RETREATS

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about booking, cancellations, and what to expect on retreat.

Booking & Deposits

  • Local Retreats are day or short overnight retreats held close to home, with lower travel and accommodation costs. Destination Retreats are higher-value experiences that involve international or long-distance travel and significant prepaid costs, such as hotels, transportation, and group experiences. Different booking, payment, and cancellation policies apply to each, and some Destination Retreats may also be subject to earlier supplier deadlines that will be disclosed in writing before payment is due.

  • Local Retreats (British Columbia): A $500 initial deposit is required at the time of booking to secure your place.


    International / Destination Retreats: A 10% deposit is required to confirm your place on the retreat. A $500 initial deposit is collected at the time of booking and is applied toward that 10% deposit. The remaining balance of the 10% deposit is due within 30 days of booking.

  • Local Retreats: After any applicable grace period, the $500 initial deposit is non-refundable, except where a refund is required by applicable law or where we cancel the retreat and a refund is due under this policy.


    International / Destination Retreats: The $500 initial deposit remains refundable until the end of the 30-day deposit-completion period. If the booking remains active after that period, the $500 initial deposit becomes non-refundable. Any additional unrecoverable supplier costs that have been paid or committed on your behalf may also become non-refundable once incurred and disclosed in writing.

  • Local Retreats: If you book more than 90 days before the retreat start date, you may cancel in writing within 72 hours of your initial payment for a full refund.


    International / Destination Retreats: The $500 initial deposit remains refundable until 30 days after booking, at which point it becomes non-refundable if the booking remains active. If supplier-specific earlier deadlines apply to your retreat, those dates will be disclosed in writing before payment is due.

  • Journey to Japan is a highly curated, small-group experience with many moving parts. The July 16 deposit deadline allows us to confirm final numbers, secure key arrangements, and ensure the retreat unfolds with the level of care and quality intended.

Payment Schedule

  • Deposit: A $500 initial deposit is due at the time of registration to secure your place.
    Payment Options: The remaining balance may be paid in equal monthly installments or as a lump sum 60 days prior to the retreat start date.
    Final Payment: If not already completed through a payment plan, the full balance is due 60 days before the retreat start date.
    If registering within 60 days of the retreat start date, full payment is required at the time of booking.

  • Deposit: A total 10% deposit is required to confirm your place on the retreat. A $500 initial deposit is collected at the time of booking and applied toward that 10% deposit. The remaining balance of the 10% deposit is due within 30 days of booking.
    Payment Options: Once your reservation request is accepted, you will receive an invoice based on the payment option you selected. If you choose a payment plan, the remaining balance will be invoiced in equal monthly installments. If you choose to pay in full, the remaining balance will be due by the date shown on your invoice.
    Supplier Deadlines: Some retreats involving cruises, luxury hotels, private villas, internal flights, or other suppliers may require earlier staged or final payments. Where that applies, the earlier supplier deadline shown in your booking documents will control.

  • Yes. We offer interest-free payment plans for both local and international retreats. By enrolling in a payment plan, you authorize us to charge the payment method on file on the agreed dates. There are no financing charges and no prepayment penalties, but you remain responsible for any third-party bank, card, currency-conversion, failed-payment, or reversal fees.

  • Time is of the essence for all payment deadlines. If a scheduled payment is late or declined, we may retry the payment and/or contact you for an updated payment method. If payment remains outstanding for 30 business days after written notice, we may suspend or cancel your booking, release your space, and apply the cancellation policy in effect on the date payment was due.

  • If you believe a payment was processed in error, please notify us in writing as soon as possible so we can review it promptly. For any refund due under this policy or under applicable law, we will refund the original payment method. Nothing in this policy limits any rights you may have under applicable law or your card issuer’s dispute process.

Cancellation Policies

  • All cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellation amounts are calculated on the total retreat price, not only on amounts already paid.

    • Within any applicable Local grace period: 100% refundable

    • More than 60 days before start: the $500 initial deposit is non-refundable; amounts paid above $500 are refundable

    • 60 to 31 days before start: 50% of the total retreat price is non-refundable

    • 30 to 15 days before start: 75% of the total retreat price is non-refundable

    • 14 days or less before start, or non-attendance: 100% of the total retreat price is non-refundable
      Any approved refund will be returned to the original payment method unless you request a credit in writing and we agree.

  • All cancellations must be made in writing. For International / Destination Retreats, the $500 initial deposit remains refundable until 30 days after booking. After that date, the cancellation schedule below applies, unless an earlier supplier deadline was disclosed in writing. Cancellation amounts are calculated on the total retreat price, not only on amounts already paid.

