To make a reservation or for further information email caroline@lotusblooming.com

If attention to detail, exclusivity and quality are what you are looking for then this is the yoga retreat for you!

Lotus Retreat in Marbella is a small luxury retreat that accommodates up to six people which ensures each person gets enough personal guidance and attention. While the holiday is deeply focused around yoga and its traditions it by no means is a boot camp and still has that wonderful holiday feel with all the enhancements and benefits of your yoga practices. The aim is to make your stay as comfortable, relaxing and rejuvenating as possible, to give you good value for your money, with the wish that you leave feeling renewed, refreshed, happy and contented enough to return.

Welcome to southern Spain

Relax on the sun terrace

Cool off in the pool

The beautiful yoga room

The house is situated in a quite residential area of Marbella set against the backdrop of La Concha Mountain and surrounded by well-kept gardens. It is beautifully decorated with lots of hand painted antique furniture and has a peaceful warm atmosphere. There are two twin rooms with a shared bathroom and a terrace and one larger twin room with its own bathroom and sun terrace. The rooms are comfortable and have a unique design. All of the sheets and towels are pure cotton.

The salon is beautifully decorated with hand painted antique furniture, there are books, puzzles and board games to play in your free time. The yoga studio has been purpose built with lots of light and privacy.
There is a large outside terrace and garden for dining, sun bathing or quietly reading in the shade and a communal swimming pool surrounded by beautifully kept gardens and a good tennis club just a short walk away. The retreat is just a five-minute drive from the beach and five minutes from a variety of good restaurants and shops.

An example of a day at the yoga retreat starts with a wake-up call at 7.30a.m and an early morning walk at 8.00a.m, along the beautiful beaches of Marbella or in the surrounding countryside and gardens.
At 10.00a.m. a yoga class for approximately one and a half to two hours in the purpose built yoga studio. This is followed by a brunch at 12.00pm which is freshly prepared with a wide choice of fruits, salads, cheese, yogurt, muslie, preserves, juice and teas.

From 1.00p.m. to 6.00p.m. is leisure time, swim in the pool, sunbathe on the terraces, take an Ayurvedic massage with the qualified therapist. Perhaps you might like to go to the beach or walk around the famous Puerto Banus with its amazing yachts. Here you can shop in stores like Dior, Versace and Loewe or simply sit in one of the many cafes and enjoy the ambiance.

At 6.00p.m. there is a gentle yoga class followed at 8.00p.m. by dinner which is mainly vegetarian but can include fish if you desire. Only the freshest ingredients are used. After dinner relax outside on the terrace, take a glass of wine, chat, read or take a walk to the beach and watch the sun set.

Relax in comfort

Quality bedrooms

Chill by the pool

Eat on the terrace

Yoga Retreat dates for 2010

10 January to 17 January (de-tox Retreat)

24 January to 31 January

03 February to 07 February (4 Days)

14 February to 21 February

03 March to 07 March(4 Days)

14 March to 21 March

28 March to 04 April (Easter)

07 April to 11 April (4 Days)

18 April to 25 April

28 April to 02 May (4 Days)

09 May to 16 May

More dates to follow

Costs per person excluding flights and transport

From £815 per person per week sharing in a twin bedded room

4 day retreats start from £495 per person per week sharing in a twin bedded room

A limited number of single rooms are available at a supplement of £175

Transfers from Malaga airport are available at £175 return per vehicle. There is an excellent bus service from Malaga to MArbella and it is then a 15€ taxi fare to the retreat. Prana are also able to arrange car hire for collection on your arrival at the airport..Call us for details.

Flights
We do not sell flights but can give advice on the best options and times.

The price includes the following features:
Accommodation for the length of the course
Brunch and dinner
All yoga classes and walks

The price does not include the following:
Travel to Lotus Retreat
Additional excursions and treatments not mentioned in the course
Travel Insurance
Drinks and extra meals

When to go?
Retreats are offered year round. The weather in this part of Spain is usually excellent. It makes a perfect winter get away.

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Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Retreat

Delegates will learn how to deepen their practise based on Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Expect a ‘work out’ of a weekend.

Yoga lessons will include pranayama that focuses on strengthening the physical system.

The workshops will involve partner yoga and understanding Vinyasa Krama- sequences that specifically focus on therapeutic enhancement as well as enabling students to access the postures based on the various series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga.

