Tuscany, Italy 2018

 Italy, Yoga and YOU!

Yoga Retreat and vacation in Tuscany with Sabré Page

Il Borghino, Italy
June 23rd – 30th 2018

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Literally meaning ?small village?, Il Borghino offers a secluded retreat centre setting in a hill top position with magnificent views overlooking forests, vineyards, olive groves and mountains in the distance. With 11 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, our retreat centre is ideal. Designed to maintain the original character of the village while still being both comfortable and modern, Il Borghino has been meticulously restored with energy efficiency and a concern for the environment in mind, using natural materials such as wood, marble and terracotta. The centre is ideally located 15 minutes from Lucca, 35 minutes from Pisa, 1.5 hrs from Florence and 1.5 hrs from the breathtaking Cinque Terre region, making it the perfect base to explore Tuscany and Liguria.

 

What’s included:

•  7 nights? accommodation + all linen + towels. Please note that linen is not changed during the retreat butbath towels are refreshed mid-week. One pool towel per person is also provided.
•  Yoga with Sabré twice daily!!

 

Cinque Terre Day Trip:   Spend the day in breath-taking Cinque Terre exploring the five coastal villages embedded in rocky cliffs along one of Italy?s most scenic stretches of Liguria. For those who are keen hikers, it is possible to spend a day walking and climbing between these beautiful villages and enjoy some spectacular scenery along the way. For others, you can still enjoy walking some of the more gentle trails, spend time swimming,exploring the villages or sampling some of the local delights! Our drivers will drop you off at one of the five villages in the morning and pick you up again in the evening.

• Tour and wine tasting at a local winery:
•  Follow the beautiful ?Strade del Vino? (the wine road) to a local winery and enjoy a very interesting tour and tasting.  Wine tasting excursion departs after breakfast or lunch ? we go by foot (3km) or by taxi, enjoying the scenic, winding roads flanked by olive groves and vineyards.

• 3 delicious vegetarian meals per day, except for one lunch out on Wednesday and one dinner out on a day to be decided. On these days, guests are free to explore on their own, choosing one of our excursions or a night out in Lucca etc. There are also two excellent restaurants in the immediate vicinity renowned for their Tuscan cuisine. These are open for dinner only.
• (Our retreat menu is vegetarian and we have a wonderful local cook who prepares deliciously fresh dishes based on what is in season and the region?s specialities. As we are in Tuscany, we do indulge in local cheeses, pasta, breads, wines and other delights, so although our menu is not a strict cleanse, we do offer plenty of healthy choices with nuts, seeds, legumes, plenty of vegetables and salads, rice, amaranth, quinoa, buckwheat, fresh fruit and yogurt. We source our food from local producers and wherever possible, we use organic grains, fruit and vegetables. We also make our own fresh fruit and vegetable juices and cleansing herbal teas using fresh herbs from the garden. Organic wine, olive oil and honey is produced in the surrounding agricultural area near Il Borghino and is served during our retreats. Upon request, we can cater for gluten free and lactose free dietary requirements).

•  Unlimited fruit, water + herbal teas throughout the day..
•  Local wine at dinner (limited to 1/2 bottle per person, per night)
•  Last night celebratory dinner with Prosecco and Pizza using the wood-fired pizza oven at Il  Borghino.
• Use of the salt water swimming pool and all facilities within the grounds of the villa.
•  Use of the Turkish Sauna/ Steam Room. This is limited to one complimentary 3 hour session during the week. 
•  Use of yoga room, yoga mats, blankets, blocks, belts and bolsters plus additional yoga mats for use outdoors.
•  Transfers to and from Lucca to Il Borghino at the start and finish of the retreat. Please note that there is one scheduled pick up and drop off only at an agreed time. 
•  Assistance and advice in arranging optional excursions (retreat concierge).
•  Use of the WIFI
•  Laundry facilities in each house for use by guests

 

What’s not included:

• Airfare
• Alcholic Beverages (there are stores nearby where you may purchase bottles of wine and alcohol and may keep them in your villa, which has a refrigerator. Drinks may be purchased next door, and at local bars and cafes and such)
• Gratuities
• Optional excursions outside the villa or transportation for excursions other than those specified in the Retreat Package
• Travel Insurance
• Airport Transfers outside the scheduled pick-up and drop-off
• Optional massages and holistic treatments
• Other travel related expenses

 

Optional Excursions

La Dolce Vita means ?the sweet life? and we hope to introduce you to this when you join one of our retreats or holidays. We offer a carefully selected choice of optional activities and excursions, designed to give you a taste of Tuscany and the local culture, without it feeling like an organised tour! Using our local knowledge, we collaborate with the best local operators to offer private full day and half day outings to fabulous destinations. Here?s a sampling of what you can do on one of our retreats in Tuscany:

 

Guided Bike & Walking Tour of Lucca

Join a guided bike and walking tour of Lucca to discover its fascinating medieval walls, ancient architecture and elegant palazzos. The tour lasts around 3 hours starting with a gentle cycle around the ancient walls of Lucca pointing out places of interest followed by a tour on foot through the medieval streets. The tour is just about the right length of time to learn something about the history of Lucca, see some of its works of art, sample some of the best gelato in the world or stop at one of the local caf?s to enjoy a macchiato!

