7 Day You Do Not Have to Do It Alone: The Power of Friendship in Belgium

Accommodation

A cruise aboard a canal barge promises a peaceful break where you take the time to discover the hidden gems of Belgium differently. The MS Raymonde a true cocoon of charm, sails on the canals and rivers of Belgium and offers its passengers an original and authentic experience. The MS Raymonde is a beautiful Premium canal barge, measuring 38,50 meters long and 5,07 meters wide. It can accommodate 22 passengers, in 11 cabins spread over two decks.

The size of the cabins is nine square meters offering amenities and providing guests with all the comforts they need during their stay. On board, everything has been taken care of down to the smallest detail and the six crew members guarantee a personalized service. The decoration is stylish with an elegant and intimate atmosphere. Located on the upper deck is the restaurant, which offers delicate cuisine in a refined setting, a lounge bar, and a relaxation area with a jacuzzi.

Comfortable sun loungers are provided on the sun deck, the ideal place to relax and admire the surrounding landscapes. A journey aboard the MS Raymonde promises an unforgettable getaway on the water. Of course, on top of all this, add learning and experiencing Mark’s sessions, fantastic excursions, and delectable meals, and it adds up to once in a lifetime experience.

Program

This tour offers daily yoga sessions and a focus on the gift and spirit of friendship. Mark will be offering 10 focused presentations. In these sessions, you will look closely at the discovery of your kinship, the nature of friendship, the inevitable trials by which your bond is strengthened or broken, the acceptance of your humanness, and the conduit that lasting friendship becomes to the larger forces of life. This is a week full of adventures, sessions, and intriguing excursions. Kindly note that all excursions are optional.

If you ever wish to just simply relax and enjoy the scenery or take a little snooze rather than go on an excursion, you may do so at any time. Also, note that this schedule may vary slightly to meet the needs of the participants as the days unfold. Generally, when the barge is cruising along, Mark will be offering sessions. Mornings will start with an optional yoga session, followed by breakfast. Evenings after dinner? Wait and see who has joined and they will decide what works best for everyone during the evening times.

More than likely the evenings will involve a combination of sessions, games, activities, and free time. In addition, you will cruise through magical waters and immerse in daily excursions: Ghent - Oudenaarde - Péronnes-lez-Antoing - Mons - Strepy-Thieu - Halle. Belgium has a dense network of waterways crossing Flanders and Wallonia from east to west and north to south. Join Global Journeys for a gentle cruise focusing on the good things in life. With the abundance of cultural riches concentrated on the canal banks, you will discover the characteristic cities, exciting sites, and unique flavors only Belgium can offer.

Indulge in local specialties such as chocolate, beer, wine, and other delicacies. Discover Ghent, Bruges, Oudenaarde, Mons, Strepy Thieu, Halle, Peronnes, and Brussels. Enjoy a visit to the Château de Beloeil - nicknamed the Belgian Versailles - and the award-winning Chant d’Éole vineyard and wine cellar. The specific address of where the barge will be docked will be known in January 2025. They will let you know as soon as that information is available.

Daily itinerary

Day 1: Ghent

You are welcome to board the MS Raymonde barge at 6:00 p.m. on May 29th, 2025. They will introduce the barge crew at a welcome cocktail before dinner on board. Franco and Kay will welcome the group and share some information, and Mark will introduce this week-long event.

Day 2: Ghent - Oudenaarde

Mark’s sessions

Session 1: The underlying reality
Session 2: Alone and together

This morning, join them for a guided tour of Bruges and a brewery. You will head to Bruges (about a 60- to 75-minute coach ride leaving Ghent). Its works of art, tranquil ambiance, romantic aura, and stunning architecture make it one of the top places to visit during any European vacation. The city has meticulously preserved the elegance and class it exuded during its golden age as a maritime trade center. You will then visit a brewery for a taste of ale.

This brewery was founded in 1856. Six generations later, it is a dynamic brewery still attached to its origins and the authentic Brugse Zot. You will return to the ship in Ghent. During your afternoon, you will glide along the Scheldt from Ghent to Oudenaarde, surrounded by the magnificent scenery of several natural parks. You will arrive in Oudenaarde in the early evening. You will remain in port overnight.

Day 3: Oudenaarde - Péronnes-lez-Antoing

Mark’s sessions

Session 3: Being a friend
Session 4: Seeking truth together and the art of netting

This morning, join them for a guided tour of Oudenaarde and a distillery. Oudenaarde is a picturesque city full of historic monuments, with the most notable being the town hall and its two main churches. Other memorable sites include the lovely beguinage, the house where Margaret of Parma was born, the Boudewijnstoren, and the 18th-century meat market. Everything is testimony to a rich and lively past. The city has more than 100 historic monuments. Set off on an urban hike taking you to the loveliest areas and tourist sites.

Enjoy some free time on your own to see what the city has to offer. You will then head over to a distillery. This will be the time to learn about how jenever, gin, and whiskey are distilled. Of course, you will have a taste. After you return on board, your ship will continue cruising to Péronnes-lez-Antoing. Take advantage of some downtime to relax on the Sun Deck and watch the scenery roll by. You will cross through the city of Tournai before arriving in Péronnes-lez-Antoing in the early evening. If you would like, you can work off dinner during an evening stroll. You will remain in port overnight.

