“Thaw” - Alba Retreat
18-22 February, Kuseboholm Gård, Sweden
This February Alba retreats are heading to Sweden.
For a lot of us, winter can feel difficult. In the UK it’s grey, wet and dark by four, and we often spend January and February with our heads down, counting the days until spring.
But the Scandis do it differently. They lean into winter. Candles are lit at breakfast, fires are always going, and they savour slowing down. It’s something we should admire, and borrow from.
How often do we make a ritual of winter? How often do we let ourselves burrow the way animals do at this time of year? It’s a season for recharging and reflection so we can head into spring with intentions and energy.
February sits between the year you’ve just had and the one ahead, which makes it a good time to feel grateful for what carried you through, and to work out what you want to do next.
Join life coach, Claudia Guinness, for a transformative long weekend designed to help you embrace the season, and shed, or “thaw”, whatever you’d like to leave behind as you head into spring. Over five days you’ll do it the Scandi way, in comfort, eating very well, getting warm and cold and warm again, and reflecting on what you want from the rest of the year.
The venue
Kuseboholm is a working farm in Östergötland, in the oak-rich heart of Sweden.
You wake up surrounded by nature, and the fires are already lit. The air is crisp and cold, your coffee has steam coming off it, and there are candles everywhere. Fairy lights lead to the sauna and plunge pool. Deer and mouflon roam the enclosure beside them. There’s a vegetable garden, a beautiful workshop, a cosy wooden loft, and woods that look like woodland fairies might live in them.
Caroline and Fredrik, who run the farm, have a creative vision and a gift for hosting. They are never not lighting something, or finding another way to make things easier and more special. They live next door in a beautiful house, and we will have dinner and drinks there for one or two meals.
In February we're hoping for lots of snow. The full moon falls over the weekend. The Snow Moon stands for endurance, patience and resilience, a reminder that life and new growth are getting ready beneath the winter snow. On clear nights, the moon shines sharp and bright, lit up by the white ground beneath it.
What to expect
Accommodation: Stay in the Kuseboholm guesthouse, an old granary from 1903.
Food: Enjoy outstanding meals that nourish your body, mind and soul, made with ingredients straight from the farm.
Transformative coaching workshops: Through guided sessions and creative exercises, we’ll explore what you would like to let go of, what’s truly important to you, uncover your goals for the future, and work out how to align your daily life with your aspirations.
Swedish baking class: Learn to make cinnamon buns the Swedish way.
Yoga classes: Morning yoga to help you feel fully present in a beautiful setting.
Sauna and plunge pool: A wood-fired sauna built from timber from the farm, inside the deer enclosure, with a plunge pool beside it.
Outdoor swimming: There is a beautiful lake, with water clear and clean enough to drink. Swim if you’re brave, with something hot to drink by the fire afterwards.
Walks: Wander through the surrounding countryside, with its forests full of oak trees and deer and mouflon running around, and let nature rejuvenate and inspire you.
Free time: Relax, journal, or wander through Kuseboholm’s stunning surroundings.
Fun activities and connection: A pottery painting class, relaxed lunches, fun dinners, and moments to simply hang out and share meaningful conversations.
Reimagine your tech habits: Experiment with phone-free periods, and notice how stepping away from screens changes your energy, creativity and connection.
This is for anyone who
Wants to learn about themselves and uncover what brings them purpose and joy.
Feels ready to step away from the busyness of life and recharge in a beautiful setting.
Is carrying something they’d like to let go of, whether it’s a habit, a worry, or a way of doing things
Is feeling flat or stuck in the winter months, and wants to feel like themselves again.
Wants to head into spring with a plan.
Misses real conversation, and would like to spend a few days with people who want that too.
Loves adventure, values connection, and enjoys movement and time spent in nature.
sample schedule
7:00am: Yoga
8:30am: Breakfast
10:00am: Workshops
1:00pm: Lunch
2:00pm: Workshops
3:00pm: Pottery Painting
7:45pm Dinner
Room Prices
Rooms are simple and comfortable. The house has cosy doubles and twins, and three shared bathrooms, so none of the rooms are en suite.
