What Is an Aerial Retreat? Everything You Need to Know

Written By Nicola Brown

You love aerial. You love travelling.

So naturally, at some point, you may have wondered:

Can I go on holiday and train aerial at the same time?

The answer is: yes.

An aerial retreat is an experience designed for people who want more from a holiday than lying beside a pool and deciding where to eat for dinner. It brings together aerial arts, travel, training, creativity and connection. Allowing you to explore a new destination while doing the thing you already love.

Whether you train on Lyra, silks, hammock, trapeze, rope or a combination of aerial apparatus, an aerial retreat creates space to step away from your normal routine and immerse yourself in your practice.

But if you've never been on one before, you probably have questions.

What actually happens at an aerial retreat? Do you need to be advanced? Is it like an aerial workshop? Is it intense? Can you go alone? And what exactly makes it different from a circus camp?

Let's get into it.

So, What Exactly Is an Aerial Retreat?

An aerial retreat is a travel experience built around aerial arts training.

Think of it as part aerial training intensive, part group holiday and part creative escape.

Instead of travelling somewhere and leaving your aerial life behind, an aerial retreat allows you to experience a new destination through aerial. You'll spend time training with experienced coaches, exploring the destination, connecting with other aerialists and creating memories that go far beyond your average holiday itinerary.

Depending on the retreat, your experience might include:

  • Aerial classes and workshops

  • Training across one or multiple apparatus

  • Choreography and creative movement sessions

  • Specialty workshops

  • Open training

  • Mobility and conditioning

  • Photoshoots or creative experiences

  • Group meals and social events

  • Local sightseeing and activities

  • Accommodation

  • Time to rest, explore and play

The best aerial retreats are not just about how many classes you can fit into a week.

They're about creating an experience around the thing that brought you there in the first place.

What Happens at an Aerial Retreat?

Every aerial retreat will look different, but most combine structured aerial training with destination experiences and downtime.

You might start your morning with a mobility session, spend the day working on new skills or choreography, then head out to explore the city with a group of people who understand exactly why you have grip strength but still struggle to open a jar.

There may be dedicated training days, excursion days, recovery sessions and opportunities to simply enjoy where you are.

A typical day on an aerial retreat could look something like this:

Morning: Breakfast and an optional mobility, stretch or movement session.

Daytime: Aerial workshops, choreography, technique or apparatus-specific training.

Afternoon: Open training, a creative workshop, local experience or free time.

Evening: Group dinner, sunset adventure, social event or an early night because aerialists are surprisingly tired people.

Of course, the schedule depends entirely on the retreat.

Some are designed as high-intensity training experiences. Others place equal importance on aerial, relaxation, sightseeing and social connection.

The point is that an aerial retreat gives you a reason to travel that goes beyond simply visiting somewhere new.

Who Are Aerial Retreats For?

One of the biggest misconceptions about aerial retreats is that you need to be an elite aerialist to attend one.

You don't necessarily need to have years of experience, perform professionally or be capable of dropping into the splits mid-air.

Aerial retreats can be designed for different experience levels, depending on the retreat and the program.

They may be suitable for:

  • Beginner aerialists who want to deepen their training

  • Intermediate aerialists looking for new inspiration

  • Advanced aerialists wanting to train with specialist coaches

  • Performers and professionals

  • Aerial instructors and studio owners

  • Pole dancers or circus artists wanting to explore another apparatus

  • People returning to aerial after time away

  • Aerialists travelling solo

  • Friends looking for an unforgettable active holiday

The most important thing is finding a retreat that matches your current experience level, goals and the type of experience you're looking for.

Some people want a week of intense training and skill development.

Others want to improve their aerial while experiencing a new country and meeting people who also think hanging upside down is a perfectly reasonable way to spend a holiday.

Both are valid.

What Types of Aerial Retreats Are There?

Not every aerial retreat has the same focus.

Some are built around one specific apparatus, while others offer a broader circus or aerial experience.

Apparatus-Specific Aerial Retreats

These retreats focus on a particular apparatus, such as:

  • Lyra retreats

  • Aerial silks retreats

  • Trapeze retreats

  • Hammock retreats

  • Rope retreats

  • Pole and aerial retreats

These can be particularly appealing if you want to spend several days developing your skills in one discipline.

Multi-Apparatus Aerial Retreats

A multi-apparatus aerial retreat allows participants to train across multiple disciplines.

This might include a combination of:

  • Lyra

  • Silks

  • Hammock

  • Trapeze

  • Rope

  • Pole

  • Ground-based movement

These retreats can be a great option for aerialists who enjoy variety or those who have ever said, “I definitely don't need another apparatus,” and then immediately signed up for one.

Circus Retreats

A circus retreat usually offers a broader range of disciplines beyond aerial.

Depending on the program, you might explore:

  • Aerial arts

  • Acrobatics

  • Handstands

  • Juggling

  • Contortion

  • Dance

  • Movement

  • Performance skills

A circus retreat can be ideal for someone looking for a more multidisciplinary experience.

Aerial Fitness Retreats

An aerial fitness retreat may place more focus on movement, strength, flexibility and physical wellbeing alongside aerial training.