Coming soon – full weekend itinerary.

Return to UK Yoga retreats and weekends

Beginner’s Guide to Yoga

Beginning my Yoga Experience

Understanding Yoga and its health benefits

Yoga Styles

As I walked out of the Bikram Yoga studio toward my car after my first class, I found myself declaring, “If I can actually do this yoga, it will totally change my whole life.” I had only been able to attempt half the postures, with the rest of the time lying down, just dealing with the heated, humid room. But it was a revelation as to the sorry state of my body’s condition, and the pathetic condition of my mind-body connection.

I had already made the firm decision to do yoga class every day for two months, after reading Bikram Choudhury’s introductory yoga book. He says, “Give us two months. We will change you.” After living with years of back pain due to compressed lumbar discs and a sedentary lifestyle, I was ready for that change–so ready, in fact, I was willing to subject my de-conditioned body to 90 minutes of vigorous cardiovascular activity in 105° heat and 60% humidity (making the “apparent temperature” somewhere around 145°). But the prospective discipline of it appealed to me, and soon I was actually enjoying the gentle torture of it, as I began to move muscles, bones and cartilage that hadn’t been moved in years.

Beyond the rewards of seeing my body stretch and reach new ranges of motion in class, it was after and between classes where the payoffs truly lay. Bending over to pick up something no longer hurt, standing up after sitting for a while no longer involved pain and stiffness, and I began noticing how good I felt instead of how bad.

Of course, getting to these improvements took a while; and although I had committed to two months of daily practice, it has now been nearly eight months, and I can now say yoga is an indispensible part of my life. This path has blatantly announced to me how I had incrementally reduced my own range of motion with each tiny discomfort, each injury, each bout of stiffness, in an attempt to protect myself from future pain. It is a common life strategy, but a very wrongheaded one. The body needs to increase its range of motion over time, and each discomfort or injury points the way. As the World’s Stiffest Person at 50, I was on the fast track to being a crippled old man by 60.

I drew a valuable conclusion from this, that all the little aches and pains and microconditions we had as twentysomethings, if not dealt with in a broad and holistic way, are the exact pains and conditions that amplify over time leading us to our ultimate demise. From this perspective, what is commonly referred to as “aging,” is actually more like an excuse for not answering the body’s calls for help early on. I’m just not buying the “I’m just getting too old for this” refrain I hear from my friends. Time, friction, and gravity will take their respective tolls, but only with permission from you. If I end up dying at 94, I would rather have gotten there vital, active and pain-free, instead of feeble, crippled, and tormented.

The main thing I’ve learned from my beginning yoga experience is that it takes MUCH MORE WORK than I thought to reverse my past slothfulness, and much more diligence on the day-to-day to maintain what gains I have acheived. Bikram refers to the “body’s bank account.” You invest into the account with yoga, and then spend the account when not doing yoga. Of course, I found I was sorely and deplorably in DEBT, and am only now seeing the light at the end of that tunnel, striving for the day I can touch my forehead to my toes, rest my leg on my shoulder, and nap on my back with my head on my feet.

