• 6 nights accommodations 
• 3 meals per day starting with dinner on the first night and ending with breakfast on the last day
• Instructional workshops and evening jam sessions
• Group Ground Transportation to/from Shannon Airport to Retreat Center
• Personal retreat time (having time to nap, explore, walk, read, and just be)
• Local Connemara Tour
• Kylemore Abbey Tour
• Evening at a Local Pub

Accommodations

Located in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Delphi Valley, this retreat center is a hidden gem. Deep within the wilderness of Connemara and South Mayo, there are breathtaking mountain vistas and stunning views of the banks of the Bundorragha River.

Nestled at the foot of the majestic Mweelrea mountain range, this center has all the elements for a magical retreat experience. The rooms, facilities, and the studio are set up to bring a state of comfort and tranquility, providing you a home away from home in this special Irish retreat getaway. 

All of the rooms have breathtaking scenery… wherever you lay your head, you’ll have an incredible view! Gourmet menus offer the freshest locally sourced ingredients. Enjoy the extremely soft cotton bed linen, plump pillows, and downy quilts. Locally made, organic bath and shower products available for use. An award-winning spa where you can reconnect with peace and tranquility. All spa products are certified 100% organic. The Yoga Studio is a space of energy and serenity. Custom built, featuring large open windows and stunning views of the inspiring landscape.

Tours:

Local Connemara Tour

As scenery goes, there aren’t many places that offer as much beauty and variety as Connemara, in County Galway. It has breathtaking views across lakes and mountains but also a unique ruggedness that the area is best known for.
The tour will take you through the towns, villages bog, mountains, grasslands and woodlands, and a spectacular sites of Connemara

Kylemore Abbey Tour 

Kylemore Abbey is famous for its beautifully restored period rooms and fascinating Visitor Experience. Learn about its history of tragedy, romance, education, and spirituality. Explore the 6-acre Victorian Walled Garden with its delightfully restored garden buildings, formal flower, vegetable and herb gardens. Discover woodland and lake-shore walks that will take you on a beautiful journey through a 1,000-acre estate. The beautiful Neo-Gothic Church is a short walk from the Abbey. Nestled nearby is the Mausoleum where Mitchell and Margaret Henry are buried side by side. Mitchell Henry built the original Kylemore Abbey for his wife Margaret. Make a wish at the Giant’s Ironing Stone and meet the pigs and Connemara ponies. There are also great options for dining and shopping.

Laurel Morgan Parks

Crossover violinist Laurel Morgan Parks has been following her musical path since the young age of 4 when her dad brought home a banged up fiddle with a bow that lacked most of its hairs – it was love at first listen! 

As a professional musician Parks has performed with acts such as the Eagles, Sarah McLachlan, Amy Grant, Evanescence, Josh Grobin and Disturbed, but also with her own projects – The Wires String Duo, Of Tree, and In the Pines.  She’s traveled throughout Asia, Europe and the United States, playing with her bands, the Mantovani Orchestra and the Des Moines Symphony.

Parks is currently the founder/instructor of Drunken Fiddles – a fiddle workshop for adults who want to learn to play a stringed instrument from the absolute beginning while incorporating fiddle styles and non-classical techniques along the way.  When not performing or teaching Parks can be heard on the NPR affiliated radio station 91.9 Classical KC as the co-host of Sound Currents – a show dedicated to championing New Music.

