Presence + Practice:
Yoga & Hiking Retreat in Courmayeur, Italy
July 18-23rd, 2027
Rest & Reconnect in the Italian Alps!
We said it we would, and now we are doing it. After 3 years in Puglia, we are adding a retreat next year in another magical location, Courmayeur.
Retreat Highlights:
Daily yoga classes: 90 minutes morning yoga, suitable for all levels.
Hikes in the Italian Alps: 1 easy hike and 2 more intermediate level hikes with alternate easy paths.
Indoor-Outdoor Heated Hydrotherapy Pool: Transition seamlessly from indoor warmth into crisp mountain air in the heated pool, surrounded by views of the Alps
Full Thermal Spa Facilities: Unwind after practice with access to a Turkish steam room, Finnish sauna, hot tub, and dedicated relaxation zones.
Regional Aosta Valley Dining: Enjoy rich daily breakfasts and dinners featuring local ingredients and fresh seasonal Italian cuisine tailored to nourish active bodies.
Complementary 30 minutes massage: Onsite amenities include spa services, and a 30 minute massage is included in your retreat fee.
WHO
AMALIA
Amalia Brusati Di Settala is native to Italy and got her start in fashion in Milan. She shifted to culinary arts as a private chef and menu consultant for restaurants as Ama Mi Kitchen after moving to the US for love. After navigating her own identity shifts and reinvention, she relates authentically to others finding their way.
Amalia has a passion, not just for simple yet elevated cuisine, but for designing shared culinary experiences with human connection as a core element of meaningful and memorable meals.
KIM
Kim Lomonaco owns and leads The Glowing Body, a long-standing yoga and healing arts institution in Knoxville, TN.
Kim distills decades of experience with yoga and bodywork to share effective and approachable techniques linking body, breath, mind, and heart. This retreat will include potent self massage and breath refinement tools to teach participants capacity-building skills they can carry forward in their lives.
Together, Kim and Amalia led multiple retreats, seamlessly translating their collaborative successes into positive experiences for their students.
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WHY
This retreat is for:
This week is designed for anyone seeking a true reset: a space where gentle movement, mountain air, and effortless Italian hospitality meet. Whether you are coming alone to recharge or sharing the experience with a friend or partner, this week is crafted to be inspiring, nourishing, and deeply restorative.
You love the mountains and being outdoors. High-alpine hikes will be a core part of our days together. We will explore pine trails, dramatic peaks, and scenic paths at a comfortable, scenic pace.
You want a balanced daily movement practice. Yoga isn't the entire focus of your day, but a grounding start to it. Our daily morning session is designed for every body and experience level, whether you are stepping onto the mat for the first time or maintaining an established practice.
You appreciate some solo time. Most days are balanced between activities and down time when you can choose between visiting the Gran Baita spa, exploring Courmayeur’s boutique streets, or simply reading with a coffee against a Mont Blanc backdrop.
You value community and nourishing food. Enjoy shared meals featuring seasonal local ingredients, regional wines, and thoughtful conversation without a strict or restrictive atmosphere.
WHERE
Nestled in one of the most charming corners of Courmayeur, the Gran Baita Luxury Alpine Resort is an elegant 4-star superior hotel that combines the charm of Alpine tradition with contemporary comfort, offering unparelleled views over the Mont Blanc massif, becoming an ideal setting to host an unforgettable yoga retreat.
Just a few minutes from the historic center of Courmayeur, Gran Baita is the ideal choice for guests wishing to experience a mountain holiday dedicated to relaxation, sports, and Aosta Valley gastronomy. Rooms and suites with refined Alpine design, many featuring private mini hydromassage pools or panoramic saunas (upgrade available on request for additional cost and depending on availability), offer an exclusive stay immersed in the landscapes of the Alps.