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Early Bird £1800 (available during November)
Full price £2100
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Early Bird £1800 (available during November)
Full Price £2100
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One double bed in a smaller room. This one isn’t suitable for sharing.
Early Bird £1600 (available during November)
Full Price £1800
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Two single beds, shared with another guest. Book with a friend, or we’ll pair you with someone.
Early Bird £1300 (available during November)
Full Price £1500
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Two single beds, shared with another guest. Book with a friend, or we’ll pair you with someone.
Early Bird £1300 (available during November)
Full Price £1500
-
Two single beds, shared with another guest. Book with a friend, or we’ll pair you with someone.
Early Bird £1300 (available during November)
Full Price £1500
-
Two single beds, shared with another guest. Book with a friend, or we’ll pair you with someone.
Early Bird £1300 (available during November)
Full Price £1500
*Prices include accommodation, all food and drink, coaching workshops, yoga, the baking class and other activities. Travel is not included. A £500 deposit is needed to secure your booking.
About Kuseboholm
There has been a farm at Kuseboholm since the 1300s, when the land was among the holdings of Heliga Birgitta, Saint Bridget of Sweden, the country's patron saint. She never lived here, but the farm was hers, and she gifted it to her husband, Riddare Ulf Gudmarsson.
The guesthouse is a reformed granary from 1903, lovingly restored and quietly suited to modern comforts. The loft is kept in the old style, with sheepskins, handmade pine furniture and a wood-burning stove to keep it warm. The sauna is handmade too, built from timber off the farm, and looks out over the park, its old oaks and the mouflon and fallow deer grazing among them. Everything here is pared back on purpose. The point is to step out of the noise and into nature, fire, candlelight, good comforting food and the old Nordic traditions.
What People Are Saying
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“I’m not sure what I expected when I headed off on Claudia’s retreat. I guess I imagined reading a few books and eating some good food. But it was so much more than I could have imagined - all I can say is I absolutely loved it. Everything about it. Of course the location and the house - but the people, the life coaching, the experiences were all something I will take with me in my life. I learnt so much about myself and others. I cried with laughter, felt love for my temporary family and came home feeling lighter and content. I made some real changes in my life, that I have kept to and have made a huge difference. Do yourself a favour, book it book it, you won’t regret it.” Helen
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“I had the most amazing time on The Alba Retreat, it truly exceeded all my expectations. The experience gave me the chance to pause, reflect, and gain a deeper understanding of myself in ways I hadn’t imagined. One of the most powerful aspects was connecting with others on the same journey, learning from their stories, sharing insights, and feeling genuinely supported throughout. And to top it all off, we were surrounded by the most stunning natural beauty, which made every moment feel even more grounding and special. I came away feeling recharged, inspired, and so grateful for the experience. Thank you Claudia & the Alba Community.” Lu
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“Attending the retreat was a transformative experience. I arrived feeling burnout and stuck and unsure of my next steps. The supportive community, expert guidance and coaching workshops helped me reconnect with my purpose and gain clarity. I was able to slow down, unwind and reconnect with myself, as well as others in a warm and nurturing environment. I left feeling re-energised and hopeful to create meaningful change in my life. I can't recommend this retreat highly enough; it was truly life-changing.” Emily
Kuseboholm is in Östergötland, about 20 minutes from Linköping. There are three easy ways to get there.
Fly to Linköping. Flights from London go via Amsterdam, and Linköping airport is 20 minutes from the farm.
Fly to Stockholm Arlanda. There’s a train from the airport to Linköping station.
Fly to Gothenburg Landvetter. A direct coach runs from the airport to Linköping in about 2 to 3.5 hours, depending on the departure, with no changes.
We’ll collect you from Linköping airport or station. Please aim to arrive by 4pm on Thursday 18 February. Checkout is 11AM on Monday 22 February.
How to get there
