3 Days in Albania, Europe: Yoga & Self-Defense at Lake Ohrid

Nur etwa 50 Meter vom Ohridsee entfernt erwartet dich ein heller, komfortabler Rückzugsort inmitten üppiger Gärten. Hier kannst du durchatmen und deine Auszeit zwischen bewusster Bewegung und entspannten Stunden am Wasser genießen.

Die neuen, hochwertig ausgestatteten Zimmer bieten dir hervorragenden Komfort und alle Annehmlichkeiten für einen erholsamen Aufenthalt. Dazu gehören ein eigenes Bad und eine kleine Küche mit Kühlschrank. Viele Zimmer verfügen außerdem über einen Balkon. Im weitläufigen Garten findest du einladende Plätze zum Lesen, Entspannen und für ruhige Momente zwischen den Retreat-Einheiten.

Die deutsche Gastgeberfamilie lebt selbst auf dem Gelände und engagiert sich seit vielen Jahren für die Menschen vor Ort – unter anderem durch Schulen, eine Universität und soziale Projekte. Gerne erzählt sie von ihren umfangreichen Erfahrungen und gibt dir persönliche Einblicke in das Leben in Albanien.

Zwischen Blumen und Bäumen streifen Katzen und Hunde umher, während Hühner mit ihren kleinen Küken durch den Garten laufen. Das lebendige, herzliche Miteinander erinnert ein wenig an Bullerbü – ein Ort, an dem du dich schnell zu Hause fühlst.

Der Sandstrand, ein kleiner Beachclub und ein Café am See sind bequem zu Fuß erreichbar – ideal für eine erfrischende Schwimmpause oder einen Kaffee mit Blick aufs Wasser.

Look forward to fresh Mediterranean cuisine and Albanian specialties with plenty of variety. A hearty breakfast buffet will give you the energy you need for yoga, qigong, and self-defense. For lunch and dinner, you’ll enjoy generous buffets featuring a wide variety of appetizers, main courses, and desserts. Shared meals provide time to relax and enjoy good conversation.

Tea, coffee, water, juices, and soft drinks are available free of charge throughout the day.

Meals begin with dinner on the day of arrival and end with lunch on the day of departure. Cake, coffee, and tea will also be served during the closing session. Lunch at the restaurant on the first day is not included.

Please let us know in advance if you have any vegetarian or vegan dietary requests, as well as any allergies or food intolerances, so that we can coordinate these with our hosts.

Day 1 – Arriving at the Lake and Leaving Everyday Life Behind
We’ll pick you up from your hotel in Tirana and drive together to Pogradec. Along the way, we’ll stop for a break at a lovely café by the river. After checking in at your comfortable guesthouse, we’ll stroll along the lake to a restaurant where you can sample regional specialties while enjoying a view of the water. This lunch is not included in the price.

A meditation session by the lake will set the mood for your retreat. Afterward, there’s time to swim or relax in the lush gardens of our guesthouse. In the late afternoon, our experienced German yoga and mindfulness instructor will guide you through flowing Vinyasa and soothing Hatha yoga. At dinner, you’ll enjoy a generous Mediterranean buffet featuring a variety of appetizers, main courses, and desserts.

Day 2 – Build Self-Confidence and Find Inner Peace
Start the morning with meditation and authentic Qi Gong under the guidance of our experienced Shaolin Kung Fu master. Gentle movements and mindful breathing will help you start the day feeling alert and calm. After a hearty breakfast, a short Vinyasa yoga session will prepare you for the practical self-defense training.

You’ll practice techniques that strengthen your body awareness, focus, and confidence in your own abilities. It’s the combination of self-defense and yoga that makes this day special: you’ll discover your strength while learning to relax consciously.

After a varied lunch buffet, the afternoon is yours—whether for a swim in the deep-blue Lake Ohrid, a coffee on the beach, or a quiet break surrounded by nature. Relaxing Hatha Yoga, a group dinner buffet, an evening meditation, and a surprise activity round out the day.

Day 3 – Deepen What You’ve Learned and Return Home Feeling Empowered
We begin the final morning with meditation and gentle Tai Chi. After breakfast, flowing Vinyasa yoga gets your body moving before you continue practicing and reinforcing the self-defense techniques. Our kung fu master and our yoga and mindfulness instructor will guide you in combining strength, mindful movement, and inner peace.

Enjoy one last lunch together before we reflect on our experiences over cake, coffee, and tea. The closing session provides a space for sharing personal impressions and discussing what you’d like to take away from this special combination to apply to your everyday life. Afterward, we’ll drive back to Tirana together and drop you off at your hotel.

Individual travel to Tirana is not included in the price. Tirana International Airport is directly accessible from many cities within and outside Europe—it takes about two hours by direct flight from Germany.

Please arrive no later than the day before. On the first day of the retreat, we’ll pick you up from your hotel in Tirana at 8:00 a.m. The drive to Razma and the return transfer to your hotel are included. On the second day, we’ll head back at 3:30 p.m. We recommend booking your return flight for the following day.

We’d be happy to recommend a hotel in Tirana and arrange your airport transfer for an additional fee of €50 total for the round trip.