A field of wildflowers in the mountains above our little village
Slow art Switzerland!
June 9-14 from $3300 // Add-on June 15 & 16 at $500 // June 17-22 from $3900
For this next retreat in June get ready to be inspired by stunning nature, the most charming accommodations, farm to table meals, and incredible views! As always, this is a retreat with beauty as it’s central theme. We’ll explore a gorgeous part of the world with like-minded new friends, soaking it all in with the help of morning meditations, sketchbooking with watercolors, local cuisine and village life, hikes in the Alps, and soaks at a nearby famous thermal springs spa. No experience or skills necessary :)
From my visit in June 2022 & hotel website
SLOW ART I / June 9-14 / $3300-4700
Slow Art Retreat in Vals, Switzerland. Accommodations, workshops, hikes, most meals, cooking class, and transportation from/to Zurich included. Prospective Itinerary below. 6 rooms total, 4 at the Pension and 2 at the Chammera Apartment (scroll down for pricing). Companion rates available.
CITY ADD-ON / June 15 & 16 / $500 - SOLD OUT
Add-on from Zurich together with our local host (and 3-time Slow Art Participant) Alicia Etienne! Transportation, accommodations, & meals are NOT included in price, email me for details to plan your stay. This is a wonderful two-day itinerary to round out your Swiss Alps experience guided by our lovely friend Alicia. Our first day includes sights like the Fraumünster Church with stained glass windows by Marc Chagall, a walking tour through the Old Town, a ferry ride along the lake, and a picnic and lake swim from Alicia’s secret spot— it is lovely! With a couple hours of free time before dinner to unwind at your hotel/airbnb or explore Alicia’s google map of Zurich Favorites (sights/museums/cafes/boutiques/gardens..). Dinner reservations at one of Alicia’s favorite restaurants with an incredible tasting menu. The next day we’ll take a day trip to the beautiful city of Lucerne (where Alicia lived for many years), by train just a one-hour ride away. Here we’ll get to know Lucerne, explore the Old Town (world famous Chapel Bridge & Water Tower, the Musegg Wall, beautiful buildings & squares), with lunch at a French brasserie— a locals favorite on a pretty square. Free time to shop or sketch, and optional hike to city views! To return to Zurich in the evening for our farewell dinner, a hip and fun favorite to celebrate our trip. All with my sketchbooking tips & prompts along the way :)
SLOW ART II /June 17-22 / $3900-4700
Slow Art Retreat in Vals, Switzerland and wildflower hikes in the Alps. Accommodations, workshops, hikes, most meals, cooking class, and transportation from/to Zurich included. Prospective Itinerary below. 9 Rooms total (scroll down for all room choices).
Slow Art Prospective Itinerary
Day 1
2:00pm Meet for train ride from Zurich Airport or Train Station depending on your travel plans
4:30pm Check-in, time to unpack and relax
6:00pm Welcome Ceremony Soirée
7:00pm Delightful dinner at the Pension, seasonal & local
Day 2
8-10:00 Breakfast at the Pension (homemade breads, seed crackers, local cheeses & jams, eggs, muesli or porridge, coffees, teas, fresh squeezed juices and ginger tonics, almond cookies, berries..)
10:00am Sketching & Watercolor Workshop! Still Life, Fundamentals & Flora
12:30pm Wildflower Hike: We’ll take the gondola up up up the mountain and meander on our first route of the week with sketchbooks at the ready, stopping for a picnic lunch along the way.
4:00pm Free time to relax at the Pension, continue your sketchbooking, explore the village..
7:00pm Dinner at the Pension, seasonal & local
Day 3
8-10:00 Breakfast at the Pension
10:00am Gondola and hike, with our Sketchbooking Workshop as we go, stopping at inspiration !
1:00pm Lunch at the Tavern with alpine views (at end of hike), bus back to the village
3:00pm Free time (continue sketching at the Pension, shop around town, take a nap..)
6:00pm Meet to shop for dinner and cooking class!
7:00pm Traditional Fondue Cooking Class & Dinner with Alicia
DAY 4
8-10am Breakfast at the Pension
10:00am Sketching & Watercolor Workshop starting in the garden terrace, then around town.
12:00pm Free Time & lunch - At the pension or on the square
2:30pm SPA DAY (Optional, $50 entrance fee) - Enjoy the famously designed nearby thermal spa (includes several pools and sound/water/tactile experiences to awaken your senses). OR free time to go back up the mountain, into the village, etc.
7:00pm Meet for dinner out, a beautiful meal in the town square.
DAY 5
8-10:00 Breakfast at the Pension
12:00pm Gondola up the mountain and another beautiful hike, with Sketchbooking Workshop as we go to capture the new wildflowers around each bend. Stopping for a picnic lunch (with stunning views of course!)
4:00pm Free Time for last-minute shopping, packing, relaxing, filling up your sketchbook.. :)
7:00pm A very special farewell candlelit dinner at the Pension followed by DANCE PARTY !
DAY 6
8-10:00 Breakfast at the Pension
11:00 Check-out, Group travel to Zurich (bus and train)
WHAT’S INCLUDED
All group transportation during our retreat, including a beautiful train ride from Zurich
Accommodations, 5 nights & 6 days
10-12 meals, seasonal & local cuisine
Guided Meditations & Journal Prompts Daily
4 Workshops (Sketchbooking & Watercolor): Still life to color stories, landscapes and abstract.
Prospective Adventures: 3 Hikes (easy pace & well kept trails), Spa Day, Fondue Cooking Class
A very special farewell dinner & retreat souvenir!
NOT INCLUDED
Airfare
A few meals during free time TBD
Spa Fees & Treatments (will provide reservations & accompany you there)
Art supplies (I’ll give you a list of my favorites & top suggestions)
Additional drinks (wine, cocktails, etc. outside of 1-2 glasses house wine with dinner)
Transportation if traveling separately from the group
Please submit your requests below, I will consider each according the the order they are received. Expect a confirmation shortly, I’ll be in touch about payment options and other details.
Our rooms at Brücke 49* are divided over 2 buildings. The Pension is a 4 story house where we’ll meet for workshops and have our meals together. Here there is a shared bathroom on each floor (shared by 1-2 rooms per floor). Next door is a similar building but with a spacious apartment on each floor.
Room options, priced per person: $3900 Zervreila Room (smallest, at the Pension), , $4400 The Stuba (2 bedroom apartment at the Herberge), $4400 The Chammera (2 bedroom apartment at the Herberge), $4500 Tomul Room (at the Pension), $4500 Valser Room (at the Pension), $4700 The Suite (at the Pension), $4700 The Studio (1 bedroom top floor apartment at the Herberge). For June 9-14 ONLY: Companion Rate $3300 (for the second person if sharing a bed).
* Current Availability: 3 spots available for June 9-14!! 1 spot for June 17-22. Companion Rates are available for June 9-14 only, let me know if you’ll be sharing a bed with your travel companion :)