Individual Fasting Retreat: Shadow Work & Spiritual Clarity
Waldheim, Germany
$1,478 / 7 Days
5.0Therapeutic fasting weekend
A short retreat over the weekend? A Therapeutic fasting weekend is great for this. You don't always have two or three weeks to escape everyday life. It's a good idea to take a short break over the weekend to recharge and breathe deeply. With a Therapeutic fasting weekend you will start the next week feeling rested!
12 curated retreats
from
€579
Fasting, Detox, Yoga, Hiking, and Stress Management (Educational Leave) at the Waldhotel Spa on Rügen
Göhren, Germany
$1,134 / 5 Days
Therapeutic Fasting Week at the AktiVital Hotel in Rottal - 7 nights
Bad Griesbach i. Rottal, Germany
$962 / 8 Days
ONLY YOU oneTOone private retreat series.holistic ANTI AGEING. WELLNESS /Mallorca/ganzjährig buchbar
Manacor, Spain
$3,780 / 8 Days
Detoxification, cleansing, and rejuvenation at the idyllic oasis "Vidyamor La Palma," Canary Islands, Spain
Tijarafe, Spain
$1,713 / 8 Days
Salufast - Preventive Therapeutic Fasting (5 Nights)
Schmalkalden, Germany
$663 / 6 Days
Personalized Cleansing & Yoga Week at the Paradise Oasis Vidyamor La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain
Tijarafe, Spain
$1,713 / 8 Days
Salufast - Preventive Therapeutic Fasting (7 Nights)
Schmalkalden, Germany
$915 / 8 Days
Fasting under the Provençal sun – Your personal detox retreat (7 days)
Bargemon, France
$1,575 / 7 Days
Fasting, Detox, Yoga, Hiking, and Stress Management (Educational Leave) at the Stellshagen Manor House
Damshagen, Germany
$1,274 / 5 Days
Fasting, Detox, Yoga, Hiking, and Stress Management (Educational Leave) at Seegut Blaue Blume
Boitzenburger Land, Germany
$1,010 / 5 Days
Alkaline fasting according to Wacker
Krölpa, Germany
$801 / 5 Days
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What a therapeutic fasting holiday actually is
A therapeutic fasting holiday is not a crash diet and not a hunger programme. You spend a guided week in which your body skips solid food for a few days and instead receives tea, water, vegetable broth and sometimes diluted juices. Across the 24 programmes you find here, the typical duration is seven days, with most options between six and eight.
The weeks start with one or two preparation days, followed by the actual fasting days and one or two build-up days at the end. The build-up days slowly reintroduce solid food, classically beginning with an apple or a light soup. These phases are not an optional extra. They are part of the method, because your body should not be loaded abruptly after the end of the fast.
Difference to a diet: therapeutic fasting is not primarily about losing weight but about a deliberate pause for the metabolism. If you do lose a few kilos in a week, that is a side effect. The guidance matters more. Many programmes work with a trained fasting leader, some additionally with medical supervision. Fasting alone at home is possible, but the point of this kind of week is precisely the relief from daily routine and decisions, combined with a person who carries you through it. You take two effects with you at once: a physical reset and a mental pause.
What a typical day on a fasting retreat looks like
The daily rhythm is the real driver of effect on a therapeutic fasting holiday. It is deliberately calm, because your body uses less energy for digestion during the fast and channels more towards regeneration. The day has clear transitions between movement, breaks and meals.
The morning often starts with a gentle movement session, a walk, light gymnastics or yoga. About a third of the 24 programmes name hiking as a fixed element, many pair the schedule with yoga or meditation. This is followed by a warm cup of tea or a bowl of vegetable broth as the first fluid of the day.
Lunch and dinner consist of broth again or diluted juice, with plenty of tea and water in between. Some programmes use Glaubersalz or magnesium salt on the first fasting day to support the digestive tract. The afternoon is usually open for rest, reading, massage, sauna or another walk in the forest or by the water. A good share of programmes build wellness elements such as massages, sauna or alkaline baths into the day.
