8-Day Yoga Journey
Italy is the quintessential European destination with old world charm and modern technology overlapping. If you have always dreamed of Tuscany, this is the yoga trip for you. We stay at a 500 year old villa in the hills above Lucca and do yoga by the pool with a backdrop of olive groves. Our days will be spent exploring history, nearby cities, countryside and delicious Tuscan cuisine. It is $1,800 deposit to hold a spot on this trip of a lifetime!
Included:
- Accommodation for 7 nights
- Daily yoga
- Healthy, delicious, chef-prepared meals
- 5 scheduled excursions
- Transportation provided for all excursions (Airfare to Italy and transportation to the villa are not included)
Excursions Included:
- Truffle hunting with dogs in the forest
- Guided hiking in a regional mountain park
- Cooking classes with local chef
- Guided exploration of Pisa
- E-bike tour to olive oil and wine tasting
- Daily yoga with Petra and Nova
The Accommodation
Villa Valgiano is an exquisite country villa in the Lucca region of central Tuscany. With 12 ensuite bedrooms and multiple dining and living areas, there is room to spread out and still be together. Situated in a secluded, rustic setting just 20 minutes from Lucca, the villa features beautiful, panoramic views of the surrounding hills and villages, extraordinary indoor and outdoor living and dining areas, and a deluxe private spa. There is also a beautiful pool, billiards room and wine cellar.
The Cuisine
Each morning after yoga we will eat healthy, hearty breakfasts to fuel our adventures. Lunches will be at local restaurants and wineries or out on excursion depending on the day. Dinners will be prepared by our chefs in the villa each evening. Expect to indulge and be pampered after each day’s activity. The dinner table is our favorite place to connect and share stories.
All dietary restrictions and special requests will be accommodated. Please let us know if you are vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, or have any other allergies we should be aware of.
The Excursions
Truffle Hunting with Dogs
We will join expert truffle hunters and their adorable, trained dogs to for the exciting experience of hunting for fresh truffles in the heart of the forest. These specially bred dogs are trained from the time they are puppies to recognize the scent of truffles and the hunters make sure that the truffles are uncovered carefully.
It is hard not to be caught up by the enthusiasm of finding these underground treasures and at the end of the adventure, we will be treated to a delicious truffle menu that will leave your taste buds in wonder. There will also be an opportunity to purchase truffle products to bring home.
Guided Hike in a Regional Mountain Park
We will explore the Tuscan alps with local hiking guides. The mountains rise up behind the villa and extend into several regional parks filled with rivers and deep ravines. It is possible to see the ocean from the higher elevations. All hikes will have options to accommodate different physical abilities and paces.
For those people with a more adventurous spirit we may do some canyoneering and explore the deep ravines hidden deep in the Italian Alps!
Cooking Class with a Local Chef
We will learn to cook Tuscan style with the help of a local chef and farm fresh ingredients. Homemade pasta, rustic bread, grilled meats and veggies and decadent dessert are on the menu. We will learn to prepare each course, all with the extraordinary flavors of Tuscany. There is a long tradition of local dishes that have been passed down for generations.
There is no better place to understand a culture than in the kitchen. In Tuscany, the produce and food products are grown, harvested and sold locally. Villages will harvest all their olives together and take them to a shared olive press to produce oil for the entire community. Vineyards are everywhere and small batch, beautiful wines are produced to be shared at family tables. They do not even understand the concept of non-organic food.
So, we will put our hands to work in the kitchen and learn to prepare food full of flavor and full of history. Then we will share our creation at the dinner table. We will take home the recipes to recreate and share with family and friends.
Guided Exploration of Pisa
We will spend a day in Pisa with a guide. It is a city and commune in central Italy, straddling the Arno river just before it empties into the Ligurian Sea. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its leaning tower (the bell tower of the city’s cathedral), the city of over 91,104 residents (around 200,000 with the metropolitan area) contains more than 20 other historic churches, several medieval palaces, and various bridges across the Arno. The city is also home of the University of Pisa, which has a history going back to the 12th century.
E-bike to Olive Oil and Wine Tasting
We will spend part of a day on e-bikes touring the walled city of Lucca and the countryside outside its walls. We will cruise by old manor houses and exquisite country estates, through quaint villages, vineyards and olive groves. Our final destination will be at a picturesque winery and olive grove for tastings and lunch.
Most of the ride is on flat trails and roads. Any small hills or inclines are easily navigated with the electric assist. Since wine will be served with lunch, we will take the easy route back by van!
Your Hosts…
Nova Guthrie & Petra Jahn
Travel and yoga – what a beautiful combination! Each trip we take with our small groups of adventure seekers brings something new and different while always holding space for renewal, discovery, growth, and simple joy.
Italy is a country of beauty. You will find it in the landscapes, the architecture, the clothing and the cuisine. It can be both rustic and elegant in the same moment. There are grand adventures in the great outdoors followed by fine wines and delicate perfumes. It is land and sea and everything in between.
At ZenRock, we spend time getting stronger, finding more flexibility, building better habits, and maintaining healthy balance. Our yoga journeys are a further exploration of that healthy balance with the added bonuses of food, relaxation, and friends. We cannot wait to have another adventure and to share Italy with you!
Additional Information
Yoga classes are customized to address the needs of all students, offering variations for beginners and advanced practitioners. All excursions are optional and will be customized to the abilities of the participants.
Total cost for this incredible Yoga Journey is $6,800.00 per person based on double occupancy. We are offering an early bird price of $6,500.00 per person if paid in full by April 15, 2025. Airfare to Italy, most alcohol, one lunch outside the villa, guide gratuities and non-itinerary activities are not included in the quoted price. All deposits are non-refundable, but may be applied to future yoga adventure retreats if unable to attend for any reason. Please email Nova with any questions and to make deposits using a debit card or check.
To embrace the spirit of travel, please allow for changes to the itinerary and scheduled events due to weather, guides, and the unforeseen.
