Frequently Asked Questions
How can I book a retreat?
Please complete the booking form via our Join a Retreat button or on the specific retreat page and our reservations team will get right back to you. Please note that we offer our places on a first-come, first-served basis. We keep your room reserved for 48 hours to receive your deposit, which is all that is required to secure your place.
Do I need any experience to join?
No prior experience of Ayurveda, Yoga or attending wellness retreats is necessary. Datu welcomes individuals of all backgrounds, from wellness beginners to advanced yogis. All we ask is that you arrive with an open heart and a commitment to your wellbeing journey.
Is there anything I need to prepare for my retreat?
There’s no specific preparation required. You become what you surround yourself with — so you may consider reflecting on your intentions or what might bother you, and bringing a book that promotes relaxation and positivity. Our female guests are welcome to join at any point of their cycle. We do however ask that you kindly contact us before booking if you are pregnant. You may wish to consult your physician or government’s travel and health advice section for anything specifically applicable to you.
How long are the stays?
Our Ayurveda retreat, Return to Balance, is built around a seven-night week, as this duration allows you to experience the full effects of the treatments and a calm transition back into your home routine. Many guests choose to stay longer for more comprehensive treatments or simply to gift themselves a longer rest. Our Dimora di Datu residencies follow a different rhythm, with duration depending on the programme. To create a bespoke stay for a group, special occasion or an off-site, please contact us to discuss the best options for you.
How much does the retreat cost?
Our Ayurveda retreat starts from £2,600 (€3,100) per person in a double room if you’re travelling with someone, for a seven-night stay; single occupancy starts from £3,500 (€4,150), depending on the room category. The price includes seven nights’ full-board accommodation, your Ayurvedic consultations with our Vaidyas, five private treatments, daily group classes (six or more a day), all meals and drinks and comfortable retreat wear for your stay. For a more focused therapeutic experience we also offer structured Ayurveda, TCM and Longevity packages, with twelve pre-scheduled treatments a week, an online consultation before you arrive and a month of aftercare; please contact us for details. Subsidised places are available for those in need. Every room category is listed with photographs and prices on the retreat page.
Prices for our Dimora di Datu programmes vary and we kindly ask you to consult the specific retreat page for details.
Should I come alone or may I come with someone?
Datu retreats offer an opportunity for both solo travellers and those coming with a companion. We also create tailor-made retreats for groups, off-sites or special occasions. It’s entirely up to you and your preferences. If you would like to come with a group or a companion animal, please contact us.
Are children allowed?
Children aged 16 and above are welcome to join the retreat when accompanied by an adult.
What about internet connectivity?
For a more immersive experience and to reap the maximum benefits, we recommend disconnecting from gadgets and enjoying a digital detox during your stay. Nonetheless, if you require WiFi access, it will be available to you so you can work from home whilst enjoying Datu.
Are drinking and smoking allowed during the retreat?
We encourage a healthy lifestyle and guests have found that abstinence from stimulants such as caffeine, alcohol and nicotine vastly enhances their health benefits and overall experience.
Can the retreat accommodate dietary and/or medical requirements?
Our delicious sattvic fusion cuisine already incorporates many contemporary dietary preferences. But please do inform us in advance of any dietary or medical requirements. We will do our best to accommodate your needs. Please also bear in mind we are not a medical facility.
What is the weather like and what should I pack?
The weather in our retreat locations can vary, so it’s advisable to check the forecast before packing. We provide guests with comfortable retreat wear during their stay. Additionally, we recommend packing clothing suitable for wellness activities and outdoor exploration as well as something warm. Swimwear is required for our outdoor pools.
How do I get there?
Datu locations are always close to major international airports and train stations. We always happy to assist with travel arrangement including transfers to and from the retreat. Please consult the specific retreat page for the nearest airport to your retreat
What is your cancellation policy?
To secure your reservation, a 50% non-refundable payment is required with the booking. The remainder is due one month prior to the opening of the retreat. We understand that plans can change and, if necessary, date changes are possible, if we can accommodate them within the same retreat season. We recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance and reaching out to us directly if you have additional concerns or inquiries regarding cancellations, changes or payments.
Who made your beautiful photos and videos?
Our films were made by Emanuel Finckenstein who you can follow on Instagram or visit his website
Samuel Mansell at Drop All Words Media edited the Team and Guest films.
Photography and Social Media by Alexandra Oehl. Additional Photography by Hanru Marais Photography, Marco Diani and Tinko Czetwertynski
We are very grateful to have such talented friends.
Where do Datu retreats take place now?
Datu is a nomadic retreat concept: we maintain a permanent residence for our Return to Balance programme and seek out special places that hold the work well for our Dimora di Datu programmes. Then we move on when the time is right. After five seasons in Tuscany, since 2026 our Ayurveda retreats take place at our 17th-century beachfront palazzo overlooking the Amalfi Coast in southern Italy, south of Salerno. Our Dimora di Datu residencies add further settings each year — in 2026, The Postcard Hotel in southern Goa, India, and Eremito, a monastic retreat in Umbria. The current programme and its locations are always listed on our Retreats page.
What is not included in the price?
Flights, airport transfers, travel insurance and gratuities are not included. Transfers are optional; we are happy to assist with them on request and they are charged separately. Treatments beyond the five private sessions included in your stay can be added once you are with us and are paid for locally. Meals and drinks are included, as is your retreat wear.
How large are the groups?
Retreats are intentionally limited in size so that care remains personal rather than standardised. We never host more than 30 guests in a week, and our practitioners work with each guest individually, from the first consultation onwards.
Who leads the consultations and treatments?
Your consultations and treatment plan are led by our resident Vaidyas — Ayurvedic doctors trained in India’s traditional lineages and institutions — who travel to be with us for the season. They are supported by a team of yoga teachers, therapists and bodyworkers from the Eastern and complementary traditions. They are not personalities at the centre of the retreat but companions in the work, and their attention is patient and precise. The practitioners for each season are introduced on our Meet the Team page.
What does a typical day look like?
The days begin early, with sunrise prayers and morning practice. There is time for the body to wake properly before breakfast, which is eaten in silence. From there, the day takes its shape around each guest, with Ayurvedic treatments, meditation, breathwork and other practices woven through the morning. Afternoons are more open, with time for Yoga Nidra, therapeutic work, a cooking session or simply being outside. Towards sunset, everyone comes together again for Agnihotram and satsang, where the practitioners share more of the philosophies and origins of the practices and guests can ask questions. Dinner comes early, followed by a simple evening ritual before bed. There is a rhythm to the days, but each person moves through them differently; nothing is compulsory, and you are welcome to rest instead of joining any class.
What is the food like?
Food is one of the highlights at Datu, as it’s fully sattvic and healing yet also creative, artistic and beautiful. You can view a taster here for the residencies of our Michelin-starred chef. All meals follow sattvic and Ayurvedic principles — light, clean and seasonal — and are shaped by what the region offers, with much of the produce only just out of the soil. Portions are measured and dishes are chosen to support digestion and the time of day; meals are shared at the table, and breakfast is taken in silence. Guests leave with recipes to continue at home. More on our approach to food is on our Nutrition page.
Where can I read guest reviews?
We have a nostalgic leather-bound guest book at the retreat that guests write, paint and draw into, which we hold very dear. If you’d like to read reviews ahead of time, many guests share their experiences on Google and Trustpilot. You can read excerpts from our guest book on our Guest Reviews page.