Join Alex Dawson for 6 nights / 7 days in the Dolomites, located in Northern Italy's stunning Italian Alps. 

We run our retreats in Val Gardena, a valley in the heart of Italy’s unique Dolomites mountains. One of the most beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the landscape of this outdoor paradise outdoes itself with remarkable natural phenomena which can only be experienced up close. Endless walking trails bring you every direction into the Puez-Odle Nature park, framed by the majestic peaks. 

We stay at the upscale ADLER DOLOMITI Resort, located in a verdant valley in the center of charming Ortisei. 

All meals except three lunches on your three free days are included in your retreat package. Sourced from local organic farms, cuisine at the ADLER features hearty regional dishes and highlights Mediterranean aromas. 

We feel that the best way to experience these mountains is walking amongst them yourself, so during your time in the Dolomites, we will include two hiking excursions private to your retreat group. Starting with a gondola ride into the pristine alpine pastures, knowledgeable local guides will take you along trails that get you up-close to the towering peaks, peaceful farms, and old growth forests. Depending on the specific time of year, we’ll enjoy either a picnic lunch with staggering views, or we’ll stop at one of the Dolomites’s family owned dining huts known for their South Tyrolean comfort food - homemade pastas and alpine cheeses. 

Alex will guide you through daily all-levels yoga classes designed to enhance your time in the mountains and complement the adventurous spirit of this retreat. Her classes weave together fluid flow sequences, mindful alignment, breathwork, and meditation—helping you move with ease, restore balance, and fully embrace the beauty of your surroundings."

You will also have ample time to relax amongst the property or explore the village of Ortisei during your two free days, in which only yoga practices and meals will be scheduled. The ADLER’s heated pools stretch across the lush, green parkland with mountains reflected in the water of the infinity pool. Guests are also welcome to use the saunas and steam rooms on the property, and a range of optional spa treatments to enrich both body and soul can also be booked. 

What's more, the ADLER also offers a range of experiences, complimentary for its guests, from additional hiking, to e-biking adventures amongst the mountainsides, and even cultural tours. 

NOTE: We always do our best to accommodate all levels of physical fitness and special dietary needs. However, the nature of these mountains may naturally present some limitations from day to day. For those with more restrictive diets, options may be more limited compared to what you're used to at home. As for the yoga practices, modifications are always encouraged! Given the dynamic nature of flow yoga, being comfortable transitioning from standing to sitting and bearing weight on your hands will help you feel at ease in class. Please email info@solseedretreats.com in advance of registration if you have concerns that your dietary or physical requirements can not be met. 

A 500 EURO non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot on this retreat. The balance is due 120 days prior to trip departure. You can either pay in full upon registration, or enroll in our automatic 3 installment payment plan. If you would like to set up a different payment plan, enroll in the standard one and then email info@solseedretreats.com to make edits.

Questions? Reach out to our logistics team at info@solseedretreats.com.

Please read on for important info on: 

What is Included, What is Not Included, Trip Activity Level, Passport Requirements, Our Cancellation & Refund Policy, and Required Travel Insurance. 

• 6 nights / 7 days of Upscale Accommodations at the ADLER Dolomiti Resort, located on a verdant oasis with mountain views in the center of Ortisei. 
• Meals Included: Breakfast and dinner daily at the ADLER starting with dinner on Day 1 and ending with breakfast on Day 7. Lunch is included during our two hiking excursion days (either bagged or at a local hut).
• Two Private Group Excursions: all levels guided hikes with a bagged lunch or lunch at a hut (depending on the season)
• Use of ADLER Guest Services: indoor & outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms, gym, additional guest experiences such as guided hikes & bike tours, and use of e-bikes.
• Roundtrip Airport Transfers from Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
• All resort taxes, fees, and base gratuities
• Daily Yoga Programming with Alex

• Round trip airfare to Venice (VCE)
• Alcoholic Beverages
• Optional massages and spa services
• Additional excursions or cab rides not offered by the resort
• Lunch on your three free days
• Required Travel Insurance

You’ll be flying into Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE), in Italy. 

Arrival Date: October 5th, 2025

If you will arrive in Venice on the retreat start date, please plan to land by 11am. We will schedule one included group transfer from the airport to our resort in Val Gardena (about a 4 hour drive, with a comfort break in the middle), and arrive in time for dinner.

Please note that you will likely need to depart from the United States on the day prior to your retreat start date, as flights heading to Europe are typically overnight flights.

If you plan to arrive a few days early to spend extra time in Venice prior to the retreat start date, plan to meet the group back at the airport between 10:30 and 11:30AM. To reach the airport from one of the major islands (Murano, Burano, Lido) you can travel by the public (or private) boat system – only in Venice! Budget about an hour for this, but certainly check on the expected times given where you are starting from.

Please note: If you face significant delays on arrival day, due to flight delays, missed connections, or otherwise, you may miss the included group shuttle to Ortesei. In this scenario, you will be financially liable for covering the cost of a private transfer. You should purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan which covers: Trip Interruption, Travel Delay, and Missed Connection so that you can file a claim and recuperate the expense of a private transfer to the hotel.

Departure Date: October 11th, 2025

Please do NOT book flights that depart before 12pm on the departure date, as we will be traveling about 4 hours from our resort in Val Gardena to the Venice airport that morning.

If you are staying in Venice after the retreat to continue exploring, we will drop you off at the airport, from which you can make your way to the islands. 