NEARBY ATTRACTIONS
Towns: Aosta, Chamonix
Attractions: the Fortress of Bard, Terme Pre St Didier, local wineries, Skyway Montebianco,
CLIMATE
Mid-July brings peak summer conditions to Courmayeur, offering comfortably warm days, crisp mountain mornings, and long daylight hours ideal for outdoor activities.
Daytime Highs: Typically range from 68°F to 75°F. It feels pleasantly warm in the sun without the oppressive heat of lower-elevation Italian cities.
Mornings and Evenings: Drop to 46°F to 55°F, call for a cozy extra layer.
Higher Trail Elevations: Temperatures decrease altitude-wise as you hike up into Val Ferret or Val Veny, often feeling 10°F to 15°F cooler on high ridges.
Shower Risk: Mornings are usually clear and bright. As heat builds over the Mont Blanc massif during the afternoon, short mountain showers or pop-up thunderstorms can develop, typically clearing fast.
Layering works best for this climate: lightweight breathable clothes for afternoon hikes, a warm fleece or pullover for cool mornings, and a lightweight wind/rain jacket for higher trails.
HOW TO REACH THE HOTEL
The closest airports for reaching Courmayeur are: Turin Caselle, Milan Malpensa and Geneva Cointrin.
By car: Courmayeur is easily accessible via the A5 Turin–Aosta–Mont Blanc highway.
From Turin: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
From Milan: approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
From Geneva: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes via the Mont Blanc Tunnel
From Chamonix: approximately 30 minutes
The hotel offers parking and dedicated guest services
By train: The nearest train station is Aosta. From there, you can reach Courmayeur by bus, private transfer, or taxi.
WHAT
PROSPECTIVE PROGRAM
*may be subject to revision
SUNDAY
3pm check in
6pm gentle yoga
7.30 pm dinner at the hotel
MONDAY
8am Yoga
9.30-10.30 am breakfast
10.30 am drive to hiking trail
11-1 pm hike
1.30 picnic lunch
7.30 pm dinner at the hotel
TUESDAY
8am Yoga
9.30-10.30 am breakfast
10.30 -3 pm free time
3 pm drive to Planaval
3-6 pm easy hike
6 pm meditation in nature
7.30 pm dinner at a typical restaurant
WEDNESDAY
8am Yoga
9.30-10.30 am breakfast
11ish bus to Val Ferret
11.30-1 pm hike
1-3 pm lunch at Rifugio+hike down
bus back
dinner free
THURSDAY
8am Yoga
9.30-10.30 am breakfast
free exploration day
8pm dinner at Brasserie
FRIDAY
8am Yoga
9.30-10.30 am breakfast
11am check out
No prior advanced yoga or intense trekking experience is required; just an open mind, comfortable hiking boots, hiking poles and a desire to unwind in the Alps.
COST
400$ discount for the first 5 people to pay their deposit!
SINGLE OCCUPANCY
$4750, per person
DOUBLE OCCUPANCY
$4150, per person
SECURE YOUR SPOT
$550 registration fee goes to total cost and is NONREFUNDABLE.
All participants must sign registration form, and sign and return liability release in order for registration to be confirmed.
Once registration fee is paid, remaining balance may be paid in up to four equal installments.
Payment in full is required by April 1st, 2027 or else you may lose your spot and all payments made to date.
EXPERIENCES INCLUDED
5 Nights Accommodations
Daily Yoga Programming
Breakfast On Site Every Morning
3 Dinners On Site
1 Group Dinner in a local restaurant
2 lunches
3 hikes
1 meditation in the mountains
Hotel Spa access
DOES NOT INCLUDE
Airfare, ground transportation, meals not listed, personal day trips or excursion costs, trip insurance, wine or other beverages, or anything not explicitly listed above.
OPTIONAL ADD-ONS
Winery Tour
E-Bike Rental
Lunch Onsite at Hotel Gran Baita
Tour Guide excursion
Rock climbing
POLICIES & FAQ
CANCELLATION POLICY
The initial registration fee of $550 is non-refundable and non-transferable.
