As you wander amidst towering oak trees and gaze at the olive groves blanketing the rolling green hills in front of you, a gentle breeze caresses your face – delivering with it the calming aroma of lavender.

Your take in nature’s beauty as you reflect on the extraordinary day you just had soaking in therapeutic natural hot springs, exploring a medieval village and sampling artisanal cheeses at a centuries old cheese emporium.

An incredible dinner derived from the land you just explored awaits you, lovingly prepared by the staff at the certified organic farmstead you’re calling home for the next week. You’re filled with a feeling of peace,  and find gratitude in the gift of this present moment and the incredible connections you’re sharing with your amazing new yogi friends.

Ahh…. the beauty of Tuscany…the magic of a yoga retreat.

We are SO excited to team up this year with Yoga Brain (Justine’s new studio coming in September 2018 to East Falls!) & Chirriposa Retreats to embark on a very special yoga retreat to Italy in Fall, 2019.  A yoga retreat is a perfect way to deepen your practice, unwind from the stresses of everyday life, and connect with nature and other humans that share like-minded interests. We can’t wait to share a week of inspiring yoga, relaxation, delicious food and new adventures with you.

This an all levels yoga retreat and community experience; all ages, couples, friends and solo travelers are welcome! We can accommodate most special food requests. (Gluten free, dairy free, vegetarian, etc). Accommodations are well designed and comfortable, providing the perfect base camp for us to unwind and connect with nature.

Set in the heart of Tuscany, cradled between medieval hilltop towns and surrounded by woodlands, vineyards, olive groves and mountain streams. A private haven ideally suited to creative exploration and spiritual practice: with its spectacular views and untouched landscapes, it imparts a real sense of freedom.

The estate is an IMC certified organic farmstead with more than 80% of it's energy coming from renewable sources (solar panels and sustainable managed wood) and all the water comes directly from the mountain spring.

The property offers a variety of rooming options, mostly with private bathrooms, and beautiful, spacious indoor and outdoor yoga facilities.

The wonderful Elena and the Basile family, originally from Napoli, will be our hosts and will welcome you with the warmest of Italian hospitality, making sure that your Tuscan vacation is simply "fantastic, fantastic, fantastic...!".

We will leave as a group from Rome on the 21st & return to Rome on the 28th.  Group transport from Rome to Tuscany is included in the base retreat pricing. The group meeting location will be Hotel Ripa Roma in Trastevere at 1:00pm on Saturday 21 September 2019 for a 2:00pm departure.

Address: Via degli Orti di Trastevere, 3, 00153 Roma RM, Italy
Phone: +39 06 58611

Arrival at our retreat centre ‘Agriturismo Le Pianore’ will be around 5:00pm (3 hours scenic drive with 1 stop)

NB. There are 2 Agriturismos 'Le Pianore’ in Tuscany. www.lepianore.it is the correct one!

Address: Località Le Pianore, 58044 Monticello Amiata GR, Italy
Province: Province of Grosseto
Phone: +39 339 774 5348

We suggest that you have an early lunch before meeting the group. Otherwise, there will be the opportunity to eat a snack en-route at the services (panini, focaccia, pizza etc.)

The easiest way to get to the meeting location is by taxi or Uber (€50 from airport). Otherwise, there is also a train (FL1 - 7 stops) that goes directly to Trastevere Station, where you can either walk (10 mins) or take a taxi (2 mins) to the hotel.

We will meet in the hotel lobby at 1:00pm for a 2:00pm departure in 9 seater rental vehicles. You should plan your flight arrival/departure accordingly, be sure to give yourself a grace period of 2-3 hours.

There will be retreat vehicles (9 seater mini-vans) and drivers at our disposal throughout the retreat, giving us the freedom to visit as many local attractions & excursions as our hearts desire.

If you plan to fly into another airport or will be traveling before/after the retreat to other parts of Italy, you can opt not to use the group transport. If this is the case, you can easily book your own individual transportation to Tuscany. Individual transportation is not included in the retreat pricing. We recommend checking out www.yourprivatedrive.it

· Wine tasting & tour, alpaca farm, thermal hot springs, horseback riding, hiking, cooking demonstration!
· Excursions and day trips to Montepulciano, Pienza, Bagno Vignoni, Pitigliano, Saturnia, Monte Amiata
· Bodywork - reflexology, deep tissue massage, hot rocks, spa treatments
· Lots of cute little furry animals (cats, dog, horses, donkeys, pigs, chickens, ducks...) to cuddle!

