Croatia·June 3 - 10 2023
A luxury wellness retreat tour of Croatia’s coast by private yacht. Explore charming towns such as Split, Dubrovnik, Korčula and Hvar.
If exploring stunning coastal towns, swimming in aqua blue waters and sampling delicious Mediterranean cuisine + wine sound like your idea of a good time, then this upscale wellness retreat to unspoiled Croatia is for you! With none of the research or planning, you'll be able to soak in the top experiences of the world-famous Dalmatian coastline. Imagine boarding your private 170 ft state-of-the-art yacht for 8 days to live out the week of your dreams - island hopping, epic hikes and wine tastings. And you'll do it all with the help of our wonderful crew, local guide and retreat leader on-board who will handle all the details. You can turn off your normal responsibilities for once, and turn on your "rest + reset mode." *Please note we are requiring proof of COVID vaccination (including a booster shot) and a pre-retreat test for all 2023 retreat guests * - Group Size: 24-30 Guests - Luxury Score: 5 (out of 5) - Activity Score: 2.5 (out of 5) - Walking Tours, Hikes - Cuisine: Omnivore (some meat + fish offered) -- any dietary restrictions can be accommodated
There's something unbelievable about stepping on-board your own private yacht. Our ship was launched in 2021, and is one of the newest and best in the region. Enjoy morning yoga or just the passing views from the sun deck. Or kick back with a cappuccino and a good book in the covered, open-air lounge. A staff of 8 crew members is on-board so that you don't have to lift a finger!
Explore at least 7 different unique towns and villages along Croatia’s beautiful Dalmatian Coast including the region's top destinations like Korcula, Hvar, Split and Dubrovnik and some hidden gems like Stari Grad, Bol, Lumbarda and more... all while only unpacking once! Our local cruise manager will be on-hand to help you make the most of your ample time in each port.
Unlike most cruises, we will be in port overnight, so you will be able to dine and sip wine at your leisure at picturesque local restaurants (recommendations will be provided in all major ports). We will also enjoy a Welcome Dinner and a Captain’s Dinner on board the ship, as well as a daily breakfast and a daily gourmet multi-course lunch. Enjoy floor to ceiling windows in the dining area for incredible ocean views while you savor your on-board meals.
Multiple yoga + meditation classes will be offered daily on the sun deck with mats provided (fresh ocean air, views of passing islands also included) taught by certified, experienced teachers. Enjoy morning vinyasa flow classes before breakfast and evening yin or restorative classes before dinner. All classes are optional.
Enjoy an optional guided hour long walking tour with important historical and cultural insights in at least 3 of our ports (tours are in English). These are lead by guides local to each town who are experts in the area. Learn about the history, architecture and local delights of some of Croatia's best towns.
One afternoon we'll take a short walk through a quaint village and venture out to our favorite family winery off the beaten tourist path. You'll get to try several wines, including a few unique Croatian varietals such as Grk and Pošip. The views from the winery towards the sea are breathtaking.
Our captain will ensure we get to have multiple swim stops through the week where we will duck into a private bay to anchor in the stunning Adriatic Sea. Paddle, swim or just float while marveling at the scenery. If you're lucky, maybe one of your new shipmates and friends will bring you a cold beer to sip while you relax.
In addition to yoga, walks and hikes... relax and pamper yourself with the on-board hot tub (perfect place from which to watch the sunset!). There's also a plunge pool and an on-board sauna - a very rare amenity among the superyachts in Croatia!
All of the ship's luxury cabins feature high-end decor, private en-suite bathrooms, air-conditioning, LCD TVs and a safe. Choose from two twins or a king bed, each with top quality linens. Lower deck rooms will have portholes while main deck rooms will have windows.
In addition to our owner and Chief Zen Officer Anna, each Above Yoga retreat has one or two additional certified yoga teachers on-site who will lead a portion of the classes and support students in their practice. We find that an opportunity to participate in a variety of classes with various teaching styles adds to our guests’ overall retreat experience. We also have local guides who are experts in their region of the world who will add so much to your experience.
Anna is Above Yoga's lead retreat planner and yoga instructor who will guide your experience from booking to disembarkation. This will be her 3rd visit to Croatia in 4 years. Expect an attention to detail, delivered with a smile. She will also guide some of the on-board yoga classes. Her favorite types of yoga are those that are accessible to all levels of practitioner such as: slow flows, yin and restorative.
Nataša is our long-term partner and host in Croatia. She was born on the island of Brač (we will visit the town of Bol on that island) and has worked in tourism in the yachting industry for many years. When she's not guiding tours and managing yacht charters, you can find her working to complete her Master's degree in Psychology. She'll likely join us on the top deck for yoga too, as she's an avid practitioner herself.
