Wander Women Hudson Valley:
A Fall Foliage Yoga Retreat
Germantown, NY
October 8-11, 2021
Join us for a long weekend of glamping, farm yoga, leaf peeping, nature crafting, meeting new friends, and more — all at a gorgeous private location mere hours from New York City.
We’ll gather together for a four day weekend celebrating all that is fall in Alex’s home state, New York! Flow through asanas with llamas, kayak through peak foliage, visit a women-owned craft distillery, and enjoy local bites from the Hudson Valley along the way.
Escape from city life to a luxurious glamping location on fifteen acres, complete with Insta-ready bell tents, a barn-turned-yoga-sala from the 1800’s, a fire pit for nightly storytelling, a garden with fresh produce and adorable goats, and a wood-fired hot tub for soaking away any lingering stress.
A photographer will be behind the lens every step of the way, ensuring everyone leaves with profile-picture worthy shots of themselves practicing yoga, enjoying peak foliage, and snuggling with sweet llamas.
The Hudson Valley stretches along the Hudson River for over twenty miles and is known for its vineyards and distilleries, orchards and farms, and beautiful views. The bucolic landscape inspired an entire art movement in the 18th century, the Hudson River School, and continues to dazzle visitors every year, especially in the autumn. Increasingly, it’s becoming a hip escape for those from the five boroughs — bringing with them trendy restaurants, idyllic art galleries, and locally inspired boutiques.
The Details
The retreat will be held from October 8-11, 2021. The cost, including all of the below, ranges from $850 to $1,300.
What’s Included
• Three nights of accommodation at a luxurious glamping location in the Hudson Valley
• Three breakfasts, two dinners, and one lunch
• Daily yoga
• Visit to a local distillery for tasting flights
• Kayaking tour
• An afternoon at a llama farm — with llama yoga!
• Lavender soap and loofah workshop at local farm
• A custom welcome bag
• All gratuities (we generously tip on your behalf, removing the stress and anxiety of when and how much to tip!)
• Professional photos of the trip
• Donation to a New York charity, Survivor’s Toolbox
What’s Not Included
• Alcohol not included in the itinerary (though you can BYO!)
• Other activities or meals not outlined in the itinerary
• Local transportation (we will help coordinate groups of women who have cars, or are renting, or want to share Ubers or Lyfts)
• Mandatory travel insurance
The Itinerary
Given the constant changes the travel industry has seen over the past year, the below is subject to change — but we guarantee you will have a beautiful fall-themed weekend regardless.
Day 1: Say hello to the Hudson Valley! Join us in Germantown in the late afternoon for a welcome yoga class saluting the setting sun. In the evening, we’ll feast on wood fired pizzas along with a foraged cocktail class led by our amazing personal chef for the weekend.
Day 2: We’ll start the day together with breakfast made from local produce. Afterwards, we’ll head to Main Street — in the adorable Germantown — to peruse the farmer’s market, boutique stores, enjoy lunch, and more. Next, we’ll enjoy the pastoral Hudson Valley landscape with a visit to a local farm! Here, we’ll flow through a practice with adorable llamas and pygmy goats, as well as craft lavender loofahs to take home, with wool sourced from the farm. We’ll close out the night with dinner made by our private chef and then heat up the wood-fired hot tub and fire pit for an evening soak.
Day 3: This morning we’ll rise for a peaceful sunrise yoga class led by Alex, followed by breakfast. After, we’ll depart for a morning kayak ride through the peak foliage of the region. This paddle through a beautiful nature preserve complete with wildlife viewing will have us embracing autumn’s gorgeous colors. In the afternoon, we’ll gather for some well-deserved post-sweat tasting flights at woman-owned distillery Cooper’s Daughter. At the distillery, we’ll sample a variety of spirits made from Hudson Valley ingredients. Finally, we’ll toast to the weekend with dinner at local hot spot Gaskins, a farm to table restaurant on Main Street in Germantown.
Day 4: This morning, it’s time for goodbyes! We’ll gather for one final breakfast and farewell yoga in the barn. Afterwards, exchange photos and contact info with all your new Wander Women besties for future get togethers. For those looking for an afternoon activity, Alex will be leading an optional hike in the area, and we’ll send you off with recommendations for outdoor art galleries and wineries nearby.
Where We’ll Stay and Where We’ll Eat
We’ll be enjoying a weekend escape at a gorgeous glamping ranch, spread out on fifteen acres of rolling hills in the Hudson Valley. The property has free range chickens, a bountiful organic veggie and medicinal herb garden, and grassy nooks for daytime lounging and evening stargazing — and we’ll have it all to ourselves!
