A Week for Big Ideas & Little Explorers
Program Highlights from July 27 to August 2
Source: Kriner/Weiermann & Timo Maier
Three guided mountain hikes with mountain guide Hermann Glatz & the Alpspitz via ferrata tour
A successful family vacation isn't measured by the number of activities you do together. Rather, it's measured by each person's freedom to experience something on their own—and then reconnect with one another with new stories to share.
At Schloss Elmau, the morning might begin with meditation, yoga, or a dip in the cold water. Later, paths lead to the Alpspitze, a science lab, the soccer field, or the literature workshop. And when jazz, classical music, or comedy take the stage in the evening, children and teens have long since discovered their own activities.
The result is a week where adults can find time for themselves, children can explore the world, and families don't have to plan anything to enjoy plenty of experiences together.
Start the day with some rest—or with cold water
Almost every morning at the Pavillon Retreat begins with meditation and Jivamukti Yoga. Johannes Mikenda and Steven R. Barrett teach Basic and Open classes for beginners and experienced practitioners. Qigong with Dr. Imke König, Pilates, and boxing and cross-training with Levente Kaperi round out the daily exercise program.
Those who prefer a slightly more invigorating start to the day will find it in ice bathing with Johannes Mikenda. The moment in the cold water is brief. The feeling of clarity that follows usually lasts considerably longer.
Elmau begins where the paths lead uphill
The mountain landscape surrounding Schloss Elmau is not just a backdrop. It is a world of possibilities. Three guided tours led by Hermann Glatz take you out into the alpine landscape. E-bike and road bike tours open up new perspectives on the valley, while the Mindful Walk with Johannes Mikenda shows that it is not speed, but mindfulness, that determines how far you go. The week’s athletic highlight awaits on Friday: The full-day via ferrata tour to the Alpspitze combines concentration, endurance, and that rare sense of vastness that, in the mountains, is never merely a geographical concept. Tennis, boxing training, and clay pigeon shooting with a bow and arrow offer further opportunities to test your precision and reaction time.
Source: Press
August 1: Carolin & David Kebekus
Evening Cultural Events
Jazz in the Colors of the Night
On Tuesday, bassist and cellist Julia Hofer and pianist David Helbock, together with guitarist Mahan Mirarab, will present their program “Faces of Night.” In this program, the night is not merely the absence of day, but a distinct sonic space in its own right: mysterious, atmospheric, and at the same time filled with groovy energy. Julia Hofer, whose virtuoso playing reaches an audience of millions, joins forces with one of Austria’s most original jazz pianists. Mahan Mirarab’s guitar enriches their dialogue with new colors and rhythmic perspectives.
Tuesday, July 28 | 8:30 p.m. | Concert Hall
A Young Pianist and the Great Challenges
On Thursday, the concert hall will feature 20-year-old pianist Vsevolod Zavidov, who is considered one of the most promising talents of the Russian piano school. His program combines Rachmaninoff’s arrangements of the Prélude, Gavotte, and Gigue from Bach’s Partita in E major with Schubert’s Four Impromptus, D 899, and Stravinsky’s three movements from “Petrushka.” Bach is reimagined through Rachmaninoff’s interpretation; Schubert demands intimacy without sentimentality; Stravinsky, rhythmic precision and orchestral imagination. This is a program in which technical virtuosity alone is not enough. It requires imagination, courage, and a voice of one’s own.
Thursday, July 30 | 8:30 p.m. | Concert Hall
Two Kebekus, One Stage
On Saturday, Carolin and David Kebekus will be performing together in Elmau. Carolin Kebekus is one of the most prominent voices in German comedy. Her brother David has long since made a name for himself as a comedian, writer, and director. Both perform solo and together on stage—as siblings who probably know each other a little too well to guarantee a completely conflict-free evening. Expect a fast-paced show, sharp observations, and that special brand of humor that arises when closeness and ruthlessness within a family combine in an unusually productive way.
Saturday, August 1 | 8:30 p.m. | Concert Hall
The event will be held in German.
Jazz That Makes the Evening Last Longer
Even outside of the big concerts, music remains a daily companion. At the start of the week, Andreas Feith will play the piano at the Al Camino Bar and provide musical accompaniment for dinner at the Fidelio on Wednesday and Thursday. From Friday through Sunday, Maximilian Hacker will take the stage with short sets during dinner, followed by jazz in the bar.
Source: Thomas Straub
Extensive Kids & Teens Program
Adventures for Kids & Teens
While adults go hiking, read, work out, or relax at the spa, children embark on a week of their own, filled with ideas, experiments, and adventures.
The Kids Club for children ages two to five is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Children and teens ages six and up meet daily from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Kids & Teens Club. Group lunches, creative activities, and daily outdoor adventures provide a reliable structure for the day without over-scheduling it.
Artificial Intelligence, Genuine Curiosity
From Monday through Friday, Victor Reisenauer hosts the “Creative with AI” edutainment workshop. In this workshop, children learn to use digital tools not as passive consumers, but as instruments for their own imagination.
In the Science Lab with Kathrin Amend, children observe, try things out, and experiment. The literature workshop with Nadine Schwengenbecher opens up a different space: one for stories, language, and the realization that reading and writing don’t have to be a school obligation, but can be a form of freedom. These three activities are among the week’s special highlights because they take children seriously—as researchers, authors, and creators of their own world.
Soccer, Tennis, and Adventure
From Monday through Friday, children and teenagers train at the soccer camp with coaches from VfB Stuttgart. The focus is on technique, team spirit, and the joy of the game—and perhaps also on the realization that not every loss is a tragedy and not every victory is proof of moral superiority.
The Tennis Experience offers a hassle-free introduction to the court on Monday. The 3D archery sessions with Christian Kuffer on Wednesday and Saturday require concentration, composure, and precision. On Monday, the 4D archery experience adds yet another special dimension to the activity.
The Pony Farm workshop with Natalie Keizig on Thursday is one of those activities where adults often feel they have to accompany their children—until they realize that their presence isn’t missed at all.
The world is bigger out there
Even our youngest guests go on daily adventures: to the playground, on an animal expedition, out into the woods and meadows, or in search of butterflies. They draw with chalk, experiment with soap bubbles, and discover what adventures are hiding right on their doorstep.
For children ages six and up, walks include drawing in nature, fairy tale breaks, summer strolls, and nature discovery tours. On weekends, the kids take over the playground and play card games and tag outdoors.
Workshops for Imagination
Jewelry, friendship bracelets, postcards, mandalas, and iron-on beads: The creative program is as diverse as the participants’ imaginations.
Children design their own Schloss Elmau T-shirt, create a vision board, sculpt figures out of modeling clay, or design a surprise gift for someone special. Movie, dance, music, and trivia nights ensure that even after dinner, no one can complain about a lack of things to do.
The Freedom to Rediscover Oneself
You can start this week with meditation and end it with jazz. You can climb a mountain, listen to Rachmaninoff, or forget every philosophical question for a moment while standing in cold water.
Children can come up with ideas for robots, write a story, play soccer, shoot darts at a target, or look for butterflies—all at the same time.
Perhaps the true luxury of a family vacation isn't doing everything together. Rather, it's that everyone gets to experience something on their own, and at the end of the day, everyone is happy to be together again.
Discover the program highlights from July 27 to August 2, 2026, and book your getaway together at Schloss Elmau.
Advance registration is required for select sports, workshops, and outdoor activities. Additional fees may apply in some cases.
