Nature. Art. Hiking. Astrology. Photography. Ecology. Surfing. Yoga. Sauna. Healthy food. Sailing. Cold Swimming. Cooking. Community. Wellness.
Lofoten Dream Trip
Lofoten Dream Trip
Hello! We are Rachel Pohl (artist) and Charles Post (ecologist)! We fell in love with the Lofoten Islands in the Arctic of Norway when we visited in 2019 for our honeymoon. Three years later, we sold our slice of paradise in Montana and moved to Lofoten to chase an arctic dream.
We are beyond excited to host TWO RETREATS in 2025, and share the magic of our home island with a small group of you in June and October, 2025. This trip is for a small group with 9 spots in total for each retreat.
You will find inspiration, connect with community, wellness, spend time in nature, learn, and grow alongside friends who will become family during an unforgettable week.
Read on to learn if this trip might be a good fit for you, and submit your application!
Experience the magic: Read our testimonials!
A rising tide of research shows that people who feel more connected to nature report happier and more meaningful lives. Spending time outside in the company of a supportive community can lead to reduced stress, enhanced mood, boosted esteem, and better overall health and wellbeing.
We feel like this retreat has the power to transform your life….
Kelly: "Sometimes the experiences that end up meaning the most to you and changing your life are those that scare you a little bit… Funny enough, I think every person at the retreat except for one self-identified as an introvert, yet we spent almost every waking moment together because we just loved each other SO MUCH and couldn't stop talking and belly laughing and sometimes crying together. I made friendships that I fully believe are going to last a lifetime - in fact, I'm getting married soon and I invited every person from the retreat to my wedding!! I cannot recommend this experience enough, I wish I could go again and again and again!"
Crissy + Jeremy : “If you are invited to attend, I wouldn’t hesitate to say yes. Single, married, young or not so much, it is an epic journey on more levels than you can know.”
Julia: “Coming on this retreat was one of the best life decisions I have ever made. Charles and Rachel put together an absolutely unforgettable experience that far exceeded expectations.
Summer Retreat 2025:
June 24- June 30
Fall Retreat 2025:
Oct 1 - Oct 7
6 nights, 7 days
9 spots available — How to to reserve your spot? See Below :)
5 Single Occupancy / Private Room (1 queen bed)
4 Double Occupancy : Spacious, Shared Room With roommate (2 beds: 1 queen and 1 single)
Price Per Person:
Single Occupancy: $5900 USD
Double Occupancy: $5700 USD
Payment Plans Available!
Your payment can be spread out across 5 payments to spread out the upfront costs:
Update: March 23, 2025
Our June 2025 and October 2025 are OPEN for applications.
June Retreat: SOLD OUT
October Retreat: Remaining Availability (ONLY 1 LEFT!)
1 spots in a shared room left (shared room with roommate - 2 beds )
Please sign up for Rachel’s newsletter (via rachelpohlart.com) for updates about our next retreats!
Our inspiration:
“Be Yourself So The People Looking For You Can Find You”
By Arlan Hamalton
What’s Included:
Accommodation: 6 nights in The House, located in one of Lofoten’s most idyllic villages surrounded by towering peaks, white sand beaches, surf, and view of the midnight sun. Everyone will have a spacious, private bedroom with either a queen or king sized bed, and a shared bathroom (you and two others per bathroom).
Food + Cooking Class: One of our best friends and favorite chefs, Suzie, will be cooking daily breakfast, lunch and dinner with local and organic ingredients. She will also be teaching a cooking class where you’ll learn how to make Norwegian cinnamon buns!
Yoga: Taught by one of Lofoten’s most beloved instructors and a dear friend of ours. Hedda will teach three classes during the week. Mats and blocks provided.
Private Sauna: Every day in The House’s private sauna by the sea.
Hiking: The magic of Lofoten is best experienced by foot. With beautiful mountain peaks surrounding us, we will take you on some of our favorite hiking trips.
