Places available
Costa Vicentina, Portugal
Words by the Sea
Creative Retreats
- Dates
- 11–16 Mar 2027
- Duration
- 5 nights
- Starting price
- From €1,390 per person
Places availableCreative Retreats
Light & Land
A photography walking week in the Dolomites, for phones and cameras alike.
- Dates
- 9–14 Sep 2027
- Duration
- 5 nights
- Destination
- The Dolomites, Italy
- Experience
- Creative Retreats
- Level
- All levels
- Group size
- Up to 10 guests
From €1,590 per person
Overview
Easy walks timed for good light, short practical workshops on composition and editing, and a final small exhibition of everyone's work.
Daniel leads two photo walks a day — one early for soft light and one in the late afternoon. Walks are short (3–8 km) and on good paths.
Midday workshops cover composition, light and editing on your phone or laptop. Any camera is welcome, including a phone.
- Photo walks
- 2 a day, 3–8 km, easy
- Workshops
- 4 midday sessions
- Feedback
- Group reviews and final exhibition
Who this retreat is for
A good fit if…
- You love photography at any level
- You want gentle walking in big scenery
Probably not for you if…
- You want long, strenuous hikes
Experience level: All levels. Our retreats are not a substitute for medical or mental health treatment. If you have a health condition, please talk to your doctor before booking.
Day by day
Times are a guide and may shift with the weather. Everything is optional unless marked otherwise.
Day 1Arrival9 Sep 2027
- Morning
- Travel day. Transfers run from the meeting point listed under Travel.
- Afternoon
- Check in from mid-afternoon, settle into your room and explore the grounds.
- Evening
- Welcome dinner and a short talk on light.
- Meals
- Dinner
Day 2Seeing10 Sep 2027
- Morning
- Sunrise walk at Lago di Braies.
- Afternoon
- Workshop: composition.
- Evening
- Golden hour walk and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3Light11 Sep 2027
- Morning
- Sunrise walk.
- Afternoon
- Workshop: working with light.
- Evening
- Golden hour and dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4Meadows12 Sep 2027
- Morning
- Alpe di Siusi walk.
- Afternoon
- Workshop: editing.
- Evening
- Group review.
- Meals
- Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner
Day 5Exhibition13 Sep 2027
- Morning
- Free shoot.
- Afternoon
- Select and print your images.
- Evening
- Exhibition and farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6Departure14 Sep 2027
- Morning
- Breakfast.
- Afternoon
- Check out and transfers back to the airport or station.
- Evening
- —
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you'll stay
Hotel Ciasa Lärch
South Tyrol, Italy
A traditional wooden hotel with 22 rooms, a wellness area with sauna and steam room, a studio for stretching and workshops, and a garden facing the peaks.
Ciasa Lärch is an independently owned family hotel. SOLARA reserves a block of rooms and the hotel's studio for each retreat; other guests may be staying at the hotel.
| Room | Occupancy | Bathroom | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared twin roomTwo single beds, private bathroom. | 2 guests sharing | Private | 2 left |
| Private double with balconyDouble bed, balcony, private bathroom. | 1 guest | Private | 2 left |
- Amenities
- · Bedding and towels provided; sauna towels in the wellness area
- · Boot drying room and walking pole loan
- · Sauna and steam room (included)
- · Wi-Fi throughout
- · Packed lunches on hiking days
- · Lift to all floors
- Accessibility
- The hotel has a lift and two adapted rooms with step-free showers. Hiking days involve uneven mountain terrain; please read the route grades on each retreat page.
- Check-in / check-out
- From 15:00 on arrival day. By 10:30 on departure day.
- Extra nights
- Extra nights before or after are sometimes possible at the property's own rates — ask us.
Meals & dietary needs
- Meals provided
- 14 meals.
- Schedule
- Breakfast flexible around sunrise walks; dinner 19:30.
- Drinks
- Water and tea with meals.
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian options daily; vegan and gluten-free with notice.
- Allergies
- Tell us about any allergy when you book and again on arrival. We share it with the kitchen in writing. Kitchens handle common allergens, so we cannot guarantee trace-free food.
- Not included
- Drinks at huts.
Your facilitators
Daniel Moreau
Writer & photographer
Daniel grew up in Lyon and started out as a newspaper photographer, covering local news and the occasional football match. Over twenty years he moved into documentary work for magazines in France and the UK, and began writing the essays that became his two published collections. He started teaching in 2012, when an adult education college asked him to run a single evening class, and found he enjoyed it more than most assignments.
