ASHTANGA YOGA
RETREAT
PAKLENI ISLANDS
Stop. Breathe.
DATES
30.06. — 05.07.2025
MAXIMUM CAPACITY
10 people
SUITABLE FOR
all yoga levels
small groups, singles, couples
PRICES
*Single Room • 1,690 € per person
Twin Room • 1,390 € per person
Triple Room • 1,190 € per person
Tent • 890 € per person
*A Single Room booked for 2 people includes a king-size bed. The price is 1,100 € per person.
HIGHLIGHTS
Eco-friendly villa on a secluded location
Daily Ashtanga Yoga & Yin Yoga
Boat trip & healing mud experience
Cacao Ceremony
In-house massage & healing treatments
ACTIVITIES
Ashtanga Yoga Retreat on Pakleni Islands includes — daily Ashtanga Yoga classes, breathwork, seaside meditations, Yin Yoga, island hopping, mediation walks, healing mud experience, Yoga Nidra, Cacao Ceremony, dinner in a local restaurant, and plenty of free time to relax and swim in the sea
OVERVIEW
We’re so excited to share our love for yoga and the Pakleni Islands with you! Experience the calmness and wild beauty of one of Croatia’s most stunning islands.
No cars, no neighbors, no noise—just the endless sea and untouched nature around us.
Imagine waking up to the sound of waves, diving into the sea straight from your bed, savoring fresh veggies from the garden, and ending your day with breathtaking sunsets.
Our retreat offers a thoughtfully curated program to deepen your Ashtanga Yoga practice, including personal adjustments, breathing techniques, and meditations—guided by two experienced teachers who will create a safe and nurturing space for you.
Above all, you’ll have plenty of free time to explore the island, enjoy long swims, and relax on a private beach.
PROGRAM
Discover day by day program of Ashtanga Yoga retreat on Pakleni Islands
Day 1 — ARRIVAL + OPENING CIRCLE
We meet at 4:00 pm at Hvar’s main square and then head with the private speedboat towards our villa on Pakleni Islands.
The retreat begins with an opening circle and soft meditation practice designed to help you settle down and connect with the natural surroundings.
As the night sky unfolds, relish a homemade dinner served under the stars, creating a perfect beginning to our week experience.
Day 2 — YOGA + HEALING MUD + YIN YOGA
We will wake up early to catch the first sun rays and start the day with a guided meditation, breath work (pranayama), and a gentle, guided Ashtanga Yoga practice with lots of personal hands-on adjustments.
A long and lazy brunch will give you time to settle and relax.
The afternoon is reserved for a meditation walk through the island. We’ll visit Soline Beach, known for its ancient Roman spa. At Soline Beach you can find Roman ruins but what we really care about is the healing mud which will make your skin feel soft and smooth.
Upon return to our villa, join us for a gentle Yin Yoga practice followed by a delicious dinner.
Day 3 — YOGA + LEISURE + YIN YOGA
We start the day with the sunrise meditation, pranayama, and gently challenging, yet personally supported Ashtanga Mysore practice, followed by a rich and slow brunch.
The afternoon is reserved for leisure activities like massage or healing energy medicine treatments, relaxing with a book in your hammock, walking through the island, or simply having a long swim in the crystal clear sea.
In the evening, we gather for a restorative Yin Yoga practice, followed by sunset walking meditation and a yummy dinner.
Day 4 — YOGA + ISLAND HOPPING
Our day will start with pranayama, meditation and Ashtanga Mysore practice, followed by a healthy veggie brunch.
A speed boat will then take us to explore the Pakleni Islands: we will enjoy snorkeling in hidden bays, skinny dipping, and refreshments at a local beach bar.
For today’s dinner, we’ll stroll to a nearby bay and dine at a local restaurant called Fisherman’s House. Known for its use of domestic products, fresh sea-caught fish, and garden-fresh veggies, it’s a culinary delight.
Day 5 — YOGA + LEISURE + CACAO CEREMONY
After awakening our bodies with guided Ashtanga practice and personalized pranayama practices, and nurturing our senses with delicious brunch, it is relaxation time.
You can relax with the massage or healing energy medicine treatments, explore the hidden bays, or visit a magical treehouse nearby. Optional: Blue cave visiting.
At sunset we will celebrate the completion of this week in a circle for the Cacao Ceremony, sharing experiences and enjoying sunset.
Day 6 — RETURN HOME or...
The last morning practice will be dedicated to deep Yin Yoga practice and creating your personal asana & pranayama program to take home with you, followed by the closing circle, yummy fresh brunch, and the last sea dip.
Rejuvenated and recharged, you are ready to go back into the real world.
We will take you back to the island of Hvar, from where you can decide to head back home or to stay in Croatia forever…
LODGING
The Cricket house is located on Pakleni islands, 20 minutes boat ride from Hvar island. There are no cars on the Pakleni islands, and our villa has no neighbors.
Surrounding the house is a vast Mediterranean garden with authentic herbs, figs, and olive trees. The wild flora garden is equipped with hammocks and deck chairs, making it the ideal place to retreat from urban daily life. From there, you can reach the private beach in just a 5 minutes walk.