    • Before the 30-day deposit-completion deadline: the $500 initial deposit is refundable

    • More than 181 days before start: the $500 initial deposit is non-refundable; amounts paid above $500 are refundable

    • 180 to 121 days before start: 50% of the total retreat price is non-refundable

    • 120 to 91 days before start: 75% of the total retreat price is non-refundable

    • 90 days or less before start, or non-attendance: 100% of the total retreat price is non-refundable
      If your retreat page, booking confirmation, or supplier terms require earlier or higher non-refundable amounts for accommodation, cruises, private villas, internal flights, or experiences, those supplier-imposed amounts will apply from the date they are incurred and disclosed in writing.

  • Destination Retreats usually involve earlier commitments to accommodation, transportation, experiences, rooming, guides, and minimum group numbers. Once those amounts are committed to suppliers, they are often non-refundable to us. That is why Destination Retreats may have stricter cancellation terms and why supplier-specific deadlines may override the general schedule.

  • Our retreat pricing depends on contracted group minimums and shared rooming assumptions. If your cancellation causes supplier attrition penalties, loss of contracted group rates, or a single-occupancy surcharge for a remaining traveler, the resulting unrecoverable amount may be deducted from any refund and/or charged to the payment method on file where permitted by applicable law and your booking agreement. We will provide reasonable supporting detail on request.

Transfers & Changes

  • Yes, in many cases you can transfer your spot to another person.

    • Local Retreats: transfer requests must be received at least 7 days before the retreat start date

    • Destination Retreats: transfer requests must be received by the earlier of 60 days before the retreat start date or the applicable supplier cutoff
      Transfers are not effective until approved in writing. Any supplier name-change fees, administrative fees, fare differences, or additional rooming costs are the responsibility of the transferring guest and/or replacement guest.

  • Yes. We may cancel, postpone, reschedule, or materially modify a retreat if minimum participation levels are not met, if a supplier alters or withdraws services, or if circumstances make the retreat unsafe or impracticable to operate as planned.
    If we cancel a retreat for reasons within our control before it begins, you may choose either:

    • a refund of amounts paid to us for the retreat, or

    • a credit for the same amount toward a future retreat
      We are not responsible for independent arrangements you purchased outside your booking with us, including flights, visas, travel insurance, lost wages, or other third-party costs.
      If a retreat is cancelled or materially changed due to force majeure, government action, supplier failure, or other events beyond our reasonable control, our liability is limited to the amounts we recover from suppliers plus any amounts we hold that have not yet been irrevocably committed, unless a greater refund is required by applicable law.

  • Force majeure refers to events beyond our reasonable control, including natural disasters, wildfire, extreme weather, epidemic or pandemic events, government restrictions, transportation disruptions, labour disputes, civil unrest, or supplier failure. In these circumstances, we will work in good faith to secure refunds, credits, substitutions, or date changes where possible. However, cash refunds may be limited to the amounts we recover from suppliers plus any amounts we have not yet irrevocably committed, unless applicable law requires otherwise.

Health, Insurance & Safety

  • For Destination / International Retreats, comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, interruption, medical care, and emergency evacuation is strongly recommended and may be required for specific retreats. For Local Retreats, travel insurance is still recommended. Our cancellation policies are not a substitute for travel insurance.

  • You are responsible for ensuring that you are physically and mentally able to participate in the retreat. We may ask you to complete a confidential health or medical questionnaire and provide emergency contact information. We do not provide medical care or advice. You are responsible for managing your own medications and treatment. In an emergency, we may seek medical assistance on your behalf, but you are responsible for all related costs.

During the Retreat

  • Yes. We ask all participants to agree to a respectful and considerate code of conduct, including: • Treating yourself, other participants, and staff with respect and kindness. • Refraining from harassment, discrimination, or disruptive behavior. • Following reasonable instructions related to safety, schedule, and use of retreat spaces. • Honouring quiet hours and shared‑space guidelines. If a participant seriously breaches this code, we reserve the right to ask them to leave the retreat without refund.

  • We may occasionally take photos or short videos during the retreat for memories and marketing. We aim to do this discreetly and respectfully. If you prefer not to be photographed or filmed, please let us know in advance and remind us on arrival so we can accommodate your preferences. We will never deliberately feature you in marketing materials if you have opted out.

What's Included & Your Responsibilities

  • Each retreat page lists exactly what is included, but in general this may cover some combination of accommodation, meals, group sessions, workshops, and selected activities. Unless explicitly stated, the price does not include flights, travel insurance, visas, vaccinations, extra nights outside retreat dates, optional excursions, or personal incidental expenses.

  • You are responsible for: • Booking and paying for your own travel to and from the retreat location (unless otherwise specified). • Meeting passport, visa, and entry requirements for the destination. • Managing your own health needs, medications, and travel insurance. • Arriving on time for the retreat schedule; missed sessions or late arrival/early departure are not refundable.

  • Yes. In addition to agreeing to our retreat policies at the time of booking, you may be asked to sign: • A Retreat Participant Agreement and Liability Waiver. • A health or medical information form, where appropriate. • Any additional waivers required for specific activities (for example, outdoor excursions). These forms help ensure clarity, safety, and mutual understanding for everyone involved.

Still have questions? We're happy to help.

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