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Wellness professionals know the power of a good retreat itinerary. It’s a key element that drives event bookings. Giving a day-by-day breakdown helps attendees visualize their experience and eases uncertainty for first-timers. Even past itineraries are useful for showing how future retreats might take shape.
But putting together a well-crafted itinerary takes some skill. Attendees are trusting you to manage their time thoughtfully. They’re also looking for signs that you’ll take the role of host seriously, building in moments of rest, nourishment, and other human comforts. Read on for a template and a full rundown of what to consider.
- A clear itinerary builds trust and drives bookings. Structured schedules help attendees visualize their experience and reduce uncertainty, especially for first-time guests.
- Balance structure with rest and flexibility. Repeating daily rhythms and adding downtime give stability, while varied sessions keep the experience engaging.
- Thoughtful extras elevate the experience. Welcome notes, shared meals, and suggestions for self care reinforce your credibility as a host.
- Your website should manage and promote every detail. With Squarespace, you can create a retreat event page, collect registrations, offer early-bird discounts, and reuse past itineraries to market future events.
A sample wellness itinerary for your business
Let’s take a look at a sample itinerary for one of the most popular types of retreats—a weekend yoga getaway. Take note of the rhythm of the day, accounting for activities, meals, and downtime. This schedule sets up the expected routine and special sessions for attendees to get excited about.
A weekend yoga retreat
Join us for a grounding yoga retreat with focused asana workshops to deepen your practice.
Thursday
3:00-6:00 PM Arrival and check-in
6:30-7:30 PM Dinner
8:00-9:00 PM Welcome program and group intros
Friday
8:00-9:30 AM Morning meditation and intention setting
10:00- 11:00 AM Breakfast and social hour
11:30-12:30 PM Flow yoga and sun salutations
1:00-2:00 PM Lunch
2:30-4:00 PM Rest time (nap, hike the grounds, meditate)
4:30-6:00 PM Yoga lab: Focus on Inversions
6:30-7:30 PM Dinner
8:00-9:00 PM Yin yoga and dharma talk
Saturday
8:00-9:30 AM Morning meditation and breathwork
10:00- 11:00 AM Breakfast and social hour
11:30-12:30 PM Flow yoga and sun salutations
1:00-2:00 PM Lunch
2:30-4:00 PM Rest time (nap, hike the grounds, meditate)
4:30-6:00 PM Yoga lab: Focus on Balance
6:30-7:30 PM Dinner
8:00-9:00 PM Candlelight yoga and extended savasana
Sunday
8:00-9:30 AM Sound bath and guided visualization
10:00- 11:00 AM Breakfast and social hour
11:30-12:30 PM Flow yoga and sun salutations
1:00-2:00 PM Lunch
2:30-4:00 PM Closing ritual and departure
What are the elements of a good retreat itinerary?
Certain itinerary elements show customers you’ll go above and beyond. The most successful itineraries help guests feel cared for and excited for what’s ahead.
A smooth arrival and check-in process
The arrival is your chance to make a good first impression. Always include time for attendees to get settled and unpack.
Consider details that can set the tone for the retreat early. You might leave copies of the itinerary in all guest rooms and posted in public spaces, so no one has to check their mobile device when they should be unplugging. A welcome ritual like a beverage, a small note, or a personalized greeting goes a long way.
Once the initial greeting is done, address practical needs. Give a tour so guests know where they’ll be staying, and where bathrooms, dining spaces, and community or gathering spaces are located.
A thoughtful mix of activities
An established routine ensures guests don’t feel like they’re drifting through blank, open-ended days. But it’s important to vary the activities. Even the biggest yoga fan won’t want to do eight hours of nonstop Vinyasa.
In the example above, the outline of the day doesn’t change. It includes four wellness rituals, rest time, and meals at regular intervals. The meals and the rest time anchor the day. But the elements within the wellness rituals change, whether it’s a sound bath or a dharma talk. Even the specific styles of yoga change, from sun salutations to focused asana “labs,” keeping each day fresh.
