OTRO Hands-On
Together we build. Swap thinking time for making time, and get Alpe Selvaccia ready for the season.
Facilitated by OTRO Elements
- Where
- Alpe Selvaccia, Valsesia, northern Italy
- How long
- 4 days
- Group
- 8–12 people
- Languages
- English, Dutch
The experience
This one asks you to exchange thinking time for hands-on creation. We roll up our sleeves and prepare Alpe Selvaccia for the season.
Work becomes play, effort becomes relaxation — a reset for body, mind, and spirit. What you build depends on the year: raising the tipi, cutting wood, or sawing beams, alongside larger projects such as building new structures.
Between shifts there is hiking, the river, and evenings under a starlit sky. Accommodation is in basic but comfortable huts, with meals prepared by the Italian hosts.
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
- Simply enjoy natureJust being in nature and letting yourself be surprised by what you meet. Wonder, enjoy, let go. A moment away. You will be amazed at what that can do for you.
Who this is for
Said plainly, so you can rule it out as easily as rule it in.
- You would rather build something than talk about it
- You want to see the basecamp from the inside, before the season starts
- You are happy with basic accommodation and physical work
- You want to be looked after — this is a working weekend
- Physical labour at altitude is not something you can manage
What's included
Included
- Accommodation in basic but comfortable huts
- Meals prepared by the Italian hosts
- The work projects themselves — tipi raising, wood cutting, sawing beams, and larger builds
- Hiking and river access between shifts
- Evenings under a starlit sky
- Hosted by Robert-Jan
Not included
- Travel to and from Rassa, Valsesia
- Personal and travel insurance
Meet your facilitator
OTRO Elements
6 years running experiences
OTRO Elements run “nature-based expeditions designed for reflection, deep connection, and the art of letting go”. Their basecamp is Alpe Selvaccia — 22 hectares of alpine meadow and pine forest above Rassa in the Valsesia, with rustic huts, a fire circle, a tipi and a yoga platform looking out at Monte Rosa. They call the facilitator team the Tribe: Quirine, Fenneke, Tjeerd, Marit, Kalijn, Fernanda, Raymond, Robert-Jan, Benny and others, working alongside local Italian hosts and mountain guides.
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.
Practical details
Including the cancellation terms — visible before you book, not buried at checkout.
Meeting point
Rassa village, Valsesia, walking up to Alpe Selvaccia from there.
What to bring
Work gloves and clothes you do not mind ruining Sturdy boots — ideally with toe protection Warm layers for the evenings Swimwear for the river
Accessibility
Physical outdoor work at altitude, with the basecamp reached on foot and no vehicle access. Not suitable for wheelchair users.
Cancellation — Flexible
Full refund up to 14 days before the start date.
- More than 14 days before: 100% refund.
- More than 7 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.