Kat is an advanced 500 hour trained yoga instructor. Her yoga and love for travel has taken her across the world to places like Costa Rica, Hawaii and the Caribbean. In addition to her yoga training, Kat has studied holistic nutrition extensively and is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner. She currently teaches hot yoga at Evolve Core and MOTIV8 Fitness in Bakersfield, CA. Kat has also taught on our Coastal Morocco retreat.
Karley empowers her students to create space in their minds through purposeful movement in the body. She loves to share the gift of yoga and cultivates thoughtful and fun dynamic flow classes that always incorporates rest and nurturing postures. Expect upbeat and original playlists. Karley teaches at Bliss Body Yoga in Raleigh, NC and has also co-taught on our Yoga in Paradise retreat in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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DAY 1
You will be transferred to the harbor from either the Split Airport or your Split hotel (if you choose to come in early - which we highly recommend). Embarkation onto the yacht begins at 2:00 pm. Take your time to explore your new floating home and get settled in your cabin before attending a Welcome Reception followed by a Welcome Dinner on board - your first chance to meet your new retreat family and the on-board crew!
Airport Transportation
Welcome Reception
Welcome Dinner
DAY 2
Watch the moon fade away and the sun rise over the idyllic waterfront town as we sail away from Split in the morning. After our first group morning yoga class together on the top deck, we will enjoy breakfast and then stop in the town of Bol, on island of Brač. Take the plunge with an optional swim at the spectacular golden pebble beach said to be the best in Croatia. Return to the boat for lunch and then we'll cruise to the town of Stari Grad, one of the oldest cities in Europe. Your evening is free to explore Stari Grad, where we will stay docked overnight.
Morning Yoga
Breakfast
Lunch
Evening Yoga
Swim Stop
DAY 3
We’ll cruise away from Stari Grad in the morning while flowing through our sunrise vinyasa yoga class and then continue to the island of Hvar, one of the most popular islands in the Adriatic. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of Hvar town that shows you the first public theater in Europe. You can also hike from town to the highest point in town - the ancient fort and enjoy 360 degree views of the bay. We will either overnight in Hvar or hop over to nearby Korcula. Dinner can be enjoyed in port.
Guided City Tour
Dinner
DAY 4
After making time for a swim stop, we'll spent the day in fortified and charming Korčula, known as the birthplace of Marco Polo. Enjoy a guided walking tour of one of the best preserved medieval cities in the Mediterranean. You'll have the chance to dine at one of Korčula's many stunning waterfront restaurants for dinner. A favorite activity of our previous guests in this town was to climb into a hidden bar tucked high up in a tower with epic views.
DAY 5
After an invigorating morning yoga class on the top deck, we will set sail to Dubrovnik, the “Pearl of the Adriatic”, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It’s also the famous site of filming for Game of Thrones. Upon arrival in Dubrovnik, you will enjoy a guided tour of the magnificent walled Old Town. Top recommendation for your free time is to walk the circumferential walls that surround the town and get striking views of the sun-baked terracotta city roofs and the glistening Adriatic Sea. Overnight in Dubrovnik.
DAY 6
We'll make ample time as we sail away from Dubrovnik for a morning swim stop after breakfast in a secluded bay. Then we will turn the compass back north and head to Lumbarda. This afternoon we'll stroll through a quaint village and visit our favorite family winery for a wine tasting. You'll get to try unique Croatian varietals such as Grk and Pošip and sample local cheese, olives and prosciutto. Afterwards walk to a lovely sand beach or head back to the boat to hang in the hot tub. Tonight we'll have our celebratory Captain's Dinner on-board. Fancy attire optional!
Wine Tasting
Captain's Dinner
DAY 7
A great morning to sleep in, or take in the all-level vinyasa flow class on the top deck. After a morning stop in to explore Omiš (steeped in pirate history) or another small town en route back north, we will arrive In the afternoon back to Split. Enjoy a guided tour of the historical city which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site or do some last minute shopping. We recommend climbing to the top of the bell tower of the Cathedral of Saint Domnius or take a hike up to the highest point above town in the Marjan Forest Park, either choice, you'll enjoy breathtaking sweeping panoramic views. We’ll enjoy a final slow yoga class to round out our incredible week together. Afterwards, enjoy one of the many world-class restaurants on the pedestrian waterfront promenade. Overnight in Split.
Afternoon Yoga
DAY 8
After breakfast it’s time to disembark. You will be transferred to Split airport or your Split hotel. Secure luggage storage is available if you have a later flight and wish to have a leisurely afternoon in town (which is an easy walking distance from the harbor where the boat will remain).
