Hatha Yoga Retreat
Weeks - Crete
14. - 20. and 21. - 27. September 2025
Dream Location Ela! Come, recharge your batteries and experience the yoga vacation of your life in one of the most magical, pristine natural locations in all of Europe. The breathtaking, wild beauty of Agios Pavlos will captivate you as soon as you arrive. I've known this magical place for 26 years now and I still catch myself thinking: If paradise were even half as beautiful, I would happily spend the rest of my time there! 250 km of natural Cretan south coast - as far as the eye can see - a jewel! Would you like to experience yourself in a new way in your yoga practice, detached from everyday life in this extraordinary place of power with stunning views of the sea, coast, beaches, mountains? The yogashala and accommodation are located on the cliffs just above three beaches where you can swim, spend hours on time or hike.
Program
We dedicate our practice these weeks to the correct execution of Asanas, Pranayama, Mudras, Kriyas, Bandhas, Yoga Nidra and Meditation. We also sing Traditional Mantras and Kirtans from the Yoga and Tantra Traditions. The week also includes Philosophical Aspects, especially from the perspective of Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Gheranda Samhita and the Bhagavad Gita. Course Start The course begins on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. with a welcome round in the Yogashala and ends on the following Saturday morning at 10:15 a.m. Course Duration 6 or 12 days: 3.5h in the morning, 2.5h in the afternoon/evening, Wednesday afternoons are free. Course Level Experience with Yoga in one of the following Traditions is a prerequisite for participation in these Yoga weeks: - Traditional Hatha - B.K.S. Iyengar - Ashtanga Vinyasa - Vinyasa Flow - Shivananda Course Fee CHF 860.- per week Available Places 20 participants per week Typical Daily Routine 06.30 – 07.00: Meditation practice outside in front of the Yogashala at sunrise facing the east with Bruno 07.15 – 10.15: Hatha Yogasana practice including Yoga Nidra with Bruno 10.30: Breakfast in the Sleepy Dragon Cafe right by the sea with breathtaking views of our magically beautiful, turquoise-blue bay! 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Detailed work on Asanas or Pranayama, Mantra chanting or Satsang (Yoga Darshana/Philosophy) with Bruno 7:45 p.m.: Dinner at Vangelis in the restaurant on the rock after sunset in the enchanting evening light.
Organizational Notes
Course leader: Bruno Dietziker For Bruno's Bio click on the image above. You can find Video and Audio samples from our Kirtan and Bhajan sessions in 2024 under 'Program' (Please click on image) and 'Yogashala' (Please click on image). Course Fee CHF 860.- per week Available Places Max. 20 participants per week
Yogashala
Sunlit and charming, functionally built from natural stone and wood and lovingly designed. Our Yogashala is in a stunning location right next to the main Kavos Melissa Accommodation. The sunrises during Morning Yoga stimulate your senses and let your soul dance. The spectacular sunsets allow you to experience a new dimension of connection with all of nature. Magical, deeply magical this place!
Accommodation and Catering
Our comfortable Accommodation, each with a balcony or patio, right next to the Yogashala - was specially built for us from natural materials. It offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, the coastline, the beaches, the islands off southern Crete and the deep blue and turquoise sea. Additional pretty, newly renovated rooms are available at Vangelis in the tavern right by the sea with real Greek charm. Some of these rooms are also located under an enchanting arbor that invites you to linger and dream. Most rooms here also have a sea view! Room Prices including Breakfast (B&B) Agios Pavlos Hotel Single Room: €43 - €63 per night Double Room: €60 - €70 per night Kavos Melissa next to the Yoga Shala Single Room: €63 per night Double Room: €70 per night Suite €93 - €100 for at least 2 participants, each with their own large balcony. Catering We take breakfast (which is included in the room price) at Yiorgos' in the romantic 'Sleepy Dragon Café' on a cliff above the picturesque bay. In addition to freshly squeezed organic orange juice and other fruit juices, various herbal teas, Greek mountain tea, excellent coffee and other delicacies, a rich breakfast buffet awaits you with toast and various breads, local feta cheese, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, olive oil, fresh oregano, tahini, butter, honey, jams, golden (turmeric) porridge, Greek yogurt, nuts, fresh figs (grown locally) and other fresh fruits. We take the 6 dinners together at Vangelis in the Agios Pavlos Hotel in the Greek tavern, which is located on a small rock just above the romantic, turquoise-blue sea bay, for about €132 per week. We enjoy our first meal together on Sunday evening immediately after the introduction at 8 p.m., and the last meal on Friday evening at 7:45 p.m.
Getting There
Stress-free to paradise in just a few hours! The only thing you have to worry about is booking a flight to Heraklion on Crete. The booking of the taxi (transfer to and from the airport) is organized by Pure Yoga and our host Vangelis. To do this, we need all the details of your flight booking (airline, flight numbers, departure airport and the flight times of your outward and return journey). Please send this by email to the following addresses: info@agiospavloshotel.gr and info@pureyoga.ch Taxi transfer to the retreat Heraklion Airport – Agios Pavlos Travel time: 1 1/2 hours Taxi costs: Approximately €125 for a taxi (max. 4 people). Around €185 for the minibus (max. 7 people). The pleasant and scenically impressive taxi ride from the airport directly to your dream location over the mountains along the olive groves will get you in the mood for the magical destination - perhaps even with Greek music. Of course, you can also rent your own car at the airport. However, based on experience, I advise against this unless you want to travel further along the south coast of Crete before or after your yoga vacation. However, most yoga participants fail to do this because it is so beautiful where we are. You can easily spend the rest of your life here, always discovering new things and succumbing to the fascination of nature's ever-changing play of colors.
Registration
When you register (please use the registration form), the course fee is also due. Transfer course fee: CHF 860.- per week IBAN CH53 0070 0110 0002 8503 1 Zürcher Kantonalbank, 8010 Zurich BIC: ZKBKCHZZ80A Pure Yoga, Bruno Dietziker, Seebahnstrasse 257, 8004 Zurich Withdrawal Agreements: If you withdraw (in writing) up to 2 months before the start of the course, we will charge a processing fee of CHF 150. If you withdraw later or drop out of the course, the course fee cannot be refunded. However, if your place can be filled by someone on the waiting list, the course fee (minus the processing fee of CHF 150) will be refunded in full. Accommodation and Catering: Travel costs, accommodation and meals are not included in the course fee. You can pay the costs for accommodation and meals on site before your departure using VISA or MasterCard or in cash. Be sure to take enough cash with you, as the nearest ATM is half a day's journey from Agios Pavlos. If you pay the accommodation costs in cash on site, our host will grant a 5% discount on the room price.