SEVEN MORE THINGS I’VE LEARNED IN BIKRAM YOGA

1. If yoga turns it on, yoga will turn it off. I’ve had many classes where a muscle or joint will “release” (I used to wrongly identify it as “strain”), causing pain and stiffness or soreness after class. By the end of the next class, invariably, that soreness and pain disappears.
2. Your body is stronger than you think it is, and you have more energy than you think you do. One day in class I decided to completely ignore my thoughts as to what I could or couldn’t do in class, and was surprised to find a whole new range of motion, and a whole new area of energy and strength. The body obeys the limitations imposed upon it by the mind. Because Bikram Yoga is one of the most strenuous forms of hatha yoga, it is easy to claim to myself that I MUST be tired after all that exertion. Letting myself engage in this way, certainly obtained the result. The REALITY of yoga class is that it CREATES energy. Although it is natural to feel weakness or exhaustion, that feeling is actually RECOVERY, and in a few minutes, I claim to myself that I am refreshed and energetically ready for life. And, magically, I am.
3. Trust your body to know what it needs to do. Patience. As obedient as the body is to the limitations of the mind, it has also retained the awareness of the sequence of how those limitations were imposed, and knows how to undo them. The deeper problem with this is that many times there seem to be opposing limitations and confused commands operating within the body. These were put there by the mind, resulting in the wrong muscles being used to do certain motions. The trick, of course, is to get the mind out of the way, and it WILL resolve.
4. How you do yoga is how you do your life. The corollary to this is what happens during yoga practice is a microcosm of what happens to you in life. Paying attention to this is the road to revelation–as well as some inner grins.
5. Flexibility and core strength are the keys to health. Nutrition is important, drinking lots of water is important, getting proper amounts of sleep is important–all things I had been doing throughout my life. Unfortunately, I had overlooked the two most important things. Exercise is inadequate (and I dare say useless) without flexibility and core strength training. Again, it has taken much more than I thought to keep my body’s bank account from going into the red, and the quickest way into the black is with flexibility and core strength training. (By “core strength” I mean the deepest core muscles that create movement in the body, such as abdominal and back muscles.) With a high degree of flexibility, all the enzymes, minerals, blood flow, and myriad other rejuvenating substances the body creates to heal and build itself can get to those areas that need it. Without flexibility, there is withering and dying. I also noticed that I didn’t engage my abdominal muscles when I should, such as when bending over, lifting, carrying, walking, standing up. This set up bad habits of motion, and the obvious developing flacidity and inappropriate muscle recruitment.
6. Breathe. Combine this command with how you do yoga is how you do your life, and you’ll quickly see where you cut off your life force in daily living. I would stop breathing when I felt weak, for example. Ooops.
7. Use your mind to guide and expand. This is a corollary to Number 3 above. I noticed that by setting and visualizing goals on each posture, as well as for the entire class, and by refusing to entertain any other thoughts–such as how hot it is in the room, what hurts, what I’m afraid of, etcetera, etcetera–lo and behold progress gets made. The body wants to feel better. Help it out by concentrating on improving each posture, and when not doing that, concentrating on breathing. I’m saving myself a lot of unnecessay torture by applying this point in my practice, and in my life.

EMOTIONAL/SPIRITUAL CHANGES

The most impressive effect underlying all the physical changes has been my greatly increased ability to confront life in the proper perspective–what I’ll call the “Small Potatoes Effect.” This is where one does something so monumentally difficult that the rest of life’s daily conflicts, conundrums, irritations and niggly stresses seem to all pale in importance. Or, more accurately, they begin to assume the quality of merely the backdrop texture accompanying my personal goals and purposes. They become the tiny, swirling dust devils stirred up by my atmospheric movements of intention. These are no longer “stresses”–they are revealing acknowledgements that life is changing according to my desires.

As the practice advances, I’m wondering if perhaps it is not so much that it is “monumentally difficult” to do this yoga, but that certain firmly embedded toxic conditions residing for decades deep within organs, muscle and bone are at last being purged–and that translates as a monumental achievement on some subliminal cellular or auric level.

Whatever it is, it has restored my sense of humor, allowed me to rediscover my enjoyment of living, and added an aura of leisure in everyday activities, even as I find myself accomplishing more.

And so I continue on with my daily practice of Bikram Yoga with an inner smile, remembering that Bikram says, “You gotta go through hell to get to heaven,” and remembering that the only reason the “hell” is there was my own doing. But with yoga, my days of redemption are at hand.

Boyd is the webmaster of www.subtleenergysolutions.com and the newsletter writer for that site. He enjoys a wide range of experience both in the ways of the internet and in freelance writing. An active, professional drummer, Boyd performs in the Portland area with several area blues and R&B bands. Boyd is also an avid, practicing Bikram Yoga participant

Many folks are troubled that they are not flexible enough to do yoga and will never be in the flexible state that is required to get into the contortionist poses many people associate with yoga. The reality is that yoga is about building flexibility, together with other things, and you do not have to be extremely flexible to begin taking yoga lessons. Yoga also includes learning how to be in a position to the best of your ability, and to relax after a hard day’s work. It takes time to build suppleness and yoga will help you to become more flexible.

Many of us think that yoga is just for ladies, but men can also take part in and benefit from yoga too. Men benefit from yoga in the similar fashion that ladies do: with increased flexibility, strength, stress reduction and overall well being.

