What to Pack for a Multi-Day Retreat

For most multi-day retreats you need less than you think: two or three sets of comfortable practice clothes, a warm layer, walking shoes, a rain jacket, swimwear, a water bottle and any medication. Check what the venue provides first, because most supply bedding, towels and yoga mats. Then add the few items your destination and programme call for.

Check what the venue already provides

Before you pack anything, read the inclusions on the retreat page. At all four properties we use, bedding and towels are provided. Monte da Luz in Portugal also gives you pool towels, and its shala is stocked with mats, blocks, bolsters and blankets. Sjövik Lodge, where I host, has cushions and stools in the meditation room, plus rubber boots and rain jackets you can borrow. Hotel Ciasa Lärch in the Dolomites lends walking poles and has a boot drying room.

That means you can leave your own mat at home unless you love it, and you do not need to fill half your case with towels.

The essentials for any retreat

• Two or three sets of practice clothes you can move and sit in
• A warm layer for early mornings and evenings
• Walking shoes and a pair of sandals
• A rain jacket
• Swimwear
• A refillable water bottle
• Any medication, in your hand luggage

You will wear the same comfortable clothes most days. Nobody dresses up for dinner. If you are worried about running out, Monte da Luz offers laundry on request for an extra cost, and a quick wash in the sink goes a long way elsewhere.

What to add for each destination

The climate and the programme change the list more than the length of the stay. Here is what we suggest for each of our destinations:

• Costa Vicentina, Portugal: walking shoes with grip for the cliff path, a sun hat, reef-safe sunscreen and a light rain jacket, because Atlantic weather changes quickly. In December bring warmer layers and slippers or warm socks for the house.
• Ubud, Bali: light, breathable practice clothes, something that covers your shoulders and knees for temple visits, insect repellent, sun protection, sandals and walking shoes.
• The Dolomites, Italy: worn-in hiking boots with ankle support, a 25–30 litre day pack, waterproof jacket and trousers, a hat and gloves, and enough bottles to carry 1.5 litres of water.
• Värmland, Sweden: swimwear for the lake and the sauna, insect repellent, a notebook, warm layers for cool evenings and an eye mask, because in summer it stays light very late.

What guests most often wish they had brought

At the end of each week I ask guests what they would pack differently. The same few things come up again and again:

• An eye mask and earplugs, especially if you are sharing a room
• A notebook and pen
• A paper book, so you are not reaching for your phone in the evening
• Warm socks for the evening sessions
• A small bag for the walk down to the sauna, the lake or the beach

Pack for the programme you booked

Creative weeks need a few extra things. On Words by the Sea, bring whatever you write with, a laptop or a notebook, although notebooks and writing materials are provided. On Light & Land, bring your camera or phone, chargers and a power bank, because two photo walks a day drain batteries quickly. On Breath & Stillness in Ubud, a light shawl is useful for the evening sessions.

For hiking weeks, the most important thing you bring is not in your bag. Train beforehand with regular four- to six-hour walks that include some climbing, in the boots you plan to wear.

Medication, documents and money

Keep any medication in your hand luggage, with enough for the whole stay and a few spare days. For Bali, bring a copy of your prescription too. Do not drink the tap water in Bali; Rumah Tirta has free filtered water refill stations, so your own bottle is all you need.

Check your documents well before you leave. Portugal, Italy and Sweden are in the Schengen Area. Most visitors to Bali need a Visa on Arrival or e-VOA, must pay the Bali tourist levy and need a passport valid for at least six months. Travel insurance is required on several of our weeks, and the Dolomites hiking week needs cover that includes mountain rescue.

Bring a little money for extras: wine with dinner in Portugal, drinks at the mountain huts, cable cars in the Dolomites and spa treatments in Bali are not included.

What to leave at home

Your laptop, unless you are on a writing retreat. Wi-Fi at Monte da Luz is in the main house only, and at Sjövik the phone signal is weak by the lake, which most guests come to enjoy. You can also skip the hairdryer, the smart clothes and the second pair of trainers.

Most guests say the week felt longer and more restful without a screen in their hand. If you are unsure about anything on your list, email us before you travel. A packing question is much easier to answer at home than on a forest path.