These experiences might include:

  • Aerial fitness classes

  • Conditioning

  • Strength training

  • Mobility

  • Yoga or Pilates

  • Recovery sessions

  • Wellness activities

This style of retreat is ideal for someone looking for an active holiday that still feels like a holiday.

Aerial Performance and Choreography Retreats

Some aerial retreats focus specifically on the creative side of aerial arts.

Rather than spending the entire week chasing new tricks, participants might work on:

  • Musicality

  • Flow

  • Choreography

  • Transitions

  • Performance quality

  • Character development

  • Creative movement

  • Developing an aerial routine

This can be an incredible experience for aerialists who want to move beyond simply learning skills and start exploring what they want to say with their movement.

Aerial Training, Travel and Community:
Why the Combination Works

There is something different about travelling with people who share your hobby.

You don't need to explain why your hands are covered in calluses.

You don't need to justify bringing three pairs of grip socks.

And you definitely don't have to pretend you aren't checking every ceiling to see whether you could rig something there.

An aerial retreat brings together people who already have one important thing in common: a love for movement and aerial arts.

That shared interest often creates a sense of connection much faster than traditional group travel.

You may arrive knowing nobody.

You may leave with training partners in different cities, new friends to visit around the world and an alarming number of photos of yourself hanging upside down.

The travel experience also brings a different kind of inspiration to your aerial practice.

A new studio.

A new coach.

A new apparatus.

A new environment.

A new group of people.

Can You Go on an Aerial Retreat Alone?

Absolutely.

In fact, travelling solo can be one of the best reasons to join an aerial retreat.

Group retreats provide the structure of an organised experience while still allowing you the freedom to travel independently.

You arrive with a shared itinerary, organised training and a group of people who are all there for a similar reason.

That doesn't mean you have to spend every waking moment together. The best retreat experiences allow space for connection and independence.

You can join the group dinner.

Or take yourself out for dinner.

You can spend the afternoon exploring with new friends.

Or disappear to a beach with a book.

It's your holiday too.

How Is an Aerial Retreat Different From a Circus Camp?

A circus camp is generally more focused on structured circus training.

It may involve multiple disciplines, scheduled classes and intensive skill development. Circus camps can range from youth programs to adult training intensives and professional-level programs.

An aerial retreat may include circus-style training, but it typically places greater emphasis on the overall travel experience.

There is more room for:

  • Exploring the destination

  • Relaxing and recovering

  • Group experiences

  • Social connection

  • Creative activities

  • Local culture

  • Travel

The difference isn't necessarily about how serious the training is.

It's about the experience surrounding it.

An aerial retreat asks:

What happens when you combine your favourite form of movement with a destination you've always wanted to experience?

Why Go on an Aerial Retreat Instead of a Regular Holiday?

Honestly?

You can do a regular holiday anytime.

But travelling somewhere specifically to train aerial, connect with other aerialists and experience a destination through the thing you're passionate about is something different.

An aerial retreat gives you permission to make your hobby part of the holiday.

Instead of choosing between:

“Should I travel?”

and

“But I don't want to miss training.”

You get to do both.

You might return home stronger.

More inspired.

More confident.

With new skills.

New friends.

A camera roll full of aerial photos.

And potentially a very serious desire to start planning the next trip immediately.

What Should You Look for When Choosing an Aerial Retreat?

Before booking an aerial retreat, consider what kind of experience you actually want.

Ask yourself:

What apparatus do I want to train?

Look at whether the retreat focuses on your preferred apparatus or offers multiple options.

What is the experience level?

Make sure the retreat is suitable for your current level and offers appropriate progressions or modifications.

Who are the coaches?

Look at their experience, teaching style and areas of expertise.

How much training is included?

Some retreats are highly intensive, while others balance training with travel and relaxation.

What is included in the price?

Check whether your accommodation, meals, activities, training and transfers are included.

How much free time will I have?

You may want every moment planned or you may prefer plenty of time to explore independently.

What kind of group experience am I looking for?

A retreat can feel very different depending on its group size, accommodation style and overall atmosphere.

Where is the retreat?

For some people, the destination is the deciding factor. For others, the coaches or training program come first.

There is no right answer.

The best aerial retreat for you is the one that matches the experience you want to have.

So… Is an Aerial Retreat Worth It?

If you've ever searched for:

“Can I go on holiday and train aerial?”

“Are there aerial retreats for adults?”

“Where can I travel to train aerial arts?”

or simply found yourself planning a trip around which aerial studios you could visit…

You might already have your answer.

An aerial retreat is about more than training.

It's about taking something you love and allowing it to become part of the way you experience the world.

It's movement.

It's travel.

It's creativity.

It's community.

It's doing something slightly outside the ordinary with people who understand exactly why you packed grip, knee pads and three different training outfits for a holiday.

And at the heart of it all?

It's play.

Because growing up shouldn't mean you have to stop climbing things.

Ready to Take Your Aerial Practice Somewhere New?

Aerial Playground Retreats is creating travel experiences for aerialists who want to explore, train, connect and play.

Our retreats bring together aerial training, experienced coaches, unforgettable destinations and a community of people who understand that sometimes the best way to see the world is from upside down.

Sydney is where the playground begins. Australia, Bali and beyond are where we're headed next.

Join the Aerial Playground Retreats waitlist to be the first to hear about upcoming aerial retreats, destinations and experiences.

Nicola Brown