The room options include private or shared accommodation, all housed in unique and luxurious bell tents or cabins. Alternatively, we’re offering camping spots for those wishing to bring their own tents and sleep in the fresh air. The ranch is sustainably off-grid, so please know that there is no electricity in the rooms, and they feature outdoor amenities — composting toilets and solar shower, with a backup indoor shower. You will be able to safely charge electronics in a communal area, or bring your own portable charger if you’d like. Let’s embrace the slow life for the weekend!
For included meals, we’ll be dining on incredible farm to table meals made by our very own private chef for the weekend, Dallas! Dallas will be whipping up healthy and sustainable meals with produce from the region, and a signature flair from years of chef-ing at festivals and retreats. As with all of our Wander Women Retreats, we’ll have some meals eating plant based — and, as always, any dietary restrictions or allergies will be accommodated.
Getting There and Away
Nearby airports include Albany (51 miles), Newburgh (58 miles), or Westchester (93 miles). If you’re coming from further afield, we’d recommend flying into one of the NYC area airports (JFK, LaGuardia, or Newark), and either renting a car or taking Metro North or Amtrak for a beautiful train ride along the Hudson River. The closest train station is Rhinebeck, where you can depart and hop in a taxi or ride share for a 20 minute car drive to our glamping location.
For transport within Hudson Valley, we will be using Ubers, Lyfts, or will pair you with other guests looking to share car rentals for the weekend. Please contact us if you need additional support booking travel.
Travel With Us
On this trip, you’ll be traveling with Alex Baackes as your host and yoga teacher and Desdemona Dallas as your private chef.
Alexandra Baackes is the founder of Wander Women Retreats and Alex in Wanderland and will lead your yoga practices throughout this trip. She grew up in Upstate New York and cherishes exploring and introducing others to the area. She is a RYT 200 Registered Yoga Teacher, an RYT 50 Aerial Yoga Teacher, a Buti Bands and Sculpt instructor, and a regular yoga practitioner for over a decade — she can’t wait to practice with you.
Desdemona Dallas is a chef based in NYC. Dallas became a vegan when they were eighteen and began a life-long relationship to food and the various ways in which freshly grown foods can be prepared to make delicious meals. Their work in the kitchen has taken them all over the world, to work with plants and cultures across the globe. They believe that at the center of every good meal is a pair of loving hands and always maintain the idea that each meal is a work of art meant to nourish not only our bodies, but also our souls. Dallas is also the founder of Survivor’s Toolbox, our non-profit donation recipient of this trip.
Join Us
This retreat has limited availability and specific accommodation styles, so we recommend booking soon to avoid missing out on your first choice! A $500 deposit is required to hold your spot, and payment plans are available upon request. Can’t make it? Don’t stress! Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know when enrollment opens on future retreats.
Click here for more details on the specific room types available for this particular retreat.
Remember, don’t hesitate to email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com with any and all questions or concerns over whether this Hudson Valley experience is right for you. We’d love to chat.
Wander Women Hudson Valley // October 8-11
$850.00 – $1,300.00
F.A.Q.
What is the refund policy?
Remaining invoices are due 90 days before departure. The $500 deposit to secure your space is non-refundable. If the trip must be postponed or cancelled due to events beyond our control (for example, a global pandemic resurgence!), you will be offered the choice between a full refund and applying your payment to a future trip.
Do I need to be good at yoga?
Absolutely not. (And frankly, we don’t believe in the idea of being “good” at yoga!) We have a range of yogis from brand-new beginners to talented instructors join us on our trips. You’ll get the opportunity to sample a wide range of yoga styles, and you can opt in or out of as many classes as you wish. Some guests attend none at all!
Will I have time to do my own thing?
This is your retreat and we want you to make it exactly what you want! Any time you want to bow out to have some “me-time” or do your own thing, we’re going to cheer you on.
How much money will I need to bring?
For meals not included in the itinerary (one lunch and one dinner), expect to pay around $15-60, depending on entree and alcohol choices.
You can use your discretion on how much you want to bring for shopping at the local boutiques and antique stores.
Can I do a payment plan and pay in installments?
Absolutely. We want to make this happen for you! Email us at retreats@alexinwanderland.com.
Will I need travel insurance?
Yes, everyone will be required to have travel insurance for the duration of the trip. Our affiliate, World Nomads offers coverage at affordable rates.
Is there an age requirement?
You must be 18 years old or older.
Is there a waiting list?
There will be a waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis in case spaces open up. If the retreat is full and you’re still interested, email me at retreats@alexinwanderland.com to be added to the waiting list.
I still have questions, or cute photos of my dog. Can I contact you?
Um, yes please! Our email is retreats@alexinwanderland.com.