If you’ve been trying to plan your next international getaway, you know firsthand that coordinating the perfect hotel, dining options, tours and setting aside time to explore on your own can be more daunting than you’d think. All-inclusive packages offered by many hotels and resorts are supposed to take some of the weight off your back, but they can also seem standardized, with the same carefree experience marketed to everyone, regardless of their personal tastes. A retreat can introduce you to a destination you never thought you’d end up in, with the added element of pre-arranged lodging, meals, and a more intimate, local perspective on how to spend your time. The following creative retreats go the extra mile to incorporate the arts into your itinerary, providing the space, materials, and instruction for you to jump into a new skill. No experience is necessary for you to become a wildlife photographer for the week, capture the Tasmanian landscape in plain air, or dye fabrics using centuries-old methods in Oaxaca. Discover coastal Portugal while designing your own textile masterpiece, or become mesmerized at a mandala workshop in Nepal. You won’t be going through the experience alone, either; the support of other participants with similar goals can be a lifeline when you’re putting yourself out there and trying new things. Wherever you choose to put your energy, an organized creative retreat will take care of the logistics while you focus on expressing yourself.
Thread Caravan- Oaxaca Natural Dyes + Weaving
With creativity, cultural education and environmental awareness at the forefront, Thread Caravan organizes mindful international retreats meant to celebrate diversity within the arts. Spanning three continents, the trips incorporate workshops run by local artisans; get hands-on exposure while getting to know your fellow retreat-mates and a brand new country. Your participation supports local artists in the country you choose to visit, and you’ll return home both well-rested and inspired to open new doors.
Mexico’s southwestern Oaxaca region is known for its emphasis on traditional craft and cuisine, and Oaxaca City is the heart of the state. Thread Caravan’s Natural Dyes and Weaving Retreat brings you seven days of hands-on workshops with local artisans, guided trips outside of the city, and a boutique bed and breakfast to call home for the week. You’ll learn how botanical products are treated to create lasting textile hues, as well as how to use a traditional loom to weave fibers. By participating in the workshops, you’ll be taking part in age-old techniques steeped in history. Excursions beyond the classroom include ruins dating back to the Zapotec culture, botanical gardens featuring native cacti and flora, and rejuvenating mineral springs, among others. Meals are varied and always local, and specialty diets are welcome. There are a select number of spaces left for Thread Caravan’s December edition of this retreat, and the organization also offers custom trip dates for groups of four or more.
The Mother-Daughter Retreat, taking place as soon as this September, is also a beautiful way to experience textile arts, along with ceramics, culinary recipes, and even a floral styling workshop led by local women. The retreat invites four mother-daughter pairs to Oaxaca to motivate, support and encourage each other while taking part in workshops, tastings, and excursions. The retreat begins on September 4th so reserve your spots soon; whether you’re a mom or a daughter, surprise your loved one with an Oaxacan respite this Fall.
Suzi Eszterhas Wildlife Photography Tours
Recently named the 2021 Outstanding Photographer of the Year by the North American Nature Photography Association, Suzi Eszterhas offers wildlife photography tours that take you (and your presence behind the lens) further than you thought possible. With a yearslong successful photography career, Suzi is no stranger to Earth’s remaining wild places, and the hidden life within them. Her tours welcome all levels of photographers, and are expertly curated to make sure participants walk away with once in a lifetime shots and professional advice to keep shooting by.
Upcoming tours include African safaris arranged to highlight the vibrancy of the season, migratory fauna, and predator territory. Spots are still available for October’s African Predators Safari, February’s East African Migration and Predators Safari, and the Africa in Green Safari in March.
Each tour is dictated by wildlife patterns, ensuring that you reach prime viewing locations at the right time. Tours include private charter plane transportation, extra luggage space to accommodate your gear, and luxury camps to keep you well-rested as you spot animals in their natural habitat. Professionally trained guides keep your itinerary running smoothly while you focus on technique, composition, and getting the perfect angle. The trips operate in private concessions, meaning your route will not be crowded with vehicles or other tours, offering you the full safari experience from a distinct vantage point. The photographs you leave with will be more than mementos, and you’ll return home with a permanent reminder of what lies beyond.