50% of payments, beyond the initial registration fee, are refundable greater than 90 days before the trip.
Within 90 days prior to the trip, all payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.
All payments will be refunded and registration fee may be applied to a future retreat in the unlikely event the trip is canceled by the organizers..
If you wish to cancel your spot you must submit your cancellation in writing by email to presence.practice.puglia@gmail.com.
PAYMENT PLANS
Payment plans are offered as a courtesy. It is ultimately the responsibility of registrants to adhere to payment plan terms set forth, including that payment in full is received by April 1st, 2027.
If payment in full is not received by the stated deadline, registrants risk losing their spot, and are subject to the stated cancellation policy regarding any payments made.
TRIP RELEASE
It is required that all registrants read, understand, sign, and return our release form before their registration is confirmed.
PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
If a registrant chooses to forgo any services included in the fees, they do so of their own volition, and are not entitled to a refund for services or amenities not used. This includes meals, accommodations, yoga programming, and any other inclusions.
PASSPORT
It is the responsibility of the registrants to ensure they have a valid passport.
As a general rule, passports should have at least six months of validity after your departure from your destination. That means if your passport has less than six months remaining until the expiration date, you should renew it right away! Visitors from the USA will receive a visa at the port of entry (i.e. the airport).
IMPORTANT: Travel requirements can vary by country and may be dependent on your country of origin. Terms of entry are always subject to change and should be confirmed independently with your airline before traveling.
HEALTH INFORMATION
At the time of registration, please include information about any allergies, medications, and/or medical conditions, so we can have it on hand as a precaution.
If you are on a particular medication, please be sure that you have enough medication for the duration of the retreat.
Please check with your health insurance company for information about coverage in foreign countries.
COMMUNICATION
We will collect emergency contact information for all registrants in the unlikely event we need to contact someone at home.
The retreat leaders will use WhatsApp as the primary means of communication with our group while in Italy.
CONNECTIVITY
Please contact your cell service provider to determine applicable fees, restrictions, and coverage while you are traveling.
While WiFi is available in common areas at the host facility, no guarantees can be made regarding its functionality at the time of our retreat. WiFi is not available inside of guest rooms.
Retreat leaders and the host facility are not responsible for ensuring you have access to cellular service or WiFi.
We encourage making plans to unplug as much as possible in order to allow you to get the most from the experience.
OCCUPANCY REQUESTS
We will do our best to honor your registration choice for occupancy and rooming arrangements. If we cannot fulfill the occupancy type that you selected, we will notify you 90 days prior to our trip.
At that time, you will be required to either cancel your registration, at which time our Cancellation Policy will apply, or you may upgrade your registration to another occupancy type (for example, from double occupancy to a single occupancy).
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We STRONGLY recommend travel insurance. It is important to plan for the unexpected and to understand there are a number of reasons why your travel plans may need to change. Travel insurance can be affordable and protect you in the event of unexpected changes.
Examples of travel insurance companies:*
https://www.trawickinternational.com/
*Please note, we have no affiliations with these companies and strongly encourage you to research for yourself to find the best option.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION
You should carry an International Driving Permit along with your local license. You’ll need to show it if you get stopped by the police for any reason, including if you’re in an accident. It’s not a license, requires no test, and is basically a translation of your driver’s license. See: Transportation and Driving in Italy
Our accomodations are intentionally chosen in part because of the feeling of seclusion and the distance from heavily commercial areas. It is highly recommended that you arrange for access to a rental car in order to take full advantage of visiting nearby attractions. Participants often make agreements to carpool together to save on expense - registered participants will be provided contacts of other participants to discuss travel plans.
E-bike rental can also be arranged on your behalf, at additional cost, which many participants have found to be a suitable method to get to nearby towns and to the coast.
There are many options for bus travel and train travel in Italy. Prices vary, but are generally affordable and convenient.
Have more questions?