General Questions

1. Who is this retreat for? – Is it suitable for beginners in Qi Gong, meditation, or canoeing? Our Nature Retreat is suitable for everybody with a normal physical condition. No previous experience with Qi Qong, Meditation of Canoeing is required. We will help you along your journey!
2. What makes this retreat different from other meditation or adventure retreats? This retreat offers a unique combination of full nature immersion and expert-led Qi Gong and Buddhist Zen meditation. You’ll live off-grid, paddle through Sweden’s wilderness, and practice mindfulness in nature—blending adventure with deep inner stillness.
3. Do I need prior experience in meditation, Qi Gong, or canoeing? No prior experience is required. We will guide you along the way!
4. How physically demanding is the retreat? Do I need to be fit? The retreat is active but doable for anyone in normal physical condition. And we will be able to adjust the intensity based on your needs. Qi Gong and Meditation are physically gentle activities. Canoeing is a good workout for the arms. If you can take a 3-4 hour hike today- you'll be fine. 
5. What is the group size? – How many participants will there be? We will strive for a group of 8-12 participants. 

Logistics & Travel

6. How do I get to the retreat location in Sweden? – What are the best travel options? Traveling to our retreat in Hagfors is easy, please check the various options here: How to Get to Sweden
7. What time should I arrive, and when does the retreat end? You are welcome on Friday 11 July from 18:00 p.m. and we will end on Thursday 17 July at 9:00 a.m. 
8. Can I arrive earlier or stay longer before/after the retreat? Yes, it would be very easy for you to book a longer stay in the surrounding area. For example, you could rent a stuga or stay on a camping site. Or you can do your own multi-day canoe trip. We are more than happy to give you advice, please let us know. 

Accommodation & Facilities

9. What kind of accommodation is provided? – We offer private tents, bunk beds and big beds in semi-private room. Please read more here: Package & Booking
10. Is there electricity and phone reception at the retreat? Yes, there is cellphone and mobile data coverage in the area. We will have solar panels to charge our phones. 
11. Are there showers and toilets available? There will be bio dry-toilet available at the retreat, very commonly used in Sweden. When we camp in the wild during our canoe trip, we make our own toilet in nature!
12. What’s the weather like in Sweden in July? Sweden has a land climate with sunny summers and long days. The nights are usually comfortable in July and there is little rain. That being said, it's impossible to predict the weather and we will accommodate to Mother Nature :) 

Food & Meals

13. What meals are included? – What’s the food situation? We will offer a healthy, nutritious breakfast each day including coffee, tea, oats, seeds and nuts and eggs. For lunch and dinner, which are not included, we will offer a regular shuttle for groceries where 1-2 participants can join and we can buy groceries for the group. Cooking we will do as a social activity with the collective group. 
14. Can I bring my own food? We would love to cook as a social activity with the group. Of course you are free to bring your own food ingredients! Please note that we are in an off-grid cabin with limited stove capacity. We will have gas to cook on and a grill on the campfire and we will have drinkable and pure water from a well. Obviously there will not be a micro-wave nor an oven. 
15. I have dietary restrictions/allergies. Can this be accommodated? Please inform us up-front before or at booking about all dietary restrictions and allergies so we can make sure we can accommodate. 
16. How does the group grocery shopping work? We will offer a regular shuttle with our car for groceries where 1-2 participants can join and we can buy groceries for the group. It will be about a 45 minute drive to a nearby grocery store. 

Packing & Equipment

17. What should I bring? Own tent: bring your own small tent, a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat
18. What should I bring? Rent a tent: bring a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat
19. What should I bring? Rent a bed in the cabin: bring your sleeping bag and a linnen sheet to cover the mattress. 
20. What kind of outdoor gear is necessary? Boots on which you can hike in the forest, a hat, long sleeve and pants for night time and a rain coat just in case. We will provide you with a canoe, paddles and a cooking stove for our 2-day Canoe expedition. For clothing and other items: we will send you a detailed list of recommended things to pack closer to date. 
21. Are there any restrictions on what I can bring? We have limited space in and around the cabins, so make sure you bring a compact tent and a bag that you can keep inside of your tent during the week. 

Activities & Program

21. Can I skip activities if I need some alone time? Of course. 
22. What happens during the 2-day canoe expedition? We will pack the gear needed for 1 night and pack up the canoes. We will paddle about 10 kilometers to a nearby big lake, where we will look for nice spots to stay for the night. Depending on your preference, you can here either start your 24-hour solo experience or stay in the comfort of the group. In any case, we will split in smaller groups because in wild nature it's usually not possible to stay all in 1 place. But we will always be close to civilization in case you need any help. 
23. Is the solo overnight stay in nature mandatory? No, it's optional and up to you. 

Booking & Payment

25. How do I book a spot? Please send us an email and we will guide you along the way! We will ask for your name, address and contact information and you preferred accommodation (own tent, rent a tent, bunk bed or big bed), after which we will confirm availability and send you an invoice for a downpayment. Once the downpayment is made, your booking is final. 
26. What payment methods do you accept? We accept bank wire to a Dutch IBAN. 
27. What is your cancellation policy? Please see our Terms & Conditions for the Nature Retreat. 
28. Can I pay in installments? We will invoice you 50% at booking and the remaining 50% 8 weeks before the retreat. In case you need any more flexibility for payment, please send us an email. 

Other Practical Questions

29. Is the retreat open to all ages? Yes. We have males, females, people of 20 and people of 60 joining our trips. You need to be in normal physical condition to be able to fulfill activities like hiking and canoeing. It is your responsibility to make us aware of any physical conditions that may be relevant before booking. 
30. Is it okay to come alone, or should I bring a friend? It is totally OK to come alone, as we have many individual participants. And it's also perfectly fine to bring a friend! 
31. Is there a discount for bringing a friend or booking as a couple? In case you rent the big bed in the cabin to share with your friend, you will only have to pay the additional fee for the bed once. 
32. Is alcohol or smoking allowed during the retreat? We encourage you to keep a clear mind during the Nature Retreat. Therefore, we ask you not to consumer alcohol or to keep alcohol to a minimum. Smokers are welcome but we do ask you not to smoke in the collective group space. The use of drugs is at all times prohibited.