When is it Happening?
29–31 May 2026 - three days in Manali. Overnight Volvo from Delhi: board 28 May ~8 PM (Kashmiri Gate); return to Delhi 1 June ~6 AM.
Himachal Pradesh · Open now: Manali May 29–31, 2026
Create. Relax. Experience Art in Nature.
Our next retreat is Let’s Paint with Kumkum Arts - three days in Manali with pottery, painting, picnics & slow mornings. Volvo from Delhi, shared stay from ₹9,500. Beginners welcome.
Let’s Paint · Manali · May 29–31, 2026
What is the Manali Art Retreat all about?
The Manali Art Retreat with Kumkum Arts is a long-weekend escape that blends making art with mountain ease - three days in Manali where creative sessions, time outside, and shared meals sit side by side. Through a guided, beginner-friendly flow, you can slow down in the hills, pick up new skills, and leave with work you shaped from start to finish.
Wondering if you have to be an artist?
Here’s the good news: you already are one in the way that matters here. You don’t need to master a craft before you arrive. Let’s Paint is built for conversation, play, and first tries - a safe space to explore colour and clay, meet people who get it, and share stories without pressure.
Think of it less like a graded class and more like a reset in good company: gentle structure, mentors who won’t rush you, and room to breathe between pottery, canvas, and mountain air.
What you’ll step into
- Hand-building pottery and a paint-your-pottery session to finish what you made in clay
- Live painting outdoors - our art-picnic day with nature, music, and slow sunset moments
- Café-style meetups, group activities & games, and slow mornings before you head home
- Shared stay in Manali, breakfast & dinner on us, and Volvo travel as spelled out on the current event page (from ₹9,500 shared stay)
Note: You don’t need any background in art. It’s about flowing between clay, colour, and conversation - curiosity is enough.
When and Where - Manali May 2026 retreat
Where is it Happening?
Manali, Himachal Pradesh - our May ’26 stay, sessions, and outdoor art blocks all run here.
Let’s Paint · Manali May ’26
Where Will We Stay?
The May batch beds down in Manali in a modest mountain lodge: double or triple rooms (whatever you pick at signup), straightforward comfort, and enough quiet that studio days don’t bleed into sleepless nights. Breakfast and dinner sit inside the retreat fee; lunch stays off the bill on purpose so you can wander into town for thukpa or coffee when we break. Nothing here is meant to read like a brochure, and if you want the straight list of what’s included, what isn’t, and how rooms work, it’s all written the same way on our stay page and on the Manali event page. The filmstrip under this text is pulled from the property folder we’re actually using this season, so you can judge the wood, the light, and the stairs for yourself before you pack.
Let’s Paint · Manali May ’26
What are you investing in?
- Three days in Manali (29–31 May 2026) with double or triple sharing - bring a friend or make one in the circle.
- Breakfast & dinner on us; lunch stays yours to explore local cafés.
- Volvo overnight Delhi ↔ Manali as on the current event travel block.
- Hands-on art - hand-building pottery, live painting / picnic day in nature, paint-your-pottery, and materials included.
- Small-batch rhythm - guided blocks, breathing room, and evenings that ease into conversation.
- Time outside on the mountain day - views, picnic pace, and a little wander when the itinerary opens it up.
- Community tables & warmth - shared meals, games, and the kind of slow nights that stick.
Think of it as an investment in yourself - it pays forward long after you’re home.
Itinerary · Manali May ’26
What Does the Day-Wise Journey Look Like?
Day 1 · Fri, 29 May 2026 Arrival & hand-building pottery
We begin the retreat with a cozy café meetup, getting to know each other through conversations, games, and calming hands-on art - a hand-building pottery session with clay modelling.
Day 2 · Sat, 30 May 2026 Art picnic in the mountains
An afternoon of live painting surrounded by nature, followed by a small hike, picnic setup, music, and slow sunset moments.
Day 3 · Sun, 31 May 2026 Slow mornings & paint your clay pieces
Ending the Retreat by painting our handmade pottery pieces, sharing one last breakfast together, clicking photos, and taking home memories (and art!) made with our own hands.
