"Italian Riviera Retreat"- a Yoga Retreat with Malaika 

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 Itinerary

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Overview

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Join me on this very special summer retreat on Italy’s Riviera, where we’ll unplug for 5 nights at the Grand Hotel Alassio Beach Resort & Spa, a 5-star hotel and member of the Leading Hotels of the World. This 19th-century landmark seamlessly blends modern design with traditional hospitality; a young, vibrant team tends to all of your needs to ensure a topnotch experience. 

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Alassio is an enchanting beach town that offers something for everyone, from opportunities to shop, peruse galleries, linger at a café, swim and embark on seaside strolls, enjoy water sports, or unwind in the Thalassio Spa, complete with indoor pools and a wide array of treatments. Days begin and end with meditation, yoga, yoga nidra and soundbath. A wine tasting, cooking lesson, and snorkeling excursion round out your immersion in the region. I invite you to take the nex step….

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Immerse yourself in one of the most beautiful regions in the world on a rejuvenating yoga retreat in Alassio, Italy. Midway between the pesto capital of Genoa, Italy and the capital of the Côte de Azur, Nice, France lies near the resort town of Alassio and the historic Grand Hotel Alassio Resort & Spa, the oldest hotel on the Italian Riviera with an idyllic seafront location, complete with Thalassio spa and private beach. Beyond yoga, days are filled with wonderful activities and discoveries,
from a cooking lesson to unlock the secrets of the region’s world-renowned pesto to excursions to nearby towns and islands along the Riviera dei Fiori, where you can sample the local wines, linger over a cappuccino, visit with local artisans, shop, or just soak in the Riviera sun.

 

 

Daily Retreat Schedule

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DAY 1- SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025

Your retreat begins at 3:00 pm at the Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort, a member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World group, ensuring topnotch comfort, service and pampering. Upon your arrival to this fabulous seaside hotel, enjoy a welcome beverage and overview of the property on check-in. Take some time to settle in to your room, unpack, and unwind before your first yoga practice. Meet back in the lobby at 4:15 pm for a quick orientation for the retreat
followed by yoga nidra from 5-6:15 pm. A three-course bistro dinner featuring seasonal fare, like prosciutto crudo with fresh fior di latte cheese, spaghetti al mare (with seafood), and tiramisu, will follow at7:30 pm, on the outdoor terrace (weather permitting). Afterward, enjoya stroll on the seaside promenade under the starry sky, and retire in
comfort.

Overnight at: Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort, Alassio, Italy

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DAY 2 – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2025
Every morning will begin with a yoga practice or meditation (between 6:30 and 7:30 am – time to be advised daily), and tea, coffee, and fresh fruit will be available prior. Weather permitting, morning yoga sessions will occur on the private beach.
On this first full day, emerge energized from your yoga practice and refuel with a delicious breakfast of fresh juices, baked breads and pastries, homemade jams, yogurt, granola and eggs. Afterward, head 5 to Alassio’s pier for a fun-filled boat excursion to nearby Gallinara island. This is a great opportunity to discover the local marine life, snorkel and swim in crystalline waters, or simply enjoy being on the sea. (Mask, snorkel and fins are provided as well as snacks and
refreshments. This excursion is weather-dependent and may occur on the final day of the retreat.) Return to the resort mid afternoon, with time to relax, shop, or lounge on the private beach in front of the hotel. (Private lounge chairs, beach
towel, and umbrella are reserved for each participant on a complimentary basis daily.) Prepare for an early evening yoga
nidra/sound bath practice before gathering as a group for a fun aperitivo hour, where you are treated to a glass of prosecco and a piece (or two) of the hotel’s famous Neapolitan pizza. Afterward, step out on your own (or with others in the group) for a stroll on the promenade. On your return, you may wish to indulge in the hotel’s signature gelato by Massimilliano Scotti, or perhaps a signature cocktail in the Piano Mare Lounge Bar.

Overnight at: Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort, Alassio, Italy

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DAY 3 – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2025
Arise to the sounds of the birds chirping, and head to the beach for morning practice. Enjoy a 90-minute yoga/meditation practice this morning before breakfast. Afterward, take time to bask in the sun, swim, hop on one of the kayaks or paddleboards, or enjoy a massage or spa treatment (reservations required and at an additional cost). Mid day, join your group for a stroll to a nearby enoteca, where you learn about (and sample!) local wines from crisp whites from nearby
hillsides to the unique ruby red Rossese variety, along with delicacies of the region over a tapas-style lunch of local cheeses, charcuterie, and other delicious Ligurian specialties. Afterward, return to the hotel or explore more on your own, perhaps shopping at the many wonderful boutiques in town. Enjoy an evening of independent dining, with restaurant recommendations provided by the wonderful hotel staff.