The house consists of a large living room, kitchen, spacious dining room, 4 bedrooms, and 4 bathrooms. Two bedrooms are situated on the ground floor with double beds and en-suite bathrooms. On the upper floor are a triple room and a twin room with en-suite bathrooms. Here is a chilling area where you can peacefully enjoy the panoramic view of the sea.
As the garden is very spacious, we offer the option of staying in the tent and using the bathroom from the house. If you are interested, let us know, so we can provide a tent for you.
FOOD
Our food is prepared with fresh and seasonal ingredients purchased from local farmers because we love to support the local economy.
During your stay, you’ll be delighted with two rich daily meals and snacks made by our in-house chef. Brunches and dinners are mainly vegetarian and vegan. The gluten-free options are available – let us know ahead about your special needs.
And, to keep you refreshed throughout the day, we offer coffee, tea, fruits, and snacks.
LOCATION
Pakleni Island is a gorgeous chain of wooded isles that stretches out immediately in front of the town of Hvar.
Although the name literally means ‘Hell’s Islands’, it’s thought to derive from ‘paklina’, a pine resin that was once harvested here to waterproof boats. Imagine an island that is almost entirely covered by a lush Mediterranean forest, where waters dazzle, and it’s still not overrun by tourists. Everything about this place is unique. You can expect to swim in some of the clearest water and enjoy the deep blue caves and pristine white sandy beaches just for yourself.
And if you’re looking for a real break, this is just the place to relax and live a true island experience.
MEET OUR TEAM
…your teacher, your guide and in-house chef
Tom is a certified teacher (TT500) and a long-time dedicated Ashtanga practitioner who believes in the benefits of yoga through daily practice in the Mysore style. His teaching is firmly rooted in the experience of his own dedicated practice.
Tom encourages his students to develop a personal practice, following tradition while also addressing their individual needs. His attentive, safe adjustments, traditional approach, and detailed personal guidance help many practitioners quickly surpass their limits, fostering confidence in their abilities with a smile.
Since his first encounter with the Ashtanga system, Tom has maintained a daily practice and is currently completing the third series. He regularly deepens his practice with his teachers in Thailand and India, dedicating himself to studying and exploring all aspects of yoga.
His thirst for knowledge and a deeper understanding of Ashtanga and its roots has led him to study with many renowned senior teachers, including Mark & Joanne Darby, Rolf Naujokat, David Williams, Lino Miele, Govinda Kai, Graham Northfield, David Swenson, Neil Barker, David Robson, Anthony Prem Carlisi, and many others.
Tom is grateful for the guidance and support of his primary teacher, Paul Dallaghan, who also initiated him into the practice of pranayama according to the Kaivalyadhama Institute tradition. He continues his pranayama practice under the direct guidance of Sri O.P. Tiwari, the director of the Kaivalyadhama Institute and one of the few living Masters of yoga and pranayama today.
In addition to the morning Mysore program at Gaia Shala, he leads workshops and regular classes at the Phoenix Arising Center in Dresden, Germany. He is part of the team and one of the mentors of the GaiaYoga Teacher Training School.
Sandra D. Bianco is a dedicated yoga practitioner who has been studying and practicing yoga for more than 20 years, teaching it since 2005. She started her spiritual research at a young age of 15, first through books, then by meeting yoga, buddhist meditation and shamanism, until she met her spiritual Teacher in 1995. That encounter changed her perception of Life and of her Purpose, and became the foundation of her way of living and of her teachings today.
With her Teacher she completed 7 years of study at Academy for Personal Growth (Torino, Italy 1997-2004), followed by advanced 3-yrs course of study of Shamanism based on Toltec and Essene tradition.
In 2005 she earned her yoga teacher diploma, becoming one of the pioneers of dynamic yoga in Croatia. Her thirst for knowledge made her travel around the world to study with a great number of prominent teachers and masters of yoga, meditation, and pranayama.
Sandra is is the founder of GaiaYoga school and shala. established in 2006 as the first Croatian Yoga Teacher Training program.
She is also an Energy Therapist and teacher of Energy Method called Prana Hands since 1999.
She is also trained in Shamanic Medicine with Andean Q’ero shamans, a mesa carrier of the Qanchis Ylla tradition (7 Rays of Rainbow lineage), and is initiated in Munay Ki Rites. Besides training the new yoga teachers, she teaches regular yoga classes, workshops, retreats and energy trainings, supports women in sacred circles, shares cacao ceremonies, and holds space for her students to support their growth and healing.
Karolina is a long time Buddhist practitioner, Shiatsu masseur and Macrobiotic chef. When she is preparing a food, you can feel all her energy and love in that meals. She uses seasonal ingredients and makes the best of it.
Karolina was the owner of Zagreb famous restaurant, Veganspek, first vegan and meat restaurant in Croatia.
Karolina was the owner of Zagreb famous restaurant, Veganspek, first vegan and meat restaurant in Croatia.