Retreat Information Package

Closest airport is Zurich Airport (ZRH)

Check-In at the mountain house: 15 June 2025, 3 pm

Check-out at the mountain house: 21 June 2025, 11 AM

Suggested arrival time in Zurich Airport: book your flight to arrive at Zurich airport in the morning to noon. Do not arrive at Zurich Airport later than 1.30 PM on 15 June 2025.

It will take about two hours between the retreat home and the airport (if you don’t miss your connection) - you also need to calculate 1.5 hours to exit and enter the airport, possible delays, buy train tickets - long queues etc.

The cable car runs from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, so all participants must arrive and depart within these operating times. If you miss the cable car, you will need to book a hotel in Elm and join us the next morning.

Suggested departure time from Zurich Airport on 21 June 2025: the earliest return flight should be booked any time after 3 PM. You need to calculate 2 hours of travel time plus 2-3 hours of check-in time at the airport.

If you would like to arrive some days before the retreat and after, we recommend staying at a hotel close to Zurich airport.

1. Do I need a Visa for Switzerland?

https://www.eda.admin.ch/countries/usa/en/home/visa/entry-ch/up-90-days.html

2. Do you have a valid 6 months travel documents? Yes? If not, please renew your travel documents in time.

3. For immigration, do you have the address of the accomodation ready, and any information they may need?

4. Do I have travel insurance?

Must bring: A personal single bed linen and sheet and/or a sleeping bag (pillow and wool cover provided but no sheets)

Personal towels and toiletries

Refillable water bottle/ flask for tea and water refill

Prayer mat 

A personal diary, and items you would like to explore in the afternoon

Floor cushion for you to sit on (we have chairs otherwise)

House slippers, warm clothes, shawl, thick socks

Hiking shoes and gears

Medication (getting to the pharmacy might be complicated - bring everything you need, i.e. altitude tablets)

Sun-block, sun-glasses, hat

Eye mask, earplugs if you are sound/light sensitive

Personal washing detergent (4 CHF/wash)

The meeting point is at the mountain house.

Check-in is safe on Sunday, 15 June, 2025 from 3 p.m. Whoever joins early can help us set up the place or rest, and go for a walk nearby.

Checkout is on Saturday, 21 June 2025 at 11.00 a.m.

The cable car runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., so all participants must arrive and depart within this time frame.

By Public Transport: Please refer to www.sbb.ch/en for the exact timetable (SBB also has its own travel app, so make sure to download it). You can buy the ticket from an automated machine or over the counter with the itinerary will be printed out for you.

Depending on your connection, you can take the train from Zurich Airport to Ziegelbrücke, then the train to Schwanden, and then the bus to Elm.

If you have the Glarnerland Pass activated and installed on your phone, you can travel for free from Ziegelbrücke onwards (Ziegelbrücke to Schwanden, bus to Elm).

By car: Free parking at the valley station, Elm-Ämpächli wishes to be car-free. 

If you like to benefit from the free GlarnerlandPass, please feel free to fill in this form:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEHUIlWrKlNJYowOHCZjm2TcblIDxYHIk3ifIWRvQw_P6jcQ/viewform

You will receive free transportation within the Canton of Glarus and benefits in the region, via the download of their APP. The importcode of the pass will be released closer to the travel dates.

Important: if you have this Glarnerland Pass successfully activated and installed on your phone, it means that you only need to buy the SBB trainticket from the airport to the trainstation Ziegelbrücke. From there onwards all your public transport is free to Elm for the entire week if you show the Glarnerland APP on your phone.

1. Download the APP:

https://glarnerland.ch/en/glarnerlandpass-app.html

2. Activate your Pass. Enter Last name and import code.

3. Import pass to the APP.

For more info: https://glarnerland.ch/en/glarnerlandpass.html

At the stationElm Talstation/ Sportbahnen, please go to the group reservation counter (a cabin), tell them your name, and that you are staying at “Alpina”.

You will then receive a gondola ticket, which is valid for the entire duration of your stay.

The gondola ticket is valid for a week and is not replaceable; thus, keep it safe with you.

The gondola ticket does not have to be paid as it is already paid for.

With the ticket, you can now embark on the gondola from Elm to Empächli (1400m).

From there, turn left, it’s a 2-min walk (150m) to the mountain house Alpina (see map). The Gondola ride is barrier-free. 

Luggage can be deposited before check-in and after check-out.