Sailing adventure aboard a 52 foot historic wooden sailboat: We will take you on an epic sailing trip along the Lofoten coast from Nusfjord to Reine where we will look for orcas, whales, puffins and get a unique perspective of the mountains from the sea. This is a once in a lifetime experience with an amazing professional sailing crew who will safely guide us and if you’d like to help with the sails and lines, they’ll happily put you to work :)
Arctic Surfing: 1 day of surfing - boards and wetsuits will be provided :) The House is located a short walk from one of Lofoten’s great surfing beaches. If this is something you’re super keen on experiencing, Charles, a life long surfer, would be happy to join a group for surfing. If you’re keen for more than 1 day of surfing, it’s possible to book extra days and private lessons at the local surf camp.
Birdwatching: If you’re interested in learning more about birds and birdwatching then you’re in for a treat! Charles is a bird biologist and passionate birdwatcher, so he’ll be the perfect teacher to get you started on your birdwatching journey! We will also have extra binoculars for you to use!
Polar swims: Whether it’s to start your day or to cool off after sauna, the sea and gorgeous white sand beaches are a short walk from the house.
Astrology: Before arriving on the trip, we will send you a pre-trip astrology email with some instructions to help make the most of our mini Astrology workshop. Rachel will teach the basics of astrology, perfect for if you are new to, curious about, or enjoy studying astrology. Workshops: Over the past 10 years, we have built careers and platforms that span art and science, storytelling and adventure, following your dreams and manifestation. Each day, we will host mini workshops that dive into one these topics. Photos + Videos: We will have a professional photographer + videographer joining us every day. As each day winds down, there will be a Google Drive folder with images + video clips available for you to share with friends, family and on social media! VAT + Taxes: VAT (value added tax) and other taxes are included in the total price.
What’s Not Included:
Transportation: To and from Lofoten, and during the retreat. We will connect the group via a WhatsApp chat to help the group coordinate rental cars. Ultimately, it will be up to participants to ensure they have local transportation. The reason why we can’t offer transportation is because Norway has a special drivers license required to transport guests commercially, and this is not a license that we or our business have. (BUT If you need a ride from the airport / ferry terminal, let us know and we can ensure you have a pick up / drop-off)
Travel Insurance: Each guest must ensure they have their own travel insurance. By booking this trip, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to carry travel insurance for this trip.
Gear: Lofoten and the Norwegian Arctic can experience seemingly all 4 seasons in a single day, even in the summer. Be prepared for sun and warm weather, wind, rain and cold weather too. We will send a final gear check list / reminder not later than 1 month before the retreat to ensure you have exactly what you need.
Testimonials: (read more here):
Becca: “Before attending this retreat, I could already tell it was going to be the experience of a lifetime. The itinerary and location included everything I could’ve possibly hoped for. Little did I know that everything would end up far exceeding my expectations, hopes, and dreams…Rachel and Charles are truly gifted in their ability to create a loving and inclusive environment. Their authenticity shines through with every interaction and is contagious to all around. They curated the most magical experience and there is no doubt in my mind that they will continue to do so with each and every retreat they decide to share with the world.”
Margo: “Imagine arriving in a remote corner of the world, surrounded by jagged mountains and the bluest waters. Here, where summer days never turn to nights and time becomes a distant memory, you meet a group of strangers who quickly feel like familiar souls from a past life…There is no experience quite like the Arctic Dreams Retreat. It’s an adventure curated to change you, as it changed me. Having attended several retreats, this is the one that left me saying, “WOW, this week has transformed every cell in my being forever.” If you feel called to this experience, listen to that voice and embrace the journey.
How do I book my spot? Apply HERE!
How will I know if I’m selected?
We will contact you by email via arcticdreamsretreats@gmail.com letting you know you’ve been selected. By applying for this retreat, you will also be added our list to hear about future retreats!!
Please note that we are not able to offer this particular retreat to include dogs or kids. In the future we hope to have more retreats with more options, so thank you so much for your understanding!!
If I apply for and book shared room who will be my roommate be, and will I have my own bed?
When you apply for and book a shared room that means that you will have your own bed (either a single or queen) in a spacious, beautiful room overlooking the mountains, sea and or the fjord.
