Wild Nature Retreats

The Wild Quest is a guided 9-day journey of self-discovery in the highlands of Southern Norway. Immersed in wilderness and away from everyday routines, you reconnect with yourself, others, and the living world. Fresh perspectives on your life and your place are waiting to be explored.
Simple outdoor living, shared meals by the fire, and a temporary community shape this Quest. An optional 24-hour solo in nature invites a personal vision for the path ahead. The week is gently supported by circle songs with live guitar, and guided to create a safe, intimate, and supportive space.

What You Will Experience
The Wild Quest creates space for personal encounters with longings, vulnerability, inner wisdom, and responsibility in relation to society and Earth. We will spend almost all of our time outdoors — sleeping in a tipi, simple wooden shelters (gapahuks), tarps, or underneath the star-filled sky. With our (usually heavy) backpacks, we are going to hike for 3-4 hours to get deeper into the mountains. On the last day we hike back the same way we came (though backpacks will be a bit lighter because they carry less ). On all other days, we have a basecamp and hiking is optional (not a group activity). All meals are prepared over the bonfire. It will be vegan, organic food. Together we form a community in which practical collaboration plays an important role. 

Core Elements

• Introduction to wilderness living: fire making, outdoor cooking, basic navigation (map and compass)
• Nature-based process facilitation
• Intuitive nature walks / threshold experiences
• Practices from the Work That Reconnects
• Working with ‚The Four Shields‘ and other reflective tools

Setting & Logistics
We will spend 2 days exploring the Friluftsliv Park Helleviga and then we’ll be in the Åseral region near Bortelid for the remainder of our time.

Group & Requirements
To keep the group close-knit and supportive of personal growth, we limit participation to 13 people. No prior experience is required, but you should be fit enough for a 3–4 hour hike with a backpack at the beginning and end of the trip. Openness and psychological resilience are important; if you are currently facing significant mental health challenges, we recommend seeking professional support before joining. 

What to Bring

• A big backpack (min. 60 L)
• Sleeping mat and sleeping bag (comfort rating ~0°C)
• Personal snacks (e.g., nuts, dried fruit, tofu, bread)

A detailed packing list will be provided after registration.

Travel & Meeting Point
Travel to Norway is by bus and ferry via Hirtshals and Kristiansand.
There are two available pick-up spots: Hamburg (Germany) and Aarhus (Denmark).

1. Hamburg: Friday, August 25th at 4am at the Institute for Movement Sciences (Turmweg 2, 20148 Hamburg).
2. Aarhus: Friday, August 25th at 8am (exact location TBD)
   Return times are Sunday, 3rd of September around 10pm in Aarhus and for Hamburg around 2am Monday 4th of September (very early morning). If you need local transport after arrival in Hamburg, there is an option to stay overnight at the institute before continuing your journey home. 

Carbon Offset
We estimate about 40–45 kg CO₂ per person for this travel. To compensate, we support Rettet die Naturvölker e.V., an organization that protects indigenous homelands and forests. We use a CO₂ price of €200 per ton, in line with recommendations from the German Environment Agency — much higher than standard offset rates. 

Facilitators
Bijan Ghaffari-Tabrizi
Bijan is an experienced guide for nature-based programmes centred around the search for purpose and meaning in life. He is a Psychotherapist (Gestalt Therapy) and a trained Vision Quest guide in the tradition of School of Lost Borders. Trained as a guide in Joanna Macy's Work That Reconnects to hold space for people longing to create a more sustainable planet and society. www.openvision.earth