HOLISTIC RETREATS
AND JOURNEYS
OPEN YOUR HEART IN S-LOVE-NIA
Beautiful sLOVEnia, a ‘Green Patch of Europe’ lies at the crossroads of mountains, rivers, plains and the sea. It is the meeting point of Slavic, Germanic and Latin cultures, which influences local architecture, rich food and mentality of people.
‘Open Your Hearth to sLOVEnia Tour’ will take you
to the most magical places of this hidden gem of Europe.
The fairytale beauty of this tiny land will blow you away.
Throughout the tour we will replenish our energy at special places in nature, we will dance in presence of horses, walk, meditate, use sounds for healing… in varied ways broaden our state of consciousness and explore ourselves.
THE PROGRAM - ITINERARY
DAY 1
28th May
WELCOME
Transfer from Ljubljana airport to the hotel.
Upon arrival to a little picturesque capital of Slovenia, a town called Ljubljana (often called ‘Ljubljena’, meaning ‘the beloved’) you will be accommodated to a nice homestay to be able to rest and gather your energies after the long-distance flight. In the evening we will have an opening meeting and a welcome dinner at the centre of this beautiful town.
Meals: D ACC: private hotel at Ljubljana
DAY 2
29th May
LJUBLJANA, THE BELOVED
Visit the charming capital on a guided walking tour. The town is set along romantic river banks, under a castle hill. Stroll through narrow alleys and majestic squares and learn about present, past and local legends. Revive history of the castle via the performative tour Time Machine. After this extraordinary historic journey into six time stations accompanied with six costumed characters, taking you from Roman Emona times till nowadays, we will walk & move around the Castle hill in a genuine, playful way, connecting with each other and with the forest to raise the group consciousness and harmonize with nature. You will have free afternoon in this gorgeous mini-Europe city. We will end this beautiful day with an insight into Slovenian folklore dance & music at the dinner with traditional atmosphere.
Meals: B, D
ACC: private hotel at Ljubljana
DAY 3
30th May
(RE)CONNECT IN NATURE
Visit the Ljubljana marshland, a magic area South of the town. This protected plain is known for its serenity, beauty, its natural and cultural sights. The pile dwellings tell us about history of at least 9000 years. We might meet a local dragon (symbol of Ljubljana) and even get lost in the mystical fog, believed to be coming out of his mouth, but no fear, it is a nice & warmhearted one. We will trek to Saint Ana’s hill and visit Podpeč lake. On the way we’ll do some deep breathing exercises to connect body, mind & spirit and to embrace this mysterious & rustic land of dragons, dwarfs and other magical creatures. We will also do some movement exercises for sharpening your sensorial system. After lunch at an organic country estate and a visit to a unique church, designed by famous architect Plečnik, we will unwind by taking a slow canoe ride on Ljubljanica river back to Ljubljana centre.
Meals: B, L
ACC: Glamping or hotel at Radomlje
DAY 4
31st May
DANCE IN PRESENCE OF HORSES
Visiting a special and unique equine center Kiron.
In following next two days we will dive deeper into body-mind-spirit harmonizing and presence of horses will help us achieve that. In the mornings we will honor the day with Kundalini Meditation and then we will guide you through some basic Contact Dance Tools. Easy to do, simple to share. Contact Dance demands instant presence, mindfulness and curiosity and awakens unconsciousness. It immediately confronts us with body sensations in a way that we shut down our mind and surrender to intuitive guidance of inner impulses.
After a lunch there will be some free time for silent reflection, individual work with horses or a walk in the nature. We will also have an interesting video lecture on universal archetypes and horse’s archetypes and then we will embody gained knowledge and enhance personal creativity through more guided movement and other artistic expression. Everything in near presence of horses. After dinner we will perform a ritual dance with a drum by fire (all group involved).
Meals: B, L, D
ACC: Glamping or hotel at Radomlje
DAY 5
1st June
EQUINE MINDFULNESS
Today you will already feel more comfortable, safe and sovereign in your relationship with the group and with horses. We will learn in encouraging way how to be more present how to work with energy and how to be more emotionally vital in your body movement.