Downtime with a purpose
Your goal is to leave retreat-goers refreshed and grounded. That’s why downtime is essential. But think about how this is being added to your itinerary. After so much structure, a blank hour or two may leave some attendees unsure of what to do with themselves.
Be sure to give suggestions for any downtime. These should complement the overall goal of your retreat. You might suggest going on a nature walk, doing exercises in self-reflection, or practicing self care through journaling or arts and crafts. If the space has amenities, like a sauna, an on-site massage therapist, nature trails, or a library, this is the perfect time to call them out.
Meals and community-building
Yes, wellness sessions are a major selling point. But for many, a retreat is also a chance to meet likeminded people. Invite guests to socialize and connect during meals. Weave social moments into other activities, whether that’s open conversations and Q&As or a shared intention-setting activity. Even silent retreats can include time for collective connection, like group breathwork.
Closing rituals
The last moments of any retreat are often the most powerful. This is when you can sum up all your lessons and draw meaning from the days as a whole. A closing ritual provides space for expressing that.
Some examples of closing rituals include a community circle with shared goal-setting, collective chanting or singing, or expressions of gratitude. Ease any anxiety over reentering “the real world” by having attendees share lessons they’re taking with them. Some retreats even have guests mail themselves postcards that remind them of goals or insights once they’re home.
Other itinerary considerations
The activities you include are just one variable. There are lots of others that can shape the itinerary and how it’s presented, from the duration of your retreat to its location and venue.
Duration: The rhythm of a retreat often depends on its duration. For a weekend retreat, keep a full schedule to give guests a well-rounded experience in a short amount of time. For a longer retreat, fit in more free time or switch up the daily structure.
Retreat center: If you’re hosting your retreat at an established venue, make sure to tap into the on-site amenities. If you’re hosting in a more straightforward or functional space, you provide all the diversions for the day.
Weather: Outdoor activities like alfresco yoga or forest bathing can be a refreshing addition. But these are entirely dependent on the weather. If a summer heatwave or a cold snap are on the forecast, have backup indoor activities that suit your retreat goals.
Destination: An international destination requires a larger window of time for arrivals and departures, and more time earmarked for attendees to settle in. On the plus side, foreign locations offer a chance to tap into local culture, customs, and environments.
Group size: With a smaller group, consider personal attention for each attendee, like one-on-one coaching. For larger groups, you might consider lecture-style events, breaking up into smaller groups, or bringing on more instructors to support you.
Booking fee: Typically, guests expect more amenities at a higher price point. They may also be looking for personalization or dedicated one-on-one time. At a lower price point, you can offer a simpler experience.
How to promote your retreat on Squarespace
You can manage every aspect of your retreat, including your itinerary, on Squarespace.
Create an event page for your retreat. Add details like date, time, location, itinerary, and pricing. A separate event website might make sense for larger or ongoing retreats.
Add a new product listing for your event. You can add a Service or Product to enable registrations. Collect attendee info with custom forms.
Include a cancellation policy for bookings. A clear cancellation policy builds confidence in your brand and can convince someone to sign up. Use the cancellation policy generator to create one.
Consider a discount for early bookings. Encourage site visitors to commit to your retreat by offering a percentage discount if they book early, e.g. 10% off for booking more than 60 days in advance.
Promote your event across platforms. Share registration links with your email subscribers, add pop-ups or announcement bars to your website that drive traffic to your event page, include relevant search keywords on event pages, and link to your events on social media.
Track registrations. You can see who has signed up, monitor sales, and send follow-up emails to attendees with event details or reminders. You can also export attendee lists to organize in-person events, such as printing name tags or welcome notes.
Take photos and videos during the retreat. These can be added to your Asset Library and used in emails or social media posts promoting current and future retreats.
Stay connected after the event. After your workshop or retreat send thank-you notes, follow-up materials, or reviews and surveys for feedback.
Manage your event page post retreat. Decide whether to delete it from your site or rename it “Past retreats” as an event example.