Hatha Yoga Retreat
Weeks - Crete
13. - 19. and 20. - 26. September 2026
Early Bird Price till 31st Mai 2026
Welcome to the Dream Place – an Oasis for Body, Heart, and Soul Imagine this: you awaken to the vast expanse of the sea, breathing in the fragrant air of Crete’s southern coast as the sun slowly rises above the horizon. For one or two weeks, you are invited to immerse yourself in one of Europe’s most magical and untouched places of power — to dive deeply into your practice, into silence, into yourself. For more than 26 years, this place has held me under its spell. Agios Pavlos — wild, spacious, and full of soul. I often think: If paradise is only half as beautiful as this place… then I wish to spend the rest of my life there. The accommodation and yoga shala rest on cliffs above three pristine beaches — perfect for swimming, hiking, and simply marveling at the beauty around you, while softening deeply within. Perhaps the time has come to meet yourself anew here — through your yoga practice, through presence, through stillness.
Program
These Retreat Weeks are an invitation to deepen your connection with yourself – with clarity, strength, and mindfulness. The focus is on: • Asanas practiced with precision and correct alignment • Pranayama, Mudras, and Bandhas • Yoga Nidra and Meditation • Chanting of Mantras and Kirtans together • Philosophical inspirations from Patanjali, the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, the Gheranda Samhita, the Bhagavad Gita, Tantra, and the living wisdom of real life The teaching is infused with deep self-experience, exceptional competence, and inspiring devotion – held within a safe and nurturing space that supports your personal growth. Course Start Each course begins on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. with a welcome circle in the yoga shala and ends the following Saturday morning at 10:15 a.m. Course Duration 6 or 12 days: • 3.5 hours in the morning • 1–2 hours in the afternoon/evening Monday and Wednesday afternoons are free. Course Level Previous experience with yoga in one of the following traditions is recommended for participation: • Traditional Hatha Yoga • B.K.S. Iyengar Yoga • Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga • Vinyasa Flow or Sivananda Yoga Course fee until May 31st, 2026: CHF 860 per week From June 1st 2026, the course fee will increase by CHF 150 per week. Available Places Maximum of 20 participants per week Typical Daily Schedule 06:30 – 07:00 Morning meditation outdoors in front of the yoga shala, facing the rising sun in the East 07:00 – 10:15 Hatha Yoga Asana practice including Yoga Nidra 10:30 Breakfast buffet at the Sleepy Dragon Café right by the sea, with a breathtaking view over our magically beautiful turquoise bay! 17:00 – 18:30 Pranayama, mantra chanting, or Satsang (Yoga Darshana / Philosophy) 19:00 – 21:30 Dinner at Vangelis’ cliffside restaurant after sunset, bathed in enchanting evening light. Alternatively, à la carte dining at the new Cliff Restaurant featuring exquisite cuisine by a 5-star chef!
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 until May 31st, 2026: CHF 860 per week From June 1st, 2026, the course fee will increase by CHF 150 per week. Available Places Max. 20 participants per week
Yogashala
Practicing in the Light Our light-filled shala, built from natural stone and wood, rests just above the bay — open to the vastness of the sea, surrounded by the elements. In the morning, the first rays of sunlight greet you, filling your practice with fresh vitality. In the evening, the setting sun bathes everything in golden light — an experience of deep connection with nature and with yourself. A touch of magic — that moves you, and stays.
Accommodation and Catering
Enjoy with All Your Senses Our comfortable accommodation — built especially for us from natural materials and located right next to the yoga shala — features balconies or patios and offers breathtaking, unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains, coastline, beaches, the islands off southern Crete, and the deep blue and turquoise sea. Additional charming, newly renovated rooms can be found at Vangelis’ Taverna, right by the sea, radiating authentic Greek charm. Some of these rooms are nestled under a beautiful vine-covered terrace — a perfect spot to linger and dream. Most of these rooms also offer sea views! Room Rates including breakfast and dinner buffet (except à la carte dining at the “Cliff” Restaurant) Agios Pavlos Hotel Single Room: €67 – €77 per night Double Room: €89 – €99 per night (for 2 persons) Kavos Melissa (directly next to the Yoga Shala) Single Room: €77 per night Double Room: €99 per night (for 2 persons) Suite with private large balcony: €107 (single use) / €129 (double occupancy) Meals Breakfast (included in the room rate) is enjoyed with Yiorgos at the romantic Sleepy Dragon Café, perched on a cliff above the picturesque bay. Alongside freshly pressed fruit juices, a variety of herbal teas, Greek mountain tea, excellent coffee, and other delights, a generous breakfast buffet awaits you – featuring toast and assorted breads, local feta cheese, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, olive oil, fresh oregano, tahini, butter, honey, jams, golden turmeric porridge, Greek yogurt, nuts, freshly picked figs (grown right here), and other seasonal fruits. Dinner (also included in the room rate) is served at Vangelis’ Taverna in the Agios Pavlos Hotel – a charming Greek restaurant perched on a small rock just above the romantic, turquoise-blue bay. New this season: Our kitchen has reinvented itself – now featuring a new 5-star chef bringing fresh, authentic creations from the Greek and Cretan traditions!
Getting There
Relaxed Arrival in Paradise The journey to Agios Pavlos is simple — and already part of the arrival itself. All you need to do is book your flight to Heraklion – we’ll take care of the rest. A comfortable taxi or minibus will take you on a scenic 90-minute drive through olive groves and across the mountains, bringing you directly to your retreat by the sea. Transfer costs: Approx. €125 for a taxi (max. 4 persons) Approx. €185 for a minibus (max. 7 persons) A little tip: most guests soon discover that they have no desire to go on any further excursions — because here, in this place, there is simply nowhere else you need to be. Everything your heart and senses could long for is already here.
Registration
Registration & Payment With your registration (please use the registration form), the course fee becomes due. Course fee until May 31st, 2026: CHF 860 per week From June 1st, 2026, the course fee will increase by CHF 150 per week. Please transfer to: IBAN: CH53 0070 0110 0002 8503 1 Bank: Zürcher Kantonalbank, 8010 Zürich BIC: ZKBKCHZZ80A Account Holder: Pure Yoga, Bruno Dietziker, Seebahnstrasse 257, 8004 Zürich Cancellation Policy For cancellations (in writing) up to 2 months before the start of the course, a processing fee of CHF 150.– will be charged. For later cancellations or early departures, the course fee cannot be refunded. However, if your place can be filled by someone from the waiting list, the course fee will be fully refunded minus the CHF 150.– processing fee. We strongly recommend taking out travel insurance. Accommodation & Meals Travel, accommodation, and meals are not included in the course fee. The costs for accommodation and meals can be paid on site before departure by VISA, MasterCard, or in cash. Please make sure to bring enough cash, as the nearest ATM is about half a day’s journey from Agios Pavlos. If you pay for your accommodation in cash on site, our host offers a 5% discount on the room rate.