Egypt Within
A 9-day journey through Ancient Egypt to reconnect with yourself and explore greater harmony between your inner world and the way you live.
Travel through Giza, Saqqara, Luxor, Edfu, Aswan and Philae in a small bilingual group, combining the discovery of Ancient Egypt with presence, reflection and personal exploration.
No belief system. No prescribed interpretation. Space to experience Egypt for yourself.
13–21 March 2027 · 9 days / 8 nights
English & French · Small group
9 days · 8 nights
Giza · Saqqara · Luxor · Edfu · Aswan · Philae
bilingual retreat
minimum 4 participants to confirm departure
Early Bird until 15 December 2026
Perhaps something here feels familiar.
You do not need to arrive with a problem to solve or an important decision to make. Sometimes stepping outside ordinary life simply creates enough space to notice what is already right – and what may need more attention.
No previous experience of yoga, meditation, energy work or retreats is required.
A journey towards harmony.
Most of us live between two worlds.
There is our inner world – what we feel, need, value, sense and know about ourselves.
There is our outer world – our relationships, work, environment, responsibilities and choices.
Sometimes the two move together. Sometimes they do not.
Egypt Within creates space to explore that relationship. By stepping outside our familiar environment and entering a very different one, we create conditions to slow down, become more present and listen differently.
The intention is not permanent calm or perfect balance.
It is to explore how who you are within and the way you actually live can come into greater harmony.
What I feel · need · value · sense
Relationships · work · responsibilities · choices
Not perfection – a clearer relationship between the two
A place that changes perspective.
Ancient Egypt does not need to be explained through a particular belief system to have an impact.
Its scale, history, architecture and relationship with time place us in an environment radically different from everyday life. Temples, desert landscapes and the Nile invite another rhythm of attention.
During the journey, we use these places as environments for exploration rather than giving you a prescribed interpretation of what they mean.
There will be moments to discover, learn and simply enjoy Egypt – and moments to slow down, listen, reflect and notice what the experience brings up for you.
The aim is not to find answers hidden in Egypt.
It is to allow a very different environment to help you see your own life from a different perspective.
9 days through Ancient Egypt.
From the pyramids around Cairo to the temples of Upper Egypt and the landscapes of Aswan, the journey moves progressively south through some of the country’s most remarkable ancient sites.
Cairo & Giza
Begin among the pyramids and monumental landscapes of the Giza Plateau, including the Great Pyramid and the wider archaeological setting around Cairo.
Saqqara & Dahshur
Explore some of Egypt’s oldest pyramid landscapes and trace the development of monumental architecture before the great pyramids of Giza.
Luxor
Spend several days in Ancient Thebes, exploring sites such as Karnak, Hatshepsut’s Temple and the Valley of the Kings.
Edfu
Travel south through the Nile Valley and visit the remarkably preserved Temple of Horus at Edfu.
Aswan
Arrive in southern Egypt, where the pace, landscape and relationship with the Nile change again.
Philae
Complete the journey with the island Temple of Philae, reached by boat and surrounded by the waters and landscapes of Aswan.
The precise order may adapt according to local conditions, opening times and what works best for the group.
Presence, depth and perspective.
At the heart of the retreat is presence — creating enough space to slow down, reconnect with yourself and become more aware of what you are actually experiencing.
From there, the journey invites two complementary movements: going deeper into your own experience, and stepping back enough to see things from a different perspective.
Gentle movement, body awareness and breath practices to help you arrive more fully in the present moment.
Voice, humming, listening and moments of silence to explore attention, expression and the way you respond to your environment.
Journalling, guided reflection, coaching and group conversation to help you notice what the experience may be showing you.
Exploring how you perceive people and places while learning to distinguish direct experience from expectation, emotion, belief and interpretation.
The practices adapt to the place, the day and the group.
Sometimes we will explore together.
Sometimes the most valuable thing will simply be to be present in Egypt.
Go deeper. See differently. Bring what matters back into your life.
Not answers. Something more useful.
A retreat cannot promise transformation. What it can offer is time, distance, experience and perspective – enough space for something to become clearer.
More space to recognise what currently feels important, unresolved or already working well in your life.
The possibility of seeing familiar situations differently after stepping outside your usual environment and routines.
A stronger awareness of what you are actually experiencing rather than constantly moving towards the next thing.
More awareness of the difference between direct experience, intuition, emotion, expectation and interpretation.
Something concrete to bring back into everyday life – a question, a decision, a practice or simply a different way of paying attention.
What’s included - and what to plan for.
The practical side of the journey is organised so that you can focus on the experience rather than managing logistics along the way.
- 8 nights in quality hotels
- Shared-room accommodation
- Domestic flights required by the itinerary
- Private transportation within Egypt
- Experienced local guide
- Entrance fees for scheduled archaeological sites
- Boat transportation to Philae where required
- Breakfast and meals specified in the final itinerary
- All retreat facilitation with Othman and Vanessa
- Local organisation and support throughout the journey
- International flights to and from Egypt
- Travel insurance
- Visa costs where applicable
- Personal purchases
- Optional activities outside the programme
- Personal gratuities unless otherwise specified
13–21 March 2027
9 days · 8 nights
CHF 2,700
per person · shared room
Available until 15 December 2026
CHF 3,000
per person · shared room
from 16 December 2026
+ CHF 500
single-room supplement
subject to availability
A CHF 500 deposit secures your place and forms part of the total retreat price.
The deposit is non-refundable if you decide to cancel. The remaining balance is due 6 weeks before departure.
Bookings made after the balance-payment deadline require payment of the full retreat price at the time of booking.
The retreat is confirmed once the minimum group of four participants has been reached. We will notify participants as soon as this happens. Until then, we recommend choosing flexible or refundable international flights, or waiting for confirmation before purchasing a non-refundable fare.
