❋

Pilates in the Wild — Sri Lanka, 2027.

Daily pilates. Multiple destinations. From ancient cities to mountaintops. 7 nights 8 days, one unforgettable Sri Lanka pilates retreat.

Join the Wild

7

nights

4

UNESCO Sites

multi city

trip

women

only

may/oct

departure dates

A women-only, multi-stop journey through Sri Lanka — five destinations, seven nights and a retreat that moves with you from ancient fortresses to misty mountains, tea country and the coast.

Sri Lanka — Journey Map

Is this your kind of escape?

You don't need another holiday where you come home needing a holiday.

You love movement, but you're not interested in punishing your body.

You want time to yourself without travelling completely alone.

You're someone who gets inspired by travel, who wants to see new places that stir something deep within you.

You want luxury, but not the kind that cuts you off from the world around you.

You're ready to put your phone down, breathe deeper and remember what it feels like to have nowhere you need to be.

If that sounds like you, you're in the right place.

a day in the wild

No two days look exactly the same — but here's a rough idea.

Early morning — Mat pilates, somewhere extraordinary.
Breakfast — Long and unhurried. Sri Lanka does mornings beautifully.
The day opens up — A UNESCO site, a wildlife safari, a spice garden, a highland train. Everything taken care of.
Lunch — Yours. Wander into a local café, eat somewhere unexpected.
Late afternoon — Swim, journal, nap, or a massage. Entirely yours.
Evening — Restorative yoga or yin to release the day. The deepest sleep you've had in years.
Dinner — Together. Long tables, great food, the kind of conversation that happens when a small group of women has spent a full day doing extraordinary things.

Then you do it all again — somewhere completely different.

  • "Experiences with Courtney like seeing elephants, climbs to ancient temples, taking the famous train to Ella through bright green tea terraces all while enjoying yoga everyday, all while staying in beautiful accommodations throughout Sri Lanka. This is truly a journey of a lifetime!"

    Heather, USA

  • "Sri Lanka was soulful, beautiful and so rich in culture, scenery and food. Practising in such incredible surroundings felt like the ultimate luxury! The most incredible trip, made even more special by the beautiful friendships I made along the way. Sri Lanka will always have a piece of my heart."

    Jo, Australia

  • "Such a fun adventure. Courtney planned the most epic memorable trip through Sri Lanka. Loved starting the day off and ending the day with pilates and everything in between"

    Lindsey, USA

  • "You don't just stay in one place, you really experience Sri Lanka. Every destination brought something new. From misty mountains to coastal sunsets. It felt like a true journey, not just a retreat."

    -Brittany W, Aus

  • "So effortless, from start to finish. The mix of yoga, exploration, and beautiful locations was perfect. Everything was so well organised, yet still felt relaxed and spacious. Courtney created such a warm, positive energy the entire week. I felt completely taken care of."

    -Lara P, UK

  • "The most grounding week of my life. Every day felt intentional without being overwhelming. The balance of movement, rest, and exploration was perfect."

    -Jess , UK

  • "I've travelled extensively and can honestly say this was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. Sri Lanka is breathtaking, but what made the retreat special was the balance of movement, adventure and downtime. I came home feeling stronger, calmer and inspired."

    — Rebecca, UK

  • "As a solo traveller I was nervous before booking, but within hours I felt completely welcomed. Courtney creates such a warm and supportive environment. The retreat attracts incredible women and the friendships we formed were just as valuable as the destinations we explored."

    -Emma, New Zealand

  • "Courtney has a gift for making Pilates feel welcoming and achievable for every body, while still delivering a workout that leaves you feeling stronger and more calm"

    -Olga, Poland

  • "I booked on a whim after a difficult year and it ended up being the best decision I've made. The scenery, the food, the movement, the people — everything exceeded my expectations. I came home feeling lighter, happier and excited about life again."

    -Lisa, Switzerland

Meet your host

Courtney Lanfranco, founder of Holistic Escapes, teaching pilates in Sri Lanka

Courtney Lanfranco

Founder, Holistic Escapes · Pilates & Yoga Teacher

Courtney's relationship with Sri Lanka started in 2019 on the back of a Royal Enfield motorbike, riding through the country with nothing but a rough route and a full heart. She's returned every year since. Before Holistic Escapes, she spent years as a flight attendant — seeing the world, but quietly burning out. Pilates and yoga brought her back to herself, and it's the thread running through everything she designs now.

She leads every session on Pilates in the Wild herself. Every single one.

  • With 10+ years of immersion in yoga, pilates and holistic healing — and qualifications in Pilates Mat, 200hr and 300hr Yoga Teacher Training, Yin & Restorative Yoga, Breathwork and Somatic Mind-Body Healing — Courtney brings both depth of knowledge and a rare warmth to every session. Guests consistently say her classes exceed every expectation, that she explains things in a way that instantly makes your shoulders drop away from your ears, and that from the moment you land to the moment you leave, you feel completely taken care of.