Yoga has become more well-liked by men as they, too, have found several health advantages of this traditional exercise. Yoga is famous for having plenty of health benefits, but some people still wonder if it will help them lose weight as this is one of their main fitness goals.

Whilst yoga is not the quickest way to lose weight, it will help you to lose those additional pounds. As yoga mixes physical exercise with positive lifestyle adaptations, you will be ready to better manage stress and eliminate the negative influences in your life that contribute to weight issues.  A lot of exercise programs have stern rules as to how frequently you need to perform them.

Whilst it is important to give your body time to rest after strenuous activity, the gentle nature of yoga makes it the kind of exercise that you can practice as regularly as you like. You can begin with classes a number of times a week and consequently attend more, or you can practice everyday at home. If your schedule permits structured exercise less often, you can practice yoga whenever likely and still gain the health benefits.

With a maximum of only 10 people on each tour and NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS* these tours offer great value and the itineraries are identical to our private tours.

• No Single Supplement – On our group tours, there is no single supplement. We will match you with a roommate of the same gender in a twin room. Our policy is to avoid supplements unless requested by you.

To book any tours, call us on 01670 828521 for instant confirmation and availability.

Click on the tour name for a full itinerary and a list of inclusions
KEY
A = Places Available, L = Limited places, F = Full

Bhutan – Land of the Thunder Dragon

20 Mar 2010 – 01 Apr 2010   -   £2,695 per person (A)
01 Feb 2011 – 13 Feb 2011    -   £2,795 per person (A)

India – Royal Rajasthan

30 Oct 2010 – 13 Nov 2010   -   £1,495 per person (A)
05 Nov 2011 – 19 Nov 2011   -   £1,595 per person (A)

India – Tiger Safari

20 Mar 2010 – 12 Apr 2010 – £2,595 per person (A)
04 Mar 2011 – 19 Mar 2011 – £2,695 per person (A)

Jordan – Discover Jordan

30 Sep 2010 – 09 Oct 2010 – £895 per person (A)
12 Mar 2011 – 20 Mar 2011 – £935 per person (A)

Uganda – Gorillas in the mist

30 Jan 2010 – 08 Feb 2010 – £2,295 per person (A)
03 Jan 2011 – 12 Jan 2011 – £2,355 per person (A)

India & Nepal – The Buddhist Trail

06 Nov 2010 – 19 Nov 2010 – £1,479 per person (A)
04 Dec 2011 – 17 Dec 2011 – £1,535 per person (A)

Sri Lanka  – Buddhism and Beauty Tour

20 Mar 2010 – 01 Apr 2010 – £1,275 per person (A)
01 Feb 2011 – 13 Feb 2011 – £1,355 per person (A)

Thailand  – Cultural Tour

01 Feb 2010 – 13 Feb 2010 – £755 per person (A)
04 Feb 2011 – 16 Feb 2011 – £855 per person (A)

Costa Rica  – Yoga and Nature Holiday

05 Apr 2010 – 17 Apr 2010 – £1,995 per person (A)
17 Feb 2011 – 01 Mar 2011 – £2,095 per person (A)

To book a place on any of our group tours call us on 01670 828521

To make a reservation or for further information - Contact Us

Filitheyo is the only island resort in the un-spoilt Faafu Atoll. A natural tropical island, which is lush in vegetation and surrounded by a stunning house reef. The resort offers guests what can be only be described as a barefoot luxury retreat. Spend your days enjoying the beautiful sandy beaches and swimming in the Azure blue water of the Indian Ocean. A laid back life style awaits you that promises fun, relaxation, adventure and unforgettable memories. The resort is ideal for honeymooners and for those that want to kick off their shoes and relax on the beach or explore untouched reefs.

Filitheyo Island, Maldives

Water Villas, Maldives

Pool and Sunset Bar

Beautiful Maldives beach

Accommodation
Choose from an array of 125 Villas scattered around the rim of island. Surrounded by lush tropical vegetation the Villas offer a serene and homely lifestyle.

• 84 Superior Villas (95 sqm) – Semi detached Villas with part open-air bathroom. They have four poster king size bed or twin beds, a day bed, outdoor shower and private veranda with sun loungers.

• 10 Family Villas (191 sqm) – Two superior Villas with interconnecting door, suitable for families with young children. One double & one twin bed room, day bed, outdoor shower and private veranda with sun loungers.