Once you have booked your flights, please forward your itinerary* to travel@solseedretreats.com. 

*Dates, times, and flight number of arrival and departure must be provided. 

We rank this itinerary as Activity Level 4 - Active. Slight modifications to the included hikes may be made to accommodate some physical restrictions. However, alternative options may be limited in scope, and may preclude attendance of all the included excursions.

Activity Level 1 - Easy: Expect only short walks, and short flights of stairs.

Activity Level 2 - Relaxed: Expect short walks, slight inclines, and sustained activity for only a few hours.

Activity Level 3 - Moderate: Expect slightly longer walks, and activities that correlate to a semi-active lifestyle. Participants should be comfortable with half days of touring, and walking up and down steeper inclines.

Activity Level 4 - Active: Expect longer walks, steeper inclines, and 4 - 6 hours of sustained activities, with appropriate rests. To take advantage of all the offerings, folks should lead an active life style.

Activity Level 5 - Challenging: Expect vigorous walks, hikes, kayaking, etc. Participants should be experienced in outdoor activities, and know how to prepare for, and endeavor upon full day adventures in the wild!

If you have any questions or concerns about this itinerary's Activity Level, please contact info@solseedretreats.com for more details prior to registering. 

US Citizens must have a valid passport to travel to Italy. Please check your passport expiration date and make sure it is valid for at least 3 months after the end date of your retreat. 

You can find the most up to date information about this on the US Embassy of Italy's Website.

We are waiting for the new ETIAS Visa System to come online in mid 2025. This is a new visa system which will apply to visitors from the US to Italy. The process sounds straightforward, relatively low cost, and easy to complete. We will be sure to communicate these changes and requirements to everyone once they are live, and we will update our FAQs document with that new information as well.

All retreats include a €500 non-refundable / non-transferable deposit, which is required to hold your spot on the trip. 

Additional balance payments made are refundable up to 120 days prior to the retreat start date. SolSeed must receive an email at info@solseedretreats.com requesting cancellation prior to 12:00AM on this date in order to secure a refund of additional balances paid. The initial €500 deposit remains non-refundable and non-transferable. All balances paid are non-refundable and non-transferable within 120 days of the retreat start date. 

SolSeed Retreats can only make an exception to these terms if:

1. The host government forbids us to visit as tourists.
2. The host government forbids our vendors from hosting us as tourists.
3. The US government forbids us to travel to the host country as tourists.

If SolSeed must further postpone or cancel the trip for any of the above reasons, all registrants will receive a refund of all deposits paid less €200.

The purchase of travel insurance is required for this trip.

Most policies protect you against potential trip delays or cancellations due to airline issues, family emergencies, illness, injury, etc. The travel insurance will also demonstrate to the host country that you are able to pay for any emergency services which may be necessary during your stay.

SolSeed is not authorized to sell travel insurance. Any offer to purchase travel insurance that you encounter during the checkout process are third party offers. You are free to select your own policy provider. If you would like to review options in a convenient online marketplace, we like what www.insuremytrip.com has put together. We have also had great experience with Trawick International and their customer service, and heard very good things from AAA and AMEX Members who have purchased their travel insurance through those respective agencies.

We strongly encourage you to speak with a travel insurance agent to discuss your specific coverage needs, and to clear up any questions you may have relative to travel insurance coverage.

If you'd like to read more about Travel Insurance and our suggestions, please visit this blog post: https://solseedretreats.com/travel-insurance-faqs/

Alex Dawson is a passionate teacher who loves bringing people together through transformative retreat experiences. With over two decades of teaching experience and more than 30 global retreats led, she infuses her offerings with humor, creativity, and a deep love for connection. She completed her 200-hour training in New York with Sonic Yoga, drawing inspiration from the schools of Jivamukti and Kula Yoga, as well as the off-the-mat dharma of Gregory Boyle founder of Homeboy Industries. Trained in Mindfulness with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, Alex sees yoga as a moving meditation—a journey of self-love, presence, and a profound recognition of the oneness that connects us all.

Her teachings weave dynamic yoga flow with sound healing, breathwork, and mindfulness for a truly holistic experience. In the Dolomites, Alex will guide practices designed to restore balance, release tension, and awaken the senses to the sacred beauty of the Alpine mountains. She looks forward to welcoming participants into a vibrant yogi community, where relaxation, inspiration, and renewal await.

Based in Los Angeles, Alex teaches weekly classes online at Alex Dawson Yoga. In addition to leading group experiences, she offers private transformational coaching for those seeking deeper personal growth. She also consults with corporations on wellness programming and teaches yoga at Heimat and Equinox in Hollywood.

This trip exceeded anything I could've dreamt of! Alex led the BEST yoga retreat - full of wisdom, dynamic practices, breath-work, chanting and restoration. The excursions we went on took my breath away and the company was amazing. I loved the nature, the welcoming people and delicious food. I couldn't recommend this retreat more!

By Gina B for Adventure to the Azores with Alex Dawson

One of the best experiences ever. The accommodations were stunning as well as comfortable. Our itinerary was well planned. Alex is a phenomenal yoga instructor & group leader. Deb, Toby, & Susan were extremely helpful. Santa Barbara Eco Resort is one of the most beautiful spots I’ve stayed at. Highly recommend everyone & the resort!

By Christine R for Adventure to the Azores with Alex Dawson