Switzerland
July 26 – August 2 / 2025
Art / Food / Wine & Cultural Adventure
Led by ~ Scott Williams & Niki Gulley ~
After many people asking us for it, we would like to invite you to join us on a new artistic adventure. To a place exploding with color, one steeped in tradition from various cultures, with its foundation resting solidly on cheese, Switzerland.
This trip is guaranteed to spark your artistic imagination and engage your creative spirit. From the moment you set foot in this visual paradise, you will be surrounded by stunning beauty. Here you will get the opportunity to experience nature in all of it’s splendor, while exploring this unique region.
Imagine being immersed in this spectacular landscape, from the highest peak to lowest valley. You will be surrounded by natural beauty at every turn.
Taking in all that this Swiss region has to offer will be a daily pleasure as we traverse the mountains on every form of transportation. Ride the cog rail train up to Schynige Platte to the sounds of Alpine horns. Enjoy the views as you peer below from your lofty perch of the gondola on your trip to over the mountain to the most picturesque valley in the world, Lauterbrunnen.
You will take the train to the Top of Europe with panoramic views from the Jungfrau that will almost take your breath away. Lastly, you will experience Lake Brienz from the deck of a boat as it makes a tour of this surreally stunning turquoise water resting at the base of the mountain.
Our various destinations will transport you to the gorgeous epicenter of each location, where you will have the opportunity to experience and explore the things that make each one of them special. Where each stop will feel like you have landed into the most beautiful place on earth, until the next one that is.
Niki will conduct the Plein-Air Painting Workshop from different picturesque locations daily, teaching through a combination of demos, discussions, assistance and critiques. Sessions will be broken into different morning and afternoon locations, with plenty of time in between for shopping, sightseeing or to grab a leisurely lunch.
Scott will take the photographers on daily walking tours where you will have the opportunity to experience the landscape through your lens as Scott guides you to use your camera to define what you see while achieving your own artistic vision. As with the painters, there will be daily destinations with time allowances for exploring on your own.
We also have chosen a fabulous cross section of the area’s best restaurants for your dining experience. Our communal feasts will give everyone an opportunity to discuss the day’s events, compare notes, ask questions and get a chance to know each other. It presents a unique option to get views and perspectives from both painters and photographers.
So come join us as we take you on an artistic exploration of Switzerland with an added emphasis on culture, food, cheese and of course, wine!
Space is limited to 12 participants on a first-come basis, so we encourage you to enroll as soon as possible.
Workshop includes:
-
- Lodging for 7 nights in the picturesque Swiss town of Grindelwald. (Pricing is for shared rooms)
- All transportation within the workshop
- Pass to the Top of the Europe
Top of Europe on the Jungfrau - Boat trip on Lake Brienz
- Breakfast each morning.
- Emergency Medical insurance
- Instruction, guidance, experience and fun
Your cost for all of this is $4,295 and to reserve a spot, simply send a completed application form (the forms will be provided by email upon request) along with your deposit of $1,500 per person by 5/11/24, after that date the price goes to $4,895. There is also a final application cut off date of 10/12/24 for the workshop to make.
There has to be a minimum of 6 people for the trip to make, if the 6 person minimum is not met by the 10/12/24 deadline, deposits will be refunded.
A second payment of one half of the remainder after deposit is due by 7/20/24, with a final payment due by 9/14/25. For those wanting a single occupancy room, it will be at the double room rate. We can take credit card payments, however it will incur a 3.7% fee.
Airfare to the workshop is not included, you are responsible for your own travel arrangements as well as transportation to the hotel. We will provide all transportation within the workshop. There are many airports in the area, with trains that run to Grindelwald.
We also suggest that you arrive a day or two early on the front end to get over jet lag in order to make the most of your Swiss experience. We started doing that years ago and it has made a huge difference.
There is a discount of $350 for people wanting to accompany us on the trip, but not take the workshop.
Our trips, while not overly strenuous do require a reasonable amount of physical fitness. In order to derive the greatest experience from our destinations, we spend a fair amount of time walking within each location. Our goal being that each person should see and experience as much of the scenery and culture as possible during our excursions.
Once the workshop has made with 6 people, there will be no refunds for cancellations as trip arrangements will have been processed. We suggest trip insurance for travel difficulties or unforeseen illness.
Please let us know if you have any questions or if we can help you in any way and we hope that you will be able to join us!
Scott Williams 214-289-8512 / Niki Gulley 214-803-5812
Email Scott at, photoguy@blind-squirrel.org if you are interested in joining us.