Vacation Ideas 2024: Om-ing in on the Best Hotels for Yoga

Southern California has long had a special draw. Fantastic climate, beautiful scenery, and bustling metropolises make it an ideal place to live. If you happen to be traveling to Los Angeles or San Diego and need to make time for yoga, consider booking a stay at Rancho Valencia. Tucked neatly into the hills about 30 minutes north of Downtown San Diego, this beautiful villa-style ranch offers exceptional spaces to practice your downward-facing dog. The suburban communities north of San Diego are exceedingly attractive with their palm trees, winding roads, and scenic views. It’s a great place to forget your troubles and enjoy a less frenetic tempo. Better still, you can easily get back and forth to San Diego for business or sightseeing. Rancho Valencia has plenty of facilities for you to enjoy. Group activities and fitness classes are available and the ranch boasts several spaces where you’re encouraged to lay down your mat. Be sure to check out the yoga studio, located in a relaxing corner of the ranch. This can be a great environment to meet fellow travelers and guests during group sessions. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide expansive views across a lovely wooded area. Take advantage of all the amenities available and find your balance at Rancho Valencia.

Photo: Instagram@cruzxprt

If Southern California isn’t far enough removed, allow us to suggest San Camp in central Botswana. This Southern African nation is famous for its welcoming culture, immense open plains, and magnificent wildlife. San Camp is the perfect place for a safari. Tour great African savannas as you come into contact with elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeests, and much more. San Camp is located just outside Makgadikgadi Pans National Park on the shores of Nwetwe Pan, a seasonal lake that fills during the rainy months and attracts large herds eager for water. For most people, getting here means stopping first in the Botswanan capital Gaborone. From there you can secure transportation northward. Depending on your schedule and plans, consider a stop in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. The enormous grasslands epitomize African savanna and feature numerous iconic animals. When you arrive at San Camp, you’re greeted by lovely white tents that waft and sway in the breeze. Beyond the bare essentials, you won’t find much in the way of frills or luxury services. San Camp is a place where you can literally leave it all behind. Don’t be surprised to see hyenas hiding in the tall grass or perhaps a lovely springbok bounding past. At San Camp you will find a place to really get one with nature, which is why we think this is one of the best hotels for yoga.

Photo: Instagram@century_safaris

Bali is Indonesia’s resort island par excellence. If you asked people what they imagine when they think tropical resort, chances are a good many will name Bali! Flights arrive at

Ngurah Rai International Airport just outside the island’s principle city, Denpasar. This is the place to get your bearings and check out the local culture. Don’t pass up an opportunity to visit the magnificent Tanah Lot. Its unique offshore setting provides the perfect backdrop for sunset photos. Constructed in the 16^th century to honor the Hindu sea god Baruna, Tanah Lot is one of Bali’s most-visited landmarks. Once you’ve had a chance to check the place out, make for the north of the island where you will find Zen Resort Bali. With a range of wellness packages designed to help you relax, this is a place to find some true comfort. In addition to plenty of space for yoga, you can enjoy tons of great spa-packages including traditional Balinese full-body therapy, sunrise and sunset meditation or group yoga sessions, and bespoke travel opportunities to some of Bali’s lesser known attractions. With many people choosing to stay in the south, North Bali is another side of paradise. Zen Resort makes a point to offers guests the chance to experience recreational “harmony.” Make the most of it and combine yoga with world-class diving and snorkeling at this amazing hotel.

For those who like their yoga with a side of beach relaxation, Ak Bol Yoga Retreat is the place for you! Set on a small strip of land bordering Mexico, Ak Bol is essentially cut off from the rest of Belize and located along a coral reef island chain. The reef system, known as the Belize Barrier Reef, is the second longest in the world, surpassed only by Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The unique marine environment in the Gulf of Mexico is home to an astounding array of sea creatures. It’s an ideal place to explore below the waves. With several resorts located in the area, you’ll have your choice of great places to stay. At Ak Bol you can grab a cozy beach bungalow. The thatched-roof huts look out across a tropical scene filled with lovely shades of blue and green. Join in daily yoga classes and study sessions. Private yoga and meditation is also available. With nothing but clear waters stretching out before you, you can really get into your groove and find that place where the world drains away. Afterwards take a contemplative stroll along the sands or wade into azure waters. With few things as wonderful as a prime beachfront location, Ak Bol has a lot going for it. For this reason and many more besides we’ve added it to our list of the best hotels for yoga.

