Who doesn’t love an autumn retreat? For many of us, it’s a season of transition and opportunity to regroup after a busy summer. This makes it the perfect time to take a little wellness break for some yoga, nourishing meals, and enjoying nature.
In this guide, we’ve collated a list of the best autumn wellness retreat destinations to inspire your next trip.
Hi! I’m Caroline, your wellness retreat travel guide. I’ve worked in the wellness industry for 15+ years & been lucky enough to stay at amazing health resorts around the world. Let’s get you inspired & prepared to go on your own retreat…
They’ve been selected based on climate, crowds (or lack of), and value for money. We explain why these three factors are so important towards the end of the article. But in the meantime, you can feel reassured that you’ll be visiting these retreats at the best time of year to get the most from the experience.
Let’s look at the very best wellness retreat destinations to visit in the autumn…
Greece
I’m currently in Greece for an autumn retreat as I write this. It’s the perfect time of year to visit as the extreme heat of the summer has subsided and holiday crowds have dispersed. This means it’s not as busy and prices are more reasonable too.
There are so many retreats to choose from across the Greek Islands. Crete, Mykonos, and Santorini are some of the most popular for yoga and wellness. Silver Island Yoga and Kea Retreat are both excellent options running through to the end of October.
But there are also fabulous wellness hotels in Athens, where you can enjoy your rejuvenating break while taking in cultural sites like the Acropolis. September and October are still sunny with temperatures ranging from 21° to 26° most days. But it does start getting a little cooler from November onward (still warmer than the rest of Europe).
Morocco
In autumn Morocco is cooling down from the extreme heat of the summer. It’s the perfect time of year for desert yoga retreats or surf yoga breaks. Nosade, Marrakesh Oasis, Surf Berbere and Surf Maroc all run retreats throughout the autumn.
This is also the ideal season for fitness retreats because the heat won’t hold you back from working hard. Unlike in the summer, when you’ll overheat before you tire out, you can really push yourself to your full potential when it’s a bit cooler outside. At the time of writing, Etu and Paradis Plage have availability on their autumn fitness retreats.
Spain
I usually visit Spain every autumn, either in September or October. It’s ideal in terms of weather and much quieter than the summer holidays too.
You can get great deals on Spanish yoga retreats and fitness boot camps in the autumn. Valencia, Seville, and Malaga in Andalusia are all fabulous destinations at this time of year, with plenty of retreats on offer. Shanti-Som, Secret Garden, and Villa Pureza Luxury Retreat are all excellent options in the south.
You can also venture to the Canary Islands for some extra warmth or the Balearic Islands like Mallorca and Ibiza where it’s slightly cooler. There are no shortage of retreats to choose from on these islands with lots of late-season deals to be snapped up.
Japan
When I lived in Japan, autumn was always one of my favourite seasons. Famous for the leaves turning shades of crimson red and burnt orange, it’s a popular time to visit for all travellers. The humidity also dies down as summer ends which makes outdoors activities like forest bathing and hiking much more enjoyable.
If you fancy an urban wellness retreat, then I’d recommend heading to Tokyo, Kyoto, or Fukuoka. There are plenty of huge parks so you won’t miss out on the changing leaves just because you’re in a city. But if you’d rather get out in nature, then a retreat in the mountains of Hokkaido, countryside of Yamaguchi, or beaches of Okinawa could be perfect.
You might like… This rundown of the most incredible yoga retreats in Japan.
Switzerland
The Swiss nature is exceptional in autumn which makes it the perfect retreat season. Spend time in the mountains reconnecting with nature and disconnecting from digital devices. Try a Swiss yoga retreat in a forest cabin or one of many fabulous alpine wellness hotels.
Portugal
Portugal is one of those rare destinations that’s wonderful all year round. In autumn it’s still lovely and warm, there’s good surf (perfect for a surf yoga retreat) and it’s less busy than peak season. This makes it a more affordable time to visit and gives you better value for money.
Cambodia
Autumn is one of the best times to visit Cambodia for a wellness retreat. Or any kind of travel for that matter.
While the rest of Southeast Asia is humid and monsoon-battered, Cambodia is a haven of sunny weather and blue skies. Autumn is the perfect time of year to visit Cambodia for a yoga retreat. I’d particularly recommend attending one in Siem Reap where you can also tag on a trip to the exceptional Angkor Wat temples.
UK
Autumn in the UK is everything you want from the season. The leaves are turning orange and brown, the air is fresh, but the skies are still blue (mostly!).
It’s a popular time of year for retreats across the country with the south-west (Bristol, Bath, and the rest of Wiltshire) and Scotland being my top recommendations.
If you’re coming from London, then Bristol and Bath are quick and easy to travel to by train. The rest of Wiltshire is easier if you have a car and reachable within a 60-minute drive, ideal for a weekend retreat.
Scotland takes a fair bit longer if you’re travelling up from London (5 hours by train, 7 hours driving) but is 100% worth it for 4-7 day retreats. And perfect for weekend retreats if you’re coming from the Midlands or the North.
New Zealand
On the opposite side of the globe, New Zealand is emerging from its coldest months. If you want to enjoy an autumn wellness retreat but don’t want the fall weather, escape to the New Zealand spring instead!
Nature is awakening from winter which makes a retreat at this time of year perfect for reawakening the body and soul. If you’re looking for a reset or a fresh start, then a yoga retreat in New Zealand might be just the ticket.
Italy
Like the rest of the Mediterranean, Italy still enjoys warm temperatures in the autumn. If you like your yoga retreats in the sun but don’t want it too hot, an Italian break could be ideal.
By this time of year, the crowds are gone and prices are cheaper, making it a more affordable retreat destination. And you still get to enjoy fresh Mediterranean produce and the slower, more intentional pace of life the country is renowned for. The Amalfi coast, Capri, and Tuscany are all great options for wellness retreats.
What makes these ideal autumn retreat destinations?
When putting together this list and considering which destinations are ‘the best’ in autumn, we look at a range of factors.
Firstly, we look at whether the top retreats are actually running at this time of year. For example, Moroccan desert retreats don’t operate in the summer because it’s just too hot. If retreats are being run, then we move on to the next set of factors that determine whether it’s a good time of year to visit a destination…
For a wellness retreat or yoga holiday, we weigh up the climate and weather, how crowded a place will be with other tourists, and overall value for money…
- Climate & weather: Heat, humidity, and extreme coldness can all affect your enjoyment of a retreat and your ability to get the most out of it.
- Crowds: Visiting at a busy time of year when there will be lots of tourist crowds can also negatively impact your enjoyment. Waiting in long queues at airport immigration and frustrating traffic jams isn’t the most relaxed start to a wellness break!
- Value for money: This isn’t necessarily about getting the cheapest price, but getting the best return for the amount you pay. Basically, are you getting a good bang for your buck?
By looking at all of these factors, we’re able to identify the best destinations to visit for a retreat at any given time of year. We’re also able to rule out others that are better visited in the winter, spring, or summer. Check out our year-round guide to finding the best retreat for every season (coming soon).
