Dawn hikes, sound baths and yoga – experiencing a different Ibiza
As I cautiously round the curve of the rocky trail, my gaze is instantly drawn to the dramatic, jagged silhouette of Es Vedrà rising from the serene Balearic Sea before me.
This legendary limestone monolith in Ibiza is a magnet for sightseers due to the numerous myths and legends that surround it, explains our tour guide Pablo Léonard, co-founder of Into The Island Ibiza Tours.
Es Vedrà is associated with the sirens from Homer's Odyssey and is considered to be one of the most powerful energy spots on earth, and Pablo reveals that this trail offers some of the best, yet little-known, viewpoints of it.
This calm, tranquil scene feels worlds away from the stereotypes often associated with Ibiza's party reputation. But, as Pablo points out, there are so many more layers to the Mediterranean island than its nightlife.
We're on the quiet southwest coast, far from the bustling party hubs, and in the stillness of the early morning, it feels as though we have the island entirely to ourselves.
For Pablo, who first arrived in Ibiza as a teenager and now calls it his forever home, the island offers a slower pace of life, breathtaking natural beauty, and a deep sense of peace. Thanks to the spiritual significance of Es Vedrà, Ibiza is becoming an increasingly popular destination for wellness seekers looking to meditate, recharge and reconnect.
The sky was a vibrant mix of orange, pink and red warm hues at 6am when we started our hike that morning. Sunrise is the best time to see Ibiza in all its natural glory, Pablo reassured us as we rubbed our eyes and did our best to hide our yawns.
As we climbed into the 4×4 to begin our early morning adventure, I caught eyes with a group of partygoers returning to our hotel – the glorious Mondrian, which oozes style and sophistication. We represented two very different lifestyles that easily co-exist on the island.
Someone who knows both sides of Ibiza very well is beloved British broadcaster and author Fearne Cotton. The BBC Radio 2 DJ and founder of the Happy Place brand first visited Ibiza in 2007 to film with Dannii Minogue for The Xtra Factor, and fell in love with the island's energy and people. Six years later, after giving birth to her son Rex, she discovered her love for yoga.
To mark this long-standing love affair with the island, the broadcaster has curated a half-day Ibiza: Unplugged wellness experience with GetYourGuide, which includes a sunrise hike, a beach-side yoga session, sound bath and a boat trip for €40 on select dates in August.
"Doing yoga outdoors is wonderful, especially in the quiet, early hours," says Cotton, who was on the island ahead of my visit to make final tweaks to the tour.
Hiking is another way that the broadcaster has got to know the ins and outs of Ibiza's gorgeous natural landscape.
"A friend here invited me on a hike led by a local guide. It was about four hours long, and he showed us all the local plants and trees," she enthuses. "We picked almonds and swam in the sea at sunset. I really got to know the island better during that time."
If Cotton had to sum up Ibiza in one word, it would be "magical".
"It's naturally a magical place. You can't really articulate it; you just have to experience it," explains Cotton. "Whether you're clubbing or exploring the quieter side, you feel that magic as soon as you arrive. The northern parts of the island are rugged and rural, not built up, and that's heaven for me. You're surrounded by nature, without tall buildings and hotels clogging the skyline."
After our hike, we head to a wellness morning retreat, where orange yoga mats, lanterns and water bottles are thoughtfully arranged on a tranquil, shaded patch of woodland that looks out over a secluded beach. The 45-minute beginner yoga session rekindles my passion for the practice, as our instructor takes the time to check in with each participant and offer personalised modifications.
I close my eyes and stretch out widely on the mat during the sound bath, which follows to fully immerse myself in the vibrations of the gongs, singing bowls and chimes.
When the sound bath practitioner Josie Danielle, who lives within Ibiza's mountains, gently touches my forehead with a tuning fork, any previous thoughts and stresses are instantly zapped from my mind. Her gentle voice, coupled with the soft vibrations of her instruments, creates a deeply full-body meditative experience. Only the sound of curious lizards scuttling across my yoga mat is enough to abruptly bring me back to reality.
One of the best ways to discover Ibiza's natural beauty is by sea, and luckily, the last part of our wellness adventure is a one-and-a-half-hour cruise around the island.
In his element, Pablo enthusiastically takes on the role of captain and gleefully wizzes the speedboat away from the port at full throttle. The hum of the engine only fades as we approach a breathtaking, hidden cove.
As I glide through the crystal-clear turquoise waters, I daydream about what it would be like to leave my bustling life in London behind to become a yoga teacher and live within the mountains of Ibiza with the mischievous lizards.
