Description
Thank you for your interest in the Veda Studies Mahānārāyaṇa Upaniṣad retreat. You find all information about this retreat at the special retreat info page. You may have pre-registered before, but on this page you make the actual reservation.
Costs for additional guests
If your partner, child or a friend wants to accompany you, they are more than welcome to come to Lugano. Since you arrange your own accommodation, which may be in the Pestalozzi Hotel, they will only pay a fee for the meals.
Reservation fee, final payment, and payment plans
A non-refundable and non-transferable (to other person or course) reservation fee of €250 is included in the fee that you are paying.
Refund policy
You may cancel up to 3 calendar months in advance of the start of the event for a full refund minus the non-refundable and non-transferable reservation fee of €250 per person. Up until 2 calendar months in advance of the start of the event you will receive a 50% refund of the total fee. Up until 1 calendar month in advance of the start of the event you will receive a 25% refund. Within 1 month of the start of the event you will receive no refund.
Arriving earlier, departing later
If you plan to arrive early in the Lugano area, that’s no problem. Veda Studies likely organizes a small leisure program the day before and the day of departure. If you would like to do something else, there are ample touristy websites for the Lugano area and surrounding areas (e.g. Lago di Como, Lago Maggiore, Milano & rest of Northern Italy, and of course Switzerland). You are always welcome to send a message to members@vedastudies.com if you would like some advice, including travel solutions. Once you book your spot, we will also add the self-paced course to your Veda Studies account. It will be empty until the event, but you can already find a participants forum where you can connect and ask general questions that are also interesting for others to read (e.g. about Lugano or Switzerland, or visa matters).
Transportation
We recommend flying into Milano Malpensa Airport, which is the closest to Lugano by train and car. Alternatively, also Milano Linate (close to city) and Milano-Bergamo Orio al Serio (bit further away) are good options, as well as Zurich Airport. Intercontinental airports like Geneva, Munich, and Venice, are also possible, as well as European airports like Pisa, Verona, and Basel, but all of these require more (train/bus/car) travel towards Lugano.
Some key rules
By joining this retreat, you guarantee that you are in good physical condition and mental health. If you suffer from any conditions that may interfere with a proper conduct of the Vedic chanting teachings, meditations and/or yoga sessions, you are required to indicate this upon registration. The Veda Studies team and the Pestalozzi hotel cannot make special last-minute arrangements, and Shantala cannot adapt her teachings specifically for one person (including translations). Your participation may be denied upon reservation or cancelled before or during the retreat, possibly without a refund.
By joining this retreat, you agree to behave respectfully to your teacher, the Veda Studies team members, hotel staff, and fellow students. You also agree to demonstrate respect for the local culture, dress in an appropriate way (you will receive additional instructions well before the start, but you are not required to show up in full Indian dress), eat vegetarian/vegan, do not drink alcohol, use drugs or smoke cigarettes (or alternatives) during the retreat, whether on or off premises.
You agree that photos, videos and/or audio are taken from this event that may include your face or voice. We do our best to prevent taking pictures with you if you let us know beforehand. Of course you can opt out of group photos, but we cannot alter images or videos afterwards because you show up in them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I arrange my accommodation, and can I share a room?
This retreat differs from previous retreats because we do not arrange your accommodation. You are yourself responsible for getting a hotel or b&b in Lugano. You can maybe (still) book a room in the Pestalozzi Hotel, but any other place is fine too. We do recommend staying somewhere at walking distance.
Can I share a room, and how do I have to find a room partner(s)?
If you would like to share a room, possibly you can post a message in the forum area of the course belonging to this event.
Can Veda Studies arrange my visa?
