Mindfulness Refuge

26th September to 3rd October 2026

During this Retreat you will be immersed in nature, movement and meditation. Whilst you will learn from the three experienced teachers, they also facilitate the group learning experience, the community of like-minded fellow travellers and the supportive environment. You will have time and space to do your own thing – to take time out to come back to who you truly are.

The Retreat has a ‘light touch’ which follows a natural pattern of indoor and outdoor practice. Being in the mountains and forests helps us to realise we are part of Nature and brings us closer to understanding our ways and our own true nature. This is an opportunity to freshen your practice and begin a life changing way of being.

The Retreat is a unique opportunity to explore the path and practices of mindfulness. There will be teaching sessions, guided meditations, mindful movement, Tai Chi & Chi Kung and mindful walking.

For many of us it is a rare luxury to be in nature for several consecutive days, to have uninterrupted time and space where we can connect with ourselves and listen to what is alive in us, whilst being in companionship with others. This is a chance to get away from it all, to have time to really connect with meditation, movement and nature and to share quality time with interesting people.

The experience of being on retreat when you take time out from your busy life is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. However, we will also be encouraging you to take the insights you gain in the mountains home with you.

We will advise you on how to establish your own daily practice so that the seeds you plant in retreat will continue to grow. Meditation and mindful movement can help you enjoy your life when things go well and deal with the difficulties that inevitably arise from time to time.

The nature of these Retreats makes it suitable for people regardless of previous mindfulness experience. If you are already a practitioner or even a mindfulness teacher, you will be skilfully guided and opened to fresh horizons for your mindfulness practice. If you are a beginner it’s a wonderful opportunity to gain an experiential introduction to mindfulness practices.

As well as structured “formal” practices you will learn how to integrate mindfulness into everyday life to help sustain you on the path.

The Retreat is located in the north west Italian Alps, near Aosta and the border with Switzerland. The venue is Mountain Refuge Vieux Crest, situated at 2000 metres and above the village of Champoluc.

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Schedule

Without fixing too-rigid a schedule, the Retreat will include:

Early morning: mindful movement and meditation through Tai Chi.
After breakfast, a morning period of mindfulness teaching and guided meditations.
After lunch, guided mindful walks.
Late afternoon tea with a learning round up, sharing perspectives and summary.
After dinner period of special events and social.

The main morning and afternoon sessions will be arranged either indoors or outdoors considering the weather and the groups preferences.

Venue – Refuge Vieux Crest

The Refuge is located in the hamlet of Crest situated at almost 2000 metres above the village of Champoluc in the valley D’Ayas, 40 kilometres from Aosta in the north west Italian Alps. Vieux Crest web site is here and further photographs of the Refuge and surrounding area can be viewed in our Vieux Crest Gallery. Access to the Refuge from Champoluc is by four-wheel drive vehicle via a 20-minute drive on a forest track.

As mountain refuges go the Vieux Crest is very comfortable and cosy. Each room, of twin, 3 or 4-person occupancy, has its own bathroom. All linen and towels are provided. Although it is expected that the majority of the physical practice will be taught outdoors there is an indoor teaching area suitable for up to 20 people, which is the maximum number we will enrol for this retreat.

The Refuge’s restaurant is relaxing and highly recommended and caters for all dietary requirements. There will be traditional regional food and some delicious fusions. The menu can be modified each day to suit the tastes of everyone.

Travel and Transfers

A Mindful Mountains representative and transfer vehicle will meet you at either Turin or Milan Malpensa airports, we have transfers available from each of these airports.

Both airports have daily flights from various UK airports so this increases your choice of flights. Transfer time from Malpensa 2 hours and Turin 1.5 hours.

The transfer vehicles will be departing airports for Champoluc at 2pm on day of arrival. On departure day your transfer vehicle will arrive at the airport by noon. Please arrange flights to coincide with these times. If you are unsure please speak with us before booking your flights. If you wish to arrive on an earlier date or depart on a later date please speak with us and we will help you arrange airport transfers.

Cost

The package price is £1550 and includes:

Return airport transfers to / from Refuge Vieux Crest.
7 nights full board accommodation with a light sandwich lunch.
6 days Mindfulness Refuge course.

The cost does not include flights or insurance.

Booking

Book this Mindful Mountains Retreat via our contact form – providing your name, preferred arrival airport and a brief overview of your Mindfulness, Meditation and Hiking experience. On booking a deposit of £100 is requested and final balance required four weeks prior to the Retreat.

Dates for next year: 26th September to 3rd October 2026.

On booking you will be provided details of suitable clothing and asked for dietary requirements which we will cater for.