Everything You Want to Know.

Il Sentiero is a private retreat sanctuary in Tricase Porto, Salento, Puglia, southern Italy. Founded and guided by Nikita Jaspers, it offers 5-day private retreats, duo retreats, a summer programme called Still Season, and multi-day company wellbeing retreats for leaders and teams. The retreat sits directly by the Adriatic Sea.

Via Vittorio Bottego 100, Tricase Porto, 73039, Salento, Puglia, southern Italy — directly by the Adriatic Sea. The nearest airports are Brindisi (BDS, ~1.5 hours) and Bari (BRI, ~2.5 hours).

Nikita Jaspers is a Dutch-Italian retreat guide, somatic practitioner and emotional intelligence coach. She holds a Bachelor of Social Work (Avans Hogeschool Breda), is a certified PSYCH-K® practitioner and Kundalini Activation practitioner, and has a professional background as a sociotherapist and group supervisor with experience in psychiatry. She founded Il Sentiero to offer deep personal retreats in southern Italy.

No alarm. You wake when your body is ready. Often a walk to the sea before breakfast. Breakfast outdoors, unhurried. 30 minutes of personal time. Then a guided journaling session (three questions, 20 minutes), followed by a one-on-one session with Nikita — at the cave, on a walk, or by the sea.

A long Italian lunch follows. Two hours of integration time in the afternoon. Then a bodywork session — soft light, music, somatic and energy work. The evening closes gently, sometimes with a fire.

5 days. Included: accommodation by the sea, all meals, daily one-on-one sessions, a personal journal, bodywork sessions, and 3 follow-up conversations after departure (at 2 weeks, 5–6 weeks, and 2–3 months). Nikita also writes a personal letter describing everything she observed during your time together.

People who feel something needs to change. Common profiles: professionals experiencing burnout or chronic stress; people feeling emotionally disconnected or stuck; women seeking to reconnect with themselves; individuals in life transitions; leaders who need to return to themselves before they can lead others well.

You do not need to be spiritual or have previous therapy experience. You only need to be willing to show up.

Yes. Many guests do not identify as spiritual. Nikita's approach is grounded and human first — emotions, nervous system regulation, honest conversation. You don't need to believe in anything to benefit. The cave and the sea are conditions, not rituals. The work happens between two people.

Somatic therapy is a body-based approach to emotional healing. It recognises that emotions, stress and unprocessed experiences are stored in the body — in tension, posture, breath and nervous system patterns. At Il Sentiero, somatic work means Nikita pays attention to what the body is doing as well as what is being said. Many guests find that things release in a somatic session that years of talk therapy could not reach.

Il Sentiero operates in two main seasons: Spring/Summer (mid-February to mid-July) and Autumn (September to November). The Still Season summer stay programme runs July through August. Contact Nikita to ask about specific availability.

A lighter summer stay in July and August. A room in Nikita's home, the sea at the door, days at the body's own rhythm. During the day everything slows. In the evenings Salento comes alive — dancing, music, long nights. Nikita knows the hidden beaches and local spots. Individual sessions available for those who want to go deeper. La dolce vita, lived.

Fill in the contact form at ilsentiero.world/connect. Nikita reads every message personally and will reach out to schedule a free introduction call. No obligations. After the call, if it feels right for both, details and pricing are discussed personally.

Yes. Two programmes:

The Human Behind the Business — multi-day group retreat in Puglia for employees. Emotional intelligence work, somatic sessions, nature, honest conversation.

The Grounded Leader — 5-day one-on-one retreat for company leaders. Works with the specific weight and demands of leadership.

Both start with a free introduction call, followed by a tailored proposal.