CHIRRIPOSA CONTACT INFO:

Name: Angus Stephens/Tania Cappelluti

Website: www.chirriposa.com

Email: contact@chirriposa-retreats.com

European Cel: +49 163 8730057/8729961

WhatsApp: +506 83324664/83252514

PASSPORTS: At this point, we would like to remind you to check that your passports are valid for travel and have at least 3 months left on them from time of departure for Europe. 

TRAVEL INSURANCE:

We would also like to remind you to purchase a travel insurance, which will cover you in case of any cancellation, loss or theft of belongings and medical emergency. This can either be done through your credit card company, airline or travel agent. You can also purchase a travel insurance here during checkout or online at www.worldnomads.com or www.truetraveller.com

Please note that Chirriposa will be available to assist you, in case of emergency, but will not be responsible for any cancellation fees, lost or stolen items or medical expenses incurred during the trip. 

You will also be required to sign a ‘Liability Waiver’ and accept our 'Cancellation and refund Policy'  upon your final registration.      

WEATHER: After the hot summer months of July and August, things begin to cool down considerably in Tuscany at the end of September and beginning of October, when the autumn season is just beginning. During this month, the average temperature starts off at 20°C (68°F), created by highs of 23°C (73°F) during the daytime and lows of 13°C (55°F) after dark.

WHAT TO WEAR: Pack light summer clothes and don’t forget your swimsuits for the pool and visiting the hot springs. Also remember to pack a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. However, you should also be prepared for cooler days and nights. For those of you who want to go hiking, cycling or horseback riding, we suggest you bring suitable footwear. A pair of running shoes would be highly recommended. 

WATER: In Rome, we cannot vouch for the quality of the tap water and, therefore, we recommend buying bottled water for drinking. However, at the retreat center, the water in the villa comes directly from a natural spring and is excellent drinking quality. It makes sense to bring your own water bottle and fill it for your daily use.   

ELECTRICITY: Electricity in Italy, as in the rest of Europe, comes out of the wall socket at 220 volts alternating at a 50 cycles per second. In the US, electricity comes out of the wall socket at 110 volts, alternating at 60 cycles per second. Not only the voltages and frequencies, but also the sockets themselves are different. You can get along with just a plug converter for many of today's small electrical devices designed to run on dual voltages. Devices like this include most laptops and recently produced battery chargers and many small electrical gadgets, especially those designed for world travel.  

PHONE & INTERNET: There is free Wi-Fi in our hotel in Rome. There is limited cell phone signal on the property in Tuscany, but we will have free Wi-Fi access in the communal areas of the villa. However, please try to disconnect as much as possible.

YOGA MATS + PROPS: Yoga mats, blocks, straps and blankets are available at the yoga shala. However, you may prefer to travel with your own mat. 

BUGS: September is not normally a bad time of year for mosquitoes and horse flies.  However, most bites would occur during sunset/sunrise or in shady places in the forest. It is best that you bring a good insect repellent with you. You might also like to wear long pants in the evenings.  

SHEETS AND TOWELS: All your rooms will have fresh sheets and towels provided. Your rooms will be cleaned mid week and new towels and linens provided on request. You should bring a towel for the pool or for visiting the hot springs. Otherwise a sarong will also work well and be much lighter to pack.

MONEY: The currency in Italy is the Euro (€). 

€1.00 equals around $1.11  

$1.00 equals €0.9 

You can pay us directly for any optional tours, activities, bodywork and beverages together at the end of the week in cash ($ or €). You will be able to take money out of the ATM using your debit and credit cards. We may also receive payment via Paypal, but you will be charged a 5% service and Paypal fee.  

FOOD: We will offer a range of traditional 'flexitarian' (vegetarian and non vegetarian) Italian meals, incorporating organic vegetables that are grown on the property and local produce from nearby villages and markets. Please inform us of any dietary requirements or restrictions ahead of time and we will try our best to accommodate you. Also if you have any allergies, please let us know in advance.  

ALCOHOL: Organic wine, produced on the property, and local liquors will be served with meals. Outside of mealtimes, we will operate an honesty system, where you can write down what you consume and settle up at the end of the week.  

NOTE. It is permitted to consume your own wine on the property, but you will be charged a €6 corkage fee for each bottle opened.

SECURITY: There is not much need for strict security measures at the retreat center, however, there are keys for all the rooms and we can also lock away your passports etc. for you in the main safe. NB. Please be extra careful of your valuables and belongings in Rome, especially on the public transport, as there are a lot of pickpockets around. 

LAUNDRY: There is a laundry service available at the villa, but costs €5 per wash. However, if you only have a few items, we can arrange to do a group wash most days.