Among the Ancient Larches
Leave the everyday behind…
There are places in the Alps that still feel like a secret. Balavaux is one of them.
Hidden high above the valley, surrounded by magnificent ancient larch trees and open mountain landscapes, it’s the kind of place where the noise of everyday life simply disappears.
Join us for a one-day escape into this special corner of the Alps – walking quiet trails, slowing down, sharing simple moments and rediscovering what it feels like to have nowhere else to be.
Designed for a small group of individuals to keep intimacy, authenticity and calm.
Activities of the 1 day Outside
- Hiking
- Nature Connection practices
- Mindful walking
- Site of oldest larch trees in Europe
Nature Connection Experience
This day is an invitation to explore the source of your inner harmony – nature, the outside world serving as a major inspiration.
‘The best of human nature is revealed in the Nature’.- Be Outside Coaching
Melezes de Balavaux
Perched above Nendaz at around 2,000 metres, the Mélèzes de Balavaux is one of those rare places that immediately feels different.
The landscape is dotted with magnificent old larch trees – some several centuries old – their enormous trunks shaped by countless Alpine winters. Rather than a dense forest, Balavaux feels open and spacious: ancient trees scattered across mountain pastures, with views stretching towards the surrounding peaks.
In autumn, the place becomes particularly magical. Unlike most conifers, larches lose their needles, but not before turning them a spectacular golden yellow. For a few precious weeks, the whole mountainside seems to glow.
There is something wonderfully timeless about walking here. The ancient trees, silence and wide-open landscape create the feeling of having stepped away from the modern world.
Balavaux isn’t simply a beautiful place to hike. It’s a place to slow down, breathe deeper and remember how good it feels to be somewhere wild and quiet.
The oldest larches at Balavaux are estimated to be around 800 years old. Some sources describe individual trees as 800-1,000 years old, making them among the oldest larches in Europe.
One of the most impressive specimens has a trunk circumference of roughly 11-12 metres.
Price & Logistics
Dates: October 11th
Participants: Max 10 to keep the authenticity and intimacy
Price: 70 CHF plus 25 CHF for a cabe car- tickets at the arrival
Experience Nature with a diverse group of human beings
Oh nature!
Ruta – outing leader
Ruta, mountain leader, nature therapy guide & coach
Ruta has done her first hike back in 2013- she then realized that the real life is not happening in the indoor- office environment but rather outside.
This made her realize that she was missing something important in her life- connection with Nature. Since then, most of her time she spends outside- climbing, hiking, wild camping, walking in the forests, parks and other natural places. She has become hiking ‚guru‘ and is now passionate to share the most beautiful places in the Swiss Alps with the others.
Retreat participants often say that Ruta’s passion for Nature is contagious.
Ruta is a professional mountain leader ( Association of Mountain Guides in Switzerland), neuro-coach (Neuroleadership Institute, London), and forest therapy guide (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, USA).
By creating Be Outside Coaching movement, she has connected her 2 major passions: activities outside and human development. Be Outside Coaching delivers immersive and holistic Nature experiences in the different corners of pristine the Swiss Alps.
Be Outside. Be Authentic. Be You
Testimonial From Last Retreats
Alena, mother of 2 and business owner from Switzerland
‘This year has been so hard and I have felt a terrible urge to escape my daily life, the uncertainty and the heavy routine. Joining Ruta’s Autumn retreat was one of the best things that happened to me in 2020.
Ruta’s carefully chosen location for the retreat was beyond what I could have imagined.. She is madly passionate about nature and outdoor living and she transmits this passion and to everyone around. I have discovered forest bathing, mindful hiking, participated in many activities I’ve never heard of before, I have let myself follow the rhythm and it was incredibly calming, nurturing and emotional experience.
I’m impressed with Ruta’s facilitation skills too.
We were a group of 12 women with 12 different nationalities, cultures, backgrounds, personalities and expectations sharing this 3-day experience. Ruta managed all that diversity and strong emotions coming out with ease. She created an inclusive and safe environment for all of us to feel comfortable, heard and supported. Through many different activities, each of us could find a way to share (or not) that one was comfortable with. She managed to keep us motivated and outdoors even when the weather was difficult, during those 3 days we had sun, rain and even snow!!
The retreat was well planned, the sessions were well prepared with little surprises that went straight to the heart of each participant (I can’t name as it would be a spoiler for next participants!)
I loved the place so much that I have prolonged my stay by an additional day and I’m already looking forward to next year!!’
Can not to wait to share this experience with you!
Feel free to contact me in case of any question.