Photo: Instagram@vivecolibri

Switzerland might not spring to mind when you picture ideal yoga retreats. Yet this is exactly why we think Alpina Gstaad is such a great choice. From your window you overlook a pristine Alpine valley filled with incredible shades of green. Strips of clouds sweep in off the mountains and fresh air helps rejuvenate your spirt and your body. Snowcapped peaks in the distance and the allure of Swiss village life make this a wonderful place to stay. The yoga studio at Alpina Gstaad is warm and welcoming. Though built in an interior space, the soft lighting, stylish designs, and comfortable environment allow you ample opportunity to practice. With the rest of the hotel decked out in true luxury style, you’ll find yourself having plenty to enjoy. Alpina Gstaad opens for the winter and summer seasons, closing between March and the start of June and then again from October to the beginning of December. You will obviously want to plan your vacation around these times; however, that shouldn’t be a problem given these are the best times to visit Switzerland. Those arriving in winter can enjoy the region’s excellent ski culture. Spend a day out on the slopes and then come back for a relaxing yoga session and a therapeutic massage. Cap off your stay with a dip in the pool and you will leave feeling good as new. Once you visit we think you’ll agree Alpina Gstaad is one of the best hotels around for yoga.

Photo: Instagram@gonzmond

It was once said about the Maldives that this is “where the blue sky and white clouds, the coconut trees and shadows, the clear water and white sand, are located in the paradise of the Indian Ocean.” This relatively small country comprises some 26 atolls. It is a place travelers yearn to visit, a place where couples venture for the perfect honeymoon, and a place to truly find rest and relaxation. There is no shortage of world class resorts in the Maldives. In fact the trouble is often narrowing down the myriad options. For those with yoga on their minds, we recommend Soneva Fushi in the Baa Atoll. The resort island is small and secluded. As with most other resorts in the Maldives, Soneva Fushi is what’s known as a private island, meaning you’ll be there pretty much only with other guests. In addition to the yoga studio there is also a full-service spa and even an observatory. Being out in the middle of the Indian Ocean is a fantastic place to see some truly starry skies. Take advantage and enjoy all this island paradise has to offer. Between April and October, the Maldives is a veritable surf paradise. Swells occur regularly during these months and increase during monsoons. In the Northern Atolls, Pasta Point, Chickens, Coke’s, Jailbreaks, and Sultans are all internationally recognized big wave breaks. Hang ten before you practice your Forward Fold at Soneva Fushi, one of the best hotels for yoga.

Photo: Instagram@malediven_urlaub

Traveling to Luang Prabang in December lets you take part in the annual Hmong New Year celebrations. These tend to occur mid-month and feature residents dressed in their finest attire and eager to welcome in the New Year. Book your stay at Avani+, located in the central city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Avani+ sits opposite Luang Prabang’s lively night market and affords great views towards nearby Phousi Hill. Visit temples alongside the Mekong River and climb the hill from where you can snap some excellent pictures back into town below. At the city’s largest temple, Wat May Souvannapoumaram, you can see intricate wood carvings and golden Buddha statues. A former Royal Palace, it is now a history museum with lovely gardens and ornate architectural decor. Several other Buddhist temples are clustered together on the small peninsula so you can easily hit several great sights while you’re walking. Back at Avani+, enjoy the stately décor and tasteful architecture. The complex resembles something of a manner house. Rooms feature lots of wood accents that compliment lovely hardwood flooring. Let yourself relax in the garden courtyard or find some time to unwind in the pool. Enjoy yoga in style and comfort, which is why we think this Southeast Asian destination provides one of the best hotels anywhere for practicing yoga.

Photo: Instagram@avaniluprabang

Often yoga is a study in contrast. Pitting focused meditation against our chaotic brains, yoga helps us see the other side of the coin and brings balance into our lives. Iceland itself is very much a land of contrasts. Stark natural landscapes sit just beyond brightly painted houses with warm, welcoming interiors. Seeing this majestic country for yourself is the dream of many a traveler. Fortunately it’s also a near ideal place for some yoga. The Retreat Hotel boasts ultra-modernist design featuring stark lines and wide-open spaces to create a truly breathtaking environment. Easily reachable from the capital Reykjavík, the Retreat is close to Keflavík International Airport. Take a room with a view overlooking the iconic Blue Lagoon, a natural geothermal hot spring pool famous for its aquamarine color. Enjoy a relaxing soak before you settle down with your mat. Focus your breathing as your eyes gaze out across a rough and windswept land. The many spa amenities on offer mean you can take full advantage of the experience to truly treat yourself. Icelanders are a hearty and welcoming people so you will find plenty to enjoy across the region. Travel around a bit while making The Retreat your home base. We’re sure you won’t want to leave so it’s a good thing The Retreat is also one of the best hotels for yoga.

Much as we all long for spirituality and sense of belonging in our fast paced lives, we too often feel adrift and bereft of meaning. Finding the sense of community and comradery through yoga is a great feeling. One made all the more special when we translate it across national boundaries and cultures. The list we’ve put together for you here offers some excellent options for people wanting to get away while not sacrificing the comfort and centering feelings they achieve in their favorite yoga studios. Whether you’re aiming near or far, seeking true luxury or just the bare essentials, there is something for everyone on this list. We looked far and wide and are quite proud to be able to bring you a selection of the best hotels around the world for yoga.