5-Day Pottery Retreat in Goa
A beginner-friendly coastal retreat in Mandrem with clay practice, calm mornings, and enough openness to feel like a real creative holiday.
A beginner-friendly coastal retreat in Mandrem with clay practice, calm mornings, and enough openness to feel like a real creative holiday.
Wake up to birdsong, fresh air, and quiet mornings.Create with your hands, slow your pace, and see the world a little differently.Leave with new skills, meaningful memories, and a deeper appreciation for the creative process.
A five-day, five-night pottery retreat shaped by clay, creativity and a slower pace.
This pottery retreat makes space to slow down, be in nature, and make art as a meaningful part of life. If you want a break from the daily routine, like to spend time in nature and are curious about making pottery or art - this retreat is for you.
Making pottery is a way to quiet mental noise, build patience, and experience the satisfaction of creating something with your hands.
Being in nature and following a gentle rhythm allows you to return feeling clearer, more grounded, and more connected to yourself.
- 5 Activity Days / 5 Nights
- Beginner Friendly
- Small Batch (8–10 Participants)
- Accommodation and meals Included
- All Pottery Materials Included
- Learn basics
- Daily Studio Sessions
Your retreat includes five activity days and five nights. Day 6 is for breakfast, farewell and checkout; no pottery activities are scheduled that day.
A Retreat Built Around Pottery, Nature & Community
Pottery
Pottery is more than learning techniques—it's about experiencing one of the world's oldest crafts. Working with clay teaches patience, observation, and the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands.
Nature
Surrounded by nature, the retreat unfolds at a slower pace. Quiet mornings, fresh air, and time outdoors create the space to focus, observe, and enjoy the process of making.
Community
Experience the retreat alongside a small group of like-minded people. Share meals, conversations, and time in the studio while learning from one another and creating lasting memories together.
How Your Days Will Look
Each day builds on the previous one, giving you the time to practise, experiment, and grow more confident with clay. Most of your day is spent in the pottery studio, learning through hands-on practice. You'll explore:
- Wheel Throwing
- Hand Building
- Surface Decoration
- Studio Practices & Ceramics Basics
Designed for beginners, every session includes personal guidance from facilitators who are there to support you throughout the retreat.
Who This Retreat Is For
Whether you're a first-time potter, solo traveller, couple, group of friends, or simply curious to explore clay, this retreat is designed to be welcoming, beginner-friendly, and free from pressure.
Join this retreat if you:
By the end of the retreat, you'll take home:
- Handmade ceramics you've created, delivered to you after glazing, firing, and finishing.
- Practical pottery skills to continue your journey.
- Greater confidence working with clay.
- Memories of time spent learning, creating and connecting.
- Connections made within a small creative community.
Retreat flow
Check-in before 2 PM, take your time to settle in, visit the studio, meet other people and attend your first pottery session from 3 PM - 5 PM.
These days of the retreat include group pottery sessions between 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM where you will learn pottery basics (wheel throwing, hand building, and surface decoration) while creating your own art pieces. The rest of the day can be spent at your own pace — exploring Goa, resting, or spending more quiet time around the studio and nearby cafés.
No activities are scheduled today. Enjoy a relaxed morning and heartfelt farewells after breakfast. Check-out is at 10:00 AM.
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About location
Surrounded by cashew trees and filtered sunlight, Mandrem is a quiet village in North Goa known for its relaxed pace and natural surroundings.
The area is made up of local homes, small cafes, art spaces, and guesthouses spread along narrow village roads. Away from the busier parts of Goa, Mandrem draws artists, travellers, and those looking for a more grounded way to experience Goa. This setting makes the retreat well-suited for those looking for an art retreat in Goa, away from crowded tourist areas.
Accommodation
The accommodation and studio in Goa are surrounded by cashew trees, lush greenery, and the calm atmosphere of Mandrem, offering a peaceful retreat just 2 km from the beach. Being close to the sea, the experience also appeals to those looking for a coastal pottery retreat in India.
Guests stay in wooden cottages with attached washrooms, high-speed WiFi, power backup, hot water, an electric kettle, air-conditioning, and a blend of modern and rustic aesthetics.
