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Germany (and France!) December Retreat
December 2nd - 8th, 2026
A most magical pre-holiday experience in one of the most Christmas-y places on Earth! Stay in the Black Forest in Germany, one of the most popular European holiday destinations. We’ll explore this part of Germany and nearby Strousbourg, France, also known as “The Christmas Capital.” Take a respite between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Leave room in your luggage for the most unique presents, and join in on this immersive cultural adventure!
❋ World Famous Christmas Markets
It would be hard not to get into the Christmas spirit with the sights, lights, and sounds of the markets. Indulge in homemade German foods, beverages, and handmade goods. Check everyone off of your Christmas shopping list.
❋ Thermal Baths
This fairy tale like winter wonderland is also well stocked with German thermal baths, some dating back to the Roman Empire.
You’ll get to experience the sauna, thermal baths, and spa experience, German style (note: we will visit spas that are not strictly textile free, but you’re welcome to try a textile free spa on your own time)!
❋ Yoga, of course
Naturally, yoga will be offered, but for this retreat, only in the mornings. If we happen to return home early one evening, there will be an option for yoga at night. Because of the nature of this retreat - cultural immersion, the itinerary will be flexible. We may want to linger at a market or in a city, find some amazing scenic/nature areas, or happen upon something unique and exciting.
❋ Private In Home Sauna
Enjoy a private sauna at our house with views of the garden (or possibly snow covered yard in December).
❋ Experience the ONLY 100% Gluten Free Christmas Market in the world
❋ Day Trip to Strousbourg, France
“Capitale de Noel” - The Christmas Capital - is home to the best Christmas market in all of France. We’ll spend a day enjoying the best Strousbourg has to offer. Learn more about Strousbourg here.
❋ Daily Breakfast
Breakfast will be provided every morning and dinner on the evening of your arrival. The rest of the meals we will enjoy while out and about, experiencing Germany and France! The Christmas Markets offer plentiful options for meals, and there are restaurants in walking distance to our house. Breakfast can be accommodated for dietary restrictions (your host is gluten and mostly dairy free).
❋ Camaraderie. Adventure. Culture.
Retreats are a special place to meet new friends, reconnect with old ones, and take the time to pause and be with yourself. While we will be spending a lot of time exploring, the moments of travel and movement will be filled with laughter, light heartedness, and a special kind of camaraderie that shows up at every Soul Dreams retreat. It’s a sacred container to both experience and reflect on life.
The Black Forest is well known for its plentiful small towns, historical architecture, and Christmas markets, among other things. Join us on this very unique experience before the holiday season!
Room Options:
Shared Room: $2397
Please note, a shared room could include a bunk bed
Private Room: $2647
Please note, all bathrooms are shared in this house
This retreat is limited to 7 guests. Men are welcome to attend.
Includes:
Transportation while in Germany and France, including to/from the airport if you arrive and depart in the windows stated below.
Breakfast each morning and dinner on the first evening.
Accomodations in a private home, including use of the private sauna.
Welcome gift for all retreat goers.
All activities at the house (yoga, cacao, meditation).
Additional Costs:
Your meals and purchases at the Christmas Markets and while exploring Germany and France.
A day at the spa.
Your flight.
You will fly into Frankfurt, Germany (FRA)
If traveling only for the retreat, you will need to depart the US on December 1st to arrive on December 2nd. You will depart Germany on December 8th and arrive in the US on December 8th (due to the time change). You’re welcome to arrive or depart earlier or later if you plan to explore on your own.
Please select flights that have you arrive before 2pm to Frankfurt and have you depart at 11am or later from Frankfurt. You will find flights that fit into this category from Lufthansa and United Airlines (both nonstop flights) and Icelandair (one stop layover).
Lufthansa currently has nonstop flights from Newark (EWR) to Frankfurt (FRA). The price fluctuates and I recommend checking prices midweek - the price difference from checking it on a Thursday evening to a Saturday evening was $150 higher. It departs at 1:30pm for Newark. ($741 when checked midweek; $891 when checked on Saturday evening).
Icelandair currently has a sale (now thru 9/14) on flights from Newark (EWR) and JFK to Frankfurt for around $654 with a checked bag included and a free carry on and personal item. It does include a layover in Iceland. However! Icelandair offers a free stopover program. This means you can spend some time in Iceland either before or after the trip, at no additional airfare cost to you. Of course, all of the time in Iceland will incur additional costs. If you need assistance with organizing that experience, I am happy to help. I have watched Icelandair flights change by significant amounts in a single day. I recommend checking flight prices midweek rather than over the weekend. Ignore the “2 seats left” because it is never actually true ;)
We do not recommend Singapore Airlines, Delta, KLM, Air France, Virgin Atlantic or Brussels Airlines unless you want to arrange your own transportation to the airport for your departing flight, as it is more than 4 hours earlier than the other airlines. Our house is a 2 hour, 15 minute drive from the Frankfurt Airport via car; over 4 hours via public transportation, which is not very easy to navigate without some working knowledge of German.
Meet Your Host
Erica Onofrio has been traveling the world since the age of 16. Aside from owning and operating her year round, full time Yoga & Reiki studio in Ocean City, NJ, she also loves to travel and host retreats all over the world. This will be her 11th retreat to host. She is most excited for the Gluten Free Christmas Market, which was the original inspiration for this retreat! While she’s previously traveled to Germany, she has not been to the Black Forest or France and looks forward to adventuring with retreat goers to these new places.