The 10 most incredible yoga destinations

Whether you’re a devout yogi or you just enjoy a bit of downward dog, there are some truly amazing places around the world to practise yoga.

These yoga destinations are ideal places to start or continue your yoga practice, giving you the opportunity to reconnect to your mind, body and soul. Yoga retreats make a great vacation and can add a spiritual element to any holiday. Here are our 10 favourites.

1. Bali, Indonesia

Australians love to escape to Bali to relax and unwind, and there is even more reason to do so with the many retreats and yoga classes that are spread across the island. Probably the most famous is The Yoga Barn in Ubud which offers more than 100 yoga classes per week, as well as breathwork and healing sessions. Afterwards, you can enjoy vegan, vegetarian and raw cuisine at its Garden Kafe.

Girl Doing Yoga On Poolside In Morning In Bali, Indonesia. Young Slim Woman In Sportswear Sitting In Lotus Pose Or Padmasana On Sport Mat Near Infinity Pool Against Tropical Landscape. — Relax and unwind at a Bali yoga retreat.

2. Amalfi Coast, Italy

Yoga on the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy is one of the best destinations to practise yoga as it provides an idyllic place to connect with your inner self as you enjoy breathtaking views of the turquoise Mediterranean sea. Not only that, but you’ll also find yourself enjoying the freshest sea-to-table meals, and exploring exotic underwater caves known as grottoes.

Amalfi Coast Yoga Retreats is organised so guests can experience Southern Italy as authentically as possible. You’ll enjoy daily yoga with sea views, beautiful accommodation in a private villa and stunning Italian food. This all-inclusive villa is the perfect place for a yoga-practising world traveller looking to practise mindfulness as well as become immersed in the Italian culture that surrounds it.

Aerial view of beach in Italy with parasols — Yoga on the Amalfi Coast is incredibly picturesque.

3. Koh Phangan, Thailand

Koh Phangan is more than just the Full Moon Party that attracts so many backpackers each month. This island is also known for its natural beauty, slower-paced hippie lifestyle, and its tranquillity. Koh Phangan is brimming with yoga experiences, spirituality and healthy living.

The Sanctuary is a resort and spa offering a yoga program that has been operating for 25 years. The Sanctuary regards yoga as an ancient practice and encourages its guests to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them. They offer three daily classes with different levels and forms of yoga, so you’re sure to find something that suits your beliefs, practises, and goals.

Young woman doing morning yoga exercise at her home terrace in Koh Phangan island in Thailand. She is doing stretching and meditation, relaxing on the beginning of a new day. — There is way more to Koh Phangan than the Full Moon Party.

4. Tulum in Mexico

Tulum is sprinkled with yoga resorts with spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. It’s the ideal place to sink deeper into your yoga practise while getting some Instagrammable content too. Give your mind, body and spirit an extra reboot by visiting one of the many yoga classes or wellness retreats in the region, which draw visitors from around the world who are attracted to Tulum’s ancient spirituality and relaxed way of life.

AZULIK is one of the most beautiful yoga shalas in Tulum and has classes at 8am and 9.30am every day, or you can organise private classes.

Gran Cenote is one of the most famous cenotes in Mexico, Tulum, Riviera Maya. — You’ll get some Insta-worthy shots as well as some well-deserved relaxation.

5. Rishikesh, India

There’s no better place on earth than India to study yoga or visit a retreat for some self-care. Rishikesh has been a magnet for yogis and enlightenment seekers since the 1960s. Plus, the International Yoga Festival is held here, welcoming yogis from all over for seven days in March each year.

Phool Chatti has been offering yoga and meditation courses for over 120 years. They offer different program options and diverse forms of yoga to cater to all kinds of people. What makes this location the perfect place to practise yoga is its secluded grounds, completely free of all kinds of pollution. For the participants of their yoga retreats, they offer fully furnished rooms and a healthy meal plan that is available throughout your stay.

Young woman practicing yoga in India at the famous Taj Mahal at sunrise - Headstand position upside down- People travel spirituality zen like concept — India is an iconic yoga destination.

6. Sedona, Arizona

Sedona in Arizona is one of the United States’ most iconic yoga destinations where people travel from far and wide to practise yoga. Holding the three-day Sedona Yoga Festival each year, it offers more than 200 relevant events including classes, performances, and workshops. The festival also includes specific yoga classes to help with anxiety and PTSD.

a woman reflected practicing yoga under the milky way near cathedral rock sedona arizona — Sedona has a three-day yoga festival every year.

7. Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap in Cambodia is a popular resort town home to the famous Angkor Wat temple, the Bayon, Ta Prohm, and many other amazing cultural and historical attractions. It may not be one of the obvious yoga retreat destinations, but there are a handful of wellness and yoga-focused hotels and centres that offer multi-day retreats and healthy cuisine.

Young woman exercising yoga in ancient temple near majestic terrace lake at sunrise; concept of people with healthy lifestyles and wellbeing and travel Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia, Southeast Asia — Siem Reap is a very spiritual place.

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8. Santa Teresa Beach, Costa Rica

Santa Teresa is a beach town in Costa Rica that is nestled in the wilderness. Surrounded by the beach, jungles and more, it’s a beautiful location to centre yourself and your yoga practice. Vajra Sol is one of the most established yoga retreats in Costa Rica, and it unfolds onto a pristine beach lined by wild jungle and gifted with mesmerising sunsets. Dive into your yoga practice and learn to surf or stand-up paddle board in the warm ocean of the Nicoya Peninsula while you’re there.

Costa Rica Silhouettes of people doing yoga on the beach at sunset — Yoga with a view.

9. Lanzarote, Spain

Lanzarote is one of Spain’s Canary Islands off the coast of West Africa. It is one of the best-preserved islands of the Canaries, declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. It has a mild and pleasant temperature year-round, crystal-clear water with abundant marine life, relaxing beaches and 300 volcanoes that give a special energy to the land.

Yoga Lanzarote not only circulates the practice of yoga but also shares the spiritual philosophy from India and spreads that wisdom mixed with compassion that has been learnt from Buddhist monks to the yogis who come to the island.

View along a narrow street in Playa Blanca, Lanzarote, Spain. — Lanzarote is part of the Canary Islands.

10. Sacred Valley, Peru

The Sacred Valley in Peru’s Andean highlands, along with Cuzco and Machu Picchu, formed the Inca Empire. Samadhi is a facility in Peru dedicated to yoga and meditation, with the goal to work toward the conscience state of the divine through yoga, plant-based dieting, culture, and art therapy.

The stunning view from the accommodation helps create the overall experience that Samadhi strives for by immersing guests in a natural environment. This facility dedicates itself to teaching its guests how to connect to mother earth by taking a holistic and spiritual approach. Their yoga-mediation classes focus on self-knowledge and guide you to be your own teacher.

Machu Picchu In Peru — Is there a more sacred place to practice yoga than Sacred Valley?

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.