• 15 Deluxe Villas (111 sqm) – Detached and free standing Villas with part open air bathrooms. They have a four poster king size bed, a day bed, outdoor shower, bath tub and private veranda with sun loungers.

• 16 Water Villas (146 sqm) – Detached, built on stilts over the crystal clear lagoon. They have four poster king size bed or twin beds, spacious bathroom with a whirl pool style bath tub, bubble bath, private veranda, local style swing, day bed and sun loungers.

All rooms come with satellite TV, audio CD player, direct dial telephone, in-villa safe, mini bar, tea & coffee making facility, hair dryer, bathrobes, complimentary toiletries and beach towels. There is also a twice daily housekeeping service, wakeup calls and a laundry service.

Food
The main restaurant serves beach buffets and barbecues that offer delicious international and local dishes. The culinary delights include Chinese, Indian, German and Japanese dishes with special fresh meat, poultry dishes like grilled meats, seafood and pasta, fresh mixed salads, and tropical fruit dishes.
The Coffee Shop, Sunset Bar, Abandoned Ship Deck, and Pool Bar Counter offer wide choice of cocktails, warm coffees, fresh juices, wines and beers.

What to do there?
For recreation, Filitheyo provides numerous activities like snorkelling, diving, big game fishing, canoeing, catamaran sailing, night fishing, scuba diving, sight seeing flights, windsurfing and island hopping which guests can indulge in. The resort also has a swimming pool, souvenir shop, fitness gym, badminton court, snooker table, table tennis and facilities for many other sports and games.
Diving – The Internationally acclaimed Werner Lau Diving Centre offers complete packages, from a basic course for beginners to advanced diving courses. Advanced courses up to CMAS and PADI Dive Master are available for more experienced divers, as well as Barracuda (CMAS), SSI and PADI diving courses continually throughout the year. Werner Lau Diving Centre with its international diving instructors will help you master the art of diving in the beautiful turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean.

Mandara Spa

The Mandara Spa at Filitheyo makes the dream complete. Three quietly tropical double Spa Bungalows and one single Spa Room where you can relax body and mind as your senses are indulged and your vitality restored. The Asian-inspired menu offers you choices to soothe and relax your muscles, de-stress your mind, uplift your soul, rejuvenate your skin and restore your sense of well-being. Each of the double Spa Bungalows has a private outdoor shower and plenty of space to relax in style.
Signature Services of the Spa – Balinese Massage
This traditional massage combines stretching, long strokes, skin rolling and palm and thumb pressure techniques to relieve stress and tension, improve blood flow and relax body and mind. A deeply relaxing path to body and mind well-being.

Snorkel at Filitheyo

View from a water villa

Filitheyo Beach villa

Filitheyo Water villas

Cost per room per night HALF BOARD
Superior Villas start from £184 to £227 per room per night.

Call us to get a quote for your holiday and for the latest offers and package deals on all room types.

Honeymoon Offer
All guests on their honeymoon will receive the following .
A fruit basket on arrival
A bottle of wine.
Contact us for full terms and conditions.

Transfers from Male International Airport to Kurumba Maldives are in a SEAPLANE.  Arrivals in Male must be in daylight hours.

You also have the options to upgrade your meal plan to full board or All Inclusive. Contact us for prices.

The ‘All inclusive’ package includes the following:
Lunch in the main restaurant, tea/coffee with snacks (4-6pm daily), all drinks by glass (including mineral water, soft drinks, beer, house wine during meals, whisky, gin, vodka, rum) to be served between 1000 hrs – 2359 hrs only. (All drinks consumed after midnight will be charged at the normal price),two free excursions (1 island hopping & 1 night fishing) per person per stay.

Flights
There are flights to the Maldives with Emirates, Sri Lanka Airlines and a number of charter carriers.  We do not sell flights but can give advice.

When to go?
The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round and a great deal of sunshine. The warm tropical climate results in relatively minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year. The hottest month on average is April and the coolest, December. The weather is determined largely by the monsoons.
There is a significant variation in the monthly rainfall levels. February is the driest with January to April being relatively dry, May and October records the highest average monthly rainfall. The southwest monsoon or hulhangu from May to September is the wet season. Rough seas and strong winds are common during this period. The northeast monsoon iruvai falls between December to April. This is a period of clear skies, lower humidity and very little rain. The Maldives is in the equatorial belt and therefore severe storms and cyclones are extremely rare events. However the country is affected whenever cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea. The spiralling clouds of the weather systems appear over the Maldives causing spells of rain.