 

Pietrasanta Artist Village Excursion

Visit the lively, picturesque artist?s village of Pietrasanta, a thriving art centre full of galleries, shops & colourful restaurants spilling onto the pavements. Best known for its marble & bronze artistic works, Pietrasanta often hosts international art exhibitions in the local Piazza?s where you can sit over aperitivo and watch the buzz unfold. The best time to visit is in the early evening and staying until late. Our drivers will drop you off and bring you home by around 11:30pm.

 

 

Bagni di Pisa Thermal SpaThermal Spa

Indulge in a thermal spa journey to relax, unwind + melt away any tension. Discovered in ancient roman times, the therapeutic properties of the hot springs offer health benefits such as better circulation, treatment of mild skin conditions, improvement in the body?s detoxification process + a boost to your immunity system! Best suited to the cooler months, our thermal spa excursion departs after breakfast & returns in time for a late lunch.

 

Authentic Tuscan Cooking Class                

Enjoy a cooking lesson with our wonderful local cook! Roll up your sleeves and get ready to learn the secrets of regional Tuscan cuisine passed down from generation to generation. You and your fellow retreat guests will get to taste the results of your morning?s effort and you will be amazed at how something so simple can be so delicious!

 

 

Tuscany Golf Day

If you fancy a day of golf in one of the finest golf courses in Tuscany, our local golf enthusiast Federico will be your charming guide for the day. Not only will he challenge you to a decent game of golf (he?s got a pretty good handicap!), Federico is also a qualified tourist guide for
the province of Lucca and he can tell you anything & everything there is to know about the history, art, archaeology, food and gastronomia .. and of course, golf! These are his great passions in life and you will be totally captured by his stories and enthusiasm.

 

Barga and the Garfagnana Day Trip 

Il Borghino comprises three separate houses and can accommodate up to 18 retreat participants plus two teachers. With 11 bedrooms and 10 bathrooms, we can accommodate both small and larger retreat groups. There are five twin bedrooms with private bathrooms, two twin bedrooms sharing one bathroom, two double rooms with private bathroom and two single rooms with private bathrooms.

The rooms are large, simple and furnished tastefully in local Tuscan style, each with fabulous views from every window. Each house is fully self-contained and offers every facility to meet the needs and privacy of both yoga teachers and retreat guests. Tea and coffee making facilities are also available in each house for use by retreat guests outside meal times.

The large communal area, ?L?Olivo ?, is the hub of the retreat centre ? a place for retreat guests to gather during the day, enjoy meals together, share experiences and of course, practice daily yoga. There is also a wood-fried pizza oven which we make use of during the retreat, and a gorgeous outdoor terrace with panoramic views for al fresco dining.

 Yoga and Meditation Spaces

There are indoor and outdoor spaces for practicing yoga ? each with a unique atmosphere of peace and tranquillity for centering the mind and body. The indoor yoga room is located downstairs in the communal area with glass windows looking into the swimming pool. Constructed with wooden flooring, the yoga room can accommodate up to 18 participants plus 2 teacher(s) and is fully equipped with Manduka quality yoga mats, blankets, bolsters, belts and blocks.

There are also several grassed terraces with views overlooking the hills and olive groves which can be used in the warmer months for sunrise & sunset sessions, where one can fully savour the serenity of the Tuscan countryside.

Optional Healing Arts Therapies

Massages and holistic treatments are available in-house during your retreat, all of which will help participants relax, unwind, release tensions and improve wellbeing. We have a team of experienced therapists and treatments can be booked upon arrival. Treatment Pricing is ?60 for 60 minutes, ?75 for 75 minutes and ?90 for 90 minutes.

 

Costs

There are 4 housing options and a total of only 10 rooms available, so please consider registering soon.  I’ve also included payment plan options and early bird discounts.  

*Room Type A:  Twin Room with Shared Bathroom (2 rooms share 1 bath)

$1900 if paid in full by September 1, 2017    $500 deposit to hold your space.

