Places availableMindfulness & Meditation

Spring Stillness

Five nights of meditation, lake swims and forest quiet in western Sweden.

Dates: 20–25 May 2027
Duration: 5 nights
Destination: Värmland Lakes, Sweden
Experience: Mindfulness & Meditation
Level: Beginner friendly
Group size: Up to 12 guests

From €1,290 per person

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A swimmer alone in a calm blue lake at dusk

Sunlight falling through tall pines onto a forest path

A wooden lodge living room with a hanging fireplace

A path through a dense forest of tall straight trunks

Overview

A practical introduction to meditation, with Marcus Hale, in a lakeside lodge with almost no phone signal. Includes two mornings of noble silence.

Marcus teaches three short sitting sessions a day and one mindful walk in the forest. Each session is guided and introduces a single, practical technique.

Two mornings are held in silence until lunch. Phones are handed in voluntarily at the start of each silent morning.

Elin cooks seasonal Swedish food and leads gentle movement before breakfast. The sauna is lit every evening.

Meditation: 3 guided sits daily (20–40 min)
Movement: Gentle morning movement, mindful forest walk
Silence: 2 silent mornings
Sauna: Wood-fired sauna every evening

Who this retreat is for

A good fit if…

You are new to meditation or want to restart
You'd like time away from screens

Probably not for you if…

You are looking for therapy or treatment for a mental health condition
You need a reliable internet connection

Experience level: Beginner friendly. 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 1Arrival20 May 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 first short sit by the lake.
Meals
Dinner
Day 2Arriving21 May 2027
Morning
Gentle movement, guided sit, breakfast.
Afternoon
Mindful forest walk.
Evening
Evening sit, sauna and dinner.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3Silent morning22 May 2027
Morning
Silence until lunch: sits, walking meditation.
Afternoon
Free time, canoes and swimming.
Evening
Reflection circle and dinner.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Optional
Canoeing
Day 4Habits23 May 2027
Morning
Movement and sit, breakfast.
Afternoon
Workshop: building a home practice.
Evening
Sauna and dinner.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5Silent morning24 May 2027
Morning
Silence until lunch.
Afternoon
Free time.
Evening
Closing circle and farewell dinner.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6Departure25 May 2027
Morning
Final sit and breakfast.
Afternoon
Check out and transfers back to the airport or station.
Evening
—
Meals
Breakfast

Where you'll stay

Sjövik Lodge

Värmland, Sweden

A timber main lodge with a large shared living room and kitchen, plus six cabins along the shore. A wood-fired sauna sits on the jetty.

Sjövik Lodge is owned and operated by a local family. SOLARA books the whole lodge for each retreat; the hosts cook and look after the house.

Room options for this retreat
Room	Occupancy	Bathroom	Availability
Shared twin roomTwo single beds, shared bathroom (two rooms per bathroom).	2 guests sharing	Shared	2 left
Private lakeside cabinDouble bed and private shower room.	1 guest	Private	4 left

Amenities

· Bedding and towels provided
· Wood-fired sauna and lake swimming
· Canoes and life jackets
· Meditation room with cushions, stools and blankets
· Limited Wi-Fi in the main lodge
· Rubber boots and rain jackets to borrow

Accessibility: The main lodge has step-free access and one ground-floor room with an accessible bathroom. Cabins are reached by a forest path with roots and slopes.
Check-in / check-out: From 15:00 on arrival day. By 11:00 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: 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners.
Schedule: Breakfast 08:30, lunch 13:00, dinner 19:00.
Drinks: Water, tea and coffee. The lodge is alcohol-free during retreats.
Dietary options: Vegetarian Nordic menu. Vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free on request.
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: Lunch on arrival day.

Your facilitators

Marcus Hale
Mindfulness teacher
Marcus spent ten years as a product manager in London tech companies. In 2015, running on four hours' sleep and very little else, he went on a ten-day silent retreat because a colleague dared him to. He found it hard and useful in roughly equal measure, kept practising, and in 2017 began formal teacher training in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction. He has taught eight-week courses for workplaces and the public in Bristol since 2018.
Qualifications: Certified MBSR teacher, trained at Bangor University's Centre for Mindfulness Research and Practice (2017 to 2019) · Listed on the UK register of mindfulness-based teachers (BAMBA), since 2019 · Mental Health First Aid certificate, renewed 2025 · Emergency First Aid at Work, renewed 2025
On this retreat: Guided sitting meditation, Mindful walking, Evening reflection circles
Full profile
Elin Lindqvist
Retreat host & nutrition coach
Elin grew up on a small farm outside Karlstad and trained as a chef in Gothenburg. After eight years in restaurant kitchens she wanted to understand food beyond the plate, so she studied nutrition and qualified as a coach in 2019. She has hosted retreats at Sjövik Lodge since 2021 and runs the kitchen there with the family who own the lodge.
Qualifications: Professional cookery diploma, 2008 · Certified nutrition coach (Precision Nutrition Level 1), 2019 · Food hygiene and allergen management certification, renewed 2025 · First aid and CPR, renewed 2026
On this retreat: Cooking demonstrations, Gentle morning movement, Forest walks
Full profile

What's included

5 nights at Sjövik Lodge
14 meals
All guided sessions
Daily sauna, canoes and life jackets
Bedding and towels

Not included

Travel to Sweden
Minibus from Arvika (€30 each way)
Travel insurance

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 · shared bathroom
€1,290 / person
€1,190 if booked by 31 Jan 2027
Private lakeside cabin
Single occupancy · private bathroom
€1,790 / person
€1,690 if booked by 31 Jan 2027

Deposit: €400 per person, due at booking
Balance: Due 21 March 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.

Read the full booking policies

Getting there

General area shown. The exact address is sent with your booking confirmation. Open larger map

Nearest airport: Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) is about 3 hrs by road; Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT) about 3 hrs 15 min. Karlstad has a small regional airport.
Transfers: A shared SOLARA minibus meets the afternoon train at Arvika station on arrival day (direct trains run from Oslo and Stockholm). Book a seat during checkout.
When to arrive: Aim to reach Arvika by 15:30. The minibus leaves at 16:00 and the lodge is 40 minutes away.
Local transport: Public transport near the lodge is very limited; we handle transfers for planned outings.
Parking: Free parking at the forest road, a 5-minute walk from the lodge. We help carry bags.
Check-in: From 15:00 on arrival day
Travel documents: Sweden is in the Schengen Area. Check entry rules for your passport.

How to prepare

What to bring

Warm layers and a rain jacket
Swimwear for the lake and sauna
Insect repellent
A notebook

Weather. We run retreats here from May to September. Days are 15–24°C, nights cooler; in June the sun barely sets. Mosquitoes are common in midsummer.

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 information

Questions about this retreat

Do I have to stay silent?

Silence is invited, not enforced. If you need to speak, step outside quietly.

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.

Is the lake safe for swimming?

Yes, the lake is clean and calm. Swim with someone else and stay within sight of the jetty; there is no lifeguard.

Will I have phone signal?

Signal is weak by the lake and reasonable in the main lodge. There is a landline for emergencies.

20–25 May 2027 · Värmland Lakes, Sweden