Akasha is a nice hotel, but definitely not a yoga retreat. Based on the pre-covid Google reviews it seems to have been a flourishing place with retreats, but it is not the case anymore. It is a hotel with primarily couples coming from Bucharest to relax and explore the region. So if you are expecting a yoga retreat with excellent yoga teaching, scheduled activities and a cohort of other likeminded people into yoga, don’t go! You will be disappointed just as I am after my one week yoga retreat at Akasha. Below I elaborate on my critique: The yoga: The primary reason for my stay - the yoga - wasn’t executed well by the teacher hired to carry out all the yoga. The sessions seemed random, made up on the spot and had zero flow. Furthermore, no alternative options were provided to beginners. But the worst part was actually that the teacher did deeper harder poses without little proper warm up, which is harmful for the body (e.g. split and deep bag stretches in a yin class without warm up). When I sign up for a yoga retreat, I expect a skilled teacher. I wonder if the teacher has ever done any teacher training? Other activities: Little of what was promised on the website of walks, hikes, cooking class etc. happened at the retreat in the week I spend there. A 6-7 hour hike was shortened to 2 hour hike due to the weather (which was sunny all day). Instead of providing us with information so we could go on this rather easy walk/small hike on our own, Akasha told the yoga teacher to guide this tour. A task she also couldn’t manage as we ended up going for an hour in the exact opposite direction than we should. The yoga teacher would have continued along this wrong path much further if I had not asked to see the map and realized we took the wrong direction from the very start. We had little water and only snacks and following her guidance could have ended in a quite bad dehydrated situation. Other activities also didn’t took place at all during our stay or were different than what was promised. For example we were told by the receptionist that transport to the castle in Bran was included (as we had booked a retreat) and gave us the number on a taxi company. On the way back we waited for almost an hour in the rain for this taxi and eventually called Akasha. We got the owner on the phone who said Akasha was not responsible for the transport on their day tours. Staff and staff being yelled at: The kitchen staff from abroad were amazing! Service-minded, kind and super attentive. I wish I could say the same for the rest of the staff. The receptionist tried her best but her English was limited. But twice we experienced, the chef yelling at one of the kitchen assistants in a loud aggressive manner which several guests could hear from the common area. Also, the communication with Akasha prior to arriving was non-exciting as Akasha didn’t reply to e.g. messages about where we would be picked up in Brasov. On a last more positive note I want to complement the high hygiene at Akasha and the beautiful landscape surrounding the place. Absolutely stunning! I loved laying in the hammocks, looking at the mountains from the sauna and petting the house cat in the common area. Also the food was good. Concluding; I think Akasha is a fine hotel providing clean rooms, good food and serves as a good base for exploring the mountains in Transylvania. But I would really NOT RECOMMEND going to Akasha for a yoga retreat! To Akasha: I think you have to make up your mind and decide to either me a retreat and also deliver on the promises made on the website (or do retreats a few weeks a year) OR switch to being a hotel available on Booking.com and similar sites. Seems like you currently swing mostly towards the latter, but then do that instead of running retreats where you cheat people. I personally left Akasha feeling like I’ve been scammed.