Inclusions

✓ Pre-retreat training program

✓ 8 Days, 7 nights accommodation 5 luxury properties

✓ All breakfasts & dinners

✓ Daily morning mat pilates

✓ Evening restorative yoga (most nights)

✓ 1 x signature spa experience from menu

✓ All transport

✓ All tours & entrance fees (including 4 UNESCO sites)

✓ Local English-speaking guide

✓ Arrival airport transfer

Not included:

× Flights

×Lunches

× Travel insurance

× Personal expenses

See Packages & Pricing ↓

Your home for the week

  • 98 acres resort ella pool

    98 Acres, Ella

  • Pool aliya yoga retreat sri lanka

    Aliya Resort & Spa

  • Day club at our hotel 98 acres

    Ravana Pool Club

  • Jetwing lagoon wellness resort negombo retreat yoga pilates

    Jetwing Lagoon Wellness Resort & Spa

  • 2 Nights at Aliya Resort & Spa, Sigiriya

    Aliya Resort & Spa, Sigiriya

  • Spend 2 Nights at 98 Acres Resort & Spa

    98 Acres Resort & Spa

  • 1 Night at The Merchant, Galle Fort

    The Merchant, Galle Fort

  • Misty mountain mornings at 98 Acres, Ella

    98 Acres Resort & Spa, Ella

  • Kandy Myst views

    Kandy Myst Hotel

  • Jetwing Lagoon Wellness

  • Jetwing Lagoon Wellness

  • 98 Acres, Ella

  • Jetwing Lagoon Wellness

  • The Merchant, Galle Fort

  • 98 Acres, Ella

Aerial view of a Sri Lanka jungle resort pool, gateway to extending your retreat with the Maldives

Booked independently, a trip like this runs $4,900+ USD. Pilates in the Wild starts from $2,899 — nearly $2,000 in savings, with everything planned and taken care of.

Dates & Pricing

  • May 15–22 (early bird closes September 30, 2026) October 3–10 (early bird closes December 1, 2026)

    Spaces are capped at 12 guests. Secure your place with a $500 USD deposit — balance due 90 days before departure. Flexible payment plans available.

  • Bring a friend or share a beautifully appointed room. We'll match you with a compatible roommate — it's how most solo travellers join us, and it's produced some of the strongest friendships this retreat has seen.

  • Your own private sanctuary at every stop. Limited availability — these go first.

    Want to share but haven't found a match? Get in touch before booking and we'll pair you up.

Secure My Place
Secure My Place

Not ready to pay in full? No problem.

Secure your space with a $500 USD deposit today, then spread the balance across monthly payments leading up to your departure. Payment plans are available on request — just reach out after booking and we'll set one up for you.

before you book…faq’s

  • Absolutely. Most of our guests do. We take room-mate matching seriously if you are looking to share a room, you’re in the best hands.

  • Perfect. You don't need to be.

  • You're welcome.

  • No. Just choose private room with the single room supplement.

  • That's built into the retreat.

  • Absolutely not.

Your Signature Experience:

Included in every package — choose one at the time of booking.

ABHYANGA & SHIRODHARA TREATMENT

Traditional Ayurvedic oil massage at AyurVie Spa, Aliya Resort

Ayurvedic spa treatment wellness retreat 2027

AYURVEDIC CONSULTATION & 30-MIN HERBAL OIL MASSAGE

Private session with the resident Ayurvedic doctor at Aliya Resort & 30 Minute herbal oil massage.

ayurvedic wellness treatment massage sri lanka 2027

60-MINUTE SPA MASSAGE

Signature treatment at Aliya Resort & Spa or 98 Acres Resort & Spa

Private one-on-one pilates session, signature experience option for the Sri Lanka retreat

PRIVATE PILATES SESSION

60 minutes one-on-one with your host

pilates retreat ella sri lanka

The way we move

We love our matcha. But we'll also be the first to order a flat white — because real wellness isn't one aesthetic. Pilates in the Wild is not your spicy pilates trend, the kind that gets you up there, but never quite brings you down the other side to restore.

Here, the pilates is slow, intentional, and completely present to where you are — a mountaintop at sunrise, a cliff beside the ocean, a quiet room surrounded by nature. The setting becomes part of the practice. The kind of practice that stays with you.

Courtney teaches from a place of deep listening — to the body in front of her, to the energy in the room, to what that particular morning calls for. Some days that looks like a strong, grounding flow. Other days it's more slow and still. It always begins with breath and ends with something that feels like reset.

This is pilates for women who want to move well, not just move more. Who understand that the most powerful thing a body can do is learn to slow down enough to feel.