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To make a reservation or for further information - Contact Us

Go barefoot, be served on your white sand beach under coconut trees, dine by the moon and candles or dress for dinner and dance into the morning. Welcome to Kurumba Maldives. Named after the coconuts that grow in abundance throughout the island, Kurumba Maldives pioneered tourism in the Maldives in 1972. Completely renewed , it re-opened in 2004 as a resort of distinction, class and style and run with panache. The serenity of the resort is perfectly matched by the uncompromising luxury of its bungalows and villas. Its lush gardens have been lovingly raised over years. Kurumba Maldives offers Maldives’ signature hospitality and gracious service in an unspoiled tropical paradise.

The Kurumba Maldives house reef is home to live coral growing on ancient volcanic mountains and a thousand different variations of stunning fauna – a paradise for divers . Shaded paths lead from one side of this 48-acre circular island to the other. The white sand beach embracing the island is lapped by crystal clear waters of an azure lagoon, protected by eco-breakwaters of weathered coral.

Kurumba Resort, Maldives

Relax in the Maldives

Great Diving

AQUUM spa at Kurumba

Accommodation
180 bungalows and villas are dotted throughout the island within verdant foliage, paces from the beach. Every one of its 180 individual villas and rooms is a symphony of good taste and glorious space, orchestrated with the harmony of polished wood floors, high timber-clad ceilings and antique style wooden furniture. Complemented by a walk-in dressing room and a bathroom of exquisite extravagance with sandstone tiles, a marble-sided tub and a second, out-door art-deco shower in a private open-air patio, each bedroom comes equipped with In – Room safes, Private mini bar, Tea/ Coffee makers, Satellite TV, High speed Internet Connections and Luxury amenities.

Food
With nine different restaurants offering seven cuisines to choose from, the Kurumba Maldives is a gourmet experience like no other in the Maldives . An intimate candlelit dinner for two on the beach or an indulgent evening in a speciality restaurant or a grand buffet. You are spoilt for choice. And then you can dance the night away in the beach bar where five nights a week a band is in attendance.

• Vihamana – Main Restaurant. The delightful main restaurant at the Kurumba Maldives. Offers gourmet buffets for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

• The Ocean Grill – Located on the edge of the beach with an overwater deck offering a panoramic view of the Indian Ocean.

• The Hamakaze – “Ocean Winds” The Hamakaze is the Sushi Bar and Teppen – Yaki counter serving a unique style of cuisine from the Land of The Rising Sun .

• Al Qasr – Arabian Nights at the Kurumba Maldives. Come savour a fare from the mystical Middle East.

• Kurumba Mahal – Cuisine from the royal kitchens of North India. Succulent tandoories, curries – some spicy, other subtle, Naan and Paratta breads and luscious desserts make for a dinner fit for a Maharaja.

• Ming Court – The Specialty Chinese Restaurant serving oriental delicacies from the Mainland.

• The Golden Cowrie – Fine Italian cuisine. In an elegant, classical setting.

• Neptune – Coffee Shop

• The Beach Bar – The place to chill! Whether you are on the overwater deck gazing at the horizon over a leisurely, meandering lunch or at the stars over fine wine.

What to do there?
Water Sports include a catamaran and wind surf school and there are a range of fun activities – parasailing with platform boat, waterskiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, banana rodeo, fun tubes, sailing safaris with a skipper and more. In order to truly experience the uniqueness of the Maldives , you must not miss out on discovering what lies beyond white beaches and crystal clear waters. Excursions available include a champagne sunset cruise, night and morning fishing, a trip in a glass bottom boat, snorkelling adventure and a tour of Male, the capital city.

AQUUM Spa

An inner sanctuary of calm and wellbeing surrounded by a reflection pond of healing water and stunning architecture sets the scene for the care and wisdom that radiates from the AQUUM experience at Kurumba, Maldives. Dedicated to perfection of treatment, the Spa menu includes remedies and rituals to soothe the mind and nourish the body.

