body & mind breaks in the West of Ireland

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Where: In West Ireland, Co.Clare - Lahinch
When:Selected weekends all year. click for dates
What: Yoga, scenery, activities and culture
Who:With Michelle Riordan. click to read about her
How: Click here to enquire about this trip
Getting there? Click here for travel info
Unsure? See a holiday in action in our blog
How Much: Weekends €330 sharing/€370 single
£290 sharing/£320 single

the ultimate weekend break: yoga, activities, pampering, culture and scenic beauty

We're changing the concept of a yoga holiday, right here in County Clare. We're adding luxury, adventure and lots and lots of fun.

Here in the west of Ireland we have all the ingredients to put together the perfect weekend break for you. Beautiful scenery: from the wild Atlantic ocean to the stunning rolling hills West Clare is famous for. We have culture and history, with the best traditional music scene in the country, not to mention first class food and hospitality.We have world-class hiking, climbing, golf and surfing at our fingertips and we're adding yoga, relaxation and a bit of truly decadent pampering into the mix.

Read below why our yoga breaks are the hottest thing around and come to Clare for an adventure you will never forget. Join us as we visit Lahinch, Doolin, The Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.

'We can't guarantee the weather, but we will guarantee you'll be out in it...'

the yoga weekend - options for you to choose from

Take a look at our standard itinerary. See below for ways you can tailor your break to suit you.

Friday, Relax day. Check in on Friday anytime after 12:00pm the afternoon is yours to do as you please. Enjoy the thermal suite or explore Ennistymon and the colourful shop fronts this town is famous for. Relax in one of the many bars with a pint of creamy Guinness or indulge in a Spa treament. The first yoga class begins at 18:30 for 1.5 hours after which we meet in the Dylan Thomas Bar. Dine in or venture out or if you really want to relax order room-service!

Saturday, Fields of Green day. Start the day with a 1.5 hour yoga class from 7:30 to 9:00 followed by a big hearty breakfast. For those who want to get out and see the countryside, we meet at 10:30 and head off for a private tour of the local area including The Burren, The famous Cliffs of Moher, Doolin and of course the mighty Atlantic Ocean. There will be opportunities to walk out in nature and to take lots of great photos. We can tailor this tour to suit you (and the weather conditions!) and if there's something in particular you'd like to see or do let us know! Yoga is from 16:30 - 18:00 and there's a group dinner at the Cascades restaurant at 19:30. Option for carrying on to either Doolin, Lahinch or into Ennistymon for trad music after dinner.

Sunday, Ocean day. We start the day with a 2hr yoga workshop from 7:30 - 9:30. Breakfast will follow and you are free to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities until check out at 12:00. You can leave your bags at the hotel, we will travel to Lahinch were we will be encouraging you to get wet! Take a surf lesson or just put on a wetsuit and play in the waves. It's amazing how good you will feel after it. Explore the shops of this pretty surfing town and have a hot drink in O'Looneys with spectacular views of the Ocean. Here we will conclude the weekend and either say goodbye or drop you back to the hotel to collect your bags.

the accommodation

"Nestled in it's wooded vale, beside the tumbling waters of the River Inagh, the distinctive building known today as the Falls Hotel Spa Resort in County Clare conceals within it's walls an eighteenth century mansion, a late medieval castle, and a formidable history of four and a half centuries embracing clans and warfare, landlords and tenants, poets, dreamers and entrepreneurs"

The hotel has two restaurants and the well-known Dylan Thomas Bar named after his wife, Caitlin, who lived in the Manor House. Each of the rooms is en-suite and are designed with comfort in mind. All bedrooms include 26 inch LCD Televisions, direct dial telephone, tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryer and extensive room service menu. There is an Aqua & Fitness Club, containing a 20-metre swimming pool, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, outdoor hot tub, bubble pool, children's pool and a fully equipped gymnasium. There is also the River Spa, which contains 12 treatment rooms, a thermal suite and a relaxation room overlooking the River Inagh.