Machine quilting might not be the first medium you think of when considering coastal Portugese culture, but Karin Hellaby’s Patchwork Retreat blends the two effortlessly, bringing you a luxury retreat taking place this Fall. The author and master craftswoman will meet you in Portugal to guide you through machine-sewing your own project as you draw inspiration from the country’s Silver Coast. Before her workshops begin, you’ll have two days to take in Porto, the seaside city known for its azulejo tiles. After a day of touring architectural wonders, you’ll find yourself cruising down the River Douro to take part in a twilight port wine tasting brought to you by the retreat. Visiting a local quilting shop on the following day will introduce you to Portugal’s craft culture, just in time for the drive to Coimbra, where you’ll check in to the five- star Praia D’El Rey Golf & Beach Resort. Located right on the sea, the resort offers a full spa, an onsite restaurant, bistro and bar, and a private terrace or balcony for every guest. During the next four days, you’ll participate in Karin’s workshops, fine-tune your sewing skills, and emerge with a final project to bring home. When you’re not learning, use your extra time to unwind at the spa, soak in the sun, or take advantage of your private balcony. The retreat is paced so that you have the opportunity to sightsee, use your hands, and do absolutely nothing without feeling overwhelmed. Luxury and craft can go hand in hand on the Silver Coast, and the Patchwork Retreat strikes a special balance to keep you blissfully busy.
Mandala Workshop and Yoga Retreat: Pokhara, Gandaki Pradesh
With countless yoga-focused retreats to choose from, it’s hard to find one that stands out based on location, itinerary, and originality. Based in Nepal, the Mandala Workshop and Yoga Retreat brings the twin forces of art and movement together in a spiritually significant destination. The retreat is seven days long, and each day incorporates a learning element based on traditional Nepali music and visual art. This includes mandala painting workshops with local professionals, along with sound healing sessions and a double dose of yoga instruction daily. The mandala is elusive in that its definitely something you have seen reproduced countless times out of context, but probably never encountered in its proper cultural setting. Learning about the history of the mandala as a symbol and taking the time to create one by hand will be as spiritually and physically steadying as your yoga practice. You’ll be exposed to traditional materials and guided as you participate in the pattern-making ritual. The retreat is brought to you by the Umbrella Healing Center, which also provides healthy daily meals, comfortable lodge accommodation, and a garden atmosphere during your week-long stay in Pokhara.
Acrylic Creative Art Retreat & Tulips in Tasmania
If you’ve always been curious about mainland Australia, why not go a step further and satisfy your adventurous streak by getting to know the island of Tasmania instead? Your headquarters will be the Red Feather Inn near the town of Launceston, where you’ll enjoy a luxury room, your meals hand-prepared by a private chef, and five days of touring the island, paintbrushes in hand. Your mentor will be Clair Bremner, an Australian artist known for her expressionistic take on the continent’s lush scenery. The retreat includes tours of island flora at the height of bloom season; highlights include a trip to Table Cape Tulip Farm and an entire day devoted to Tasmania’s favorite Tulip Festival. Travel to some of Clair’s favorite spots to paint from, and pick up tips as you go; by the final sessions, your strokes will be more confident and your subjects more intentional as you settle into a flow. The retreat itinerary goes full circle to make sure you sightsee, sample cuisine, meet locals, and preserve your Tasmanian experience on canvas during your stay. If you’ve never considered the island as a vacation destination, take this chance to stray from traditional tourist hotspots and venture South.
The most important thing about choosing a creative retreat that works for you is getting inspired by your surroundings. Just stepping foot in a place that’s completely different from what you’re used to can get your left brain going, even if you don’t necessarily consider yourself an artist. The added support of an instructor and other participants makes sure you’re free to express yourself and dip your feet in a brand new pursuit without worrying what the “old you” might think. If the memories aren’t enough to motivate you to keep creating once you’re back home, the final piece will be. Pick a continent, book your retreat in advance, and look forward to escaping with a purpose.