Day 4: Péronnes-lez-Antoing - Mons

Mark’s sessions

Session 5: The work of friendship
Session 6: Meeting teachers

You will spend the morning cruising on the Nimy-Blaton-Péronnes Canal, a strategic waterway in the center of Belgium. You will arrive in Mons at the beginning of the afternoon. Set off on a visit to the Château de Beloeil and the Chant d’Éole vineyard. You will head over to the Château de Beloeil - nicknamed the Belgian Versailles - which contains a valuable collection of 15th- to 19th-century art, including a library with more than 20,000 books and precious manuscripts.

The furniture is a sampling of some of the top works of French cabinet makers in the 17th and 18th centuries. The paintings depict the grand achievements of most of the castle’s family members. You will continue to the Chant d’Éole estate. The vineyard came to be when a family of Belgian farmers joined forces with a family of eminent sparkling winemakers. They use the best modern techniques to guarantee a sparkling wine that adheres to Belgian tradition.

You will take a guided tour recounting the vineyard’s history. Enthusiastic guides will explain the different stages of production from planting to bottling, and everything in between. You will finish up the tour will a tasting of three signature spirits - the Brut Blanc de Blancs, the Rosé Brut, and the Elixir Saint-Georges. You will return to Mons and remain in port overnight.

Day 5: Mons - Strépy-Thieu

Mark’s sessions

Session 7: Moments that hold the world together
Session 8: The endless vows

Join them for a food tour in Mons this morning. Few cities can boast about their heritage like Mons can. This is a vibrant, modern city with a deep, historic past. The Grand Place offers a myriad of places to lose yourself in. The guide will take you to the center of Mons to learn about the city’s history and edible delights.

This stroll is a combination of history, culture, and anecdotes accented by a tasting of four local specialties. Indulging in the local cuisine makes this tour an unforgettable experience. You will return to the ship for lunch. This afternoon, you will cruise on Canal du Centre to Strépy-Thieu. You will remain in port overnight.

Day 6: Strépy-Thieu - Halle

Mark’s sessions

Session 9: One candle lighting many
Session 10: The long way home

Get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime experience as your barge takes a boat lift. Using two independent caissons, the lift allows a crossing in less than 35 minutes with a 240-foot height difference (75 meters) and single-handedly replaced four former boat lifts and two locks. You will continue your trip on the Brussels-Charleroi Canal to Halles. The next adventure is the monumental Ronquières Inclined Plane, built between 1960 and 1968. Construction of the plane reduced delays caused by the 14 previous locks. You will continue cruising to Halle.

In the afternoon, you will take a coach to Brussels for a guided tour of the city and a Belgian chocolate maker’s workshop. You will set off for the Belgian capital. In the city center, you will see the Grand Palace with its glorious city hall and lavish guild halls. With its richly decorated facade and impressive tower, the City Hall is one of the most beautiful buildings in the country. Further along, you will see the iconic Manneken Pis and the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries.

After, you will visit a Belgian chocolate maker in the heart of Brussels. Learn about your favorite indulgence - from its Mayan origins to the modern creations of master chocolate makers - while watching a demonstration of the meticulous and precise work through windows peering into the small factory. You will return on board the ship in Halle. Tonight is your festive gala evening.

Day 7: Halle

This is your last morning together as a group. Enjoy breakfast on board as you wrap up this amazing experience. Mark, Kay, and Franco will share their insights and each participant may choose to share their final thoughts as you all move forward in your life having experienced a unique and memorable event. Disembarking will be at 9:00 a.m.

Instructors

Kay LatchmanSingh

Kay is the main organizer and logistic expert of this retreat. Her background in international trade and finance and her attention to details will ensure that this will be a quality experience for all. She is in communication with everyone who is a part of this program and makes sure that all aspects of this endeavor are synchronized. Kay is also in charge of participant wellness and takes care of everyone from the time they register until they are back home. Kay is the co-owner and vice-president of Global Journeys. She provides a wealth of experience in travel and cultural connections.

Franco Marini

Franco Marini is a professor at the Daniels College of Business and works with the University of Denver on several educational experiential projects. He created and operates Global Journeys Inc., a travel-based company providing personal and professional growth through specialized travel offerings. One of Marini’s strongest attributes is his ability and knowledge of how to empower human development as it impacts the enhancement of individual strenghts and results of an organization.

Mark Nepo

Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called “an impassioned seeker” and “an eloquent spiritual teacher".

Location

The tour will take place in Belgium.

The event will be held on the MS Raymonde barge. Embarkation will take place in Ghent, Belgium. The specific address of where the barge will be docked will be announced a couple of moths prior to the start of the event.

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Food

You will be served daily meals, snacks, wine, and other beverages included in the price.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Snacks
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Alcoholic beverages

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Regular (typically includes meat and fish)

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

What's included

All listed excursions and activities
Optional yoga classes in the mornings
6 nights accommodation
All meals and snacks
Wine and other beverages on the barge and on some of the excursions
All of Mark’s presentations
Use of pool, bicycles, etc. on the barge

What's not included

Airfare
Tips
Transportation

How to get there

Recommended Airports

BRU

Brussels Airport (Zaventem Airport)

55 km

Transfer not provided

Arrival by train

The best route from Brussels Airport (Zaventem Airport) (BRU) to Ghent is by train. You may choose to arrive early enough to get to Brussels and make arrangements to catch a train to Ghent on the same day. The “fast” trains will get you to Ghent in around 30 to 45 minutes. There are different train stations in Ghent. As soon as Global Journeys knows where the barge will be docked, they will send you the specific train station to go to.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 26% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 30 days before arrival.

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