Check the Swiss Embassy of your country whether you need a visa. Switzerland is not part of the European Union (and is not in the Euro zone), but it is part of the Schengen area. If you can get a visa for any Schengen country, you are able to travel to Switzerland. Be aware that Veda Studies cannot help you with getting a Schengen visa, besides providing you with a letter stating you are joining this event and that you are responsible for all costs, accommodation, and insurances. If a visa is required, please ensure to arrange this well before departure because there may be (long) waiting times at certain Embassies, Consulates or Visa Centers. Especially in India there may be long waiting times for Schengen visa application centers.
Can Veda Studies help booking my flights?
You must make your own travel arrangements. Early bookings generally give you better fees, but not necessarily the lowest. We advise to look first at Google flights, and possibly register for flight fee notifications on your route. Once you know the flight options, do not forget to also check the airlines’ websites because they often offer better deals than the large booking sites such as Expedia, Orbitz, or Booking.com (for flights). If you want to see more of Italy before or afterwards, you may want to consider an open-jaw ticket such as flying into Milano Malpensa and flying out of Rome Fiumicino. There are countless domestic flight options, but be aware that getting a lower fare by flying for instance into Bergamo or Pisa, may take you much more time and also incur extra train/bus costs to get to Lugano. If you need any advice, you can always contact Edgar at members@vedastudies.com.
Do I need to take any vaccinations?
You must consult with your own healthcare provider and the Swiss Embassy in your country. Citizens from certain countries may be required to get specific vaccinations.
What insurance should I take?
We highly recommend getting a comprehensive travel & cancellation insurance. Traveling without a good travel insurance is a really bad decision. It is essential to be covered for various emergences. Your national health insurance will for instance not cover medical expenses in Switzerland or while traveling to/from Switzerland. A travel insurance is therefore obligatory to join this event because Veda Studies cannot help you with financial emergencies. In addition, you may want to get a cancelation insurance. If you must cancel the trip for several pre-defined reasons (e.g. illness or death in family), your insurance may refund you for non-recuperable expenses, such as the flight tickets and participation fee. You may also enquire about a cancel-for-all-reasons insurance in your country. These are not offered everywhere, but it would allow you to cancel for a wider number of reasons beyond the regular cancelation insurance. If you travel more often, an annual insurance may be financially interesting. If you book your flight ticket, your credit card may also include some form of insurance, but generally these serve as a secondary insurance for the travel-related expenses paid with the card (it depends greatly on your credit card!). Please be aware that Veda Studies is not liable in any way for any emergency that may happen in Switzerland or on your way to/from the retreat. Veda Studies cannot cover any unforeseen expenses, such as for your hospitalization or repatriation. Put shortly, you must have a good insurance!
What happens when the retreat gets cancelled?
Veda Studies has the right to cancel the event for any reason, but this will only be done in exceptional circumstances. We will only do so after looking at all possibilities to go ahead with the event. If we do cancel the event, you will be refunded for the full participation fee (including reservation fee), but not for any other expenses you already made (including flights, visa costs, additional hotel nights, lost work time etc). There are, however, other exceptional circumstances that prevent us from going ahead with the event, such as lockdowns, dangerous political situations etc. In circumstances that are out of our control, no refunds will be given and you should be able to fall back on your cancelation insurance.
What is the dress code?
Shantala will inform you about the dress code well before the start of the retreat. Just be aware that it will not be as strict as during previous retreats in Hampi, India, and at Mandali, Italy. We will be in a hotel that is open to the public (some rooms are occupied by other guests) and you may want to step outside (into the city center). Being in full Indian gear is not appropriate in this case.
What will the meals be like?
All meals and snacks will be 100% vegetarian with vegan options, and generally they are served in plate-style. Tea and coffee will be available at certain moments of the day. Drinking alcohol will not be allowed during the retreat. Thank you for your understanding.
Will there be any outings?
No, the retreat will be entirely focused on the teaching sessions. If you would like to see more of the region, Switzerland or Italy, you can do so before or after the retreat. During the off-hours you can enjoy the city center, the Parco Ciano, or the beautiful lake.
Disclaimer: All texts and pictures on this page are for descriptive and illustrative purposes only.