Sascha Groschang

Sascha Groschang, cellist, has performed extensively across the United States and Asia.  She has appeared at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall numerous times, and gave her solo debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in 2009. She has been a soloist and lecturer at the Thailand International Composition Festival, performed for the King of Malaysia with the Kuala Lumpur International Festival Orchestra, and traveled all across China on two tours with the Mantovani Pops Orchestra. She has shared the stage with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, The Eagles, Vince Gill, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Michael Bublé, Peter Gabriel, Josh Groban, Sarah Mclachlan, Idina Menzel, Amy Grant and her recording credits include NBC, Atlantic, and Rhino Records. Sascha is the cellist and co-composer of the alternative string duo, “The Wires“, which explores a variety of non-traditional string techniques and styles through original compositions.  The Wires have released three full length albums and their arrangements and original compositions are published with Mel Bay Publishing Co.  They are also co-hosts and curators of “Sound Currents” on 91.9 ClassicalKC – a weekly radio program that explores and discovers a broad range of new music. In addition, Sascha is principal cellist of NewEar Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, dedicated to playing the works of living composers. In 2022, she joined the St. Petersburg String Quartet – one of the world’s most esteemed chamber ensembles. Their accolades include a Grammy nomination, “Best Record” honors in both Stereo Review and Gramophone, an opening night performance at Mostly Mozart at Lincoln Center, a five-year residency at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and hundreds of concerts on many of North America, Europe and Asia’s most prestigious series and festivals.   Sascha lives in midtown Kansas City with her husband, four Persian cats and two daughters. www.cellolady.com

Testimonials

You are wonderful, Laurel, both in person and online. What a giving spirit you have! There are natural teachers and you are one. This is such a gift for me since my stroke and concussions. A good stretch. – Kristi

I have to tell you how impressed I am with these lessons. I just love them! I love how you present everything listening and watching you play, and I really look forward to practicing everyday.Fewer and fewer squeaks every day, lol. I’ve always wanted to play the violin, I’m 62 years old and this has been a real treat. Excited to try an in person workshop again. Thank you so much!! – Sandy

While on your retreat you will also have the opportunity to take part in adventure activities and wonderful excursions. Some of the possible options include:

• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Archery
• Climbing
• Surfing 
• And much more…

*Price of some Activities are not included in tuition unless free or listed under inclusions.

Please be sure to review Our Policies.

Registration

Click Here to Register Now!

Paying an initial non-refundable deposit of $350 and $35 Payment Processing Fee (added to the tuition rate upon registration) will lock in your tuition rate and hold your space for the trip.

For technical questions or alternative payment options, please contact us.

Getting There 

You will be booking your flights for Shannon Airport (SNN). Before booking tickets, please be sure you have received your official confirmation note that the retreat has met its minimums. There will be one group airport shuttle each way based on our flight window guidelines. Be sure your flights align with the provided flight windows if you wish to use the group shuttle. The drive time to the center is approximately 2.5 hours.

Travel Insurance

We cannot emphasize more the importance of travel insurance. As we all know, especially as travelers, “life happens.” Whether it’s family, work, mother nature, or a change of heart, it is important to be prepared in case you need to unexpectedly change your travel plans. Often for less than $150, you can purchase a travel insurance policy and be protected in the event that you need to make a change or need to be covered financially prior to or during your trip.

Read more about our insurance partners and their policies here. We encourage you to research the insurance company and policy that best meets your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do you have questions about traveling abroad? After you register, we will provide you with a Participant’s Package with helpful information. Also, be sure to check out our Participant FAQs. If you have other questions, feel free to write to us at info@truenaturetravels.com and let us know how we can help!

Shared Accommodations – $3195 USD

Single Accommodations – $3395 USD

Paying an initial non-refundable deposit of $350 and $35 Payment Processing Fee (added to the tuition rate upon registration) will lock in your tuition rate and hold your space for the trip.

For technical questions or alternative payment options, please contact us.

Cancellation

• Initial deposits and the $35 registration fee are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• 50% of payments are refundable up to 90 days before a retreat excluding the initial deposit and the $35 registration fee.
• 89 days prior to a retreat, tuition is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Full tuition is refunded if the trip is canceled due to low enrollment. The $35 registration fee is not refundable.
• True Nature Travels is not responsible for any loss incurred due to currency conversion rates.
• Full tuition is refunded* if the trip is canceled due to low enrollment.

*Refundable amounts do not include applied credits.

If you wish to cancel your spot on a trip you must submit your cancellation by email to info@truenaturetravels.com.