Luggage Storage
Exclusive Use of Yacht for Above Yoga Group
Crew of 8 for the Week
Curated Daily Yoga Classes
Welcome Reception + Dinner
Daily Breakfast
Daily Multi-Course Lunch
Unlimited Filtered Water, Coffee + Tea
4 Guided Walking Tours
Local Cruise Manager On-Board
Local Vineyard Wine Tasting
Guided Hike in Hvar
Unlimited Access to Hot Tub + Sauna
Journaling + Meditation Practices
Welcome Amenity
Daily Cabin Housekeeping
Baggage Handling
All Taxes, Docking Fees and Fuel
Airfare to Croatia
$45 Mandatory Port Charges
Dinners in Port
Alcoholic Beverages + Speciality Coffees
Suggested Crew Gratuity
VIEW GALLERY
Many of our guests on the last retreat decided to come in a night early ahead of the cruise portion (or a couple of nights)! If you have the time, we highly recommend this. Not only will it give you extra time to make sure you can board without stress, the town of Split is incredible. There are multiple wonderful hotels within walking distance to the port. The nearby hikes, shopping and restaurants are worth the extra time. Trogir is another nearby town worth visiting! You'll want to land at the Split airport (SPU).
You'll be given a full packing list at least 30 days before the retreat. You'll want to bring plenty of casual and athletic gear for yoga, hikes and just hanging out. We also suggest you bring a few nicer items for dinners out in town and for the captains dinner - a chance to dress up. The average weather for this part of Croatia in June is highs in the upper 70s or low 80s, with lows in the 60s. It can get breezy on the boat, so bring a light layer!
June is a great time to visit Croatia, and a time where we can usually expect to have fairly calm seas and very little to no rain. But, the ocean is unpredictable, so there's always a chance we could encounter higher winds or rough seas. We suggest you bring Seabands or Dramamine if you tend to get sea sick. The good news is that the boat stays in a port overnight, and we are never too far from land and can always see the coastline easily. Our captain will plot the best course for our week and keep us under sunny skies as much as possible.
Everything on this retreat (and all our retreats) is completely optional! If you want to skip the guided tours or sleep in instead of flowing in a morning yoga class - we say "do it!" You'll notice that our guests feel empowered to take what they want and leave the rest. It's a vacation, not summer camp! No "forced fun" here. Feel free to read your book on the sun deck, go for a run in port solo or anything else your heart desires - regardless of what the scheduled activities are!
Anna made our trip to Croatia memorable for so many reasons. Visiting a foreign country, during a pandemic, is challenging but she couldn’t have made it any easier. She let us know exactly what to expect, how to prepare and was always quick to update us when things changed. Also, I really appreciated her policy around vaccines and testing. Once we got there we didn’t have to think about a thing. Anna had everything under control and set the tone for a fun and relaxing retreat. We made some great new friends and long lasting memories. We were so spoiled we can’t imagine traveling without Above Yoga!
- Marcie, Richmond, VA
The communication from start to finish was excellent. I especially appreciated the commitment to keeping everyone as safe as possible with COVID, and the communication surrounding vaccine, testing, and mask requirements. The yacht and crew were amazing! I don't think any future vacation can top how spoiled we were in Croatia!
- Krista, Fair Oaks, CA
This was an amazing trip. The people, the yoga, and the places we went...just incredible. The organization and ongoing adjusting was excellent. I feel like I was with family the entire time...and I went alone on this trip!
- Tom, Bloomington, IL
This retreat was everything I imagined and more. Anna was the absolutely perfect host, providing communication from even the very early days up to documenting her travel into Croatia so we knew what to expect. Except.. there's no way to have a realistic expectation for a trip like this because it is beyond what I think a normal person in the US could imagine. Every detail was perfect, down to the incredible classes I took that I normally would gloss over at my home yoga studio. I came back to the US with a calmer and more peaceful state of mind. I know this feeling won't last forever so I'm already deciding what retreat to go on next :) I honestly thought this would just be a really cool vacation and experience and after attending, I know it was so much more than that.
- Lauren, Charlotte, NC
Anna made what would have been a wildly overwhelming planning process manageable and stress free. Her willingness to go the extra mile to make sure that everyone feels safe and comfortable on her retreats is best in class. Outside of all the logistics involved with a retreat, Anna and her guests are an absolute pleasure to be around. Her ability to pull together people of all ages from all over the globe and them feel more like family than friends is a special attribute that is impossible to put a price tag on. This was my second retreat with Above Yoga and it certainly won’t be my last. If you are considering going on one of her retreats, DO IT. I guarantee you that you will not be disappointed and will walk away with more friends and memories than you ever could have imagined.
- Shannon, Charlotte, NC
This was my second trip to Europe with Above Yoga and it was as expected...amazing and organized. Even with friends from my first retreat, it's an amazing way for me to travel solo safely. The ebb and flow of some days with more structure and less free time and vice versa makes for an amazing vacation. As Anna always says, the yoga is optional! It is really an incredible group of people that Anna brings together and we always leave as friends.
- Kate, Indianapolis, IN
Croatia·June 3 - 10 2023·7 nights
FROM$3650/pp
Join the waiting list and we will let you know if a spot becomes available.