Alaya Retreat Centre –

I recently had the pleasure of staying at Alaya Retreat Centre, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and treated as an individual by the host, Ellen. Her warm and genuine approach set the tone for my entire stay. The yoga classes were superb, led by highly trained instructors Mir and Alex, who specialise in Hatha and Kundalini yoga. As a food lover, I was thrilled by the nourishing and delicious meals served throughout my stay. The fresh tomato salsa and refreshing watermelon juice for breakfast were particular highlights. One of my favourite experiences was the guided hike and Kundalini yoga session by the water, followed by a one-on-one sound bath with Mir. It was my first time trying a sound bath, and it was a truly relaxing and rejuvenating experience. The stunning natural surroundings of Alaya Retreat Centre added to the restorative atmosphere. The gorgeous dogs and horses, along with the breathtaking sunsets against a backdrop of bougainvillea across the farmhouse, created an unforgettable ambiance. I also had the opportunity to sit and paint, which was a wonderful way to unwind and tap into my creativity. Overall, my stay at Alaya Retreat Centre was exactly what I needed to restore and refresh myself. The combination of exceptional hospitality, top-notch yoga instruction, delicious food, and serene natural beauty made for a remarkable experience. I highly recommend Alaya Retreat Centre to anyone seeking a restorative and rejuvenating retreat. Thank you, Ellen, Mir, Alex, and the entire Alaya team for creating such a special place.

I had a wonderful time in this retreat. The food was excellent and the pool, the garden and the many beautiful rooms around the house provided much needed rest. The yoga classes with Alex and Mir were just great. Alex also took us to a river pool in the woods to practice there and it was amazing and Helen made us feel like at home. I’m definitely coming back very soon!

El centro es espectacular. Desde el principio hasta el final, recibí una atención especial. Es un lugar hermoso; fui sola para celebrar mis 30 años y fue un regalo maravilloso de parte de mi grupo de amigos. Los profesores son excepcionales; además de dar clases, gestionan las actividades del centro de manera excelente. Todo, desde el centro hasta las actividades, está cuidado en detalle. Es un espacio que se enfoca en cuidar tu tranquilidad y bienestar. Me dieron tips para meditar y conectarme conmigo misma. También recomiendo el masaje; Antonio es muy atento y adapta el masaje a tus necesidades. Salí renovada. ¡Amé todo! ¡Volveré seguramente!

I spent 4 days at the Alaya Retreat Centre in June. It was a welcome change after having visited the (to) busy city of Barcelona for a couple of days. The staff at Alaya was so nice. As a beginner they spent time to make me feel comfortable with the classes. Also sharing our vegetarian meals together was a pleasure and gave us time for great conversation with a few glasses of excellent wine. Another highlight was the hike to the waterfall. All in all a great stay. The best of it all was the staff…they are great people and form a fantastic team!

A ‘retreat’ in the literal sense due to a lovely peaceful countryside location. I was however a little disappointed in the ‘yoga & chakra bliss’ programme I attended. It promised a blend of vinyasa/hatha/restorative yoga (a main reason that I chose this retreat over others) however classes were almost all low-energy, repetitive restorative/yin style. I understand that ‘schedules may vary’ but to change styles this much feels like false advertising. I’d recommend a website/programme update to address this. Our guidance during the stay often felt quite muddled, and the spaces were a little run down in places. It also lacked some nice touches that I’d expect to be included in a retreat e.g. readily available iced/cold water would have been appreciated. The quality of the meals varied across the week but tasty home-made elements were often on offer. The real saving grace was the pool, a lovely place to relax. If you’re looking for a rustic approach to a retreat then this will probably be up your street.

Todo fue fantástico en un ambiente super familiar repetiré

Loved it here! Friendly, welcoming place with great yoga classes and other organised activities. Perfect for all kinds of travellers seeking some quiet and peace away from the city.

Es una casa preciosa y muy tranquila. Alex nos atendió muy bien. El mini apartamento dispone de cocina y algunos electrodomésticos tipo tostadora y kettle, ademas de vasos, platos y cubiertos . El entrono es muy bonito y se puede salir a pasear. La única pega es que se oyen los coches muy cerca aunque pasan muy pocos. Ideal si quieres un espacio de calma.