I never write reviews, but I really want people to know that as a retreat, this place is a scam. Most people just stay here as hotel guests and don’t participate in the retreat part. More importantly, nothing about the retreat programme was as advertised on their website (we paid for the full programme): • As a yoga teacher myself, I am certain that the yoga teacher does not have certification to be a teacher or barely has any yoga experience at all. It was supposed to be vinyasa and yin, but it was just random poses, made up on the spot. The teacher did every pose wrong, even basic ones, but that didn’t stop her from throwing in more challenging poses, without properly warming up the body or knowing how to do the pose. Besides it being boring and frankly annoying, she's also potentially hurting peoples bodies this way. • Said yoga teacher was also responsible for the authentic village walk. She knew barely anything about the surroundings or the culture, since she’s not Romanian. • When we asked about the 7 hour hike that was supposed to take place on Sunday, we were met with a simple ‘no’. When we kept pushing, eventually they sent the yoga teacher on a 2 hour walk with us. It was clear she didn’t want to come. She also turned out to not be able to read a map or know her way around at all. The only reason we didn’t get lost without proper supplies was because my friend stepped in. • We were told the transport to Bran castle was part of the all inclusive package we had. After visiting the castle, the taxi didn’t show up. When we called the retreat after waiting in the rain for an hour, all of a sudden the transport to the castle was not included. • A cooking class, visit to fortified churches of Cristian and Ghimbav and indoor cinema were supposed to be part of the programme, but we didn’t hear anything about those activities. • They call themselves a vegetarian/vegan retreat, but this is really a vegetarian retreat. As a vegan, I had to ask for vegan food and then usually got some lesser version of whatever the vegetarian food was (f.e. salad with cheese left out). Moreover, we had some issues with some of the staff who were not very service oriented, including the owner. I have tried to be in touch with them several times before coming, either through phone or email, but never got answers to my questions, or even a reply at all. Same once we were there; it was difficult to get answers to questions and the place seemed disorganised. The fact that the main person behind the desk barely spoke English did not help (though she was really trying). If you advertise yourself as an international retreat, staff should speak English at a reasonable level. We also found it very disturbing to hear the kitchen staff get screamed at repeatedly. This is no way to treat people, especially since they were actually the ones who were nicest to us. This place should make the choice to just be a hotel and stop advertising itself as a retreat (apparently it was solely a retreat before covid). As a hotel it’s fine, but the only reason I’m not giving it one star as a retreat, was because it was clean and some of the staff were really trying their best.

Fantastic food, environment, and peace of mind. The people taking care of Akasha are truly invested in the people they host. The food is simply delicious, and healthy. Lots to choose from for all meals of the day. Yoga - amazing instructor! Two sessions every day, which is included: morning and evening. Highly recommend!

Way too much hype about it. The view is great, but there is not much else to do. The spaces feel too confined. The food is not amazing. Maybe a vegetarian would dispute that. The desert is very good, though. Overrated and too expensive.

We had a fantastic time at the retreat. Check-in was very quick and were shown around the facilities. We booked the accommodation including dinner and it was really delicious. Freshly cooked and only vegetarian options. There was also a lovely bonfire at one of the nights. Breakfast was amazing as well. Felt really relaxed and enjoyed every minute.

Loved it. This is a fantastic place. Food is so good you wouldn t believe it s possible, the yoga teacher is amazing. You also have some fitness equipment in the yoga room, Hot Tub and a Sauna. The rooms are absolutely perfect. But most importantly you will experience a cozy, warm and full of positive energy stay while enjoying some breathtaking views. If you want to find a place that gives you everything not just for your body but your soul, Akasha is the right choice.

We spent two days at Akasha. There are so many positive things to say about it. 1) they welcomed our dog (36 kg and well trained), 2) the food was unbelieveable (seriously, there wasn't a meal that wasn't perfect, 3) the beds were comfy and the rooms were clean, 4) the view was breathtaking, it is in an isolated location, quiet, and everything you need for a city break. What I appreciated the most was the helpfulness of the staff and leadership of the location - kind, helpful, informative and kind. I can not recommend this place enough! GO!

We've spent two days in this Paradise. While the meals exceeded our expectations, as food was as delicious as it was made out of high quality ingredients, the view was simply breathtaking. This is definitely the place to go when you need to escape the crowd & noise of the city.

Fantastic location with postcard views!! I had a great time at Akasha. The views were fantastic, the facilities were really complete and the staff was friendly! I really enjoyed the yoga classes. Michelle was great and adapted the classes to the audience with very diverse classes. The food was great too! Everything very tasty! The place provides a pleasant atmosphere and I also had the opportunity to meet some fantastic people during my stay.

A great chill place. I am already familiar with the area, the amazing Piatra Craiului, and Akasha just complete the experience adding a homey feel. The staff is really hospitable, all the way to the passionate chef, and it shows: I am not vegetarian but the food is really good and fresh. If you are passionate about yoga, this is the place. Or maybe a book or one of the board/social games. Or relax in the sauna or jacuzzi, even if is raining a bit. The prices are high but you do get a lot in return. I have been a guest to many, in Romania and abroad and this is easily one of the best. Internet connection is below average, but is a general problem in the whole area. Maybe a tech detox would be even better :)

Akasha is indeed different from most estalishments but in a much better way. The room was quiet, comfortable and so we could sleep very well on the memory foam mattress. The location is superb and the big plus is that the hotel can be easily accessible by any type of car. The food was really nice-fresh and tasty cooked by their passionate chef. I very much enjoyed my yoga class, the sauna and the jacuzzi. Akasha, please don't change as what you are doing is ensuring your guests are treated with a lot of care and respect.

