The best yoga retreats in Asia

We'd be remiss not to start with the birthplace of yoga — Rishikesh. There are countless yoga ashrams in the sacred Himalayan town. For an ultra-luxe experience, book a week, two-week, or three-week holistic yoga program at Ananda. You'll practice yoga around the stunning 100-acre Maharaja's Palace Estate, which overlooks the Ganges River valley. Expert teachers guide you through personalised yoga sessions, including Hatha, Bhakti, and Jnana styles. Between sessions, enjoy delicious Ayurvedic meals.

Time Out tip At Ananda's 25,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art spa, the steam room, sauna, chill plunge pool, and Kneipp hydrotherapy foot bath are complimentary daily.

Nestled in a Balinese jungle in Penarungan (30 minutes away from the Ubud crowds) lies Shanti Toya. The affordable yoga retreat lives up to its name of peaceful (shanti) water (toya), thanks to the tranquil spring-water swimming pool. Rooted in the Balinese philosophy of Tri Hita Karana (harmony between humans, nature, and the divine), it's a week-long all-inclusive intensive yoga retreat. The package includes various styles of yoga sessions twice a day, including Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin, in the open-air shala that overlooks the jungle. Local Balinese yoga teachers lead the yoga sessions and incorporate Hindu spirituality into the practices. Meals are buffet-style vegan Balinese cuisine.

Time Out tip Join the Balinese staff to make and place offerings on the Hindu statues and structures nestled around the ashram as the village healer blesses you with holy water and rice.

You can book a yoga retreat at Wonderland for as long as you wish. The all-inclusive retreat runs rotating classes daily, including Vinyasa, Yin, Aerial, and Vipassana meditation. Activities throughout the week include a mandala drawing class, an arm balances workshop, and an introduction to aromatherapy. Other events include sound bowl healing, yoga nidra, and ecstatic dance. There's a vegan buffet for every meal and unlimited access to the herbal sauna, ice bath, and swimming pool. Don't miss the complimentary excursion to the beach for sunset every Sunday.

Time Out tip Wonderland also offers a guided detox program if you want to cleanse as you deepen your yoga practice.

If you love sound healing, book a yoga retreat in Nepal, where many Tibetan refugees reside and have brought with them the sacred art of Tibetan "singing" bowls. Atmashree's thread-day yoga and sound healing retreat is the perfect way to unwind after trekking the Annapurna Base Camp circuit in Pokhara. During the retreat, you'll enjoy two sound bowl healing sessions, including music from the Tibetan singing bowl, gong, cymbals, harmonium, and bells to encourage deep relaxation. There are twice-daily yoga sessions in Hatha or Vinyasa style and sessions of mantra chanting, yoga nidra, and pranayama. The all-inclusive retreat includes vegan and gluten-free meals.

Time Out tip Aim to arrive by 8 pm on Saturday to join the Fire Ceremony and Kirtan mantra-singing session.

Combine visiting one of the most sacred Hindu temples in the world with a yoga retreat at Hariharalaya in Siem Reap. Their all-inclusive six-day radical awakening retreats are held three times a month and include a holistic yoga and meditation program, vegan and gluten-free home-cooked meals with unlimited coconuts, and a full body massage. There's also a sunrise excursion to meditate on the grounds of Angkor Wat. The Hatha and Yin yoga classes incorporate pranayama, meditation, and mantra chanting. You can enjoy the retreat centre's pool, art studio, lotus pond, and spiritual library when you're not practising your tree pose.

Time Out tip During your stay, make time for a traditional water blessing from local Cambodian Buddhist monks to purify your heart and mind.

If you like your yoga with a bit of cultural heritage, book a retreat at Welikande Estate. The eco-conscious, sustainable yoga retreat overlooks the UNESCO-listed Knuckles Mountain Range and Victoria Lake, about an hour from the Kandy city centre. The retreats are all-inclusive and continuous, so you can join any time you'd like with a minimum requirement of two nights. The package includes ayurvedic vegetarian meals made with locally sourced ingredients, many of which come from the on-site gardens. Two yoga classes are offered daily in the open-air shalas, usually a vinyasa or hatha class in the morning and a yin or yoga nidra class in the evening.

Time Out tip The program includes daily excursions to experience Sri Lanka's nature and culture, such as a dip in a nearby waterfall or a visit to a Buddhist temple.

Prefer to combine your yoga retreat with a beach holiday? Then look no further than Naia on the coast of Hoi An. The four-day retreat includes dynamic sunrise flows, restorative yoga at sunset, and a mindful meditation set in the beachfront studio. Unwind after yoga with a 90-minute massage—you can get one a day while at Naia at the An My Spa. There will also be sound baths, macrobiotic vegan and pescatarian meals, and evening community circles with journaling prompts.

Time Out tip If you want a more active retreat, opt for the Muay Thai and Yoga retreat at Naia.