Hmmm, what to take on a retreat? You’re booked, excited, and ready for some well-deserved me-time. But what should you pack for your retreat or wellness break?
In this guide – we share a wellness retreat packing list along with optional add-ons for yoga, fitness, and nature-based activities.
We’ve been on soo many retreats over the years that we’ve now got packing down to a fine art. Jump to the relevant section or scroll through the entire article if your retreat includes several different aspects…
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…
Download, save, or print one of our downloadable packing lists so you can refer to them easily. Ready to pack the essentials for your retreat? Let’s get straight into it…
Printable Retreat Packing Lists
Download our printable packing checklists for wellness, fitness & yoga retreats.
Wellness Retreat Packing List
Let’s start with what to pack for a wellness retreat. The essentials you’ll need are…
- Comfortable clothing (including layers and pyjamas)
- Toiletries
- Shoes, trainers, or flip flops
- Water bottle
- Journal or notebook and pen
- Credit card and cash
- ID and passport (if travelling abroad)
- Optional extras: Swimwear, medications, headphones, hand sanitizer, sunglasses, hat, ear plugs, eye mask, snacks, or your fav tea.
We’ve learned that it’s better to pack light and adopt a minimalist approach to retreats. It’s much easier to travel with a light-weight bag, whether it’s lifting a carry-on case into overhead lockers or transporting it to your room. Lugging a heavy bag around can make travel feel like a chore and steal the joy from an exciting experience!
It’s also a lot easier to find stuff in your case if it’s not over-packed. Instead of wasting time (and getting frustrated) rummaging through a bag, you can easily identify exactly where items are.
We’ve also learned that you can always pick things up in a pinch (wherever you are in the world). If you find you need something unexpectedly or forget an item, the retreat host or resort may be able to supply it. Or there’ll likely be a shop nearby if you really need it. For this reason, we rarely pack extra things ‘just in case’ as it just adds unnecessary weight and hassle to retreat preparations. One of the key benefits of wellness retreats is de-stressing so the packing process shouldn’t hinder this!
Top tip: when preparing for a retreat abroad always check the latest travel advice for the country you’ll be visiting too.
Printable Retreat Packing Lists
Download our printable packing checklists for wellness, fitness & yoga retreats.
What To Pack For a Fitness Retreat
Here’s a fitness retreat packing list that outlines the other bits you’ll need (in addition to the essentials outlined above)…
- Workout leggings or shorts
- Training tees or vests
- Sports bra
- Trainers
- Spare socks (you might go through several pairs a day!)
- Small sweat towel
- Optional: protein powder & shaker
Taking these items on your fitness retreat will ensure you’re well-prepared for all the activities and downtime too! Whether you’re off on a workout holiday in Morocco or surfing trip to Indonesia, you’ll be set up for success.
Yoga Retreat Packing List
Here’s exactly what to take on a yoga retreat…
- Yoga pants, leggings, or shorts
- Comfortable tees or vests
- Sports bra
- Yoga mat (if the retreat doesn’t supply them or you prefer to use your own)
- Optional: other yoga accessories like blocks or straps if needed
Now you know exactly what to pack for a yoga retreat too!
What To Pack For a Nature Retreat
Spending time in the great outdoors can be a rejuvenating experience. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with the earth and ditch digital distractions.
If you want to know what to pack for a retreat in nature, here’s your checklist…
- Long sleeve/full length clothing including layers
- Waterproof jacket
- Trainers or hiking boots (depending on the activities you’ll be doing)
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Drawstring bag or small backpack
Whether you’re heading off on a wellness break, fitness holiday, or nature expedition, these retreat checklists will help you remember everything you need. Download and save them for later or print a copy to tick off as you pack!
Printable Retreat Packing Lists
Download our printable packing checklists for wellness, fitness & yoga retreats.
You might also like… our destination-specific packing guides like this one for Morocco.