$1960 four-payment plan option.  Deposit $500, then 4 payments of $365 each, paid in 3-month installments.                                                       (6/1/17,  9/1/17,  12/1/17 and 3/1/18)

$2000 six-payment plan option.  Deposit of $500, then 6 payments of $250 each, paid in 2-month installments.                                                       (7/1/17,  9/1/17,  11/1/17,  1/1/18,  3/1/18 and 5/1/18)

 

*Room Type B:  Twin Room with Private Bathroom  AND Room Type C:  Double room with Private Bathroom

$2000 if paid in full by September 1, 2017.    $500 deposit to hold your space.

$2060 four-payment plan option.  Deposit $500, then 4 payments of $390 each, paid in 3-month installments.                                                      (6/1/17, 9/1/17, 12/1/17 and 3/1/18)

$2120 six-payment plan option.  Deposit $500, then 6 payment of $270 each, paid in 2-month installments.                                                     (7/1/17, 9/1/17, 11/1/17, 1/1/18, 3/1/18 and 5/1/18)

 

*Room Types A & B can be converted to single occupancy for an additional fee.

 

Room Type D:  Single Room with Private Bath (SOLD OUT…other rooms can be converted for $$)

$2350 if paid in full by September 1, 2017.  $600 deposit to hold your space.

$2440 four-payment plan option.  Deposit $600, then 4 payments of $460 each, paid in 3-month installments.                                                   (6/1/17, 9/1/17, 12/1/17 and 3/1/18)

$2550 six-payment plan option.  Deposit $600, then 6 payments of $325 each, paid in 2-month installments.                                                   (7/1/17, 9/1/17, 11/1/17, 1/1/18, 3/1/18 and 5/1/18)

 

Any registrations made on or after May 1, 2018 must be paid in full.

 

Cancellation Policy

Deposits are  non-refundable.

Cancellations on or after April 15, 2018, no refunds will be made.

Cancellations on or before April 14, 2018, refund is 25% of payment over deposit.

Cancellations on or before February 15, 2018, refund is 50% of payment over deposit.

Cancellations on or before November 15, 2017, refund is 75% of payment over deposit.

Cancellations on or before September 1, 2017, refund is 100% of payment over deposit.

 

 Payment 

Send checks to: Sabre Page ? 4500 Seneca St. Unit 3 ? Fort Collins, CO 80526
For bank transfer options, PayPal payments, or credit card payments, please contact Sabré at sabre@freedomjourneyyogaretreats.com

Registration Form is at the bottom of this page.

Disclaimer:

My goal is to provide a structure in which every participant may experience the fullest possibilities of experience.  As such, I will use my discretion and reserve the right to turn away any individual(s) whom I feel might be a threat to this goal.  

 

Things to Consider

Passport

Please double check your passport! Most countries require it be valid for at least six months beyond your planned date of departure.

Travel Insurance for Students HIGHLY recommended

Trip cancellation insurance is included in most comprehensive policies; however, most insurance companies limit this to specific unforeseen circumstances which exclude ?tour or trip cancellation?. We have been advised by Allianz Global Assist Travel (1800 011 060) that if the insured is travelling specifically for the purpose of attending a yoga retreat (sole purpose of journey), and it is cancelled due to insufficient numbers, then there would be provision to claim for any losses under Cancellation Fees and Lost Deposits. The exclusion clause cannot be applied because a yoga retreat is not considered a ?tour?. The insured would have to provide supporting documentation showing that the yoga retreat was the sole purpose of the journey and cancellation of the retreat was due to low numbers.

Transfers & Shuttles

Money

Food Allergies
Please let Sabré know upon registration if you have any food allergies so that the chef may be prepared.

Tourist Tax

The Lucca City Council introduced a tourist tax with effect from April 1 2013. The tax is levied on overnight stays for non-residents in the city of Lucca in visitor accommodation up to a maximum of 3 consecutive stays. The tax works out to be approximately an additional 4.50 ? 6 euro per person and is included in the overall retreat package price. However, a receipt must still be issued to the retreat organiser.

Internet Access and Phone Service

WIFI is available at the retreat centre. However, as we are in the countryside, mobile phone reception can be intermittent. Whilst we recognise the need to stay in contact with friends and loved ones during your retreat, we try to encourage guests to leave their virtual world behind.

Washing Facilities

Washing facilities are available in each house for use by guests.

Check-in and Check-out Times

Our retreats run for one week from Saturday to Saturday. Check-in is strictly 4pm on the day of arrival and checkout is strictly 09:30am on the day of departure. As we often have new retreats starting the same day as one finishes, we ask you to ensure your retreat guests observe these times.

 

What to bring:

Passport
Bring a passport that’s good for at least 3 months after trip ends.

Flashlight
You may need a bright flashlight for walking after dark.

Earplugs

Insect Repellant

Anti-itch Cream

Sun Screen

Water Bottle

Clothes

Please refer to yogainitaly.com for more details.