The Gambia retreat
Captured by Captain Ope
fRIDAY 21st - 28th March 2025
Join us on our journey to Africa for a transformational retreat in The Gambia. Guided by Coco, experience 7 days of daily yoga and wellbeing, exploration of African culture and restoration in nature.
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Unwind & Relax
In the serene embrace of the Gambian countryside, allow yourself the time and space to fully unwind. This retreat offers a peaceful sanctuary where you can step away from the busyness of life, reset, and nurture your mind, body, and soul.
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deepen & Reconnect
Enhance your understanding of yoga as you explore the deeper layers of movement, breathwork, and meditation. This retreat offers an opportunity to deepen your practice in a supportive environment, surrounded by like-minded souls who share your journey. Through collective learning and shared experiences, you'll build lasting connections while nourishing both body and spirit.
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Discover
Deepen your connection to self and mother nature while immersing yourself in the rich, vibrant culture of The Gambia. Savor authentic, freshly prepared local dishes, explore breathtaking natural landscapes, and experience the beauty of reconnecting to your roots in Africa.
Week schedule
All classes and tours are optional, but we believe you’ll want to immerse yourself in the full flow of this nourishing retreat.
Schedule subject to slight changes.
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Travel day & group airport transfer to the lodge.
Check-in.
10pm - Group dinner at the lodge.
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7.30am - Morning teas/coffee, Meditation & Journaling
8.30am - Welcome circle & Yoga
9.30am - Breakfast
11am - Beach walk
1.30pm - Lunch at the Lodge
2.30pm - Free Time
6pm - Yin Yoga
7.30pm - Group Dinner
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7.30am - Morning teas/coffee, Meditation & Journaling
8.30am - Yoga
9.30am - Breakfast
11am - Beach trip
6pm - Yin Yoga
7.30pm - Group Dinner
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7.30am - Morning teas/coffee, Meditation & Journaling
8.30am - Yoga
9.30am - Breakfast
10.30am - Boat cruise
5pm - yin yoga
7.30pm - Group Dinner
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7.30am - Morning teas/coffee, Meditation & Journaling
8.30am - Yoga
9.30am - Breakfast
11am - Free time
6pm - Yin Yoga
7.30pm - Local dinner spot
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7.30am - Morning teas/coffee, Meditation & Journaling
8.30am - Yoga
9.30am - Breakfast
11am - Cultural Tour
2pm - Lunch out
6pm - Yin yoga
7.30pm - Group Dinner
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7.30am - Morning teas/coffee, Meditation & Journaling
8.30am - Yoga
9.30am - Breakfast
11am - Free Time
6pm - Yin yoga
7.30pm - BBQ & African Drumming
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7.30am - Morning teas/coffee, Meditation & Journaling
8.30am - Yoga & Closing Circle
9.30am - Breakfast
11am - Check out
Accommodation & Rates
Footsteps in The Gambia, Gunjur
Our accommodation comprises nine detached en-suite roundhouses which surround our freshwater eco-pool and bar/restaurant. All roundhouses have their own fruiting trees which supply shade, privacy and of course fruit. Our rooms are detached and use simple, yet effective techniques to help stay cool: shade-giving trees, a hot air extraction vent and 360° window ventilation.
Immerse yourself in nature with all the creature comforts you would expect from an ecologically responsible hotel. Room features:
En-suite bathrooms with hot/cold water
Composting toilet
A fan
A room safe
Mosquito nets are generally not needed but are available if preferred.
Meet coco.
Natasha Lee, commonly known as ‘CocoRed’, is a Movement Artist and Yoga Teacher.
She has travelled and taught extensively with dance and yoga and her focal career as a yoga teacher continues to provide opportunities of immersing herself in other cultures and connecting to communities through wellbeing, near and far.
Coco shares practices in Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Restorative and Aerial Yoga. She has been travelling to Gambia for the past 3 years so has a breadth of knowledge about the Gambian Culture and is continuing to learn the nuances that are present in this beautiful West African Country.
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Natasha Lee, commonly known as ‘CocoRed’, is a Movement Artist and Yoga Teacher. Her extensive Career as a Professional Dancer and Choreographer introduced her some years ago to the Movement aspect of Yoga but it was in early 2017 whilst living in Melbourne Australia and travelling around Bali, Indonesia where she was reintroduced to the form on a wider spectrum, encompassing the Spiritual, Holistic and physical realms of the Practice.