the price

Twin share/double €330 / £290 pp
Single supplement* €40
*Yogatraveller do not pair people together on this trip

Price Includes:
2 nights accommodation at the Falls Hotel Spa Resort
Breakfast daily
Full dinner at Cascades Restaurant on Saturday night
4 yoga workshops
Guided Burren hike plus trip to Doolin and Cliffs of Mohar
Trip to Lahinch with option for surfing/swimming
Use of gym, pool, sauna, steamroom & hot tub

Not included but optional extra:
Spa treamtments (see below for details)
Surfing lessons €35
Wetsuit hire for swimming €10
Golf (please see below)
Horse riding
Trip to Doolin on Saturday night for traditional music

the dates

2008
Nov 21 - 23
2009
All Year - click here for dates

the activities - your choice

Above we've listed out a sample itinerary including a guided hike in the Burren and a trip into Lahinch for some water action. We encourage you to do whatever you want and if you just want to just do yoga and relax at the hotel please feel free. Below are a few other alternatives you can do to get the most from your week.

Yoga and surfing - Lahinch is a renouned surf destination and is perfect for beginners. We have teamed up with Ben's Surf Clinc who offer a range of lessons from beginner to advanced. If you are not looking for lessons and just want to surf, there are plenty of breaks for every level and we can arrange equipment hire and transport as well as tidal and wave condition information. For more please contact enquiries@yogatraveller.com or click here for Ben's Surf Clinic website.

Yoga and hiking - The Burren is a unique karst-landscape region in northwest County Clare and is one of the largest Karst landscapes in Europe. The area boasts an abundance of flora and fauna and is steeped in history, folklore and magic. There are many great hike and walks in the area and people travel from all over the world to explore this region on foot. We can provide you with information on start & finish points, distances, recommend walks, point you in the direction of a guide and maybe even join you ourselves! Click here for Burren Walks website.

Yoga and golf - Lahinch has one of the most famous and challenging links courses in the country, probably the world. Set on immaculately preserved sand banks, there are stunning views of the Atlantic and the surrounding countryside. With advance notice we can book you a round for this course but if you'd still like to golf but on something a bit easier you can try the Castle Course which is situated behind the Links Course. You will need to bring your own clubs.The links course is €165 and the Castle Course is € 55. There are student rates too. Click here for Lahinch Golf Course website or contact Michael at enquiries@yogatraveller.com for more details.

Yoga and Rock-Climbing - The Burren undoubtedly has the best rock-climbing and bouldering in Ireland. Ben of Ben's Surf Clinic also offers fully insured rock-climbing courses. Weather you're a seasoned climber or a beginner there's plenty of routes for you. Each session would guarantee at least 3 climbs and 2 abseils and it's a great way to get out in nature and try something new and exciting. If you've ever thought about climbing then this is your chance. The rock climbing trip costs €35. Climbing is weather permitted. Contact enquiries@yogatraveller.com to book or for more information.

Yoga and the River Spa - With 12 treatment rooms the River Spa is a tastefully decorated, extensive spa offering an impressive range of services to rival any spa in the country. With a professional and highly qualified staff, full use of the thermal suite, a cafe serving fresh coffees, teas and lunch you can happily while away a few hours here. There's an amazing chill out area decked in Asian style with floor to ceiling glass looking down on the river. Divine! Treatments need to be booking in advance to avoid disappointment. Call (+353) 065 707937 to make an appointment of click here for the River Spa website

For the non-yoga folk

If your friend or partner wants to come to Clare for the weekend but doesn't do yoga, they can come along for €280 and join in with everything else except the yoga. All are welcome!

Hosted by

The weekends are hosted by the founders of Yogatraveller, Michelle Riordan and Michael Moroney. For more details on them please click here

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fax +353 (0) 1835 2885

email info@yogatraveller.com