Mixed Media Art Workshop in Switzerland
Join teaching artist Tammy Gilley on a tour through Zurich, Lucerne, and Mürren
Dates: June 13-20, 2027
Cost: $4595 (based on double occupancy)
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Start: Zurich, Switzerland
End: Lucerne, Switzerland
Locations: Zurich, Mürren, Lucerne
Max Class Size: 14
Non-art travel companion rates available. All prices in US dollars, land only.
Create a Vintage Travel Journal in the Heart of Switzerland with Tammy Gilley
Switzerland invites a kind of quiet noticing. We find lakes catching the light, church bells drifting across villages, paths that feel suspended in time. On this weeklong creative journey through Zurich, Murren, and Lucerne, Tammy will encourage you to let the beauty of place guide both your travels and your art.
Tammy Gilley is a wonderful teacher with a heart of gold, who’s super generous with her artistic knowledge and materials. I enjoyed her Paris travel journal class very much, she is considerate of her students needs and has a delightful sense of humor.
What to Expect
Mixed Media Art Workshop in Switzerland
Art Program
In this 8-day mixed media art workshop in Switzerland you will be immersed in equal parts travel and art program.
Throughout the retreat, Tammy will lead relaxed, encouraging workshops in crafting a vintage-style travel journal — a handmade book shaped from the textures and moments of our days together. Using collage, ephemera, simple mixed media, and reflective writing, you’ll turn small details into meaningful pages: a train ticket becomes a story, a pressed leaf becomes a memory, a quick sketch holds a moment words can’t quite capture.
By the end, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind travel journal filled with your artwork and the story of your time in Switzerland — perfect for travelers who cherish creativity, connection, and the joy of capturing life’s moments in a personal, heartfelt way.
Touring
Our mixed‑media art workshop in Switzerland blends slow travel with soft adventure. Each half‑day walk follows a relaxed pace, with options for more or less walking depending on your comfort. We’ll make full use of Switzerland’s exceptional network of trains, trams, and ferries, allowing us to move effortlessly through some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes. After days of exploration, you’ll unwind with creative sessions led by Tammy in our carefully selected 3‑ and 4‑star hotels.
Your journey begins with an arrival day in Zurich before we travel to the pristine, car‑free mountain village of Mürren for five nights. Nestled at the base of the Schilthorn, Mürren offers a true sense of escape. It’s a place where the air feels clearer and time seems to slow. We then spend two nights in lovely Lucerne, the perfect base for visiting the nearby Pilatus and Rigi mountains.
On your final day, your train travel within Switzerland is included, ensuring a smooth and scenic departure from this unforgettable retreat.
What You’ll Love
Mixed Media Art Workshop in Switzerland
1. Planning with Care
We take care of the details. You enjoy your vacation.
2. Small group classes
With a maximum class size of 14, expect quality time during art classes. Additionally, we travel places large tour groups can’t.
3. Movable studio
Develop skills and techniques to use whenever you travel. Specifically, learn to pack light and create as you go.
4. Capture Your Experience
Your sketchbook will evolve into a personal travel journal filled with memories to last a lifetime.
What’s Included Art Workshop in Switzerland
- The assisstance of your Art Walk tour directors throughout the week
- Mixed media art workshop with Tammy Gilley
- Carefully selected 3 and 4-star hotels
- Daily full buffet breakfast
- Welcome lunch
- Farewell dinner
- 8-day Swiss Pass for easy, unlimited travel by train, ferry, tram, and bus
- All transfers as program description
- Optional free and discounted activities included with Swiss Pass
- Welcome meeting in Lucerne
- Orientation walk in Mürren
- Orientation walk in Lucerne
- Half-day guided walks through the Swiss countryside
- Guided transfers between hotels
- Golden Round Trip visit to Mount Pilatus
- Visit to Rigi Mountain
- Visit to Trümmelbach Falls
Itinerary Switzerland Mixed Media Art Workshop
Program subject to change. Daily schedule may differ.
Day 1
Arrive at our Zurich hotel, conveniently located near the train station, the waterfront, and the historic center. Your unlimited‑travel Swiss Pass is active today, giving you the freedom to explore at your own pace.
Day 2
In the morning, we’ll travel by train to Mürren. After checking into our charming hotel we’ll take a gentle orientation walk through this charming, car‑free village. Then you’ll gather for your first art workshop with Tammy. Later, a festive dinner surrounded by soaring mountain peaks offers a warm and memorable welcome to Switzerland.