Signature Ritual: Kurumba Spa Escape
Indulge your body with a unique foaming exfoliation, using a signature dancing removal technique to soothe skin and leave it silky smooth. Then, experience a symmetry massage finished with a signature mind ritual, designed to de-stress your spirit using pressure point massage and calming breathing. This package offers total escape, and an unforgettable spa journey.
Facilities include 8 Treatment Rooms, Aroma Steam Room, Hydrotherapy Pool, Refreshing Bucket Shower, Gymnasium, Relaxation Lounge, Yoga Pavilion and Bespoke Spa Packages.

Kurumba Resort, Maldives

Kurumba Resort, bar area

Yoga at Kurumba

Water sports in Maldives

Cost per room per night including breakfast
Superior Rooms start from £210 to £306 per room per night.

Call us to get a quote for your holiday and for the latest offers and package deals on all room types.

Honeymoon Offer
All guests on their honeymoon will receive the following .
A fruit basket on arrival
One Candle lit dinner (menu set by hotel)
A bottle of wine.
Contact us for full terms and conditions.

Flights
There are flights to the Maldives with Emirates, Sri Lanka Airlines and a number of charter carriers. We do not sell flights but can give advice.

When to go?
The Maldives has a tropical climate with warm temperatures year round and a great deal of sunshine. The warm tropical climate results in relatively minor variations in daily temperature throughout the year. The hottest month on average is April and the coolest, December. The weather is determined largely by the monsoons.
There is a significant variation in the monthly rainfall levels. February is the driest with January to April being relatively dry, May and October records the highest average monthly rainfall. The southwest monsoon or hulhangu from May to September is the wet season. Rough seas and strong winds are common during this period. The northeast monsoon iruvai falls between December to April. This is a period of clear skies, lower humidity and very little rain. The Maldives is in the equatorial belt and therefore severe storms and cyclones are extremely rare events. However the country is affected whenever cyclones form in the Bay of Bengal or the Arabian Sea. The spiralling clouds of the weather systems appear over the Maldives causing spells of rain.

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To make a reservation or for further information – Contact Us

Volcanoes, cloud forests, beautiful beaches and an abundance of wildlife. Costa Rica really is as close to paradise as it is possible to get. It is also the only country in the world not to have an army. This just about sums up the philosophy of Costa Rica – peace, love and being at one with nature. This wonderful private tour ending with a stay at a yoga retreat in the Costa Rican mountains really is a yoga holiday you will never forget.

Day 1 – Arrive in Costa Rica
Arrival at Juan Santamaria International Airport. On arrival you will be met and we will provide you with a private guided transfer to the San Jose area outskirts. You will be staying your first night at the La Corteza Amarilla Art Lodge & Spa.

Arenal Volcano

Humming birds

Beautiful Waterfalls

Explore Cloud Forest

Day 2 – Poas Volcano and La Paz Waterfall Gardens
On the way to the Poas Volcano National Park, stunning scenery will unfold as you pass through coffee, sugar, fern and strawberry plantations. Poas Volcano is considered the largest active crater in the world, about 1 mile (1.6 km.) wide and 320 meters deep, with frequent geyser-like eruptions. You will find trails that lead through cloud forest stunted and twisted, not only by volcanic emissions but the rigors of the cold and windy high altitude habitat. Continuing with the tour, the next stop is at La Paz Waterfalls Gardens. The main attraction is the panoramic viewpoints of five magnificent waterfalls that feed the La Paz River, although the hummingbird’s garden, which is full of these wonderful birds feeding and flying in all directions, is mesmerising.
Overnight at the Sarapiquis Rainforest Lodge.
Breakfast and lunch are included today.

Day 3 – Sarapiquis
This morning a two-hour river cruise will take you into the thick of the jungle. You might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the monkeys, crocodiles and hundreds of species of birds that inhabit the jungle along the Sarapiqui River. In the afternoon you will be provided with a walking tour to Tirimbina Biological Reserve. Six miles of trails cross the reserve and it is the ultimate rainforest experience.
Overnight at Sarapiquis Lodge.
Breakfast is included today.