Please fill in your information on the participant list with your travel details:

Share your arrival/departure details:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RDe_c6LQibdbt7EawCt-DgB7DtxbYPSdGpJU0ApTSAU/edit?usp=sharing

Share your personal information if you like to access the Glarnerland Pass (free transportation bus and trains within the Canton of Glarus):

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEHUIlWrKlNJYowOHCZjm2TcblIDxYHIk3ifIWRvQw_P6jcQ/viewform?usp=dialog

Ferienhaus Alpina in 8767 Elm, Alp Ämpächli, Canton Glarus

Weather: in June in Elm: https://www.accuweather.com
Buying e-Sim card in Switzerland:

https://www.traveltomtom.net/destinations/europe/switzerland/switzerland-sim-card

Currency: you can exchange Swiss francs at the airport; you can use debit and credit cards

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-id/planning/about-switzerland/general-facts/money-and-shopping/currency/#:~:text=Please%20note%20that%20Switzerland%20remains,franc%2C%20usually%20indicated%20as%20CHF.

Barrier-free travel: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-id/planning/transport-accommodation/barrier-free-travel/

For Swiss tourism, planning source: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-id/planning/transport-accommodation/barrier-free-travel/

Join the Whatsapp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/I9icly1MqP91IIIiLindgh

Cost: 950.- CHF (deposit 200 CHF, remaining fee 750 CHF) 

1.) either pay in full now (950 CHF)

Fee: CHF 950 =

USD $1,088

EUR: 1,028

GBP: 862

2.) or deposit 200 CHF/USD/EUR/GBP and pay the remaining fee by 15 March 2025

This retreat fee includes the course, shared accommodation and food, and free cable car transport between Elm to the retreat home. It excludes international transportation, visa fees, public transport Zurich airport to Elm Talstation (about 27 CHF one way), and travel insurance.

Note: The Futuhat Foundation's retreat fee is calculated in Swiss Francs. Other currencies to CHF fluctuate. We have settled on an estimated final fee for non-CHF currencies to make the registration easier. We cover the currency changes within 10 USD/EUR/GBP. For gaps more than 10 USD/EUR/GBP, we will ask you to pay the fluctuation gap.

All payments are non-refundable.

Paying in CHF: bank transfer

Here are the CHF account details for N-sphere Ltd.

Account holder: N-sphere Ltd

Swift/BIC: TRWIGB2LXXX

IBAN: GB06 TRWI 2308 0123 8938 75

Bank name and address: Wise Payments Limited

56 Shoreditch High Street

London

E1 6JJ

United Kingdom

Paying in USD via bank transfer:

Inside the US 

Account holder: N-sphere Ltd

ACH and Wire routing number: 026073150

Account number: 8314158361

Account type: Checking

Wise's address: 30 W. 26th Street, Sixth Floor

New York NY 10010

United States

Paying in EUR via bank transfer:

Account holder: N-sphere Ltd

BIC: TRWIBEB1XXX

IBAN: BE70 9678 9820 6525

Wise's address: Rue du Trône 100, 3rd floor

Brussels

1050

Belgium

Paying in GBP via bank transfer

Account holder: N-sphere Ltd

Sort code: 23-08-01

Account number: 23893875

IBAN: GB06 TRWI 2308 0123 8938 75

Wise's address: 56 Shoreditch High Street

London

E1 6JJ

United Kingdom

Please Be Considerate, Be Kind, Be Respectful

Our intention is to grow and see opportunities of growth in every situation

Sufi time and plans sometimes change, please come with an open heart and be flexible

Come with positive energies

Team 1: carrying fresh groceries delivered to the Gondola, drop garbage, arrange the food in the fridge. (3 volunteers)

Team 2: breakfast makers (bring out dry goods (jams, cornflakes, etc) on the table, the night before sleep. Bring out fresh items, cheeses - make a mix cheeseboard, breads, oats, fruits, yoghurts in the morning. (4 volunteers)

Team 3: sous-chefs - cutting vegetables, clean up kitchen surfaces, swiping/mopping kitchen floor right after or right before dinner. (4 volunteers)

Team 4: Salad makers, make salad buffet (3 volunteers)

Team 5: Run the dishwasher, put dishes back after they are dry. (4 volunteers)

Team 6: tea and coffee makers (breakfast, all communal tea and coffee breaks, afternoon teas, evening chai, take out and remove afternoon snacks. (4 volunteers)

Team 7: cleaning bathrooms, swiping communal floors (5 volunteers)

Please have travel and health insurance for your own safety

Emergency SOS: 

Medical emergency and ambulance: 144
Police: 117
Fire service: 118
Tox-Zentrum: 145
European emergency no: 112

Family doctor emergency service in Glarus: 0844 55 66 55

Hospital Glarus: 055 646 33 33

Toxicological center (poisons): 145 or 044 251 51 51

REGA / Air Rescue / Alpine Rescue: 1414

Please send us your feedback on the last day of the retreat before departure.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oLHxwkJ5OB2jQaz4aUaLAX7xlFkCcUYb?usp=sharing