7 Day Wild Women Yoga Retreat in Montenegro with Wild Swimming
A women’s wellness retreat of somatic yoga, wild swimming and nature at Lake Skadar
Departure date: 21st June 2026
Book by 31st January for a 10% discount!
Ready for something a little different from the usual yoga retreat? Join us in Montenegro for a week of somatic yoga, cold water swimming and the kind of female camaraderie you don’t find on big, anonymous retreats. This one’s just for women, just 10 of us plus visiting teacher Lou, and it’s all about slowing down, tuning in and finding joy in nature.
We’ll be based at Villa Miela, our lovingly restored stone villa above Lake Skadar. It’s the kind of place where you can pad barefoot from the yoga terrace to the kitchen table and never tire of the views. After practice, there’s always good food waiting – fresh, vegetarian, seasonal and plentiful, prepared by our lovely retreat chef.
Your guide for the week is Lou Kitchener, a teacher with more than 20 years’ daily practice behind her. Lou doesn’t do “one-size-fits-all yoga”. Instead, she’ll guide you through a somatic approach: listening to your body, working with it (not against it) and learning to move with awareness. We’ll practice daily each morning on our hillside deck, while at other times, even spontaneously, we’ll be by the lake or at a hidden viewpoint. Always in nature, always responsive to the group.
And because water heals in ways yoga alone can’t, each day we’ll venture out to swim – in rivers, under waterfalls, across the lake or even in the Adriatic Sea. Getting there is part of the magic: a short hike through the forest, or a gentle kayak on the lake. These are swims you’ll remember – not lengths in a pool, but wild, cold, invigorating dips with the mountains all around you.
Evenings are for gathering – over food, stories, laughter – or simply retreating with a book if that’s what you need. The beauty of a group this small is that you can be as sociable or as solitary as you like.
This retreat is for you if:
- You’re craving time away from the noise to reconnect with yourself and your body
- You want to explore yoga that goes beyond the purely physical
- You’re drawn to wild places – lakes, rivers, seas – and don’t mind a short hike or paddle to get there
- You’d love to share the experience with a small, friendly, all-female group
Dates: 21–28 June 2026
Group size: Max. 10 women
Base: Villa Miela, Lake Skadar National Park
Book to Give Back
We’re big on keeping destinations as beautiful as they were when we found them. So when you book with us, a percentage of the money you pay will be donated to our chosen local environmental or community causes for the year.
Learn more about our Book to Give Back scheme and other responsible tourism initiatives here.
Lou has been living and breathing yoga for more than 20 years, and it shows in everything she does. She’s not the kind of teacher who insists on picture-perfect poses or asks you to push beyond what feels right. Instead, she invites you to slow down, listen and trust your body. Her teaching is rooted in Akhanda (holistic) yoga, with threads of Ayurveda, somatic movement, yoga therapy for mental health and trauma-informed practice woven through.
What does that mean in practice? It means no two sessions are the same. Lou observes the women in front of her and shapes the practice to meet the group where they are — whether that’s gently reconnecting after a stressful year, finding strength you didn’t know you had, or simply lying back and letting your breath carry you.
Alongside teaching at her studio in Norwich, Lou has trained extensively in India (500 hours and counting) and studied everything from Womb Yoga to Holosomatic Body Therapy. She’s also a Yoga Health Coach, helping people weave Ayurvedic wisdom into daily life.
Lou’s passion is supporting women to develop care and trust in themselves — and this retreat is designed to give you the time and space to do just that.
Workshops are mostly in the morning at Villa Miela, lasting up to 90 minutes, and are then followed by guided excursions to wild swimming locations!
Want to see more? Watch our video!
Sample Itinerary*
Day 1 – Arrival at Lake Skadar
Welcome and check-in from 2pm to your accommodation for the week in Zabes village, which is walking distance from picturesque Virpazar, the main settlement at Lake Skadar National Park. Welcome dinner and drinks on the terrace (included).
Day 2 – Morning yoga and a forest hike to dip in waterfalls
This afternoon we hike an hour along a lush forest trail to a hidden waterfall for a wild swim and recharge. Afterwards, a short climb brings us to our friends’ honey farm, where we’ll share a “zero-mile” early dinner of organic, home-made food and drinks.
Day 3 – Morning yoga and a kayak trip on the emerald Morača river
Today we’ll take a short kayaking trip on the gentle waters of the Morača River to reach a willow-shaded bank, perfect for a refreshing swim. Rope swings and a “run the plank” add extra fun, while an island monastery and abundant birdlife make this trip as scenic as it is joyful.