As we finalize the group for each retreat we will be thoughtful about paring your with a roommate who we feel like will be the best fit!
NOTE: If you’re a female traveler, you will always be paired with another female traveler. We will never pair a single female traveler with a single male traveler.
Complete the application: HERE
With only 9 spots available, we believe an application process is the most fair and thoughtful way to curate this experience. This is a trip that will have a focus on movement, wellness, hiking in the mountains, community and cohabitation, which means we will try our best to select a group with this intention and itinerary in mind.
Our vision is to create an immersive experience and a smaller group size is how we will be able to offer that to you!
We know some of you will be disappointed for not being able to join on this trip BUT we already have plans for other retreats! Please stay tuned, and know that we are so excited to meet many of you in the months and years to come.
In the future we would love to offer a variety of experiences during different seasons, and evolve this concept of these small + very special retreats to fit what we are collectively craving during different seasons of life.
The small group size of just 9 people will ensure that everyone can comfortably enjoy the house we have selected for the week, and that we can really dive deep into experiencing this magical place and making deeper connections.
How do I reserve my spot?
We will let you know via email if you have been selected. You will have 7 days from then to pay the 30% deposit to reserve your spot. If we don’t hear from you in 7 days, we will invite those on the waiting list. After paying the deposit, the remaining 70% must be paid 60 days before the start of the trip.
Please remember that your deposit is non refundable.
Rachel and I will be making reservations, including for the house, food, instructors, and everything else ahead of time, so your deposit will make it possible for us to book the trip. It’s going to be such a special week and we cannot wait to share this magical place we call home with all of you!
To pay your deposit and confirm your spot, click the button below and you will be directed to check out. This is a password protected checkout. We will include the password to the shop if/when we contact you.
Rough Itinerary - Activity Days Subject to Weather - Arctic Dreams Retreats
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Rough Itinerary - Activity Days Subject to Weather - Arctic Dreams Retreats 〰️
Day 2
The day will start with home made breakfast, a trip to a local, cozy cafe. Then we will head out our favorite mountain with bag lunch made by our wonderful chef, Suzie. On the summit there will be a watercoloring and nature immersion workshop with Rachel and Charles. We will head back to the house, unwind for a bit and then Suzie will invite us to participate in a fun cooking class where we will learn how to make our very own Norwegian cinnamon buns! After a fun first full day in Lofoten, you’ll be ready for sauna and cold swims, dinner and chill time.
Day 1
Upon arrival you’ll check into rooms, meet and greet and have a late homemade lunch. Then we will jump into a welcome session to set the tone and discuss week ahead with Rachel and Charles. After, there will be a group hike followed by sauna + cold swim time, dinner then free time to relax.
Day 3
The day will start with a morning yoga session followed by fresh a breakfast. Next we will take a trip to one of the best preserved wooden fishing villages in Lofoten where we will make a stop at our favorite bakery for fresh cinnamon buns. We will explore the historic village, where Rachel and I used to live, and if we are lucky we might see the local pod of orcas who frequent the area. From there we will join our crew aboard a historic 52 foot sailing boat! They will take us from Nusfjord to Reine, one of Lofoten’s most famous and picturesque villages. Along the way, we will look for orcas, whales and puffins, and have an incredible view of the mountains from the sea! Bag lunch made by our wonderful chef, Suzie. Afterwards a full day on the water, there will be free time for sauna, swimming, optional surf session, evening hike or free time Then we will settle in for a relaxing dinner and evening.
Day 4
The day will start with a tasty home made breakfast then a trip down to the beach to surf, explore the beach camp, tide-pool, and enjoy the cafe. In the early afternoon we will offer an Astrology workshop, then a delicious lunch back at the house. Afterwards, there will be a free afternoon for sauna, swimming, hanging out before dinner and then a midnight sun hike through the mountains to one of Lofoten’s most incredible beaches. And If some are keen to hike further to the summit of an adjacent peak with an epic view, we will have that as an option.