Beautiful house with nice surrounding. Not so easy to reach, but it was worth it! Food is amazing, and yoga classes were lovely. Will come back

Perfect place! I enjoyed every moment… Looking forward to coming back again

I had an absolutely beautiful stay at Alaya. Yoga with Alex was a highlight, closely followed by the amazing food by chef Martin. Total relaxation and switch off whilst surrounded by wonderful animals and nature. I hope to be back in future. :)

Een maandag tot en met woensdag heb ik mogen zijn op Alaya Retreat Center. Alex en Aylin ontvingen me heel warm, ik voelde mij gelijk thuis. De yoga van beide was heel anders maar van allebei onwijs fijn en leerzaam. Het eten was super goed verzorgd, en het fruit uit de bomen in de tuin was een cadeautje. Als dierenvriend zit je hier ook helemaal op je plek! Op de vertrekdag moest ik vroeg weg, om toch yoga te kunnen beoefenen en te ontbijten hadden ze een aangepaste planning gemaakt en dachten ze super fijn mee. Ik kom heel graag een keer terug en raad het iedereen aan!

It was OK. When we visited, the swimming pool, sauna was not available. There are no mediation with horses. We were advised acitivies would change, but this was not clearly set out.

I loved my stay, the food and all

Beatutiful catalan masia, with great atmosphere and great owner Ellen and excelent yoga teachers.

Lovely place, people, a lovely experience!!!

The staff was very kind and accommodating. The room they gave me was lovely and they made sure I got my full money worth in activities, even when weather or availability changed. The breakfest was also insanely good (I am a sucker for breakfast), while the dinner was good but not quite as magical (I attribute that to me just having a soft spot for breakfest). The grounds are also gorgeous and rejuvinating.

My stay at Alaya was brilliant. The place is located in a really nice region where you can have nice afternoon walks through the vineyard or to waterfalls. Blissful view from the yoga room where you will have two sessions per day. Alex was a brilliant teacher and made sure that we had everything we needed throughout our stay. The food was also delicious. Ellen, the staff, the place, the animals: everything reunites to be a great experience. All in all, you only just have to get there. Once at Alaya, everything is taken care of.

Great place – I had a few very relaxing days here. Team at Alaya is very welcoming!

Great vibes, great people, great food! If I am ever in this part of the world again, I will be back!

I loves my stay, a very quiet place well decorated. And good people.

We had a great stay at Alaya Retreat, it’s so beautiful and calm – the perfect place to rest and recharge! The food was absolutely delicious. Alex and Ellen were extremely friendly, they were always available and flexible to accommodate to our needs. I’d definitely recommend a trip to Alaya and can’t wait to go back!

I spent 3 absolutely fantastic days in Alaya! Great location (easy to reach from Barcelona). Very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. Healthy and TASTY food. Enjoyed all 6 yoga classes and my first experience of meditation with horses. Definitely will recommend this place! Marina

My stay at Alaya was lovely. I wanted to relax for some days and recharge my batteries. It was great, the yoga sessions with Alex and Esti were really nice and great to connect again with yourself. Also the focus on breathing and reconstructing the flow of energy in your body. The place itself is gorgeous, lots of green, inmidst the wine fields, many animals and also my room was really big and spacious. I was almost alone and it was very quiet. I will definitely come back for another time! thank you Ellen and team!

I booked an overnight stay at Alaya on a whim and can safely say I was blown away but my short visit there. The location is stunning. Nestled amongst the cava vineyards in an idyllic rural location. It is very accessible from Barcelona a train ride to Vilafranca del Penedès and then a short taxi ride out to the house. The resort is beautiful and delightful. My room was in the older refurbished house. It was a cosy room and there were great toilet and shower facilities on my floor. Downstairs was a lovely dining and chill out seating area. Within the grounds there is a beautiful garden and pool and loads of little seating areas. The best thing about the stay were the staff and the sessions along with the delicious food served. The yoga was led by Alex whom is courteous, friendly and informative. He does Kundalini yoga. I had not done this style of yoga before and found it great. A nice mix of dynamic movement mixed with mindfulness. Ellen the resort owner let the meditation with horses. I wasn’t sure what to expect but I had a very emotional experience that was enriching and intriguing. I would highly recommend Alaya for anyone considering a getaway involving yoga and meditation. Hopefully will get back there myself at some point.