Qualifications: MA Creative Writing, 2006 · Author of two published essay collections · 20 years as a working documentary photographer · Adult education workshop leader since 2012 · Emergency first aid, renewed 2025
On this retreat: Writing workshops, Photography walks, One-to-one feedback sessions
Full profile
Sofia Brandt
Mountain leader
Sofia grew up in Innsbruck with the Nordkette at the end of her street. She spent her teens on family hut-to-hut trips, studied geography at university and qualified as an International Mountain Leader in 2016. She has led walking groups in the Alps and Dolomites for ten summers and spends her winters as a ski instructor.
Qualifications: International Mountain Leader (UIMLA), qualified 2016 · Wilderness First Responder (80 hours), renewed 2025 · Austrian state-certified ski instructor · Alpine rescue and avalanche awareness course, 2019
On this retreat: Guided day hikes, Route briefings, Navigation basics
Full profile
What's included
- 5 nights at Hotel Ciasa Lärch
- 14 meals
- 10 photo walks
- 4 workshops
- Printing of 3 images
- Local transfers
Not included
- Travel to Italy
- Shared transfer (€55 each way)
- Travel insurance
- Camera equipment
Pricing & booking
Prices are per person, in euros, and include VAT and local accommodation and tourist taxes. Anything optional, such as transfers where they aren't already included, is offered at checkout. Visas and entry fees set by governments are listed under Not included.
Shared twin room
2 guests sharing · private bathroom
€1,590 / person
€1,490 if booked by 31 Mar 2027
Private double with balcony
Single occupancy · private bathroom
€2,090 / person
€1,990 if booked by 31 Mar 2027
- Deposit
- €450 per person, due at booking
- Balance
- Due 11 July 2027 (60 days before arrival). Book after this date and you pay in full.
- Single supplement
- Private rooms are priced per person — no hidden supplement.
- Payment methods
- Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA transfer
- Taxes
- VAT and local tourist taxes included
- Cancellation
- Deposit non-refundable but transferable once if you cancel 60+ days before arrival.
Getting there
General area shown. The exact address is sent with your booking confirmation. Open larger map
- Nearest airport
- Innsbruck (INN) is about 2 hrs by road. Venice Marco Polo (VCE) and Munich (MUC) are 3–3.5 hrs.
- Transfers
- A shared SOLARA transfer meets the 13:00 train at Bolzano station and the 14:00 meeting point at Innsbruck Airport on arrival day. Book a seat during checkout.
- When to arrive
- Arrive at the hotel between 15:00 and 18:00. Dinner and the route briefing start at 19:00.
- Local transport
- South Tyrol has a reliable regional train and bus network. Hotel guests receive a free regional transport pass.
- Parking
- Free parking at the hotel.
- Check-in
- From 15:00 on arrival day
- Travel documents
- Italy is in the Schengen Area. Check entry rules for your passport.
How to prepare
What to bring
- Your camera or phone, chargers and a power bank
- Walking shoes
- Warm layers for early mornings
Weather. We run retreats here from late June to mid-September, when the high trails and huts are open. Expect 18–25°C in the valley and 8–15°C on high ground, with afternoon thunderstorms possible.
Before you arrive. You'll receive a welcome pack 30 days before the retreat, with the final itinerary, address and emergency contacts, and a reminder 3 days before.
During the retreat. Your host is reachable by phone and WhatsApp at all times.
Full guest informationQuestions about this retreat
Can I book a place with a friend or partner?
Yes. Choose a shared room and add a second guest during booking, or book separately and add your friend's name in the special requests field so we can room you together.
What happens if I need to cancel?
Deposits are non-refundable but can be moved to another retreat once if you cancel more than 60 days before arrival. See the full booking policy for later cancellations.
What if the weather turns?
Our guides check forecasts every evening and switch to lower or shorter routes when needed. Safety decisions are final.
Can I rent hiking boots?
We strongly recommend bringing boots you have already walked in. Poles can be borrowed from the hotel.
9–14 Sep 2027 · The Dolomites, Italy
Light & Land
From €1,590 per person · Places available
You might also like
2 places left
The Dolomites, Italy
High Trails of the Dolomites
Nature & Hiking
- Dates
- 24–30 Jun 2027
- Duration
- 6 nights
- Starting price
- From €2,290 per person
From €1,5909–14 Sep 2027
Reserve