Yoga & Nature Retreat in Montenegro with Sound Healing

“Undiscovered Montenegro exceeded all my expectations and provided me with an unforgettable yoga holiday experience. From the moment I arrived, I was captivated by the natural beauty, warm hospitality, and exceptional service.”

Hanan Kasmi, May 2023

7 day gong yoga retreat in Montenegro with nature activities

2023 dates: 5th May

Escape for a revitalising week-long Yoga Retreat at Montenegro’s vast Lake Skadar National Park. You’ll experience an enriching blend of yoga, nature activities, and sound healing, all enjoyed from the incredible natural surroundings of our retreat centre, Villa Miela.

Join our expert gong yoga instructor, Natalia Dylawerska, for invigorating morning hatha yoga sessions on our open-air yoga deck, and for restorative evening gong sound baths. Delight in delicious, vegetarian meals prepared by our brilliant retreat chef Elaine Brown of Cooks of Kotor.

Whether you’re new to yoga or a seasoned practitioner, our retreat offers rejuvenation and adventure, including forest hikes, waterfall visits and kayaking.

Lake Skadar’s untouched beauty makes it the ideal base for a wellness holiday, offering clean air, fresh water and rich wildlife, set in some of the most spectacular scenery Montenegro has to offer. Find out more about the itinerary and price by using the tabs above and book your spot today!

Book to Give Back – every booking sparks a donation to our chosen local environmental and community causes

About Natalia Dylawerska
Hatha yoga teacher, sound healer, certified Gong Master and a MEM Gong Yoga kriya design scientist, Natalia studied sound healing and sound therapy with Tibetan singing bowls at the Peter Hess Academy (Poland/Germany). She then learned the art of Gongs from Gong Master Don Conreaux and Gong muse Mojca Malek. Natalia has also studied MEM Gong Yoga of Holistic Resonance with Petra Trtnik and Tim Byford. With her warm and welcoming nature, Natalia will be your trusted guide on this transformative Montenegro yoga retreat.

You can find her on Instagram and Facebook. Email: natalia.dylawerska@gmail.com

About MEM Gong Yoga

MEM= Muscles, Emotions, Meridians

MEM Gong Yoga is a combination of breathing exercises, body movement, intention and sounds to release old patterns and emotions that reside in our bodies. After a series of body movements that activate specific muscles and meridians, we lay down for a Gong bath.

MEM Gong Yoga focuses on 39 Muscles; each one of them linked to one of the 12 main Meridians and the emotions that they hold. By bringing in breath, movement, intention, sound and affirmations, we release stuck emotions, congested energy and old patterns stored in our bodies promoting health, well-being and inner peace.

Benefits:
– Build strength, stability and stamina
– Increase flexibility and muscle tone
– Focus and concentrate the mind
– Encourage physical and mental balance
– Develop body awareness and proper alignment
– Reduce stress
– Increase a sense of calm and peace
– Develop increased lung capacity for better breathing
– Understand elements of yoga philosophy
– Learn meditation and relaxation
– Become your own teacher

Want to see more? Watch our video of yoga at Villa Miela!

Sunday
Arrival at Lake Skadar. Check-in to Villa Miela or the neighbouring Dembelije Village House. Welcome & group dinner on Villa Miela’s terrace.

Monday – Saturday
Days unless noted begin with a 1.5-hour yoga workshop at 08.30 on the deck, which is followed by a delicious, healthy vegetarian brunch. We return to the gong most days at 17.00 for an hour-long sound bath with the gong and Tibetan singing bowls. In between, enjoy a selection of optional nature-based activities to enrich your immersion in the wild surroundings of Villa Miela and inspire your practice. Group dinners are at 19:00.

Throughout the week Natalia is available to give 30-minute singing bowl massages for up to four people at €35pp.

Monday
Morning yoga ~ and later, a hike to immerse in nature and bathe in a waterfall hidden deep in the forest ~ evening gong bath.

Tuesday
Morning yoga ~ and later, a 2.5 hour hike from Villa Miela’s door, up and along an old hill path to visit historic Godinje village, perched above the lake, with its attractive 14th century architecture, vaulted wine cellars and tales of old. Option to taste wine.

Wednesday
Free day ~ no activities, although there is an optional leisurely three hour boat cruise to see the lake and its rich waterscapes, birdlife and water lilies. Today is a chance to relax, find a hammock, read a book, enjoy the pool or even visit Montenegro’s coast). There is no evening gong bath today.

Thursday
Morning yoga ~ and later, kayaking on Lake Skadar from a nearby freshwater beach, past gorgeous lily pads and the ruins of an island prison to a hidden fishing village reachable only by water ~ evening gong bath.

Friday
Morning yoga ~ and later, a photo safari to the incredible landscapes of the northern shores and a short hike to energising waterfalls and a cave. There is no gong bath today.

Saturday
No morning yoga or activities – a chance to enjoy a lie-in, relax and unwind with Villa Miela’s wonderful natural surroundings and facilities. We enjoy a final gong bath at 17:00 before one last group dinner as friends.

Sunday
10:00 – Departure

Price: £1,155 per person based on 1px sharing a shared double or twin room / £1,455 per person for solo occupancy of a double or twin room / £995 per person based on 4px in the bunk room.

Book by 1st January 2024 and get a £50pp discount!

Includes:

7 nights’ accommodation with private bathroom at Villa Miela or neighbouring Dembelije House
5 morning yoga workshops (hatha practice)
4 evening gong sound baths
7 vegetarian dinners & 7 vegetarian brunches
Guided hike to waterfall
Guided hike to Godinje hill village
Guided lake kayaking with chance to try SUP boarding
Photo safari and guided hike to cave and rockpools
Non-alcoholic drinks.

Optional extras:

Singing bowl massages with Natalia – €50pp

VILLA MIELA and DEMBELIJE VILLAGE HOUSE

Accommodation for our guests is spread over two beautifully renovated neighbouring farmhouses in the hill village of Zabes, close to Virpazar (a small fishing village which is the main tourist centre of Lake Skadar National Park).

Villa Miela is the retreat centre and it’s where we bring all our yoga guests together to enjoy the purpose-built ‘shala’ yoga/nature deck, group meals, panoramic views, the swimming pool, relaxing sun-loungers, fire pit and orchard gardens.

At a glance

Sleeps 8-10 with 2 double bedrooms, 1 twin and one bunk bedroom, each with private bathroom
Swimming pool
Covered outdoor yoga deck
Modern kitchen with all amenities
Free WIFI
Open-plan living room with TV, DVD player and library of books and films
Large terrace with gas barbecue, loungers, hammocks, boules court, swimming pool; incredible views over lake, valley and mountains
Extensive grounds with natural orchard
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.

Some guests will be hosted at our neighbouring guesthouse, Dembelije Village House, just 500m up the road from Villa Miela, and the ancestral home of the Petranović family. This beautifully restored farmhouse has all the usual comforts as well as a dash of style! Those guests staying here are of course also welcome to use Villa Miela’s facilities.