to write to us at info@myyogicadventure.com
Booking
What is included in the price?
- All yoga and meditation classes
- Seven nights accommodation
- Two delicious freshly prepared meals per day
- All the local hikes
- Tea and coffee at the premises
What is not included in the price?
- Any additional meals
- Any transfers
- Day trip to Skadar Lake
- Visit to the winery
7 nights half-board
(per person)
3-bed dorm
700 EUR
Twin / double room
800 EUR
Single room
1100 EUR
For more information and for special deals, contact us at info@myyogicadventure.com