You will spend time moving in your body in near presence of the herd, deeply sensing their spirit and dancing bare feet, playing on soft sand in an open air riding area and deepening your creative potentials. Surrounded with pristine nature just a few minutes walk away from the venue you will have a chance to visit a nearby botanical garden, embrace the silence within and later on spend a night looking into the stars above accompanied with enlightening conversations by the fire.
Meals: B, L, D
ACC: Glamping or hotel at Radomlje
DAY 6
2nd June
WELCOME TO THE MOUNTAINS
On route to the mountains, we will visit a natural healing centre and sink into its many energy points. The findings of researches carried out here pointed out several energy springs with special healing effects on one or more organic systems in a human body. With a bit of movement we’ll raise the awareness of the nature around us and perceive it as a “living entity” that needs to be approached in a same way as humans. It needs to be listened, smelled, touched, talked to… A proposition to train group’s instant and active
imagination. Afterwards we’ll drive through gorgeous countryside to Bled and visit its medieval castle with fascinating views of the lake, made by white fairies. Free time at the lake. Afternoon hike through a stunning gorge nearby. River Radovna with its waterfall at the end of the gorge will revive us with negative ions. Dinner at Bled, chilling out, perhaps star gazing included.
Meals: B, D ACC: A family hotel at Bled
DAY 7
3rd June
ENCHANTING BOHINJ VALLEY
Visit the stunning lake Bohinj, embraced by Alpine peaks. We will do a ‘silent & sensorial hike’ along the lake to its end. Weather permitting, a cable car will take us to an elevation of 5000 feet for an energising view of Julian Alps and their highest mountain, Triglav. We will have plenty of time to explore… not solely with our eyes, but using all our senses and body as a whole. There will be time for silent meditation and and feeling one with Mother Nature. A short scenic ride will take us back to Bled. Pamper yourself in another free evening at Bled lake.
Meals: B, L ACC: Family hotel at Bled
DAY 8
4th June
THE SECRETS OF THE EMERALD RIVER
A train will take us on a breathtaking journey through Julian Alps, to another jewel of Slovenian Alps - the Soča valley. Walt Disney Narnia 3 was filmed here, the valley looks like a fairytale. The river’s colour is a symbol of revival and new life.
Following the footsteps of our ancestors we will visit a stone circle in the mountains, a heritage of the oldest Slovenian belief system - a kind of slavic paganism. We will perform a ritual, connect with this sacred place and those energies. Lunch in Kobarid and a chance to visit a WW 1 museum, addressing the amazing, but sad part of the valley’s history.
Continue to the oldest pagan cave in Slovenia, sacred Babna cave, a sanctuary and a devotional place of an ancient local cult. It is an amazing place with special bio-energies located at the emerald river Soča. There we will have a special sound bath with a sound healer & singer. It is also possible to swim in the most famous and beautiful Slovenian river Soča there (just next to the sanctuary).
In the evening we will drive to Goriška Brda hills for the next two nights.
Meals: B, L
ACC: Hotel at Šmartno, Brda
DAY 9
5th June
IDYLLIC BRDA HILLS
Wake-up with a mesmerizing view of Slovenian ‘Tuscany’, full of hilltop medieval villages, surrounded by vineyards. Brda hills are a place where colours and scents of nature awaken one's long forgotten senses. Take a beautiful hike and stroll through Šmartno village, learn about life of locals living with nature. During the hike we will do some breathing session to empower our root chakra, activate the Qi energy and lift it upward. We will use this energy for group creation and after having trekked the vineyards of Brda, we will explore the little walled village Šmartno in a playful & expressive way.
This charming day will finish with the afternoon wine-tasting with a meal and an extraordinary contemporary performative concert, a cultural fusion of Slovenian folklore and other influences.
Meals: B, D ACC: Hotel at Šmartno, Brda
DAY 10
6th June
THE UNDERGROUND BEAUTY AND THE SEA
One of Slovenia's distinct regions, Kras lends its name to geological phenomena of caves and sinkholes worldwide. As a place of rocks, windy meadows, underground mysteries and terra rosa (red soil), it calls for a visit to a cave and a wine cellar. Postojna cave is one of the most beautiful caves in the world, boasting a special endemic animal Proteus Anguinus. Local producers have some of the country’s best wines. We will taste it combined with other famous local goodies. We will also stroll through medieval Štanjel and visit its beautiful Ferrari gardens.