Overnight at: Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort, Alassio, Italy

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DAY 4 – WEDNEDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025
This morning you rise early for pre-breakfast yoga/meditation (6:30 am on the beach, weather permitting). Savor another delicious breakfast out on the terrace, and then meet in the lobby for a walk to the nearby train station. Hope a train to Taggia, where you meet a local guide for a fascinating tour of this charming medieval town. Start at the local café, and sip an espresso or cappuccino before setting off on a walk through town. Meet some local purveyors, and sample traditional
cookies; visit an olive oil producer, and enjoy a hands-on pesto making class. Afterward, at a local osteria, your table awaits for a tasty lunch of pasta con pesto, accompanied by a glass of local white wine. Continue on to a gelateria, where you may wish to sample a gelato alla nocciolina (hazelnut ice cream) before you return to Alassio by train. Gather at 6:00 pm for an evening yoga nidra and sound bath practice to decompress from your full day. (Time to be reconfirmed locally.)
Enjoy an evening on your own, where you may opt to refuel at a beachfront bistro or pizzeria.

Overnight at: Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort, Alassio, Italy

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DAY 5 – THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2025
At 7:30 am, gather for morning yoga/meditation practice on the beach (time to be reconfirmed locally). Today, after morning practice, linger over breakfast, and enjoy a leisurely day. Head out on your own to explore more of this stunning region, or sink into some quiet time, reading, lounging, or enjoying a circuit in the indoor pools of the
Thalassio Medical Wellness Retreat at your hotel. (Entry to the spa is included in the retreat cost. Treatments are at an additional cost and can be booked directly.) You may want to rent a bike (the hotel reception can assist) and pedal
to nearby towns, or kayak or hop on a SUP for a paddle. (The hotel offers a limited number of kayaks and SUP for guest use.) The afternoon is yours to settle in for a siesta, shop for last minute gifts, or swim in the sea before a late afternoon yoga nidra/sound bath practice. Gather this evening in the hotel’s bistro or gazebo restaurant, where the table is set for a celebratory dinner that may feature linguine with light citrus sauce, oven-baked salmon with dill, and an insalata
mista (mixed salad), topped off with a tasty dessert. Step out afterward 7 for a nightcap, and to enjoy the mesmerizing sound of the sea before retiring to your room.

Overnight at: Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort, Alassio, Italy

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DAY 6 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 

Enjoy a copious breakfast and perhaps one last swim or stroll this morning. Check out (by noon) and make connections for your journey home or onward travels. The hotel can easily assist with taxi transfers. Train reservations can be made at www.trenitalia.com

 

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The Fine Print

 

RETREAT DATES

September 21-26, 2025

 

RETREAT PRICE

$2,995* per person, based upon double occupancy in a superior city side view room

$3,395* per person, based upon double occupancy in a superior sea view room

$3,845* for a solo traveler in a superior city side view room

$4,395* for a solo traveler in a superior sea view room

(*pricing is based on upon a minimum of 10 Yogis.)

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 ***PLEASE DO NOT BOOK ANY AIRFARE UNTIL WE CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE MET OUR MINIMUM GROUP SIZE. 

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PAYMENT

A non-refundable $750 (per person) deposit is required to guarantee your reservation.

Email nomadboutiquetravel@yahoo.com for instructions on how to make your payment.

Final payment is due June 20, 2024.
 

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CANCELLATION POLICY

.Cancellations received between June 21 and July 15, 2024 result in a 50% penalty of the total retreat cost paid.
Cancellations received between July 16 and the retreat start date of September 22nd result in a 100% penalty fee. No refunds can be issued.
We highly recommend purchasing a Trip Cancellation Insurance.
There are many brands from which to choose. Take a look at FORBES
top rated companies for more information.
 

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MEETING POINT – SEPTEMBER 21, 2025

Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort
Via Antonio Gramsci, 2
Alassio, Italy

Should you arrive prior to the hotel’s check-in time of 3:00 p.m., the staff will store your luggage in the event your room is not yet ready.

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DEPARTURE POINT – SEPTEMBER 26, 2025

Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort, Alassio, Italy (anytime after
breakfast) There are no scheduled activities on the last day of the trip.

You may depart at your convenience (and by the hotel’s check out time of 12:00 pm) for home or your next destination.

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INCLUSIONS

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» Daily yoga practices/guided meditation/yoga nidra and sound bath as noted

» Five breakfasts, three lunches, and two dinners

» Tea, coffee, and fruit before morning yoga practice

» Accommodations for five nights at a luxury resort

» Welcome aperitivo

» Half-day guided walking exploration and cooking lesson with lunch

» Wine tasting

» Half-day boat excursion with refreshments and light lunch (and snorkeling gear)

» Complimentary use of kayaks and SUP at resort

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EXCLUSIONS

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» All lunches and dinners (other than what is noted in inclusions above)

» Beverages (including alcohol) except for what is noted above under inclusions)

» Entry fees

» Hotel Gratuities (we recommend leaving 2 euros per person per day for housekeeping staff and tipping 10-15% for meals on your own)

» City tax (approximately 5 euros per person per day, payable directly to the hotel on check out)

 

» Miscellaneous expenses

» International airfare

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MOST CONVENIENT AIRPORT

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Genoa’s Cristofo Colombo Airport (GOA) is the most convenient airport, but it requires connections if coming from the U. S. For further information, visit www.airport.genova.it/en/Nice’s Côte de Azur Airport (NCE) is another convenient airport, and it also requires connections if coming from the U. S. For further information, visit www.nice.aeroport.fr/en/destinations/

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