Saturday
4:30 pm – 7:00 pm | Check-In
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm | Dinner
8:30 pm – 9:30 pm | Opening Session + Blessing
Activity Level
●●●○○
Group Size
50
Duration
9 days / 8 nights
Prerequisites
No experience needed
Pricing
Tuition + Accommodation options
- Tuition Price
- Adult • €1,250
€1,400 - Child • €625
€700 - Infant • FREE $0
- Accommodations
For duration of program - Shared Room • €485
Shared bedroom with private bath. Price is per/person. All meals included.
- Private Room • €680
Private bedroom with private bath. Price is per/person. All meals included.
Tuition Options
include program instruction and materials
Morning, afternoon, and evening sessions
- Tribal songs, chants, drumming & rattling.
- Journeying exercises working with the 4 directions.
- Meditation practices to connect with the elemental powers.
- Lecture & discussion including Huichol cosmology and myths.
- Question and answer opportunities.
Dance of the Deer Ceremonies
- Ancient ceremony to honor the light of creation, celebrate the spring season and pray for healing for ourselves and the planet.
Pilgrimage
- Learn how to approach places of power in prayer.
- Receive a transmission of power from the mountain.
Accommodations
all options include the following
Selected lodging option
- Choose between shared or private accommodations.
- Prices are per/person.
Traditional Italian meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) from dinner on Saturday to breakfast on Sunday.
Access to hotel grounds + amenities including a nearby river, pure spring-fed water, and extraordinary views of Gran Paradiso.
Discounted Attendance
Students
Register with a .edu email address and save 10% on all tuition options.
Seniors
If you’re 65 or older, you can save 10% on all tuition options. Simply select the checkbox when registering.
Families
We love having families at our programs and strive to bring all ages into the sacred circle. Children 4-17 receive a 50% discount on all tuition options and infants (under the age of 4) are FREE.
Families of four or more receive 10% off each adult attendee.
Retreat Itinerary
Program schedule + session details
FAQ + Guide
Tips to ensure a great retreat experience
Where is the retreat located?
The retreat is held near the Aosta Valley, in northern Italy. We reserve an entire 4-star hotel overlooking the surrounding alps. The exact location of the retreat will be provided upon registration.
How do I arrange my travel?
The nearest international airports are the Torino Airport (or “Turin” airport – code: TRN) and the Milano Malpensa Airport (code: MXP). Both airports are approximately a 2-hour drive from the retreat.
Shuttles from the airport are not included and we recommend using a Taxi or renting a car.
What is the activity level of the retreat?
This program is moderately active. Program activities include short walks, moderate but slow pilgrimage hikes (longest being about 1-hour), and several hours of driving. The hotel sits at 1800 m (5,900 feet). From there, our meeting circle is a 5-minute walk uphill. If you are concerned about the intensity of this program, please let us know.
What are the accommodations?
We book an entire hotel, creating a complete sense of spiritual practice and community. Amazing food and beautiful architecture complement the environment. Both shared and private rooms are available, each equipped with its own private bathroom.
Meals are included
The hotel chefs prepare traditional Italian meals, mainly vegetarian, and can provide vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free options upon request.
Do I need to bring anything?
Here is a list of items to bring:
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Cushion, blanket, or outdoor chair
- Hat and sun protection
- Bathing suit
- Snacks, if you need them
- Rain gear
- Personal toiletries
- Pocket knife
- Layers of clothing
- Two larger towels
- Flashlight
Can children attend?
Yes, we welcome families and children at all our programs and love having all ages included in our circle. We offer a 50% discount for children ages 4-17 and infants under the age of 4 join free of charge.
Children (anyone under 18 years of age) must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Are there any prerequisites to attend?
No. This retreat is open to anyone, whether you are looking to take the first step on the shamanic path or if you’ve been studying with Brant for decades.
When does the program start and end?
The retreat will begin on Saturday (June 7, 2025) with check-in from 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm, followed by dinner at 7:30 pm and an opening session at 8:30 pm.
The program will conclude on Sunday (June 15, 2025) at 10:00 am following breakfast.
What are the meal options?
The primarily vegetarian meals include an assortment of local cheeses and breads for breakfast, as well as a diverse selection of lunch and dinner options ranging from traditional homemade pastas to zesty vegetable soups, all complemented by a plentiful salad bar. Meals are included in the price of accommodations.
Will the program be live-streamed?
No. This retreat will only be available for those attending in person. If you’re interested in joining a virtual program online, please take a look at our schedule of upcoming programs.
Do I need to attend the entire retreat?
We greatly encourage everyone to join the retreat for the full time in order to gain the complete experience of the teachings and practices, while also helping maintain the energy of the collective group.
Will plant medicine be offered?
No, this program does not include any type of plant medicine. Although this is indeed an integral part of shamanic traditions, this program will focus on the use of drumming, rattling, chanting, and dance to achieve similar altered states of consciousness.
Are you taking any COVID-19 precautions?
Absolutely! The health and safety of everyone is our highest priority. We are closely monitoring local and international healthcare recommendations and updating our protocols accordingly. We’ll be sending updated information to all registrants ahead of the program.
Read more about what we’re doing to keep our programs safe ➜
Will I become a shaman by attending this program?
No, our programs do not provide any type of certification and are not designed to teach people to become shamans, as this requires years of complete dedication through a traditional shamanic apprenticeship. Instead, this retreat provides an opportunity to practice shamanism, learn the ancient exercises for spiritual developemnt, and celebrate life in sacred ceremony and ritual.
The practices of shamanism are ones that can be integrated into your everyday routine in order to empower yourself, your community, and all that lives on Mother Earth.
Have questions?
Schedule a call with us
Meditate in Nature
Take time each day for personal meditation. Commune with the spirits of nature amidst the bounding meadows, babbling brooks and towering mountain peaks.
This quiet landscape is the perfect place to silence your inner mindful chatter. Learn to listen to your intuition and let the language of nature be heard.
Tranquility for Body & Soul
The retreat is held in a stunning mountain-top hotel, which overlooks the Aosta Valley. Across the valley, Gran Paradiso rises high above the horizon, making for one of the most mesmerizing views you will ever see.
Comfortable rooms, private baths, maid service and delicious Italian meals allow you to enjoy every moment of this unique retreat.
Ancient Wildlife
Eagles soar with the wind currents rising along the mountain slopes. Red foxes meander through flower-filled meadows. Deer graze fresh grasses and prance through the forests.
Perhaps the most famous animal in this region, the Alpine Ibex can be found scaling sheer cliff faces. The Gran Paradiso National Park is this prehistoric goat’s last natural habitat.
The Art of Pilgrimage
Since time immemorial shamanic cultures have practiced the art of pilgrimage as a way to honor sacred places of power. Throughout the retreat, you will visit mountains, rivers, and gorges in order to honor their spiritual essence and to make positive prayers for your life.
You will have the special opportunity to offer your prayers to Mont Blanc and Gran Paradiso and Brant will help transmit the power of each place into your heart.