Mi fin de semana en la masía de retiro de yoga fue una experiencia increíble. Destacaría especialmente las sesiones de yoga con Alex, quien fue un instructor excepcional, y la sesión de Reiki con Ellen, que me encantó. El ambiente sereno y las impresionantes vistas hicieron que fuera un escape perfecto de la vida cotidiana. ¡Altamente recomendado para renovar energías y conectar con la naturaleza!

Fantastique WE! Le lieu est magnifique, les cours de yoga d’Alex sont tops et la méditation avec Ellen une véritable expérience! Lane n’oublie pas la nourriture du chef Martin qui était top aussi! Ellen et Alex ont tout fait pour que mon anniversaire soit inoubliable et ils ont réussi :) merci!!

It was a fantastic stay and I enjoyed every minute of IT! Can only recommend it, go and experience it yourself.

Net als Sh Ab (die u ervan beticht een fake review te schrijven) en een 30tal anderen, logeerde ik eind februari in Alaya. Het eten was niet echt lekker en hield geen rekening met sommige allergieën en daar viel niets aan te veranderen. We hebben met de kok gesproken en die wou ons wel tegemoet komen, maar kreeg geen enkele speelruimte van de organisatie. Er was trouwens veel te weinig plaats binnen om allemaal tesamen te eten, waardoor velen op de grond moesten zitten. Het was nergens aangenaam warm in de gebouwen en ik hoorde dat sommige collega´s zelfs moeite hadden om te slapen door de kou. De slaapzaal is een ramp voor mensen groter dan 1,7m en is voor niemand echt een aanrader. De gemeenschappelijke badkamer en douches werden ook door het personeel gebruikt, wat niet echt aangenaam is. Het zwembad was niet gebruiksklaar en ook de sauna was stuk. Er zijn wel meer zaken in Alaya die een opknapbeurt kunnen gebruiken. Vooral de halstarrige houding van de organisatie (Ellen) maakte ons verblijf in Alaya tot een negatieve ervaring. Om maar te zwijgen van alle misverstanden en communicatieproblemen.

Lugar fantástico para hacer yoga, meditar, descansar y socializar con gente maravillosa.

Ha sido genial, para repetir!!

I’ve recently spent a wonderful week at the Alaya Retreat Center, set in the picturesque Penedés wine region close to Barcelona. My time there was marked by rejuvenation and profound relaxation, thanks to the dedicated team of mostly temporary staff members, including Alex, Fabien, Tamara, and Niels. Their exceptional Kundalini Yoga sessions, relaxing massages, and delicious slow food truly made my stay unforgettable. However, despite the positive aspects, there are areas for improvement. The retreat center’s portrayal online doesn’t always align with reality. The property itself could benefit from renovation, as it showed signs of neglect and cleanliness issues. Additionally, essential facilities like room locks and heating in bathroom or yoga room were lacking, impacting comfort levels. Regrettably, the most significant disappointment stemmed from interactions with the owner, who appeared to lack professionalism, client orientation, and empathy at times. Despite my concerted efforts to confirm the details of my temporary offer «integral» via phone and email before officially reserving my retreat programme, miscommunication due to ambiguous and misleading wording in their programme description via email led to draining discussions during my stay. Initially, neither the staff members nor the owner seemed aware of the special offer «integral,» despite it being advertised to me via email by their colleague Patricia, who was on sick leave. As the client, I was made to feel completely wrong in my interpretation of their integral programme offer. I fully appreciate that a business owner must defend their position if they would have been very clear in defining a product, but this was not the case. Eventually, after persistence from my side, a resolution was achieved, but the experience highlighted a distinct lack of client orientation and empathy in handling the situation. It’s a shame that this affected my overall experience and left me feeling unsupported and uncomfortable. Despite this setback, the dedication and warmth of the other team members ensured my time at Alaya Retreat Center was transformative. I departed feeling revitalized and grateful for the opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and integrate new inspirations for Kundalini Yoga and Mindfulness practice into my daily life. Heartfelt thank you to Alex, Fabien, Tamara, and Niels

Very old place, old beds, the food wasnt good and the service was awful and also very expansive. The pictures of the place are much nicer than in real life.

Ha sido mi primera experiencia con el yoga y, la verdad es que me encantó. Fue una manera muy especial de celebrar el Fin de Año 2023. Por parte de la organización, Ellen y Alex, estuvieron geniales. Siempre amables, serviciales y pendientes de todo. Muy cuidados todos los detalles. El lugar increíble y también los compañeros. El ambiente fantástico. Muy buenas las sesiones de yoga y meditación. Sin duda, lo recomiendo. Seguro que repetiré.