Day 5
The day will start off with a delicious breakfast then a free morning to spend as you’d like. Next, we will have lunch ready for you, time for sauna, swim, a local hike if you’d like or you can save your energy for a restorative afternoon yoga session. Then we will have an early dinner before heading towards Lofoten National Park and the cozy villages surrounding it where we will hike one of Lofoten’s most epic + iconic peaks beneath the midnight sun.
Day 6
Morning will start with a restorative yoga session followed by breakfast and a workshop with Rachel who will explore manifestation and following your dreams. This will be followed by free time and a few hours to explore the mountains in the village, head to the beach, rest or relax. Then you’ll be treated to a homemade lunch before we hike up one of our local favorite peaks. Afterwards, we will have our last dinner together before heading to one of our favorite beaches for a midnight sun hang out.
Day 7
One final homemade breakfast at the house and a calm morning to pack up and reflect on the week. Check out will be at noon.
Seasonal Schedules:
Summer Trips: midnight sun, 24 hours of daylight, dreaming of warm days!
During the summer months in the arctic we experience the midnight sun here in Lofoten, which means the sun never sets!! While there’s always a chance of rain, wind and colder temps (40-50f), summer days can be sunny and warm, too (60-70f)! These are the summer days we are dreaming of! This is also a busy time with tourism, and so to experience these rugged mountains with few people and the magic of the midnight sun, our schedule will shift a few hours later than normal. Breakfast will be served late (around 10am), lunch (around 3pm) and dinner around (around 8pm). Some of the hikes we may propose could have us returning home at 3am. This schedule will allow us to experience the magic of Lofoten after many have left the trails and mountains. Rachel and I have found this schedule reveals a beautiful and quiet side of Lofoten in the summer that we can’t wait to share with you.
Fall Trips: northern lights, fall colors, crisp days, few tourists and possibly snow!
During the autumn months in the arctic we shift from the season of the midnight sun to the season of the northern lights, colder and crisp days, and beautiful fall colors that coat the forests and mountains. This is a quiet time with tourism. Many of the mountains, beaches and trails are nearly empty, and peaks that were once overwhelmed with visitors again feel calm. While it can be cold and windy (possibly below 32f), in fact, this is our favorite time of the year because it’s possible to experience gorgeous, calm, sunny days (32-55f) and experience breathtaking northern lights. When the northern lights are bright, we love staying up late, either on a mountain hiking with headlamps or wrapped in blankets to experience the wonder of the cosmos and solar storms overhead (solar storms are what create the aurora borealis). Depending on the weather, breakfast will be served late (around 10am) lunch (around 3pm) and dinner around (around 8pm). Because fall is a transition season for the arctic, it’s important to be flexible simply because the weather can be hard to predict, and while we will dream of and hope for sunny, calm days there is always a chance for snow, wind and rain with cold, below freezing temperatures. All that’s to say, we will plan our days according to the weather, what’s safe, fun and exciting for the group! Rachel and I have found this schedule reveals a beautiful and quiet side of Lofoten in the autumn that we can’t wait to share with you.
Your Lofoten Home: 7 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom
Food: Local, Organic and Made with Love,
By Suzi
Meet the Team
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Suzie - Chef
When Rachel and I dream of good, nourishing food, we dream of Suzie’s cooking. She’s a classically trained chef having trained under Jamie Oliver. But more importantly, she’s an amazing human who we adore! She’s also of Lofoten’s most stylish surfers, inspiring and always brightens our days when we get to spend time together.
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Hedda - Yoga
Hedda quickly became one of our favorite humans after we moved to Lofoten. Whether enjoying her blissfull Yoga classes, nerding out on sustainability or organizing community beach clean-ups together, Hedda is wonderful!
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Jo - Astrology
When we think of astrology with think of Jo - simply because she is so passionate and knowledgable about all things astrology. She also recently launched her astrology business called Cosmic Cowgirl! There’s no better astrology teacher on the Lofoten Islands!
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Tom - Chef + Mountain + Surf Guru
Tom is one of those humans who brightens any room with his stoke and positivity. He’s a man of many talents from chef to seasoned arctic surfer and skilled mountain guide. He is Suzie’s beloved partner, and together they represent a pillar of Arctic Dreams Retreats