Day 4 – Arenal Volcano
Today we will be making our way towards the Arenal Volcano (3 hour drive). The Arenal Volcano is considered one of the most active volcanoes in the world; it has been active since 1968 when it suddenly exploded, destroying all vegetation that covered the cone. Nowadays, trees and vegetation are starting to regenerate in some areas of the volcano’s base. Volcano hot springs are the result of rainwater heated by magma in the Earth’s interior. Once heated, the waters rise to the surface, taking with them minerals found in the earth’s rocky crust; the water helps to relax muscles, clean pores and rejuvenate the skin. We visit the Eco Termales Hot Springs and walk through lava paths while admiring the imposing perfect cone, then take a dip into the natural mineral hot springs that descend from the volcano.
Overnight at the Arenal Nayara
Breakfast and dinner are included today.

Day 5 – A free day around Arenal
You will have this day at leisure for you to explore and enjoy the area on your own. Just in case they are required, our transportation and guide are available, however entrance fees, extra cost activities and meals are not included.
Overnight at the Arenal Nayara
Breakfast is included today.

Day 6 – Cloud forest
A morning transfer from the Arenal Nayara Hotel to the area of San Ramon, specifically the Villa Blanca Hotel. Villa Blanca is located in the middle of the Costa Rica cloud forest, offering great country-side scenery and a private cloud forest reserve. In the afternoon you will take a tour to the El Silencio de Los Angeles. A walk through these cloud forest trails is a very special experience, with a mass of life everywhere.
Overnight at the Villa Blanca Hotel
Breakfast is included today.

Day 7 to Day 12 – Ama Tierra Retreat
Today you will be taken to the Ama Tierra Resort, where your guide will leave you in the caring hands of Bob and Jill. At Ama Tierra you can nurture yourself with delicious organic foods, professional massage and energy balancing therapies. Take a tasting tour of the organic greenhouse or find serenity on a hike to the stream or by relaxing in a hammock. In a rural locale, surrounded by authentic Costa Rican people, you can glimpse the local culture.
Ama Tierra, is a life-enhancing facility nestled on 8 acres in the Costa Rican mountains. This special eco-resort features 10 private casitas, tastefully designed with unique decor to allow you to enjoy the serenity of your surroundings. Each suite comes with its own Jacuzzi tub, private terrace and garden with outdoor seating. Hardwood furniture and a ceiling made of teak brings the ambience of the forest into your room.
During your stay you will enjoy a daily Yoga Class (one hour). You will also have plenty of time to relax, enjoy the scenery and explore the nearby attractions.
Breakfast and Dinner are included during your stay.

Day 12 – Return to San Jose
Today you will be met by our guide and transferred back to San Jose (about 2 ½ hours). On arrival you will check into the Corteza Amarilla Hotel for your final night in Costa Rica.
Overnight at the Corteza Amarilla Hotel
Breakfast is included today.

Day 13 – Depart Costa Rica
A private transfer takes you from the hotel to the Juan Santamaria International Airport in order for you to catch your international departure flight.

Yoga Retreat, Costa Rica

Lots of wildlife

Yoga Room, Costa Rica

Enjoy the scenery

Costs excluding flights per person
Two People travelling (twin/double room) from £2,345 per person
Two people travelling (Single rooms) from £2,995 per person
One person travelling from £3,575

Group Tour Departures

05 Apr 2010 – 17 Apr 2010 – £1,995 per person (Available)
17 Feb 2011 – 01 Mar 2011 – £2,095 per person (Available)

Flights
The best way to get to Costa Rica is with American Airlines via either Miami or Orlando. We do not sell flights but can give information on times and prices.

The price includes the following features:
Accommodation as described
Tours and guiding as mentioned above
Meals as shown

The price does not include the following:
International flights
Departure tax (currently USD$25 payable at the airport)
Drinks
Meals not mentioned
Tips to Drivers, Guides, at restaurants etc.
Items of personal nature such as telephone calls, telegrams, table drinks and laundry.
Travel Insurance (Compulsory to have before departure)

When to go?
Costa Rica is a tropical country and experiences only two seasons: wet and dry. The dry season is generally between late December and April; the wet season lasts the rest of the year. The highlands are cold: San José and the Central Valley get an ‘eternal spring’ with lows averaging 15°C (60°F) and highs averaging 26°C (79°F). Both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts are pretty much sweltering year-round – get ready for some bad-hair days. Temperatures vary little between seasons; the main influence on temperature is altitude.

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