Ibiza has a special energy to it, and if you look in the right places, you will find a beautiful, slower and soul-nourishing pace of life.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Ryanair couple banned from boarding their flight and left £500 out of pocket due to confusing passport rule
A COUPLE with a sick child have revealed they were banned from a Ryanair flight, and forced to pay £500, due to a confusing rule. Christina and Cameron Finn travelled with their young son to London from Belfast for a CBeebies event. Advertisement 1 The couple were forced to fork out £500 for another plane ticket Credit: Getty Unable To Check In They had no issues entering England, but on the way back, they travelled via Dublin and were met with a series of problems. The couple were unable to check in for their flight on the Ryanair website due to technical issues, meaning that when they arrived at Stansted, they had to pay a £55 fee for not checking in online. Then Ryanair asked for the couple's passports, which were both expired, as they had been waiting for their son to arrive before renewing them. On their easyJet flight to London, they had used their driving licenses, with no issues. Advertisement Read more Ryanair stories However, Ryanair staff allegedly refused to accept their driving licences, stating that because Christina is British, she needs a visa to fly to Dublin because the Republic of Ireland is in the EU. Christina argued with staff that under the Common Travel Agreement, passports and visas are not required by British and Irish citizens travelling between the two countries. Banned From Flight However, she claims that Ryanair staff said that she would be stopped by passport control in Dublin who would fine the airline "between £500 and £1,000" for letting her on board without a passport. The pair, whose five-month-old baby was sick and required medication, were informed by staff that their only option was to buy last-minute flights to Belfast, which set them back £500. Advertisement Most read in News Travel Confusing Rule Christina phoned her mother to ask her for help with the hefty cost, and her mother quickly checked the government website, where it states that no visa or passport is required by British and Irish citizens for travel between the two countries. "I decided to ring the British embassy in Dublin who directed me to call the Irish embassy in London and the woman on the phone was horrified", Christina told Passengers injured on Ryanair flight after being thrown against the cabin roof as plane 'flew into supercell storm' "She said there was no need for a visa." However, the embassy worker added that airlines are allowed to impose their own strict ID policies. Advertisement Ryanair has defended its actions, telling the "Therefore, these passengers were correctly asked to pay the required airport check-in fee (£55 per passenger), however refused to do so, and became aggressive towards the agents at the check in desk at London Stansted Airport." Advice for flying with Ryanair All Ryanair passengers can bring a small personal bag on board but this must fit under the seat in front of you, but it must be no bigger than 40cm x 20cm x 25cm Any over-sized cabin bags will be refused at the boarding gate and put in the hold for a fee Ryanair also charges passengers up to £55 check-in at the airport Anyone who Book to sit in the front five rows if you want to head off the plane first The The Irish airline added that their terms and conditions state that all passengers must carry a valid passport when travelling between the UK and Ireland. Christina said that the ordeal made her feel like a "second-class citizen." Advertisement Ryanair has been contacted for comment.
The Irish Sun
7 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
I was sick of barely surviving crime-ridden UK – I packed my life in a shipping container & moved to Turkey with my kids
A MUM-of-three ditched the doom and gloom of crime-ridden Britain for a soft life with her kids in Turkey. Fed up with grey skies, scary streets and a constant daily grind to make ends meet, one British mum said 'enough's enough' and packed her entire life into a shipping container to start fresh under the Turkish sun. Advertisement 3 A British mum was sick of UK crime and decided to move her family abroad Credit: Tiktok@jod1383 3 The family now live in Alanya, Turkey Jodie, aka 'I was sad. Depressed. You never saw me smile,' she admitted in one of her now-viral videos. But claims she's now significantly happier and "full of life". Jodie had had enough of struggling to stay afloat in the UK. Advertisement Read more on travel She and her husband were working round the clock just to scrape by – no holidays, no savings, and zero chance of buying a home thanks to what she calls 'stupid little things' constantly going wrong. And as if the money stress wasn't enough, the rising crime in her area tipped her over the edge. She claimed she wanted a better life for her and the kids and so packed up her life, three kids and the dog and moved abroad. With her husband's family already settled in Turkey, the couple decided to give it a go. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous He flew out first to find a rental for a year, just to see if it would work. Meanwhile, back in Britain, Jodie was packing everything – furniture, clothes, kids' toys, even the kettle – into a shipping container bound for their new life abroad. The Spanish region undiscovered by Brits despite seaside views and ancient Roman cities She claimed it took months to organise and said whilst it was difficult, it was definitely worth the hassle. While their belongings were at sea, her husband drove their car and their massive German Shepherd all the way across Europe – a three-day trek – while Jodie, the kids and her mum hopped on a flight. Advertisement Their first year was spent in a peaceful Turkish village far from the tourist spots and Jodie absolutely fell in love. She said it was a beautiful, local area that wasn't too touristy. When their tenancy was up, they made the move to Alanya, a more buzzing coastal area, and Jodie's never looked back. 