Bliss & Stars Retreat

rest & thrive

This Is a Pause

The Case for Moving Slower and Doing Less

Modern life is engineered for urgency: constant inputs, background stress, and a creeping assumption that stopping means you’re falling behind. The brain was never designed to toggle between twenty tabs. The nervous system didn’t evolve for group chats and Google Calendar. And yet, we keep adapting to dysfunction as if it were normal.

Rest & Thrive shifts the rules of engagement. No role to perform, no outcome to achieve. Just time, space, and a setting where attention is no longer scattered by alerts and obligations, but returned to what’s immediate: breath, sensation, the rustle of wind through stone. As the pressure lifts, the mind becomes less scrambled. The body stops bracing. Deeper breath returns on its own.

This isn’t about self-improvement. It’s about subtraction. Fewer decisions. Less noise. More stars. More moments where you’re not being asked to process or produce anything at all.

Mindfulness here is not a productivity tool. It’s a shift in how you relate to what’s happening. Somatic practices bring things back to the level where stress actually lives, in the body, not in your thoughts about it.

It’s the jarring realisation that the pace was the problem all along and that what matters didn’t disappear, it just got buried under the noise.

THE DATES

4 - 7 SEP 2025 | 27 - 30 NOV 2025

PRICES & ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS

The entire experience is included in the stated prices. We never have extra “hidden” charges.
Eagles Nest Interior
CHALET DOUBLE

R33,500 | 2 PERSONS

Leopards Cave Chalet At Bliss Amp Stars Retreat In Cederberg

CHALET SINGLE

R24,500 |1 PERSON

Villa Weavers Nest At Bliss And Stars Retreat 1
VILLA DOUBLE

R39,000 | 2 PERSONS

Luxury Bath At Bliss And Stars Cederberg

VILLA SINGLE

R27,000 |1 PERSON

Dassies Spot

TENTED CHALET DOUBLE

R27,500 | 2 PERSONS

257 Figtree Blissandstars Teagancunniffe

TENTED CHALET SINGLE

R18,500 | 1 PERSON

I struggle to put into words the sheer brilliance and wonder of my experience and the benefits to my mind, body and soul. I cannot remember the last time I was at so much peace and alignment! It feels like I’ve finally been able to take a deep and exhilarating breath after years of holding it and being on autopilot! I finally feel like I’m at one with myself again.
Milky Way
Penny

THE PRICE INCLUDES

4 days | 3 nights private accommodation in our chalets or tented chalets

Daily meditation, mindful movement, somatic and relaxation practices

Daily mindful walks in the wilderness

1:1 guidance | Mindful Conversations

Guided stargazing sessions

Snacks and beverages served throughout the day

3 balanced and nutritious meals a day

Clean, biodegradable skin care products

Access to 1,350 ha of wild & pristine nature
Dog Taking A Nap

MEET your GUIDES

We know what it’s like to be efficient and completely disconnected. To move fast, get things done, and lose track of what any of it is for.

Mindfulness didn’t arrive as a solution. It arrived as a crack in the surface. It slowed us down just enough to see what had been sidelined, curiosity, rest, even joy.

Bliss & Stars wasn’t built out of ambition. It was built from that pause. A place to stop negotiating with your schedule and start paying attention to your life.

We’re not here to tell you what to feel. Just to offer the conditions where feeling becomes possible again.

Daria & Heine Rasmussen

Daria And Heine Rasmussen Bliss Andstars Founders
Bliss & Stars have created an incredible experience in a beautiful wilderness. The staff are wonderful and as for the food: that was EXCEPTIONAL. I so enjoyed my time, and the peace and solitude was just what I needed. I have come away realising how I need to slow down and take time for myself and family.
Nebula
Leigh
Mindfulness At Bliss And Stars

REST & THRIVE RETREAT IS FOR YOU IF:

You’re overwhelmed but can’t justify stopping

You sleep but don’t feel rested

You’ve forgotten what you need

You want to slow down without ‘doing’ slowing down

You’re done with being told to “just breathe”
"I have no words to thank you both and your beautiful staff for the best 4 days in a very long time. Your beautiful energy and home have filled my heart with so much love and gratitude. Thank you for opening up your beautiful home to us. It really felt like going to see my best friends. Your knowledge and wisdom are just amazing and I promise I will practice all the meditations we did."
Avela Foundation Cami Polomo Avatar
Cami
Daily Rhythm
Days unfold slowly, by design. Mornings and evenings begin with mindfulness and breath, simple practices to settle the mind and let the body catch up.

As night arrives, the sky takes over. Just stars and the occasional gasp at something ancient streaking across the dark.

There’s no rush to be anywhere. Sit by the river. Float in the pool. Let time stretch out until the idea of keeping up no longer feels urgent.
Beetroot Flapjacks

CUISINE

Our meals: simple, plant-based, purely crafted. Each dish, prepared by our chefs, not only delights but restores.

Ingredients? Only the freshest from our organic garden and local farms. Expect vibrant vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and seeds. We keep it clean: no alcohol, caffeine, or processed sugars.

Communal Dining: Gather around the table or under the open sky. Meals here are a shared experience, a moment to connect with fellow travelers. It’s more than dining; it’s a story sharing moment.

We accommodate most allergies and cater to most dietary requirements.

04 Mountain
COME AS YOU ARE. WE TAKE CARE FOR 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 light 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.

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 unfortunately cannot accommodate disabled or mobility impaired people. Bliss & Stars is located in the Cederberg wilderness and the terrain doesn’t allow for such access.

For the benefit of everyone: we ask that all participants commit to attending the entire retreat from beginning to end. Your wholehearted commitment supports those in your group and expresses respect for the retreat staff.

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 program. 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.

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