Event: Spain

Cortijo Romero

When:	Daily
Where:	Cortijo Romero
Costs:	From £460 per person per week

If you're looking to regenerate your mind, body and spirit, the chances to do so are always going to be higher in beautiful and inspiring surroundings. The Cortijo Romero retreat, tucked away in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada deep in the south of Spain, promises you all of this.

Not only does it benefit from long hours of sun, low humidity and stunning natural features, but the area has been untouched by the more visible tourists of the nearby coast. In fact this Alpujarras region is so inspiring that the ancient Moors assumed that it was a paradise promised to them by Allah, and it has been designated a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

Holiday retreats in this farmhouse are held throughout the year, and are divided between two types: Personal Development, or Just Being Here breaks. The former type has more structure to it - so you pay a higher rate for daily tuition in a range of courses (from creative writing to yoga). The courses change in content throughout the year, so you will need to investigate which ones suit you best at which time.

Just Being Here breaks (for a cheaper base price) allow you to pick and choose from the courses being held each day, but with less structure there is more time to soak up the atmosphere and to swim in the secluded pool (so nude bathing poses no problem). If you're finding your course too much like hard work, then you can always indulge in optional extras such as reflexology, massage or shiatsu to wind down (at extra cost).

For outside stimulation, the local town, Orgiva, is a 15-minute walk away and holds a typical weekly market as well as traditional shops and eateries. The more adventurous can discover the charm of the string of villages dotted along the hillsides. It is also worth exploring the magnificent city of Granada if soul-searching really gets too much! It is only about an hour away by car or bus.