Let’s Paint · Manali May ’26
Why Should You Join This Retreat?
Your long weekend, mapped
What to Expect
Make messes. Watch sunsets. Laugh too loud at dinner. Repeat. - the same three-day outline as on the current event page.
Arrival & hand-building pottery
We begin the retreat with a cozy café meetup, getting to know each other through conversations, games, and calming hands-on art - a hand-building pottery session with clay modelling.
Art picnic in the mountains
An afternoon of live painting surrounded by nature, followed by a small hike, picnic setup, music, and slow sunset moments.
Slow mornings & paint your clay pieces
Ending the Retreat by painting our handmade pottery pieces, sharing one last breakfast together, clicking photos, and taking home memories (and art!) made with our own hands.
Gallery
Retreat Moments
Photos from this retreat’s world - the strip moves on its own; hover to pause. More on the full gallery or current event page.
@kumkum_arts on Instagram
Reels & moments - scroll sideways
Embeds load from Instagram (may take a moment). Use the arrows to scroll the row - same strip as on the current event page.
Featured Experiences
Choose Your Creative Journey
Opening next: Manali · 29–31 May 2026 - same flow as below (pottery, painting, long weekend). See dates, Volvo & pricing.
🏺 Pottery Retreat
Pottery Retreat
Shape clay with your hands in the mountains. A meditative, beginner-friendly pottery experience.
✨ Now booking
Let’s Paint - Manali May ’26
3 days · Volvo Delhi ↔ Manali · from ₹9,500 shared stay. Pottery, painting picnic, paint-your-clay - open the full page to sign up.
🏔️ Weekend Art Escape
Weekend Art Escape
A full weekend of art, community, and mountain air. The complete retreat experience.
Upcoming Events
Don't Miss These Retreats
Featured: Let’s Paint - Manali, May 29–31, 2026 (Volvo from Delhi, from ₹9,500). More Himachal weekends are announced to our list first.
Coming up
More Himachal weekends
We run small-batch retreats across the mountains. Ask to be first when the next batch opens.
Get on the list
Formats
Pottery · painting · long weekends
Explore how we structure days - the Manali May retreat follows the same gentle rhythm.
May retreat details
Why Choose Us
Built for real people, not perfect artists.
Kumkum Arts retreats are designed for people who want a creative break but do not want pressure. You get structure, guidance, and personal space in a setting that naturally slows you down.
Hands-on mentoring
Work directly with practicing artists who teach with patience and practical feedback, step by step.
Himalayan pace beyond the studio
Retreat days include mountain walks, local food, and pause moments - whether we’re in Manali, Bir, or the next valley we call home for the weekend.
Beginner-safe environment
No judgement, no rush. If this is your first workshop, the format is built for you.
Take home finished work
Leave with handmade pieces, better technique, and a memory you can actually feel proud of.
8-12People per batch
3 DaysImmersive format
100%Beginner friendly
Testimonials
What Past Participants Say
From Bir to Manali - voices from past Kumkum Arts circles in the mountains.
"Three days that completely changed how I see creativity. The pottery session was meditative, the mountains were breathtaking, and the people I met felt like old friends by Day 2."
"I came alone, nervous about not knowing anyone. By the end, I had painted my first landscape, made a clay bowl, and found my people. Highly recommend for solo travelers."
"My partner and I did this as a couple's getaway. It was the most unique and meaningful trip we've taken together. The host made everything feel so personal and warm."
"I had never touched clay before this retreat. The instructors made it so simple and supportive that I completed two pieces and felt genuinely proud."
Before You Join
The retreat vibe in stills
Gift an Experience
Give the Gift of Creativity
Know someone who needs a meaningful break? Gift them a spot toward our Manali · May 29–31, 2026 retreat (or a future weekend) - guided art, calm spaces, and memories they will talk about for years.
Personalized gift message
Flexible retreat date options
Beginner-friendly by design
Join Us
Join the Manali May Retreat
Three days of art, ease, and mountain air - Volvo from Delhi, stay & meals as on the current event page. Small circle, limited seats.