De reis: Val di Togno
A remote Alpine valley where forests turn into mountain meadows, and where mountain goats and silence are permanent residents.
Facilitated by Nature's Playground
- Where
- Rifugio Val di Togno, Valtellina, Italy
- How long
- 6 days
- Group
- 4–12 people
- Languages
- Dutch, English
The experience
In the Valtellina valley, towards the Swiss border, lies Val di Togno. A remote Alpine valley where forests turn into mountain meadows, where waterfalls and mountain streams draw the landscape and where mountain goats and silence are permanent residents.
In the middle of that area lies Rifugio Val di Togno. No bars, no traffic, no shops. Only mountains, views and a place where life is brought back to its essence. Precisely there we head into nature together.
Expect day hikes in the mountains with endlessly beautiful nature and moments where you fall still. Where your head switches off and your heart gets space. We create enough room for reflection and guide you around leadership and personal development. During the days you stay in the rifugio on full board, and head one night higher into the mountains for a pure outdoor experience.
The character of this experience
What the facilitator has told us about their own trip. Anything they have not said is simply not here.
- Depth of the experience
- Next level inner journeyThis is not a treat trip. In many cases this is transformative: you look at parts of yourself that are not always pretty or pleasant. That brings uncomfortable moments and often brings up grief you may look at and let go of. It makes contact with deeper layers in you, and so with your heart. It lets you sink towards your true essence, towards what you have to bring to this world.
Who this is for
Said plainly, so you can rule it out as easily as rule it in.
- You want a decisive programme rather than a loose two-day course or a week in a hammock
- The mountains draw you — and a good bed and craft cooking appeal to you
- You embrace the one night in a hut on a mat with pleasure
What's included
Included
- A 90-minute intake
- A one-day preparation session in the Netherlands
- A six-day trip in Italy, staying at Rifugio Val di Togno on full board
- A good bed; meals and drinks provided
- One night higher in the mountains, sleeping out
- A one-day session in the Netherlands after returning
Meet your facilitator
Nature's Playground
5 years running experiences
Niels Thijssen and Alexander “Ali” Gerritse take individuals, teams and organisations into the wild so that they come home, in their own words, “essentially different”. Their working idea is awe — the moment nature is so much bigger than your own story that the mind briefly falls silent and perspective shifts. Programmes run from a single day in Dutch woodland up to four-month trajectories built around an expedition in Italy, South Africa, Norway or Slovakia, and they also run a free monthly Community Hike.
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Why you can trust this listing
- A person read this listing against a checklist before it went live. It carries the quality stamp only because it passed.
- Every photo above was confirmed as this experience, not stock photography.
- Your money is held in a third-party client account and released to the facilitator 1 day after the experience starts.
What past participants say
“The programme brought me back to my feeling, my strength and my voice: in the silence of nature, without phone or clock, I could let go of what I had carried too long and feel again who I am.”
“Nature's Playground facilitates a remarkable journey of discovery towards yourself, in a truly fabulous setting.”
Practical details
Including the cancellation terms — visible before you book, not buried at checkout.
Meeting point
Not published. The trajectory opens in the Netherlands; travel to Italy is arranged with the group.
What to bring
Broken-in walking boots Warm layers and a waterproof shell — mountain weather turns quickly A daypack of 30–35 litres Water bottle, sun protection and a head torch
Accessibility
A basic level of fitness is sensible: the toughest hike involves around 1,100 metres of ascent spread over a full day, so some preparation is welcome. One night is spent sleeping on a mat in a hut.
Cancellation — Moderate
Full refund up to 30 days before the start date.
- More than 30 days before: 100% refund.
- More than 14 days before: 50% refund.
- Inside the last window: 0% refund.
Insurance to consider
Worked out from where this trip goes, how long it lasts and what the terrain is like. Insurance is yours to arrange.
Cancellation cover
Pays back what you cannot get refunded if you have to cancel or cut the trip short, for example through illness.
a.s.r. annuleringsverzekering(opens in a new tab)Medical costs abroad
Pays for a doctor or hospital outside the Netherlands. Your Dutch health insurance may not cover everything abroad.
a.s.r. reisverzekering (via Mountain Beat)(opens in a new tab)Rescue and repatriation
Pays for search, rescue and the journey home after an accident or illness. In remote or mountain areas a helicopter rescue can cost tens of thousands of euros.
NKBV Expeditieverzekering (membership required)(opens in a new tab)
The facilitator has not described the terrain yet, so this is based on the region and length only.
The insurance you actually need depends on your own circumstances, such as the cover you already have. Naturetreats does not sell or recommend insurance: check any policy against your own situation before you travel.