The Retreatment Italy FAQs

The Retreatment Italy FAQs

Where is The Retreatment held?

Mandali
Via Belvedere, 2
28898 Quarna Sopra VB, Italy

When is The Retreatment?

August 2-6, 2024

Travel Information

By Plane

The nearest airport is Malpensa (MXP) Milano International airport, which is an 80-minute drive to Mandali.

By Train

The nearest train station is 8 km from Mandali Retreat Center. You must get out at Omegna along the Domodossola-Novara train route. For train timetable and connections, please check the Italian railway site: www.trenitalia.com.

If you are coming from Switzerland and West Germany, the rail connection is Brig-Domodossola. In Domodossola, transfer to the Domodossola-Novara line. Get off at Omegna station.

If you are coming from other parts of Switzerland or Europe, you can take the train to Milano Stazione Centrale-Torino line and transfer at Novara. Then take the Novara-Domodossola line to Omegna.

We will organize the transfer for you from Omegna station to Mandali Retreat Center. The price is ~35€ each way.

By Car

If you’d like to explore the Mandali surroundings, various car rental companies are available at Malpensa Airport.

Take highway A26/E62 to Gravellona Toce. Take exit Gravellona Toce and continue to Omegna. From Omegna, follow signs to Quarne and drive 8 km uphill. You will reach the village of Quarna Sotto. Continue uphill, following the main road to the village of Quarna Sopra. At the entrance of the village, turn right and follow the main road. Follow the “Belvedere” signs to reach the Mandali parking area.

If you are coming from or via Switzerland:

Brig-Simplon pass: Take Autobahn from Domodossola to Lake Maggiore, then take exit Gravellona Toce and continue to Omegna. From Omegna, follow the sign to Quarne and drive 8 km uphill. You will reach the village of Quarna Sotto. Continue uphill, following the main road to the village of Quarna Sopra. At the entrance of the village, turn right and follow the main road. Follow the “Belvedere” signs to reach the Mandali parking area.
Gotthard or San Bernardino: Drive past Bellinzona and Locarno along Lake Maggiore. Pass Intra, Pallanza, Fondotoce. Continue to Gravellona Toce and Omegna. From Omegna, follow the signs to Quarne and drive 8 km uphill. You will reach the village of Quarna Sotto. Continue uphill, following the main road to the village of Quarna Sopra. At the entrance of the village, turn right and follow the main road. Follow the “Belvedere” signs to reach the Mandali parking area.

Mandali Airport Shuttle Service

Shuttle pickup to and from MXP airport on August 2 and August 6 is included in your Retreatment total. The drive is approximately 80 minutes. We will book your shuttle based on your travel itinerary. Please be mindful of our schedule below when booking flights:

Check in begins at 2 pm GMT on Friday, August 2, 2024. Programming begins at 4:30 pm GMT.
*We recommend a flight that lands before 1 pm.

Check out begins at 10 am GMT on Tuesday, August 6, 2024.
*We recommend a flight that departs at 2 pm or later.

Sample Schedule (exact schedule shared one month prior to start date)

7:30 am Light breakfast
8:30 am Meditation
9:00 am The Class
11:30 am Brunch
12:00-4:00 pm Free time/Spa appointments
1:00 pm Italian Cooking Class (1-2 hr)
3:00 pm Snack
4:30 pm Restorative session
7:00 pm Dinner

Travel Itinerary

All students must submit their travel itinerary HERE by July 2.

Dietary Allergies

All our meals will be vegetarian, refined sugar free, sourced from the Mandali food forest, and, most importantly, delicious.

If you did not submit any dietary allergies during registration, please let us know of any restrictions as soon as possible by emailing [email protected].

Suggested Packing List

Passport
Fitness/yoga clothes
Reusable water bottle
Sneakers (we suggest you take The Class in shoes)
Casual attire
Extra layers for chilly evenings in the mountains
A bathing suit and flip flops for the bodycare centre
Shampoo, toothpaste, and toiletries (Mandali provides organic soap in each room)
Power converter for wall plugs
A raincoat or umbrella in case of rain
Altar offering: a token of something you’d like to create more of, let go of, or honor

Are yoga mats provided?

Yes, yoga mats and props are provided.

Are hair dryers provided?

Yes, hair dryers are available in each bathroom.

How often is room service?

Towels will be changed every three days, and bedding once a week.

Is laundry service available?

Laundry service is available with paid token machines on site.

What is included?

Daily Class led by The Retreatment facilitators, all meals upon arrival, specified afternoon activities, and MXP airport transportation. As a reminder, airfare, spa appointments, and travel expenses are not included in the cost.

Is pricing in US dollars?

Yes, pricing listed on our website is in US dollars.

Will alcohol be available for purchase?

Alcohol is not available for purchase at this venue. An optional celebratory glass of wine will be offered on the last night.

Is there a vegetarian option for food?

Yes, all meals offered at Mandali will be vegetarian. We can create vegan options, if needed.

Is there Wi-Fi?

Mandali keeps all guest rooms free of Wi-Fi signals. Students are encouraged to disconnect as much as possible during the retreat. However, there is Wi-Fi available in the Library throughout the day.

What is an Altar Offering?

During The Retreatment, we invite you to bring an object that holds meaning for you. We will create a space at the front of our practice room for you to place this object. It could be a photo, a piece of art, jewelry, a letter… anything. We suggest that you think about this ahead of time. Begin the process of envisioning what you are stepping into this week and how this offering can support your journey.

How can I book massage appointments?

You can book a massage upon arrival at the Mandali Reception Desk. Massage appointments are not included in the Retreatment total.

Are afternoon activities required?

Everything during The Retreatment is optional. We highly encourage you to join us for meditation, The Class, and restorative afternoon movement, as this programming is designed to be cumulative. This week is about taking care of YOU. Please do what feels best and right for your body and spirit.

What currency do I need for shopping?

If you plan to buy any souvenirs in town, we strongly recommend getting euros upon arrival. Credit cards are not widely accepted.

Logistics

What is the cancellation policy?

‘The Class Corp.’ does not offer refunds for the deposit for any reason.

If you should need to cancel prior to the July 2, 2024, payment deadline, you will not be responsible for the remainder of your payment.

Should you need to cancel on or after July 2, 2024, the remainder of your payment must be paid in full.

‘The Class Corp’ is not responsible for your expenses incurred in preparation for any canceled retreat, such as airline tickets, loss of work, positive covid test, extended lodging, and/or other costs associated with preparing for your trip.

When is my remainder due?

Final payments are due July 2, 2024. Payments are auto-enabled using your credit card on file through WeTravel.

Travel Insurance

It is your responsibility to read and understand our cancellation policy before making a reservation. Naturally, no one books with the intention of canceling or postponing their retreat, but unexpected things do happen, so please consider purchasing travel cancellation insurance. Depending on the policy and conditions, travel cancellation insurance will pay for some or all cancellation fees. With most agencies, insurance must be purchased within 14 days of making your reservation. We strongly recommend purchasing cancellation insurance through your travel agent, or visiting the following site to compare providers: www.worldnomads.com.