Years ago an average holiday included a lot of sun, long beaches, all-inclusive hotels or self-catering apartments and time that is filled with nothing but laziness and sightseeing. And for some people this applies still today. It is of course understandable because every day life is already hard enough. But nevertheless, the average simple holiday is not so common anymore because even on their free days, people tend to look for adventure, special relaxation, finding of the inner self or gaining of skills for which they have no time in their normal lives. No matter what you are looking for the travel industry has made sure that you get it. Yoga retreats under the sun of Italy, Spain or India for example promise a great experience by offering yoga lessons, special nutrition and a breathtaking environment. Most of them are led by certificated yoga teachers which give an insight not only into the body work of yoga but also in the way of living according to the Yoga sutras. But Yoga is only one way of active holidaying. Other kinds of sports like sailing, martial arts or hiking are also attached to holiday packages.
After checking some website I found out that I can even take cooking courses, photography or painting lessons when on holiday. Most of the hotels or guest houses that offer a service like that seem to be small and cosier, with rooms for only 30 people what makes a retreat indeed easier and more comfortable. While a sailing or hiking holiday includes in fact very much time hiking or sailing, the course based holidays leave a lot of time for exploring the countryside and sightseeing. Usually, the courses take up to 5 hours a day and are not really mandatory. If you decide to join a group to go hiking or want to explore your environment it is up to you. There are even some guest houses which offer some weeks helping on a farm or a plantage. Others offer combinations of actions or they have agreements with the local clubs or associations that guest can join classes either for free or for a little charge.
Research is inevitable not only to find what suits you best but also to find the right package price-wise. Usually a 7 days holiday with 5 hours of yoga per day costs in average from 400 – 1300 Euro depending on the chosen destination. Costs for flights, transportation to the destination and sometimes food are not included. Sailing holidays and special courses might even be more expensive. Therefore it is understandable in some way that people choose the easy way as adventure is not affordable for everybody. Nevertheless, I have to admit that it is very tempting and I have to say that I will certainly take the effort of researching because who knows what hidden talents are dozing inside of me?
Author: Nadja Pollack, Editor, The Netherlands