'I love it. I really love it here,' she beamed. Advertisement She says she wouldn't return to the UK unless she absolutely had to. She explained that her kids are thriving and their lives have all infinitely improved since the move. While Jodie's Turkish hubby sorted most of the boring paperwork, she says she's now 'retired from admin' and doesn't miss the stress one bit. And for anyone else dreaming of ditching the UK for a new life in the sun? The Tiktoker is here to help. Advertisement 'Drop me a DM,' she says, promising to share details to help with paperwork and all the tricky bits. She's not the only Brit trading dreary, concrete skylines for golden sands. A young woman recently revealed how her health improved after she Ela Reeves was struggling with a series of health conditions prior to the move, including Advertisement With her body 'crying out for change', she decided to try life in sunnier climes and jetted off to in January and has never looked back. How easy is it to move abroad? Brexit means British citizens now have to apply for visas to move to countries within the EU. While some countries residency restrictions are easier than others, here's what you need to do at home before moving: Notify HMRC about your upcoming move. Let your local authority know and provide a forwarding address. Contact your mortgage and utility providers and bank before leaving. If you have paid enough UK national insurance contributions, you can qualify for a state pension abroad - contact the You can sign up to the Royal Mail's If you have outstanding student loans, contact the If you have children, give due notice to childcares and schools. 3 The family now enjoy sunny skies Credit: Tiktok@jod1383
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Mass evacuations in Crete as fire rips through holiday island
A major wildfire at one of Greece's most popular tourist destinations continues to burn out of control after breaking out on Wednesday afternoon. The fire started in rugged forested terrain near the municipality of Ierapetra but following gale-force winds reaching up to eight on the Beaufort scale, the flames have now spread rapidly southward, threatening homes, tourist accommodation, and critical infrastructure. Around 3,000 residents have been evacuated and put up in temporary shelters. The fire front now extends over at least 6km, according to emergency services, making containment increasingly difficult. Follow our live blog below for the latest updates. Greece has launched a huge emergency response after wildfires tore through the popular British holiday hotspot of Greece overnight. Over 2,700 personnel from multiple agencies have been dispatched to the region, backed by eight firefighting planes, 12 helicopters, and a fleet of fire trucks and specialized equipment. A number of X users have shared images of their phone screens showing the emergency alerts sent to their mobile phones yesterday. Huge clouds of smoke rising above the southern part of Crete, filmed from Agios Nikolaus on the north coast, presumably from wildfires. We received an emergency alert on phones earlier today warning of wildfires near Agia Fotia. #wildfires #greece #crete Authorities have issued evacuation orders for multiple settlements, including Achlia, Agia Fotia, Galini, Ferma, and Koutsounari. In these affected areas, emergency responders have worked tirelessly to move residents and visitors to safety. The evacuees have been relocated to temporary shelters, including an indoor basketball arena in Ierapetra and various hotels across other parts of the island. Heraklion, on the island of Crete, is expected to reach highs of 29C today according to the Met Office weather forecast. It predicts highs of 37C on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. 'It's a very difficult situation. The fire is very hard to contain. Right now, they cannot contain it,' Nektarios Papadakis, a civil protection official at the regional authority, told the Associated Press. 'The tourists who were moved out are all ok. They have been taken to an indoor basketball arena and hotels in other regions of the island.' Tourists were seen fleeing villas and holiday homes in eastern Crete. Videos from the Greek island show the mayhem as holidaymakers attempt to get onto transport away from the raging fire. Families with their suitcases can be seen getting into cars and buses while a raging fire lights up a hill in the background, which a local weather station described as "raging out of control" as the wildfire spread up to the shoreline near Ierapetra. BREAKING: A massive evacuation is underway in Ferma, Ierapetra, on the Greek island of Crete, as an out-of-control wildfire nears hotels, rental rooms, and homes. Authorities have ordered the area cleared for At least four elderly people have been taken to hospital with respiratory problems caused by smoke inhalation. As a precaution, all hospitals in Crete have been placed on alert by health authorities, BBC reports. As of Wednesday night, 155 firefighters, eight specialised foot teams, and 38 fire engines are operating on the ground. Four helicopters also carried out water drops until nightfall. Local municipalities have also deployed water tankers and heavy machinery. According to public broadcaster ERT, the fire service has ordered a tactical withdrawal from the fire front to protect personnel and prioritise the creation of firebreaks around at-risk settlements. Crews are expected to remain on the ground throughout the night.