What you notice when you compare several weeks: the days are shorter and quieter than at home. Few appointments, clear sleep times, hardly any stimulation from outside. This reduction is exactly what you travel for.
Which fasting methods you find here
When you compare fasting retreats, you quickly read about a long list of methods. Across the 24 programmes you find here, three methods clearly dominate.
Fasting according to Buchinger is the most common. Otto Buchinger developed the concept in the early 20th century. It combines liquid fasting with broth and diluted juices at around 250 kilocalories per day, paired with movement and rest. This is the method most widely taught in Germany and the one you encounter most often in programmes by the sea or in low mountain regions.
Basenfasten, alkaline fasting, is the second line. Here you avoid acid-forming foods such as meat, grain and sugar, and eat alkaline vegetable plates, salads and smoothies instead. Unlike Buchinger fasting, you eat solid food and so receive energy, but only from alkaline sources. A good fit for you if you do not want to give up solid food completely.
Fasting combined with hiking pairs the fasting week with daily hikes, often three to six hours long. The idea is that moderate movement stabilises your mood and supports the metabolism. Popular venues sit at the Baltic Sea, in the Eifel, the Black Forest and the Alpine foothills. The main season runs from March to October.
Who therapeutic fasting suits and when it does not
A therapeutic fasting holiday does not fit every phase of life. It fits best when you are healthy and physically stable and want to set a deliberate pause once a year. If you have fasted before or know phases of restriction, you settle in more easily. If this is your first time, choose a guided programme.
That is exactly what trained fasting leaders are for; some weeks additionally work with medical supervision. If you take medication regularly, for example for high blood pressure, diabetes or thyroid conditions, clarify with your family doctor before booking whether and how fasting is possible for you.
There are clear contraindications: pregnancy and breastfeeding, marked underweight or a history of eating disorders, acute infections, serious heart or kidney conditions. In these cases a therapeutic fasting holiday is not the right format. If you are currently in an acutely demanding phase with little sleep and high tension, you often do better with a quiet recovery holiday without fasting, because your body has to do additional adaptation during a fast.
For everyone else, the selection here with us is broad. Six to eight day weeks at the Baltic Sea or Lake Chiemsee, programmes in the Eifel or Black Forest, international weeks on La Palma or in Spain. In the filters above you see duration, method and venue in detail.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is therapeutic fasting and how does it work?
Therapeutic fasting is a form of fasting where solid food is avoided for a set period (usually 5–14 days). Instead, you consume broth, juices, tea, and water. The body switches to autophagy and detoxifies. At Retreat Vacation you'll find 24 guided therapeutic fasting offers.
How much does a therapeutic fasting retreat cost?
Therapeutic fasting retreat prices range from €350 to €3.299, with an average of €1.163. The price typically includes therapeutic supervision, fasting meals, accommodation, and an accompanying program of exercise and relaxation.
Who is therapeutic fasting suitable for – and who should avoid it?
Therapeutic fasting is suitable for healthy adults who want to relieve their body and gain new energy. It's not suitable during pregnancy, with eating disorders, certain chronic conditions, or when taking certain medications. Consult your doctor beforehand.
How do I prepare for a therapeutic fasting retreat?
Most providers recommend 2–3 preparation days before fasting, during which you eat light meals and avoid coffee, alcohol, and sugar. Many retreat organizers will send you detailed preparation instructions in advance.
What therapeutic fasting methods are available?
The most well-known methods include Buchinger fasting (broth, juices, tea), alkaline fasting (alkaline foods instead of complete abstinence), juice fasting, and intermittent fasting. Use the category filters to search specifically for your preferred method.
What happens after therapeutic fasting?
Breaking the fast and the subsequent rebuilding days are crucial for success. Over 3–5 days, food is slowly reintroduced – starting with an apple, then light meals. Reputable retreats guide you through this phase and provide a plan for home.
Will I receive medical supervision during therapeutic fasting?
Most therapeutic fasting retreats include therapeutic or medical supervision. When booking, check whether health checks, daily care, and follow-up consultations are included in the offer.