Day 4 – Rest day
A free day to spend however you wish, and sometimes that’s simply relaxing by the pool at Villa Miela. Optional activities are joining a boat cruise on Lake Skadar for wild swimming and bird spotting, or visiting the nearby Adriatic coast. Your villa hosts can arrange it easily.
Day 5 – Morning yoga and an off-road wild-swimming safari
A short drive takes us to Žabljak Crnojevića and the Morača floodplains. After a brief hill walk to the old fortress with sweeping views over the National Park, we head off-road to the Karatuna River for a wild swim in crystal-clear water — and, for the brave, a leap from the bridge.
Day 6 – Morning yoga then caves and pools of the Northern shores
We head off on an afternoon adventure to see the spectacular wetlands and winding rivers of northern Lake Skadar. Part car safari, part hike, the day brings hidden pools and waterfalls, a vast cave, and the iconic viewpoint of Pavlova Strana.
Day 7
On our last day, we take an extended yoga and meditation session in the morning, with the rest of the day free to relax or do our own thing. We enjoy a final group dinner at Villa Miela.
Day 8
Depart. Check-out is at 10 am.
*NB. – elements may change according to the weather and in discussion between the group and hosts (we’re flexible like our yoga practice).
Prices:
£1,195 per person for a shared double or twin room with private bathroom
£1,395 per person for solo occupancy of a double or twin room with private bathroom
£995 per person for bed in bunk room with private bathroom
£1095 per person for a shared double or twin room with shared bathroom
£1195 per person for solo occupancy of a twin room with shared bathroom
Price includes daily coached yoga sessions, 7 nights’ catered accommodation based at Villa Miela, two hearty meals a day following a vegetarian menu, non-alcoholic drinks and 4 great wild swimming excursions with the group. Flights, optional boat trip, or other optional activities, and snacks/drinks at restaurants are excluded.
Airport transfers not included.
Book by 31st January for a 10% discount – use code HEALTHY10
ZABES VILLAGE: VILLA MIELA
Our retreat hub is Villa Miela Lake Retreat, which works with neighbouring accommodation, Dembelija Rooms, to accommodate everyone according to your preferences: a room to yourself, a double bed, twin beds, or dorm bedroom for three, all with panoramic views of the mountains, valley and lake. All communal spaces at Villa Miela are shared no matter which accommodation you are based in, with Dembelija Rooms just a short 5 minute walk away. Catering is provided for the group at Villa Miela twice a day: a hearty brunch and dinner.
About Villa Miela
A beautifully renovated farmhouse with modern facilities, large terrace and 70 square foot outdoor deck, Villa Miela is the ideal base for guests on our Lake Skadar yoga holidays. With spectacular views, a gorgeous plunge pool and prime location offering easy access to the lake’s southern and northern shores as well as Virpazar, it’s the perfect place to stay. Make new friends as you share the beautifully renovated stone living spaces, gorgeous outdoor terrace, outdoor yoga/chill deck, swimming pool and orchard gardens.
At a glance
The Old House sleeps up to 10 with 2 double rooms, 1 twin and one 4-bed bunk room, each with private bathroom. The New House sleeps up to 6, with one double with private bathroom and two twins with shared bathroom
- Swimming pool
- Air conditioning in the bedrooms
- Covered outdoor deck / yoga studio
- Modern kitchen with all amenities
- Free WIFI
- Open-plan living room with TV and library of books
- Large terrace with gas barbecue, loungers, hammocks, boules court, swimming pool; incredible views over lake, valley and mountains
- Extensive grounds with natural orchard and wild tortoises
- Two minute drive or 20 minute walk from the lake shore, 30 minutes from the Adriatic coast
- Free use of mountain bikes
Exposed stone details and wooden ceilings and floors add to the charm, with locally produced, handmade bedspreads and bathroom soaps also handmade from olive oil. Stunning views are offered up by each bedroom and the open-plan living area.
The modern kitchen comes equipped with washing-machine and dishwasher.
Staying at Villa Miela is recommended by top travel media such as the Lonely Planet and Bradt Guides to Montenegro, the Guardian and Daily Telegraph newspapers and National Geographic Traveller magazine.
About Dembelija Rooms
When the villa is full, extra guests can also be hosted at our neighbouring guesthouse, Badanj Village House, just 500m up the road from Villa Miela. This beautifully restored farmhouse has all the usual comforts as well as an unexpected dash of style! Those guests staying here are of course also welcome to use Villa Miela’s facilities.
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