On and off the mat, that's the philosophy of Holistic Escapes. Balance in everything. Presence over performance.

Retreat kick start sri lanka

The Wild begins the moment you say yes.

When your deposit lands, something else lands in your inbox: access to the Pre-Retreat Training Program — five pilates sessions, filmed exclusively for guests of this retreat, delivered one day at a time in the weeks before you travel.

I filmed them from the Maldives. Each class is 15–18 minutes — short enough to fit a real day, purposeful enough to genuinely prepare your body for what's ahead.

By the time you land in Colombo, you'll have already practiced with me. You'll know my cues, my pacing, what I mean when I say feel the ground before you move from it. You won't be warming up in Sri Lanka. You'll already be there.

WHAT'S WAITING IN YOUR INBOX

Class list:

Day 1 — Core Foundations · 15 min
Day 2 — Hips & the Lower Body · 16 min
Day 3 — Strength & Flow · 17 min
Day 4 — The session I'll ask you not to skip · 17 min
Day 5 — Arrive Strong · 18 min


This is how The Wild begins. Long before the plane.

Extend your journey

Add the Maldives

A Maldives Pilates & Yoga Retreat

A custom Maldives extension — 4, 5 or 7 nights following your Sri Lanka departure

Five women practicing yoga on a sandy beach at sunset, with the ocean and clouds in the background.

  • The Maldives extension begins the morning Sri Lanka ends — the transition is seamless. From Colombo (CMB) you'll fly directly to Malé (MLE), approximately 1.5 hours.

    From Malé you'll transfer by speedboat directly to the resort. We recommend booking as a group so we can travel together — full flight guidance will be sent once your extension is confirmed.

  • Your Maldives extension includes luxury accommodation for your chosen duration (3, 5 or 7 nights), daily pilates and movement sessions, breakfast daily (with meal plan upgrades available), and all speedboat airport transfers. Full inclusions are confirmed in your personal quote.

  • Mornings begin with pilates overlooking the Indian Ocean — open air, ocean breeze, that view.

    As the day winds down, restorative yoga, breathwork and sound healing bring everything back to stillness.

    Movement to reconnect you. All levels welcome.

  • The Maldives is one of the most extraordinary marine environments on earth.

    Your journey includes:
    House reef snorkelling trip
    Paddle board yoga class

    And plenty of time for swimming with (friendly) sharks, manta rays in some of the clearest water you've ever seen.

  • Morning — Sunrise pilates or movement session · Breakfast overlooking the ocean

    Daytime — This is yours. Snorkel the nearby reefs, paddleboard the lagoon — or find a hammock and your favourite book. You set the pace.

    Afternoon — Optional movement or breathwork session · Spa treatments available

    Evening — Sunset yoga or sound healing · Dinner under the stars

  • Kandooma Resort sits on its own private island in the South Malé Atoll — one of the Maldives' premier dive destinations. White sand beaches, crystal clear lagoons, overwater bungalows and a world-class house reef right off the beach. This is not a generic resort — it's a destination in itself.

  • This extension is for you if you want to keep going after Sri Lanka.
    If you need a few more days before re-entering real life. If you love the ocean, want to move your body in extraordinary places, and want to arrive home genuinely restored. Many guests tell us the Maldives days are the ones they think about most. Choose 3 nights for a taste, 5 for the sweet spot, or 7 for the full reset.

View Pilates in Paradise

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Fly into Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo (CMB). This is Sri Lanka's main international airport with direct and connecting flights from most major Australian cities. We'll send full flight guidance in your welcome pack once your space is confirmed.

  • Sri Lanka is a welcoming and safe destination for women travelling solo. We have been running yoga and pilates retreats in Sri Lanka since 2015 and have never had a safety concern. You will be with a small group and guided by Courtney throughout — you are never navigating alone.

  • Most foreign passport holders can obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) for Sri Lanka online before departure — it's a straightforward online process. We'll include full visa guidance in your welcome pack. Always check the latest requirements with the official Sri Lanka immigration website before travelling.

  • Yes — comprehensive travel insurance is compulsory for all Holistic Escapes retreats. Please arrange cover including medical, cancellation and travel delay before your final payment is due. We strongly recommend doing this as soon as your space is confirmed.

  • Both dates fall in shoulder season — Sri Lanka's sweet spot. May is warm with occasional afternoon showers in the south (Galle), while the north and centre (Sigiriya, Ella) remain mostly dry and clear. October is one of the most beautiful times to visit — lush, green and warm throughout. Pack light layers for Ella evenings (it gets cool at altitude) and sunscreen everywhere else. Full packing guidance is in your welcome pack.

  • Deposits are non-refundable. We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance to protect against any changes to your plans. Full terms and conditions are available on our booking terms page.

Reserve My Space - $500 Deposit
Still have a question? Book a 10-minute call with Courtney