Gjipe Beach – Albania: 3–7 July 2026

Yoga. Saltwater. Stars. Chaos.
A four-night canyon-side micro-festival disguised as a yoga retreat.

Gjipe Beach is a hidden cove on Albania’s wild Ionian coast — a place you can only reach on foot or by boat, and the kind of place that does half the healing for you. For four nights we take over this remote canyon and turn it into an Under The Sun playground: yoga by sunrise, swims in turquoise water, slow meals under the stars, and more barefoot freedom than your regular life knows what to do with.

About this retreat

☀️ This is Under The Sun unplugged – raw, simple, and full of feeling.
Expect pre-pitched tents, shared bathrooms, cold showers, warm sea, strong sun, and cliff walls that make everything else in your life feel smaller in the best way.

Days are unstructured and deliciously slow: wake up in your tent, wander onto the beach, swim, stretch, explore sea caves, nap in the shade, or kayak along the coastline. Evenings are for gentle movement, firelight moments, and dinners cooked by the local beach shack. It’s not luxury. It’s presence. It’s connection. It’s freedom.

Your teacher – Bianka Duka

Bianka teaches the way Gjipe feels — warm, honest, intuitive, and full of emotion. Expect embodied flows, grounding breathwork, sunrise dips, cacao moments, and movement that meets you exactly where you are. No levels. No pressure. Just the kind of yoga that softens the edges and opens everything else.

Your host – Neil Roake – Founder of Under the Sun

Neil builds experiences around people, movement, and meals that turn into stories. From island retreats to cliffside yoga festivals, his approach is simple: bring good humans together in beautiful places and let the sun do the rest. Gjipe Beach is his favourite kind of chaos — wild, raw, full of heart — and he’s there to guide the flow, hold the space, and make the whole journey unforgettable.

What to expect

• Sunrise swims in warm Ionian water
• Morning + evening yoga on the cliff deck
• Sea cave explorations, hikes, and kayak missions
• Long-table dinners cooked on the beach
• Slow afternoons drifting between naps + swims
• A 20-minute canyon walk to reach the beach
• Zero signal, infinite stars
• Real camping: tents, mats, pillows, cold showers
• A community of good humans who show up fully

This is not luxury. This is not curated.
This is Under The Sun.

Daily Flow Sample

• 05:30 — Sunrise Dip
• 09:00 — Morning Yoga (flow, breath, grounding)
• 10:30 — Albanian Brunch (fresh bread, fruit, cheese, eggs, mountain tea)
• 11:30 – 17:00 — Free Flow: caves, hikes, kayaks, hammocks, naps
• 17:00 — Evening Yoga (cooling, creative, always in nature)
• 20:00 — Dinner under the stars

Go with your flow.
No pressure. No programmes.

Accommodation

You’ll be staying right on the beach in pre-pitched tents, shaded by trees and cliffs.
Each tent includes mats, bedding, and pillows. Facilities are basic: cold-water showers, compost loos, and simple wash stations. Everything you need. Nothing you don’t.
If you like five-star hotels, this isn’t for you.
If you like sleeping close to the sea and waking up with the sun already on your face – you’re in the right place.

What’s included in your retreat

• 4 nights camping
• Brunch + dinner daily
• 8 yoga sessions, hosting, hikes, cave swims, and all activities on Gjipe Beach.

Not Included:
Lunch, transfers, snacks, drinks, travel insurance.

How to get there

Fly into: Tirana (Albania) or Corfu (Greece)
From Tirana: 4.5–5 hour drive along the mountains & coast.
From Corfu: Ferry to Sarandë → 2.5 hour drive to Gjipe.
Final Approach: Last 20 minutes are on foot — a rocky path with epic sea views. Your luggage can be transported separately.
Getting there is half the story.

Who this Retreat is for

People who want to feel everything.
People who like saltwater over spreadsheets.
People who choose nature over noise.
People who want movement, connection, community.
People who enjoy a little bit of wild.

Who this Retreat is NOT for

Anyone uncomfortable with cold showers, tents, shared bathrooms, walking, heat, wind, sand, or being offline.
Anyone looking for luxury, spa settings, or curated calm.
This one asks for your whole self.
In return, it gives you back more than you expect.

What to pack

Yoga mat, swimsuit, torch/headlamp, towel, loose clothing, reusable water bottle, small cash for lunch + drinks, good walking shoes, light sweater, sunscreen, sarong, book, curiosity, open mind.

READY TO JOIN US UNDER THE SUN?

Spaces are limited. This retreat fills fast.