After taking in its riches and maybe see some Lipizzan horses originating in this area we will leave Karst behind and head for Piran, a coastal town gem at the Adriatic sea.
Meals: B, L ACC: Hotel at Piran
DAY 11
7th June
THE JEWELS OF THE COAST
Little Piran, everyone’s favourite town at Slovenia coast invites us to get lost in its narrow streets. We will end up on the medieval walls, enchanted by amazing views of the surroundings and three different countries at the same time. Free time for swimming.
Afternoon visit of the magic salt-pans of Sečovlje with its tradition of salt production since 804 AD. Water and mud from the salt pans have been used for baths and body treatments for a long time. We will have an experiential movement session that will enhance our vivid imagination and create “moving sculptures”.
Dinner will be served in the hinterlands of Slovenia's coast, at a village of Divača, where we will spend the following two nights, immersing ourselves into self-exploration and relaxation.
Meals: B, D ACC: Accommodation at Divača
DAY 12
8th June
WORKSHOP AT THE MAGIC KRAS
And here we come to the last day of our journey. We will spend it in the middle of nature, in a typical karstic area, at the forest and its secrets. We will explore Škocjan Natural Park (UNESCO SITE) or take an off-a-beaten track hike around Karst, reflecting about our journey and visit a local spice farm on the way. We will have a closing circle with a gong healing sound and meaningful and open-hearted sharing in the evening.
Meals: B, L, D
ACC: Accommodation at Divača
DAY 13
9th June
UNTIL OUR PATHS MEET AGAIN
Transfer to Ljubljana. Our warmest hugs will set you on your way.
Meals: B
PRICE
2.045,00/ EARLY BIRDS, until 15. May 2019
2.445,00 EUR/ REGULAR PRICE
DISCOUNTS:
* Organizers have the right to change the locations and program activities in itinerary
What is included:
-accommodation hotels/glampings in double rooms or more (only last 2 nights)
-half-board and full board (only 2 days at workshop at Radomlje and 1 day at Divača)
-comfortable air-conditioned minibus with a professional driver
-gas, road tolls, parking fees
-tour guide
-workshop facilitator
-entrance fees to the sights in the program
-workshops and events
-transfer from Ljubljana airport to the hotel
-transfer from the coast to Ljubljana
What is not included:
- airfare
-additional meals
-drinks
-souvenirs
-tips for the driver (recommended - 2 eur pp/day)
-tips for the guide & facilitator (recommended - 8 eur pp/day)
-transfers from/to other airports (we can help organize it)
* Organisers have the right to change the locations and program activities from the itinerary due to weather inconsistencies or late reservations of accommodations.
BOOKING DEPOSIT
30% of tour price per person is required to secure your reservation. Full payment is required 45 days prior to tour departure.
CANCELLATION & PAYMENT POLICY
It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policy.
No one books a journey with the intention of canceling it, but unexpected events do occur and we encourage you to purchase Travel Cancellation Insurance to cover any unfortunate eventualities.
Please note that because this journey has limited numbers, it allows for a more personable, intimate experience.
Our nonrefundable cancellation policy is in place to ensure the highest quality of service and experience for all.
Exceptions cannot be made for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies.
No refunds for arriving late or leaving early is available.
Deposits are non-refundable, unless Journey is canceled from our side.
We reserve the right to cancel the Journey if it is not meeting the Journey minimum.
If we do so, your deposit and payments will be fully refunded.
Although deposit can be applied to another trip within a one year period.
Contact us for any further inquires about our policy.
PLEASE NOTICE
If you are to participate in this journey , it should NOT be confused with professional therapy or counseling for specific conditions in your personal or professional life. As a trip participant, you shall agree to be mindful and personally responsible for your own wellbeing during the journey and if needed, to seek professional & licensed medical treatment in your state/country. We do not provide medical, therapy, or psychotherapy services.
What we do is to facilitate conditions and space for your personal growth.
Our promise to sustain our environment:
Venue Building
One of our venues, where we will spend 3 days is Terra Anima.