She stepped in with one foot and soon after, leapt in with the other, as a huge shift happened rather quickly and her life changed. Two years later for her 3rd trip, she returned to Bali to embark upon her first Yoga Teachers Training.
Her inspiration to teach, initially derived from a desire to see students who looked like her on the other side. She was used to being the only person of colour in a wide amount of classes for many years as a student and knew the difference of being in a space with a Teacher who looks like you, creating a centred experience.
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Coco’s passion for movement will form an outline of what you can expect in her class, as she implements and weaves in her Dance Practice and knowledge of safe practice enhancing Anatomy. With conscious breath and a sequence of movements and modifications for all, you’ll find your rhythm, through a Spacious Opening Flow.
Coco is also an Aerial Yoga Teacher, so enjoys finding nuance, fun and creativity in sequencing accompanied with Inversions and Arm Balances. Expect play, enquiry into your practice, focus on alignment, freedom of movement and space to find something new on the mat.
For your more Restorative and Yin Practices you’ll find spaces of deep rest and the opportunity to meet yourself in your practice.
Rooms
A £250 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your spot.
Early booking & £50 discount available for Pana members.
Private roundhouse
Double bed
single occupancy: £1290
double occupancy (shared bed): £990 pp
Shared roundhouse
Twin room - double bed
SOLD OUT
Shared roundhouse
Twin room - single bed
SOLD OUT
included
7 nights accommodation
Airport group transfer in The Gambia (arrival & departure)
2 yoga sessions daily
A boat cruise with lunch, swimming & fishing
A cultural tour of Gunjur
Yoga facilities (shala / blocks / mats)
A healthy buffet breakfast daily including a range of teas and coffee
All dinners (2 courses) - all dietary requirements catered for
Daily evening post-yoga fresh juice
Pre-retreat meet ups (virtual & in-person)
Pana tote bag
Housekeeping, towels & wifi
excluded
Flights
Insurance
Additional food & drinks
Treatments
Tips for venue staff
Captured by Captain Ope
Further information
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A non-refundable deposit of £250 is required to reserve your space.
We are very happy to arrange payment plans for you, spreading the remaining balance (post deposit) over the next 6-4 months.
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Each morning will begin peacefully with the opportunity to meditate or journal with a selection of teas and coffee, before joining an energising yoga class. There will be two yoga classes per day led by Coco. Classes are open to all abilities and are centred around developing mind-body awareness, building strength and flexibility, connecting with the breath and inner-self, and melting away the stress of life.
Morning yoga is followed by a nourishing breakfast, freshly prepared with local produce. You’ll have the chance to relax in the Gambian sun whilst enjoying some free time, or on other days take part in one of our tours, before sitting down to eat a refreshing lunch. As the day comes to a close, we’ll wind down with a gentle yin yoga session before enjoying a delicious dinner in the evening.
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Breakfast is a buffet of fruits, muesli, yogurt, bread, cheese, salad and freshly prepared eggs.
Lunches and dinners are mostly traditional Gambian dishes with all dietary needs catered for. Read more about the venue’s food here.
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Flights are currently £580 return form London to Banjul airport in The Gambia with the airline TUI. Flight prices may vary between now and the date of the retreat.
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We will arrange airport transfers from Banjul airport to the lodge with our trusted drivers.
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We advise you to book travel insurance the same time you book your spot, ensuring that it covers you for such unlikely events as flight disruptions or necessary cancellation of your retreat place.
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All deposits are non-refundable. We understand life happens and for whatever reason you may not be able to attend. You must notify us at least 90 days prior in order to receive a full refund and 60 days to receive a 50% refund. Any cancellations within 30 days of the retreat date are non-refundable. Refunds will be provided within 30 days of notification of cancellation. When you book your spot you confirm that you understand and accept this policy.
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COVID Refund Policy: Should COVID prevent or cancel travel you will be provided a full refund minus the non-refundable deposit. If cancellations due to COVID arise within 60 days of the retreat, funds will be applied to a future retreat to be scheduled no later 12 months from the cancellation date. You must present a positive covid test with the date to receive the full terms of this policy.
All retreat attendees will be required to abide by country policies to enter. If you fail to complete these guidelines you won’t be able to attend.
The Gambia currently does not require any covid tests or vaccinations to enter the country, however this may be subject to change.
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If you want to discover more about the Gambia and and why we chose to go there, you can read our info guide here.
Testimonials