Retreat: Experience the Divine through the elements

14 – 16 March

Join us for a three-day retreat in the mountains, where you can unwind and reconnect. Immerse yourself in the Divine through the elements and our Alpine temple. Take part in snowshoeing across a winter wonderland. Leave feeling spiritually rejuvenated.

The retreat will be led by Swamis and members of the Skanda Vale community, with snowshoe excursions guided by skilled mountaineers, designed for beginners.

Information

Registration

Please register online by the 1st March. Cancellations must also be submitted by then.

The retreat is open to everyone aged 15 and above. There are only spaces for 20 participants but please sign up for the waiting list even if places are not available. We will let you know if vacancies arise.

Costs

The ashram is funded solely through anonymous and voluntary donations and is run by volunteers. In this spirit, the retreat, including accommodation and catering, is offered free of charge and is funded by the kind and voluntary donations of the participants. Daily chores such as cooking, cleaning, etc. are carried out with the help of the participants.

The costs for the bus and potential rentals of snowshoes will be paid directly by the participants. Costs bus Friday CHF 26, Sunday CHF 16, snowshoes and poles approximately CHF 30.

Accommodation

There are 20 beds available in the ashram itself, in simple, shared dormitories (please bring your own sleeping bag). 

We don’t recommend external accommodation (e.g. Hotel Arflina), as in March the Heuberg road is still closed to private vehicles and the distance to the ashram has to be covered on foot. Any individual bus journeys must be arranged by the participants.

Catering

Delicious, blessed vegetarian food will be served at all meals.

Snowshoe excursions

The excursions last between one and three hours. They are suitable for beginners and are guided by experienced mountain hikers.

Please bring your own snowshoes and poles. If you do not own any snowshoes and poles or cannot borrow them from someone they can be hired. Please state this when registering. The gear will be hired from Heuberge AG and organised by the retreat team. 

For the snowshoe activities you will need sturdy hiking boots and warm and weatherproof clothing in layers: Thermal underwear, long-sleeved shirt, fleece, waterproof jacket, ski or rain trousers with warm lining, as well as gloves, hat, sunglasses, head torch, and water bottle.

Please take note

If you wish to attend the retreat, please make sure that you can attend for the full duration. Late arrivals or early departures will cause disruptions and are not permitted. 

Somaskanda Ashram is located in the mountains at an altitude of 1800 metres. As the weather can change quickly, we ask you to bring warm, comfortable, and weatherproof clothing and footwear. Even inside the temple it can get quite chilly.

We regret that the retreat is not suitable for children and people with health restrictions, as the local facilities are unsuitable for childcare and the temple is only accessible on foot from the Höhi bus stop (350 metres).  

Participants are responsible for organising their own journey to Fideris. In March, the Heuberg road is still closed to private vehicles March, however, the Heuberge bus runs from the village to within 350 metres of the ashram. From there it is a 15-minute walk uphill on a rough snow-covered mountain track. The track is not suitable for suitcases and we warmly recommend carrying a rucksack.

Find out more on our information page.

We look forward to seeing you!