Five stars for the passion and the people (not necessarily for perfection 😉) The concept of Akasha is built on heartblood. The people (the owners, the yogi, the masseur, the kitchen magicians,...) create a very relaxing and personal atmosphere. Thank you for a great time, great food, great yoga, all with a magic view. We'll be back!

Absolutely the best place I ever stayed at. Attention to detail, food, location and activities are all top notch. Bravo Daniela and team!

A truly special place, in a truly special part of the world. From the views, to the quality of yoga teaching, to all of the extra facilities - hot tub, sauna, massage, not to mention the food, Akasha is a wonderful place. We stayed for four nights on the wellness package, which also included trips like horse riding and lunch in a beautiful local village, a guided tour to Bran Castle, which is very close, local hiking, plus transfers from Braşov station. We ran out of days but there were many varied options of things to do in the area. Akasha is much more than a hotel, or a yoga retreat, though technically it is both these things. It’s a feeling - and truly a beautiful experience, where we were able to access some of the very best parts of the area without doing any planning or even having to hire a car. Coming from the UK and having done yoga holidays in both France and India, we felt this was very well priced. With two excellent yoga sessions a day, tailored to our needs. Plus getting there was easier than we first thought. We flew into Bucharest airport and took the train one way (£5 each) and took a car the whole way in the other direction (£90), which Akasha organised for us. With flights launching to Braşov from England in June, it will be even easier to reach Akasha and we definitely want to return. We feel very lucky to have experienced this amazing part of the world. Thank you to the lovely Akasha team.

This was my 1st retreat ever so I don't have anything to compare it with. With that said, the time I spent there was beautiful and unique. A gorgeos house in an amazing scenery, yoga classes in the morning and the evening, best food (and tea!) ever, beautifully organised outdoor activities (much to do indoor as well!). The owner's love for this place breathes in every corner and every moment of the day. The staff are kind, welcoming and accomodating. I left with the impression that this is more a feeling, a sensation, than just a beautiful place. Overall a beautiful experience.

We had a wonderful stay at Akasha Retreat. Every detail made it memorable. First impression was given by the amazing landscape, as the retreat is surrounded by beautiful mountains, then by the chique room, also with a view. The food consisted in no meat and it was soooo tasty that if you ever feel you want to drop meat, this place makes you do it happily, as the food tastes as indulgence, not as restriction. The options were different from one day to another and… did I mention how tasty it was??? Really. The only time I found quinoa and pumpkin to be tasty 🤣. The produce grown in their own garden and the cooking skills and imagination make a big difference. We got some inspiration for dishes to repeat at home (even if we’re not vegetarian). Outdoors yoga was an amazing experience and we much appreciated Olito’s guidance and learned a lot in his sessions. The massage was absolutely fantastic, super relaxing and after it + yoga + sauna & jacuzzi we felt a difference, even if we were there just for 3 days. When coming back home, my husband gets up from the couch and says: “Hey, there’s something different inside me… I don’t know, I have flow now” 🤣 Huge thanks to all the staff for their attention, responsiveness and care!

This place is very chill and feels like your own home, a perfect cosy chalet in the mountains with an amazing view and all the modern facilities! The food is organic and local, very healthy! Although the dinner costs 125 lei / person, there are 4 fresh salads and 1 meat, 1 dessert. Very copious and tasty - worth the price! The breakfast (included in the stay) is outstanding: homemade granola, peanut butter, almond milk, garden salad, fresh dairy milk and local honey, gluten free bread... anything you can dream of for a healthy retreat, after some meat-heavy Romanian days ;) The hot tub (guess before it was a traditional wooden chubar, it is now a modern jacuzzi). Unique sauna with an awesome and peaceful view of the park Piatra Craiului! There are 2 sessions of yoga daily, and 6 sorts of free tea and organic coffee all day long, and garden mint!

We had the most wonderful stay at Akasha: the views, the food, the staff and the activities they offer contribute generously to a great relaxation. Thank you Daniela for organizing such a top notch retreat with a cozy private atmosphere and keeping the standards on a high level! Already hoping to be back soon :)