Two different backgrounds. One shared intention.
Vanessa and Othman bring complementary experience to the retreat – combining presence, embodiment and personal exploration with perception, discernment and integration.
VANESSA GUILLOUD
Vanessa has been immersed in yoga and personal development since her teenage years, with a long-standing interest in self-awareness, presence and the relationship between our inner experience and the way we live.
After 10 years as a school teacher, she moved professionally into coaching, yoga and sound therapy in 2021. Her background in education brings structure and clarity, while her coaching work supports deeper reflection and more conscious choices.
Vanessa has travelled to Egypt on 17 occasions and has spent the past five years organising retreats there.
During Egypt Within, she particularly supports presence, embodiment, movement and inner exploration.
OTHMAN HADDAD
Othman is the founder and Methodology Director of Swiss Sound Therapy, a tutor at the Arthur Findlay College, and has worked professionally with individuals, groups and practitioners since 2012.
Before moving into therapeutic work full-time, he spent more than a decade in systems engineering and programme management. That background still shapes his approach: observe carefully, distinguish what is happening and adapt rather than immediately impose an interpretation.
His work with mediumship and trance has also developed a strong sensitivity to people, environments and subtler forms of perception, with an emphasis on grounding and discernment.
Othman speaks English, French and Arabic and has travelled repeatedly through Egypt with groups, developing long-standing relationships with the local team.
During Egypt Within, he particularly supports presence, perception, sensitivity, breath, voice, listening and integration.
Supported throughout the journey.
Egypt Within is facilitated by Vanessa and Othman, but the journey is also supported by experienced local professionals who know Egypt, its archaeological sites and the practical realities of travelling through the country.
An experienced local guide accompanies the group through the principal archaeological sites, providing historical and archaeological context, while transportation, domestic travel and day-to-day logistics are organised on the ground.
This means that Vanessa and Othman can remain focused on the retreat itself – the group, the practices and the experience – while the practical side of the journey is supported by people who know the country well.
The intention is simple: enough structure to feel supported, without turning the journey into a rigid package tour.
The intention is simple: enough structure to feel supported, without turning the journey into a rigid package tour.
The aim is not to find answers hidden in Egypt.
It is to allow a very different environment to help you see your own life from a different perspective.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Before you decide.
A few practical answers about the journey, accommodation, group size and booking.
Do I need previous experience of retreats, yoga or meditation?
No. You do not need any previous experience. The practices are introduced progressively and you are always invited to participate in a way that feels appropriate for you.
Do I need to be physically fit?
The journey includes walking, stairs, uneven ground, heat and visits inside ancient structures. Some locations may involve confined spaces, steep passages or periods of standing. You do not need to be particularly athletic, but you should be comfortable with a moderate amount of walking and movement. More detailed practical information will be provided before booking so that you can decide whether the journey is appropriate for you.
Can I join if I am travelling alone?
Yes. You can join the retreat on your own. The group is intentionally small, and much of the journey is experienced together.
What language is the retreat in?
The retreat is bilingual, in English and French. Vanessa and Othman can facilitate in both languages, and we adapt according to the people in the group.
How many people will be in the group?
The retreat is designed for a small group, approximately 6–10 participants. A minimum of 4 participants is required for the journey to operate.
Are international flights included?
No. International flights to and from Egypt are not included. Domestic flights required by the retreat itinerary are included in the retreat price.
Can I have a private room?
Yes, subject to availability. The retreat price is based on shared-room accommodation. A private-room supplement of CHF 500 applies.
What happens if the itinerary has to change?
Egypt requires some flexibility. Opening times, local conditions, transport and access to archaeological sites can change. We may adapt the order of the programme when necessary while preserving the overall journey and retreat experience.
What are the booking and cancellation conditions?
A CHF 500 deposit secures your place and forms part of the total retreat price. The deposit is non-refundable if you decide to cancel. The remaining balance is due 6 weeks before departure.
The retreat requires a minimum of 4 participants. If we cancel because the minimum group has not been reached, all payments made to us, including the deposit, will be refunded in full.
Is this a spiritual retreat?
It may have a spiritual dimension if that is meaningful to you, but there is no belief system you are expected to follow. We encourage direct experience, curiosity and personal discernment rather than predetermined interpretations.
Do you work with the energy of the Egyptian sites?
Exploring how we perceive and respond to the atmosphere and energy of different places can be part of the journey. We do not tell participants what they should feel or claim that everyone will experience the same thing. The emphasis is on direct experience, sensitivity and discernment.
Is this a yoga retreat?
No. Gentle yoga, movement and body-awareness practices may be used to support presence and embodiment, but yoga is a supporting practice rather than the focus of the retreat.
Is this a sound therapy retreat?
No. Othman may use humming, voice, listening, breath and simple sound-based practices where they support the experience, but this is not a conventional sound therapy or sound bath retreat.
Will I learn about Ancient Egypt?
Yes. An experienced local guide accompanies the group through the principal archaeological sites and provides historical and archaeological context throughout the journey. The retreat combines discovering Ancient Egypt with experiencing it more personally.
What do you mean by harmony?
We are not promising permanent balance or a life without difficulty. In the context of Egypt Within, harmony means developing a clearer relationship between your inner experience – what you feel, value and need – and the way you live through your relationships, environment, work and choices.
Travel insurance is strongly recommended. Visa, passport and entry requirements depend on your nationality and personal circumstances, so please check the current requirements that apply to you before travelling.
Ready to join us in Egypt?
Nine days through Ancient Egypt, combining discovery, reflection and personal exploration in a small bilingual group.
Early Bird: CHF 2,700 until 15 December 2026.
Have a question before booking?