DoYou Place - Lithuania's hidden gem for mindful travel and sustainable living
Nestled in the heart of Lithuania, DoYou Place is more than just a hotel - it’s a haven for travellers seeking a blend of sustainability and mindfulness. Designed with a focus on eco-conscious living, this unique retreat is redefining modern travel. On arrival we were greeted and shown around by the founders Kęstas and Justė, and from that very moment their passion to the project and commitment to sustainability was evident.
Justė is a quiet force of imagination — a maker of ideas shaped by instinct, curiosity, and a gentle awareness. She understands that every word and gesture carries weight, and she chooses each one with care. There is an energy about her that lingers; a sense that life can be lived more meaningfully, more purposefully. Time with Justė makes the possible feel within reach — the possibility of caring deeply for others, of tending to the world around you, and of living on your own terms.
Kęstas is a kind of warm sunlight on a cloudy day – quietly steady, endlessly generous. His generosity shows in the way he lingers over details, in the meals he prepares with intention, in his devotion to perfecting whatever he touches. Whether he is toasting a simple grilled-cheese sandwich, preparing a flawless cup of latte, or building a sauna that feels as though it emerged from the earth itself – he brings the same mindful craftsmanship to it all.
Kęstas, meets each Justė‘s vision with steady hands and patient craftsmanship. Together, they have built almost every corner of DoYou Place themselves! The tables, the shelves, even the small details of the rooms carry the grain of his work and the imprint of their shared persistence.
Justė and Kęstas is a couple defined by will, by courage, and by a gentle kind of devotion: to each other, to the land that surrounds them, to food cooked slowly, and to the animals that they have adopted from the shelter, to the woods they are saving!
We visit DoYou Place in winter, the season Justė treasures most. This is when the Lithuanian woods turn inward, when the quiet settles, and when the forest reveals its mysterious healing power with the unmistakable clarity of cold air. It is a time for slower rhythms, for stepping lightly, for noticing and breathing.
About DoYou Place
The hotel is built using eco-friendly materials, with energy efficient systems and a zero-waste policy woven into its daily operations. Guests are encouraged to embrace green living with fresh drinking water, biodegradable toiletries, and on-site recycling programs. DoYou Place also partner with local artisans and businesses, showcasing Lithuania’s rich heritage while supporting the community. Each room is a sanctuary of comfort and style, featuring minimalist décor inspired by Scandinavian and Japanese design, organic linens and beautiful views of calming forests or serene lakes.
The hotel contains of three A-shaped cabins, with no more than 2 guests allowed in each. They are a spacious 50m2, equipped with a kitchenette, shower and robes, fireplace, and a terrace with a grill. When asked if they have any plans to expand and build more cabins, the answer was a simple no, as they want it to remain a quiet sanctuary with minimal noise or disturbance.
Breakfast can be enjoyed in the separate glasshouse, which by the way was delicious, but each cabin is also equipped with a variation of healthy loose teas and honey, made from their on-site beehives, so guests can choose whether to cook their own breakfast in their cabin, or to have it made for them to enjoy in the glasshouse.
This a place for travellers with a need to disconnect from the hustle and reconnect with themselves. Visitors are encouraged to come for a stay on their own and no children or pets are allowed. Start your day with a sunrise yoga session overlooking the tranquil countryside, go for a walk or a bike ride around the forest, or spend some time in the sauna followed by a swim or dip in the lake –all year around.
For a thoroughly calm start to the day, try forest bathing – an ancient Japanese practice that helps reduce stress and improve well-being through deep connection with nature.
DoYou Place is conveniently located less than an hour drive from Vilnius Airport, making it accessible yet tucked away enough to provide a serene escape.
Sustainability as a Way of Life
Sustainability here is not a concept borrowed from marketing, but a lived, daily practice shaped by restraint and intention. Justė and Kęstas have built the retreat almost entirely with their own hands, using reclaimed materials, repurposed furniture, and objects salvaged from old Lithuanian buildings, giving new life to what others might discard.
Their self-funded forest fund reinvests a portion of every booking back into the woodland they are working to protect, ensuring that the forest grows rather than disappears. Even the decision not to expand, not to add more cabins, more visitors, is an act of ecological respect.
“Less people, more nature” is not a slogan here, but the quiet principle guiding every choice. At DoYou Place, sustainability is not something you observe; it is something you feel, woven into the silence of the trees, the texture of the materials, and the intention behind every detail.
All photography by Denis Vejas
Unalike 2025
