“Self-reflection and wellness retreat”
7 Day The Eye of the Beholder Photography and Yoga Wellness Retreat in Knysna, South Africa
Vala House, Highway Road, Rheenendal, Knysna, South Africa
Photography Retreat in South Africa
Take a step back from the fast pace of everyday life and immerse yourself in a seven-day retreat designed to nurture both your inner and creative worlds. This retreat blends mindfulness, movement, and photography, offering a unique opportunity to reconnect with yourself and the world around you.
Highlights
- Photography workshops
- Yoga and pranayama sessions
- Sauna and ice baths, sweat lodge
- Forest immersion and walking meditation
- Cacao ceremony
- Inspirational breathwork
- 6 nights accommodation
- Daily meals
Skill level
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Advanced
7 days with instruction in English
Airport transfer available:
George Airport (US$ 38 per person)
George Airport (US$ 38 per person)
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
14:00
Check-out Time:
14:00
Facilities
- Dining area
- Kitchen
- Lounge
Upmarket, clean, and spacious rooms
Vala House has a selection of beautiful rooms either ensuite or with shared amenities. The rooms are clean and comfortable and are serviced daily. Large rooms with balconies overlooking the expansive gardens are available. All rooms have either a queen or king-sized bed.
Program
Rather than focusing on technical skills, this experience encourages you to use photography as a way to explore perspective, emotion, and self-expression. Each day begins with grounding practices - meditation, yoga, and cold-water immersion - to cultivate a sense of stillness and presence. From this space of inner balance, creativity can flow more freely.
Surrounded by nature, you’ll be guided through photography exercises that emphasize intuition, awareness, and storytelling. With nourishing meals, reflective discussions, and time to simply be, you’ll discover a deeper connection to both your creative vision and your inner self.
Whether you are an experienced photographer or simply drawn to artistic expression, this retreat provides a welcoming space to slow down, embrace play, and see the world with fresh eyes.
Who is this for?
This retreat is open to anyone seeking a deeper connection with themselves, whether through mindfulness, movement, or creative exploration. No prior experience in photography or wellness practice is necessary - just a willingness to slow down, embrace presence, and engage in self-discovery.
What’s included
Photography goes beyond capturing an image - it is a way of interpreting and understanding the world. Every choice you make in framing, composition, and lighting reflects your inner landscape. In this way, photography can serve as both a creative outlet and a mirror for self-discovery.
Long before you learn language, you understand life through images. You dream in pictures, recall memories as visuals, and imagine the future through mental snapshots. By using photography with intention, you can gain new insights into yourselves, your emotions, and how you interact with your surroundings.
This retreat will incorporate guided exercises inspired by psychology, art, and mindfulness, helping you to explore the deeper layers of your creativity and personal perspective. Through visual storytelling and reflective practice, you’ll develop a new appreciation for the ways images shape our perceptions and experiences.
Photography workshops
Learn how to use the camera to express your inner-self and create portraits of your true self. You look at
- The contemplative gaze
- The expressionist gaze
- The documentative gaze
- The conceptual gaze
- Self portrait with things
- Body itinerary
- Accompanied mask
Also included
- Yoga and pranayama - Gentle movement and breathwork to support relaxation and mindfulness
- Sauna and ice baths - A chance to reset through heat and cold therapy, supporting both mental and physical resilience
- Forest immersion and walking meditation - Time in nature to restore and ground yourself, incorporating mindful walking and deep listening practices
- Cacao ceremony - A gentle ceremony using mother Cacao to open your heart and help in your healing
- Inspirational breathwork - An inspirational breathwork session to help you transcend and heal
- Sweat lodge - A sweat lodge is a traditional healing practice used by Indigenous cultures, involving a small, enclosed space where heated stones create steam, promoting physical detoxification, spiritual cleansing, and deep introspection
Program
Monday
- 14:00 Arrive and settle in
- 15:00 Welcome ceremony
- 16:30 Yoga
- 18:30 Dinner
- 19:30 - 20:00 Meditation
Tuesday
- 06:30 Meditation
- 07:00 Yoga
- 08:30 Sauna and Ice bath
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:30 Photography workshop and shoot
- 13:00 Lunch
- 14:00 Image analysis and sharing
- 16:30 Yoga
- 18:30 Dinner
- 19:30 - 20:00 Meditation
Wednesday
- 06:30 Meditation
- 07:00 Yoga
- 08:30 Sauna and ice bath
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:30 Photography workshop and shoot
- 13:00 Lunch
- 14:00 Image analysis and sharing
- 16:30 Yoga
- 18:30 Dinner
- 19:30 - 20:00 Cacao ceremony
Thursday
- 06:30 Meditation
- 07:00 Yoga
- 08:30 Sauna and ice bath
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:30 Inspirational breathwork
- 13:00 Lunch
- 14:00 Image analysis and sharing
- 16:30 Yoga
- 18:30 Dinner
- 19:30 - 20:00 Image sharing
Friday
- 06:30 Meditation
- 07:00 Yoga
- 08:30 Sauna and ice bath
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:30 Forest immersion
- 13:00 Lunch in the forest
- 14:00 Photo shoot in forest
- 16:30 Yoga
- 18:30 Dinner
- 19:30 - 20:00 Image sharing
Saturday
- 06:30 Meditation
- 07:00 Yoga
- 08:30 Sauna and ice bath
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:30 Photography workshop and shoot
- 13:00 Lunch
- 14:00 Image analysis and sharing
- 16:30 Yoga
- 18:30 Dinner
- 19:30 - 20:00 Meditation
Sunday, May 23
- 06:30 Meditation
- 07:00 Yoga
- 08:30 Sauna and ice bath
- 09:30 Breakfast
- 10:30 Closing and final sharing
- 13:00 Lunch
- 14:00 Farewell
Included excursions
- Forest immersion and walking meditation: Time in nature to restore and ground yourself, incorporating mindful walking and deep listening practices
Location
Vala House is set in a beautiful setting with lush gardens, fields, and views of the mountains. It sits on the edge of Knysna Forest, just twenty minutes to Knysna. It is also located twenty minutes to the sea at Brenton-on-Sea. Forest and coastal hikes are nearby.
Distances
- Knysna - 20 minutes
- Sea at Brenton-on-Sea - 20 minutes
Food
All the in-house vegan meals, snacks, and drinks are included.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
- Coffee
- Tea
- Detox juices
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegan
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
- Optional Reiki, energy balancing, kinesiology, and massage sessions
What's included
- Daily meditation
- Morning and evening yoga sessions
- Sauna and ice baths
- Knysna forest hike
- Cacao ceremony
- Inspirational breathwork session
- Photography workshops
- 6 nights accommodation in a private room
- All in-house meals, snacks and drinks
What's not included
- Flights
- Airport transfers
How to get there
Recommended Airports
GRJ
George Airport
55 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 38 per person
Airport: George Airport
Airport transfer available:
George Airport (US$ 38 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through Tripaneer.com. All major credit cards supported.
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