Association for deep ecology - TERRA ANIMA - is dedicated to spread awareness of how important is our connection with nature and ancient soul wisdom. A small stood with open air kitchen and a small house just next to it, was built exclusively from natural organic materials (wood), sourced from local environment and by the principles of geomancy, influenced by guidance of Marko Pogacnik, famous Slovenian geomancy practitioner who was pronounced as UNESCO artist of Peace in 2016. By the stood, there is a big meadow for horses and small organic garden. Organic farming promotes the use of crop rotations and cover crops, and encourages balanced host/predator relationships. Organic residues and nutrients produced on the garden are recycled back to the soil. Cover crops and composted manure are used to maintain soil organic matter and fertility. Preventative insect and disease control methods are practiced, including crop rotation, sensitivity to time of planting and harvesting as per season & lunar cycles. There is also a biological cleaning device on the property and device for storing rainwater, which helps reducing the consumption of water.
Preserving wildlife
CENTER KIRON deals with an innovative, natural and holistic approach to horses, as well as exploring the power of the horse as an assistant in human development, personal growth and creativity. Kiron aims to raise the awareness about urgent and necessary descent of a man from a position of domination and enslavement of horses to the position of a student who learns from these powerful and unique creatures.Horses bring to man essentially needed tools for transformation in these times of apocalyptic changes on personal and spiritual level. For more than 7 years, Kiron was developing and leading meditation programs and workshops with horses and translating their wisdom to humans. Kiron successfully combines soul, nature and art.
Kiron supports riding bareback and with bridle without the bit as well as they promote riding for meditative and healing purposes. They provide visitors with holistic, sensitive, subtle and mystical experience with horses. They are strictly against using horses for competitions and are known for remaining high ethical standards in their work with horses. Among their special and innovative programs are: Sacred Riding, Learning from the depths of Horses Wisdom, Anima Equina (special workshops with women) and working with children.
Our promise to support our community:
Friends & Neighbours
As part of a program we take our guests to visit Babna Cave, the oldest pagan sanctuary in Slovenia. In 1920 it was the last pagan ceremony there. It is completely hidden and out of beaten tourist tracks and exceptionally powerful energetic place. We also ask our guests to leave no litter or graffiti behind and to only take photographs there as well as to not attempt to bring home any rocks or stones or other souvenirs of the location.
One of the venuse in this journey - Association for deep ecology - TERRA ANIMA was established, built and lead by three women. Beside 4 horses, there are 5 cats, 2 dogs and a donkey living on this small property, and they were all rescued from brutal living standards or from the streets. So basically, Center Kiron and Terra Anima are pristine examples of how small animal sanctuary can be build out of nothing.
On regularly basis, the two associations organize volunteering actions in their local environment such as: building fences for saving frogs from being killed by the cars on the streets, actions for protecting old trees from being cut down, cleaning of nearby river banks and other ecological actions, from writing books for children with ecological content as well as organizing forest learning trails for children.They also actively promote local crafts by organizing workshops: making clay ovens, carving, wood crafting, stone carving.
A part of gained income from this journey will go for perseverance of Terra Anima, their ecological projects and all of the animals who live there.
In this retreat, we also promote local cultural attraction: nearby botanical park Arboretum - Volcji potok. In 1950 the estate of this park was legally declared a place of cultural and natural heritage of national importance. University created a collection of woody plants for research and educative purposes. Later the Arboretum became independent. Today it manages the park, produces plants in its own nurseries, runs a garden center, employs a group of landscape architects and does practical landscaping all over Slovenia. In Arboretum, 80 hectare of ecologically very diversified grounds are occupied by about 2.500 tax of trees and shrubs. The plant collection has been thoughtfully designed as a landscape park, including well-conserved rare natural biocoenosis. In peaceful and aesthetic scenery visitors are given an opportunity to experience beauty and uniqueness of man modified environment.
A fair deal
We offer local artists good working conditions, a fair wage, and empower them with training opportunities. They lead professional workshops and at the same time they are able to work and exchange with international artists to enrich their training and practice.
This journey employs 2 local dancers, 1 local musician and 1 local tour guide to take care of the guests and environment and to support the temporary established community. We also take care to recycle cans, paper and plastics.