plant-based COOKING RETREAT
Join our chefs, Phillipa & Aphelele, in the kitchen to hone those essential culinary skills and discover new ways to incorporate seasonal produce into your diet and learn the basics of vegetarian and plant-based cuisine.
This 4-day retreat at Bliss & Stars is designed renew your sense of joy for food while allowing you to de-stress, restore, reconnect with yourself and find an inner balance. We want you to focus on appreciating simplicity, beauty and the abundance of nature. Emerge from this weekend inspired to include delicious plant-based meals in your everyday life.
We’ll cook with local produce and the food will be fresh and seasonal. We cater and plan with specific dietary requirements and your ultimate well-being in mind.
We have a no-bullshit approach to how to live a thriving life and how to find rest in the always-on-the-go world. We are not here to tell you what to eat. We just want to share our love for food with you and serve mouth-watering meals bursting with flavor.
No experience required.
THE DATES
30 MAR - 2 APR 2023 | 20 - 23 APR 2023 (SOLD OUT)
4 - 7 MAY 2023 | 1 - 4 JUN 2023 | 7 - 10 SEP 2023
BRING JOY BACK TO COOKING & EATING
You will be cooking, dining, relaxing, hiking, meditating, and sleeping in luxurious chalets. Have great fun and enjoy authentic hands-on vegan and vegetarian cooking in a beautiful valley of bliss and stars.
PRICES & ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
The entire experience is included in the stated prices. We never have extra “hidden” charges.
CHALET DOUBLE
R30,000 | 2 PERSONS
CHALET SINGLE
R20,000 | 1 PERSON
TENTED CHALET DOUBLE
R24,000 | 2 PERSONS
TENTED CHALET SINGLE
R16,000 | 1 PERSON
THE PRICE INCLUDES
The retreat begins on Thursday afternoon between 4 – 6pm, and we conclude it on Sunday after a celebratory brunch.
4 days | 3 nights private accommodation in our chalets or tented chalets
Somatic, mindfulness practices and breath work
5 x cooking classes with our top chefs
3 balanced and nutritious meals a day
Snacks and beverages served throughout the day
Clean, non-toxic Bliss & Stars Skin Care
‘Goodie for a Foodie’ bag full of deliciousness to take home
Access to 1,350 ha of wild and pristine nature
BENEFITS
Learn Cooking Techniques
Learn the basics of cooking, from knife skills to sizzling and seasoning.
Learn the practice of Mindful Eating
How you eat is as important as what you eat. Learn how to bring more attention, love and care to cooking and eating.
Reclaim the Flavors
Learn how to create unforgetable flavors and tickle your tastebuds.
MEET your GUIDES
Phillipa & Aphelele both live, talk and breathe food.
Both share profound passion for food as a social glue and nourishment for the mind, soul and body.
They love experimenting, trying out new flavors, and developing new plant-based dishes.
CUISINE
Food is a key component when it comes to balancing your nervous system. It heightens your senses, grounds you in your body, and connects you to the Earth.
We use ingredients sourced from our onsite organic garden and nearby local farms. Our menus are full of vegetables, grains, legumes, and seeds. Alcohol, caffeine and processed sugars are excluded to aid the rejuvenation process.
Be it at the dining table or out in nature: meals are enjoyed in a communal setting with magnificent views.
We accommodate most allergies and cater to most dietary requirements.
Come as you areWe take care of the rest
BLISS & STARS EXPERIENCE
Rest in spacious chalets that seamlessly mesh with nature
Be amazed by nature and observe the night sky through our state-of-the-art telescopes
Saunter in secluded mountainous areas
Relax and breathe deeply with mindfulness practices
Discover Bushmen cave paintings
Build bonds with others in small groups of a maximum of 10 people
Share the living space with eland, baboons, Cape leopards and many more beautiful animals
Travel lightly and use our daily laundry service
FAQ
It is a +- 4.5 hour drive from Cape Town to the Bliss & Stars meeting point. Bliss & Stars is 60km north of Clanwilliam in the Western Cape. It is a 45-minute drive on a gravel road from Clanwilliam to the meeting point however no 4 x 4 or raised vehicle is necessary. At the meeting point, you can safely park your car and will take you the last bit of the way in our vehicle.
You are welcome to drive all the way to Bliss & Stars however: after the meeting point the road is sandy and rocky so a high clearance vehicle and confident driving skills are needed.
If you need a transfer from CPT or Cape Town International Airport then let us know.
Please aim to check in before 2pm. On the last day the retreat ends at 11 am and you will be able to check out from 12pm onwards.
If you are flying back home: we recommend booking your flight after 4pm. Alternatively break your travel and stay in Clanwilliam before you head back. We recommend the Yellow Aloe guesthouse in Clanwilliam. We recommend the Yellow Aloe guesthouse in Clanwilliam.
Once your reservation has been confirmed: you’ll be sent a welcome letter providing lots of useful information about the retreat, including a helpful guide on what to pack.
These experiences are designed to be more intimate. We limit the number of guests to 6 – 10 people to ensure you receive full attention from the team.
Yes, we are very happy to welcome couples at this retreat.
Bliss & Stars is not conducive to children. We have a minimum age requirement of 21.
Please arrive no later than 2pm and plan to leave no earlier than 12pm. Exact arrival and departure times can be arranged with us closer to the time.
We cater to specific nutritional and dietary requirements including food allergies and food intolerances. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options are always available.
Everyone is welcome at all of our experiences regardless of the meditation and yoga experience or fitness levels. We cater for different levels, so that you will be supported, challenged and encouraged to learn.
No. You can pace yourself to find the perfect amount of activity that suits you. We support you in doing as much or as little as you’d like, depending on how you are feeling. Personally, we wouldn’t want to miss a thing!
Unfortunately not. We ask that you leave by 5pm on the closing day.
We offer personalized payment plans for all our retreats up to 2 months before the start date of your stay.
Please read our terms & conditions for our cancelation policy
We always strive to make our experiences available to everyone and therefore we have a bursary programme. Learn more here.
No, there is no mobile coverage or WIFI available. There is a computer with guest access available in case of emergency and you will be provided with a phone number should you need to be reached while staying at Bliss & Stars.
MAKE YOUR RESERVATION
Please answer the questions below so we can tailor the experience to meet your needs.
We require a 50% deposit to confirm your reservation.
If you are not committed to making a reservation yet and have some questions, contact us here.