An in-house cafeteria provides delicious and healthy Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
Studio & Practice
The studio is at the heart of the retreat. The studio and accommodation are located within the same premises, allowing easy movement between rest and practice throughout the day.
The studio is surrounded by greenery, bringing in natural light and a strong sense of connection to the landscape while you work.
Apart from the retreat, the same studio is used for pottery courses, workshops, artist residencies, and longer programs, giving it a lived-in, working atmosphere. The space comfortably accommodates up to 30 students from different programs at a time.
Upcoming dates
Schedule - 2026 / 2027
October 2026
- Oct 16-21Early Bird
- Placeholder
Pricing/person
18% tax applies to both pricing tiers.
Shared rooms available only for guests booking together
Included
5 nights accommodation
Toiletries
Breakfast and lunch every day
Pottery sessions
Art supplies / pottery materials
Not included
Airfare
Taxi to or from the airport
Firing, glazing, and shipping of finished pieces
Alcohol and personal purchases
Laundry
Bank and payment processing charges
Any activities not listed in the retreat inclusions
Booking Process
Send your booking request with your preferred batch and group size. Our team will confirm the available room, price tier, full retreat price and applicable cancellation terms before payment.
The ₹25,000 per-person reservation payment is a deposit toward the full retreat price, not the total cost. The remaining balance is payable on arrival. An enquiry alone does not reserve a seat or price tier. Your booking is confirmed after availability and payment have been verified by the team.
We will share your booking confirmation and detailed itinerary after confirmation. Please read the pottery retreat cancellation terms before paying.
Planning your visit
Weather
Winter (Nov-Feb): Sunny, warm days and cooler evenings; lively and comfortable.
Summer (Mar-May): Hot, bright days; early mornings and evenings are pleasant.
Monsoon (Jun-Oct): Lush, rainy, and quieter; slower days and a calmer atmosphere.
What to bring
Light cotton clothing
Swimwear
Sunglasses and sunscreen
Comfortable sandals or flip-flops
A sun hat
How to reach
Manohar International Airport (Mopa) is about 28 km away, roughly 30-40 minutes by road.
Goa International Airport (Dabolim) is about 55 km away, roughly 1.5 hours by road.
Taxi pickup can be arranged on request.
FAQs
Taking Your Pieces Home
Taking Your Pieces Home
The pieces you make during the retreat won’t be ready to take with you immediately, as they need time to dry and go through the firing and glazing process. At the end of the retreat, you can decide which pieces you’d like to keep. The selected pieces are then glazed and shipped to your address within 4–5 weeks. This comes at an additional cost of ₹700–₹1200 per piece, depending on the size. Taking your pieces home is completely optional. Most participants create around 7–10 pieces and usually select 3–5 or more to be finished and shipped.
Can someone who has never done pottery before attend?
Can someone who has never done pottery before attend?
Yes. This pottery retreat is beginner-friendly, and many participants join without prior pottery experience.
Can I come a day early or extend my stay after the retreat?
Can I come a day early or extend my stay after the retreat?
Yes, arriving early or extending your stay is possible, subject to availability and additional charges.
Can I join the retreat on my own?
Can I join the retreat on my own?
Yes. Solo guests can join with a private room. Shared rooms are available only to guests booking together, and shared-room prices are per person.
Is the retreat very structured or flexible?
Is the retreat very structured or flexible?
The retreat follows a gentle daily rhythm rather than a strict timetable, allowing space for both learning and rest.
What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy?
What is your cancellation and rescheduling policy?
For the pottery retreats in Himachal Pradesh and Goa, cancellations made 60 days or more before the retreat start date receive a full refund. Cancellations made fewer than 60 days before the start date are non-refundable. One-time rescheduling is allowed at least 14 days before the retreat, subject to availability. Seat transfers are permitted at least 7 days before the retreat. If you book a retreat that starts in fewer than 60 days, the non-refundable cancellation rule applies. Please review the terms for your chosen batch before paying. Read pottery retreat cancellation terms
Can I take home the pieces I make during the retreat?
Can I take home the pieces I make during the retreat?
Yes. You can choose the pieces you'd like to keep. As pottery needs time to dry, be fired, and glazed, pieces won't be ready to take home immediately after the retreat. We can glaze and ship your selected pieces to your address for an additional charge.