Day 3
Spend a relaxed workshop day with Tammy diving into creative play and developing the pages of your travel journal. In the late afternoon, we’ll take a leisurely walk to the nearby village of Gimmelwald and visit a traditional Swiss beer garden. After time to savor the views and sample their house‑brewed specialty, we’ll make our way back to Mürren, refreshed and inspired.
Day 4
The next day of our art workshop takes us into the ethereal Lauterbrunnen Valley. Walking through this bucolic, glacial landscape feels a bit like stepping into Switzerland’s own Shangri‑La. We’ll visit the thundering Trümmelbachfälle before returning to the hotel for an afternoon mixed‑media class.
Day 5
Today, our Switzerland art retreat leads us into the peaceful countryside above Mürren – rolling green hills, the soft music of cowbells, and dramatic snow‑capped peaks framing every view. As you fill your art journal with the colors and textures of the day, you may even feel inspired to let out a joyful yodel of your own. art workshop in Switzerland
Day 6
In the morning, our art workshop transfers to Lucerne. From there, we’ll journey above the clouds on Mount Pilatus, experiencing its sweeping alpine vistas by rail, on foot, and by high‑speed cable car. We’ll finish the day back at the hotel with an inspiring, hands‑on class led by Tammy, the perfect creative close to an unforgettable day.
Day 7
Our final full day together offers a joyful blend of ferry, train, and gondola rides as we explore the region from every angle. Our walk on Mount Rigi winds through sunny meadows and quiet forest paths, with sweeping lake views accompanying us at every turn. In the late afternoon, we’ll gather for one last creative session, followed by a memorable farewell dinner that beautifully concludes our time together.
Day 8
It’s time to bid farewell until the next adventure. On departure day, your included Swiss Pass provides unlimited travel to most destinations within Switzerland, giving you complete flexibility for your onward journey. You may depart whenever you wish, and the hotel will gladly hold your bags if you’d like to explore a bit more after checkout.
Create Memories to Last a Lifetime
Important Notes
Mixed Media Art Workshop in Switzerland
Deposits
Your place on a tour is secured once we have received and confirmed your deposit payment. Before the final payment date, a non-refundable deposit of $500 for walking vacations and $750 for art vacation workshops is required. After the final payment date, the entire tour amount must be received to hold a space on a program.
You may cancel for any reason up to 90 days prior to departure and your non-refundable deposit may be forwarded to a future tour. Any balance on your account will be returned. For complete details please see our Terms and Conditions.
Solo travelers and single supplements
For our guests who are traveling solo... for your comfort we offer private rooms. Whenever possible singles will be placed in the same room category as our double or twin rooms.
Twin / Double Rooms
Please be aware twin beds in Europe may have very little or no space between beds. Also, for double beds, instead of a king or queen mattress, double beds are often two adjoining twin mattresses secured together and made with double bedding.
Fitness
Walking is a part of this program. It is both a means of visiting locations and a way to immerse yourself in a place. Our scheduled walks are usually 1-2 hours long at a casual pace. Participants should be able to comfortably walk 2 miles in an hour. We provide a general description of our walks here. It is your responsibility to know your own physical and medical condition with respect to the advisability of participating in a chosen trip. Please be realistic about your physical abilities when booking an active walking vacation. We suggest you prepare by doing at least 1 hour of walking several times per week, and a longer walk at least once per week. Ideally, include walks with elevation change and stairs. (There are always stairs.) If you have compromised knees, hips, back this tour will be challenging and perhaps not appropriate.
As with any exercise program, we recommend you consult with your physician prior to your arrival regarding the suitability of a walking tour.
Some of our guests find trekking poles helpful on steep or uneven terrain. In Europe they are quite common. Before using them on a vacation, please practice at home. We strongly advise you get comfortable using trekking poles on familiar paths first.
For additional information on these topics and more, please see our FAQ page.
Where in the World?
Switzerland is a small mountainous country located in central Europe. This landlocked country is only about the size of New Jersey. Even so, Switzerland is one of the world’s wealthiest countries. Its famously clean, fast, and timely public transportation system will carry our small group from the high plateau lakes to the Jungfrau region of the Alps.
The natural beauty and unique culture of this region are truly inspiring. It makes the perfect location for our Art Workshop in Switzerland.
The Zurich Airport is the most conveniently located for arrival. Our hotels will be in Zurich, Lucerne, and Murren. Zurich, Geneva, and Basel international airports may all serve your departure.
