Is This the Right Journey for You?
You don't need to be a seasoned meditator, or a seasoned traveller, to join an Ancient Paths retreat. You simply need to be curious.
These retreats are for the first time retreat goer who has been thinking about it for years but never quite taken the leap. For the solo traveller who wants the comfort of a small group without losing the freedom of travelling alone. For anyone feeling stretched too thin by everyday life and craving space to breathe, reflect and reconnect.
No prior meditation experience is needed. No particular fitness level either, our pace is gentle and our group is small, so everyone moves through the experience together.
If you are hearing the call to slow down, this is your sign.
Your host
I'm Julie Trista, founder of Ancient Paths. For over 28 years, I've dedicated myself to helping people navigate life's transitions and find genuine clarity and calm.
That same intention now shapes every retreat I host, creating space for you to slow down, reconnect, and return home renewed.
My intention is to host mindful meditation retreats that create a harmonious balance between walking ancient paths that have inspired pilgrims, seekers, and travellers for centuries, and immersing ourselves in majestic landscapes that have the power to create profound personal impact.
How It Works
Reach Out
Send an enquiry, no obligation, just a conversation to start.
Chat With Julie
A relaxed call to talk through the retreat, answer your questions and make sure it feels right for you.
Secure Your Spot
A small deposit reserves your place in a small, intimate group.
Begin Your Adventure
From there, we take care of the details so you can simply look forward to it.
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Upcoming Adventures
Bhutan 2027
Travelling across Bhutan for 10 nights from 16 October 2027 to 26 October 2027.
Our Philosophy
The intention of travel
We are all called, at different times in our lives, to seek something more - to explore, learn, and connect. Travel invites us to step beyond the familiar and immerse ourselves in different cultures, traditions, philosophies, arts, cuisines, and ways of life. It offers an opportunity to walk ancient paths guided by curiosity, embrace new perspectives, and open ourselves to moments of wonder, reflection, and growth.
A meaningful journey is about more than visiting new places; it is about discovering new ways of seeing ourselves and the world. Each landscape, conversation, and experience holds the potential to inspire insight, deepen connection, and awaken transformation.
The gifts of meaningful travel often remain with us long after we return home. Through shared experiences, mindfulness, and exploration, we cultivate a deeper understanding of ourselves, others, and our place within the wider world.
Our intention is to travel with presence, curiosity, and respect - to move with the world rather than simply through it. Along the way, we gather experiences, wisdom, perspective, and connection, each uniquely shaped by the places we visit, the people we meet, and the moments we share.
Intentional travel creates space to slow down, reconnect with what matters most, and step away from the demands of everyday life. It invites us to listen more deeply, observe more consciously, and engage more fully with the richness of the present moment.
Yet the true purpose of any journey lies in our return. The intentional traveller carries their experiences home, weaving newfound awareness, compassion, creativity, and presence into daily life. In doing so, the journey extends beyond the destination and becomes part of something greater.
Through intentional travel, we rediscover life with fresh eyes - renewed, expanded, inspired, and more deeply connected to ourselves, to others, and to the world around us.
