The sauna in the Ricote Valley.
In the Ricote Valley the Latvian sauna ritual is reborn: heat, cleansing, stillness, the whisk and touch flow into one unbroken path back to yourself.
2–6 November 2026 · 4 nights
“The sauna itself becomes the teacher, once you learn to listen to its silence.”Matīss Vilde
I grew into this the way you grow into a language. I learned in the Lielzemenes sauna tradition and have practised since I was a teenager. I did not invent what I teach. I was given it, the way it was given to the people before me.
Two years ago, from mid-October to mid-March, I spent six months in the Ricote Valley building a wood-fired sauna by hand. It was long, quiet work. This sequence came out of it: taught the way it was given to me, in order, in place, on the body.
This is not a technique workshop. It is the whole arc: heat, touch, silence, the whisk and the water, practised until the sequence, not only the skill, is yours. The group is small on purpose: six places.
Five steps, one ritual.
Warming opens it, cleansing and silence carry it, the whisk and the water lead into depth, and massage brings it home. Each movement means something only when body, rhythm, nature and people stay connected.
- WarmingThe passage from everyday life into yourself. We build heat slowly: breath, silence, the first sweat, until the nervous system stops negotiating and simply arrives in the room.
- Scrub and cleansingReleasing the outside world and returning to your own body. A full salt-and-herb scrub, hand to skin, before the ritual asks anything more of you.
- Rest and renewalSound, silence, rest and the quiet work of regaining strength before the second half of the ritual. Nothing is performed here; the whole sequence rests on this moment.
- Whisking and the flightMaple, oak, linden, birch, aspen, rowan: each whisk carries its own meaning. Then the water, where the sauna master holds you in their arms. The body falls asleep while awareness stays awake. This is called the flight.
- Massage and integrationAfter the water we return to the sauna, where sound carries the silence onward. The ritual closes with oil or honey, with an amber or foam massage if you choose, to soothe and feed the skin and let the ritual come to rest.
The Ricote Valley.
Thermal springs and centuries-old irrigation channels in Archena, in the region of Murcia. The nearest airport is Alicante.
The sauna tradition is older than our written records. Written history first meets it in 1198, when Livonians walk from the sauna into the Daugava, and even then it is an everyday thing. The sauna is where earth, water, fire and air meet, and in the Latvian tradition a place to meet your own soul.
Al Baraka.
The house in the Ricote Valley where the whole programme takes place: a wood-fired sauna, a cold plunge pool, a palm garden and a terrace looking out over the valley.
How the days run.
A short grounding in theory, then ever fuller practice, ending in a full ritual in pairs.
- Day 0 · 2 NovArrivalAirport pickup, settling in and a shared evening.
- Day 1 · 3 NovStructure and rhythmThe five-step method, rituals and their forms, the sauna master’s discipline, the scrub and massage techniques.
- Day 2 · 4 NovFrom technique to presenceWhisks and their meaning, plants and scent, sound and voice in the sauna, ritual whisking: technique and flow.
- Day 3 · 5 NovThe full ritualEach participant joins everything they have learned into one full ritual in pairs, with the whole team present.
- Day 4 · 6 NovIntegration and the journey homeA closing practice, reflection and the ride to the airport.
Everything the five days need.
- 5-day programme and 4 nights
- Accommodation of your choice
- 5 meals; the kitchen stays open, with breakfast and dinner self-served
- 3 sauna sessions, up to 4 hours each
- A small group and individual attention
- Translation in Latvian, English and Spanish
- Whisks, plants and all the gear you need
- Airport transfer and local transport
The team.
Leads the rituals and the individual work with each participant, from the first heat to renewal.
Keeps everything running: coordination, day-to-day support and translation into Spanish.
Hosts the venue and is our partner on the ground in Spain.
Applications are closed.
The pilot group for 2–6 November is full. Thank you to everyone who applied.
You can start on the path of the Latvian sauna right now: the course has the first three issues of Sauna Academy in your language.
About the programme.
Do I need sauna experience?
No. The programme builds step by step: from structure and basics on day one to a full ritual on day three. Every step is taught before it is asked of you.
What language is it taught in?
In English, with whisper translation into Latvian and Spanish throughout.
Is the heat and cold safe for me?
The pace is adapted to each person, and no step is mandatory. If you have a heart or circulation condition, are pregnant or have another health concern, talk to a doctor before applying and tell us in your application.
What should I bring?
Whisks, plants, transport and all the gear are included. Bring comfortable clothing, swimwear and personal items for five days.
I am coming alone. Is that unusual?
No, most people come alone. The group is small on purpose, just six people, so it quickly becomes a shared space.
Who is this for?
It does not matter where you come from or what your culture, nationality or identity is: the sauna is a place for everyone. You can also be an experienced sauna master who wants to add the Lielzemenes tradition to your practice.
How do I get there?
The nearest airport is Alicante (ALC). We pick you up at the start and take you back at the end; send your flight times with your application.