Séjour 5 étoiles dans ce cadre d’exception, accessible facilement à seulement 1h30 de Barcelone. Helen, Alex, Fabien et tout le reste de l’équipe nous ont accueilli au milieu des vignobles pour 4 jours de yoga. Nourriture incroyable et balades au milieu de la nature accessibles à pied.

I came for only one day and it was still worth it. The place is big, clean, calm and peaceful. The teachers are a really great teacher and they adapt to every person’s needs and level. When I saw the description of the meditation with horses I didn’t really understand it, but experiencing it was a whole other level. I strongly recommend this place and also male sure to stay more than one night if that’s possible.

Un viaje y un retiro increíble, cerca de Barcelona, fácil de llegar. He ido sola y tenía bastantes miedos e inseguridades pero me sentí tan bien acogida y acompañada… Una energía llena de amor y positivad. Y los animalitos, todos son tan amorosos, 100 % recomendable :)

El lugar es espléndido. Un oasis de naturaleza, ideal para desconectar y conectar con uno mismo y el entorno. La masía principal tiene un encanto único. El personal muy amable y me sentí muy cuidada todo el tiempo. Lo mejor fueron las clases de Yoga con Alex del que aprendí muchísimo! Gracias a todos y hasta pronto!

Amazing place, great service, staff available reactif and professional

Super expérience, je recommande

I give Alaya retreat 5 stars but would give them 10 if I could. Perfect location, cozy rooms, amazing food, beautiful animals and soul touching yoga classes. Thank you Ellen and Alex for your hospitality and for sharing your wisdom. I will definitely be coming back again!

Un lugar increíble para descarte de la ciudad y conectarte contigo mismo Los espacios son lindisimos, la comida deliciosa y las personas que conforman el equipo de Alaya son muy amables. Las clases de yoga son muy buenas y es muy divertido conectar con los animales del lugar. Regresaría mil veces más.

Amazing experience in nature with animals and daily yoga. I disconnected in only 3 days I feel I was gone for 3 months.. Quiet place to catch up on sleep, loving people and animals for your heart and nutritious vegetarian food for your body. I specifically want to highlight the quality of Alex yoga classes he is wonderful person. I strongly recommend the meditation with horses I was skeptical at first but my experience was unique and deeply moving Thank you to Ellen team for making me feel special

Really enjoyed my stay in Alaya, magic place and perfect mix between nature, animals and fresh air! Ellen, Alex y Paula were great and welcome me in such a beautiful way! Fully recommended

Acabo de volver del retiro de fin de semana. Iba sola, sin conocer a nadie con ganas de desconectar, y no solo lo he conseguido, sino que me he llevado una experiencia increíble. Alaya está alejado del caos de la ciudad, pero muy bien comunicado. Me he sentido como en casa, super bien acogida. La comida de Ellen increíble, y Alex me ha descubierto el mundo del yoga Kundalini. Desde luego me encantaría volver, aunque la próxima vez me quedaré más tiempo. Si viajas solo y no lo tienes claro (como a mí me pasó), este es un lugar seguro y lleno de gente que te hará sentir en familia.

The yoga retreat at Cal Pau Cruset is a real heart opener. If you want to reconnect with yourself and feel totally embraced by a beautiful place run by lovely people, this is the spot. The food is healthy and delicious, the animals are friendly and gentle, and the masia is homey and inviting. Even in winter without all the amenities there is plenty to do, or you can completely relax and do nothing at all! I’ll definitely be back.

Beautiful accommodation and the staff were friendly and informative

Nos encanto, la comida espectacular Volvemos seguro

It was my very first retreat, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice! I believe that everything happens for a reason, and these past few days have significantly contributed to my personal development. Ellen, Alex, Pierluigi, and other beautiful human beings, along with all the animals there, created a warm and inviting atmosphere throughout my stay. Yoga, meditation, facilities, food, and everything else were exactly what I needed in this period of my life. The freedom to be there on my own or with the company of other people or animals was just beautiful. The opportunity to enjoy solitude or engage with others, both human and animal, was truly enriching. I feel a deep sense of gratitude and highly recommend spending at least a few days at the Alaya Retreat Centre – I am confident you’ll discover what you’re seeking!