Guests at Soul Circus Festival, Cotswolds, pose in front of a sign spelling out the word soul, amid hazy sunshine. — Roll up for the … Soul Circus Festival at Elmore Court, Cotswolds. Photograph: Drishti Yoga Photography

Five fantastic mind, body and soul festivals for 2018

This article is more than 6 years old

Relax, restore and reset yourself at these festivals that feature yoga classes, spa treatments, healthy food, live music – and, yes, occasionally, a little alcohol

Soul Circus, Cotswolds

Launched last year, Soul Circus offers a programme of yoga and pilates, plus live music, DJs, healthy food supplied by local farmers and thought-provoking talks. There’ll be classes from aerial to blindfold yoga, workshops on topics such as the science of happiness, and the chance to chill in the spa with holistic treatments and lakeside hot tubs. It’s held at picturesque Elmore Court near Gloucester, and the gardens and woodlands are the setting for light shows and parties held long into the night.
17-19 August, tickets £189, soulcircus.yoga

Yoga in the Alps, Austria

Austria’s Gastein valley comes over all yogic from 25 May to 3 June with the Breathe the Mountains spring yoga programme – now in its second year. This is one of the biggest yoga events in Europe, with around 40 teachers leading over 300 sessions, many in English and held by waterfalls or lakes, surrounded by mountain scenery. Accommodation is in guesthouses (or four-star hotels) in Bad Gastein, Bad Hofgastein or Dorf Gastein, and participants create their own yoga and meditation itinerary. The area is known for thermal spring-fed lakes, great for a soak after class. There’s also an autumn event, with dance, singing and cooking classes (12-21 October).
From €198pp B&B for four nights with a three-day pass for all public yoga sessions, flights extra, yoga-gastein.com

FloVibe, Hampshire

With the slogan “Where retreat meets festival’ FloVibe aims to create a celebratory party atmosphere with wellbeing at its heart. Launched in 2017, and held in the beautiful surroundings of Stansted Park, it includes plenty of music and after-dark revelry (unlike at some such festivals, alcohol is sold) plus a full programme of yoga classes, workshops, talks and spa treatments. There are games, crafts and special classes for children, too.
10-12 August 2018, tickets with camping from £125, flovibe.com

Envision Festival, Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s Envision festival, which combines yoga and music in a rainforest/beach setting. — Photograph: Eric Allen

Envision is a four-day wellbeing and music festival held on a beach on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast with the rainforest as a dramatic backdrop. There’s a big focus on yoga: classes run all day in two ‘yoga temples’, with top teachers from around the world. Expect workshops on anything from permaculture to natural remedies and astrology, while music – across four stages – will be provided by the likes of singer-songwriter Xavier Rudd and techno giants Audiofly. There are pre- and post- festival tour options available too, exploring this beautiful, lush country.
22-25 February, tickets $282, envisionfestival.com