Nomad Fest Switzerland Review

Each year, an increasing number of digital nomad gatherings, conferences, and retreats emerge worldwide, aimed at uniting the ever-expanding community of individuals who have adopted a location independent lifestyle.

Among the latest additions to this growing trend is Nomad Fest Switzerland, a week-long event in heart of the Swiss Alps.

Nomad Fest Switzerland held its first event in August 2023, and I (Dani) was lucky enough to attend the festival, which is the first of its kind in Switzerland.

In this post, I will provide a comprehensive review of my entire experience, covering the standout moments, less favourable aspects, event structure, costs involved, and all the crucial details you’ll need to consider if you’re considering attending.

So, if you’re on the lookout for a nomad festival in Europe and are considering Nomad Fest Switzerland, just keep reading, because I’ve got all the info you need.

Nomad Fest Switzerland – An Honest Review

What is Nomad Fest Switzerland?

Nomad Fest Switzerland is a unique nomadic gathering that unites digital nomads from across the globe in a week-long event designed to nurture profound connections, foster a sense of community, and ignite inspiration.

Everybody stays together at the venue itself (Coliving Frilingue), or in one of the other two accommodations offered by the organisers of the event.

What sets this festival apart from similar events is its intimate size, with just 70 people in attendance at this first event.

This provided us with a remarkable opportunity to forge deeper bonds with one another, transforming the experience into one reminiscent of a close-knit family.

The festival encompasses an array of keynote sessions, ‘unconference’ workshops, shared meals, invigorating morning yoga sessions, afternoon hikes, and excursions to nearby attractions.

Evenings come alive with karaoke nights, fondue gatherings, and more.

What sweetens the deal is that your festival ticket includes the Saint Bernard Pass, covering all public transportation and a variety of local activities such as ziplining, SUP and pedalo adventures, entry to the enchanting Durnand Gorge, and more.

This means you can participate in the afternoon activities without incurring additional costs, ultimately saving you money.

Here’s a glimpse of what a typical day at Nomad Fest Switzerland entails:

• 7:00 – 8:30: Breakfast
• 8:30: Keynote sessions/unconference sessions
• 11:30: Lunch
• 12:30: Hiking, exploring waterfalls, lake visits, and more
• 18:00: Dinner
• 19:00: Evening entertainment.

Keynotes and unconferences

When I attended Nomad Fest Switzerland, there was a wide variety of keynote session topics and informal ‘unconferences,’ ranging from health and wellness topics to managing productivity, scaling your business, and more.

Below is a list of some of the presentations I enjoyed at Nomad Fest Switzerland:

• How Digital Nomadism Can Fuel Social Innovation
• Resilience as the Key to a Healthy Life as a Digital Nomad
• How to Avoid Travel Burnout and Make Health a Part of Your Unconventional Lifestyle
• The Nomad’s Hacks to Innovation and Change Work
• Attachment Theory
• SEO Hacks
• How to grow your Instagram to 100k
• How philosophy can change your life
• Authentic relating
• AI
• Community-building
• Visualising your goals
• The LEAN Sprint model
• How to breathe
• Designing a digital nomad event in Serbia

What does the ticket include?

There are various ticket options available for Nomad Fest Switzerland, some of which include accommodation, and some don’t.

It’s best to buy an all-inclusive package in order to get the best deal, and you’ll also find that there really isn’t anywhere else to stay in Liddes!

In 2023, the ticket prices were as follows:

Shared room all-inclusive: 400 EUR

Single room all-inclusive: 600 EUR

Double room all-inclusive for two persons: 800 EUR

Included in the ticket price is:

• Your Nomad Fest ticket
• Keynotes and unconferences
• Your chosen accommodation
• Towels
• Laundry
• All meals (including a fondue night)
• Drinks (water, coffee, tea, soda, fruit juice)
• Saint Bernard Pass (all bus fares, Treetop Canopy, Durnand Gorge, cable cars)
• Yoga lessons
• Daily hiking

Although most things are included in the ticket price, there are a few things that aren’t:

• Alcoholic drinks
• Premium excursions
• Airport transfer
• Flights

Pros and cons of Nomad Fest Switzerland

Pros

• Nomad Fest Switzerland is super affordable. For just 400 EUR, you get your ticket, accommodation for a week, and all of your food – that’s unheard of in Switzerland!
• You will connect with a vibrant community of like-minded people from all over the world.
• The surrounding area is stunning and is a great place for hiking and other outdoor pursuits.
• A wide range of keynote topics.
• Plenty of free time to get work done.
• Lots of fun things to do at night, including ecstatic dance, karaoke, ping pong, and campfires.

Cons

• Liddes is difficult to reach if you don’t have a car. It involves lots of train/bus transfers, and the airport transfer organised by the event leaders is expensive.
• The dorm rooms are very basic and don’t have lockers to store valuables.
• The bathroom facilities are also incredibly basic and there are only a few showers between lots of people.
• You must help to prepare food or clean up at least 5 times during your stay.
• The WiFi connection is not very strong.
• The communal area is not great for coworking, with few power outlets, no ergonomic chairs (you sit on wooden benches), and no privacy for phone calls.
• Not super organised.

Where is Nomad Fest Switzerland?

Nomad Fest Switzerland takes place in the picturesque village of Liddes, perched high in the Swiss Alps, less than a 30-minute drive from the Italian border.

The central hub for all festival activities is the Relais de Dranse, a tranquil venue and coliving space located within a valley, enveloped by the majestic mountains.

To get to Liddes, you can drive from Geneva Airport in 1h 50, or from Aosta (Italy) in under an hour.

Alternatively, you can take a train-train-train-bus combination, which takes 2.5 hours.

Nomad Fest Switzerland | Final Thoughts

I had a fantastic time at Nomad Fest Switzerland, but I do think that it’s important to manage your expectations with an event this low in price.

The shared accommodation is very basic, and the limited space means that it’s hard to get any work done in your free time.

If you want to attend the festival in order to feel inspired, meet new people, and take a break from the daily grind, I can’t recommend Nomad Fest Switzerland enough. However, if you need to work and are going to require strong WiFi and a quiet working space, this might not be the best event for you.

Overall, I rate this event a 3.5/5 in terms of organisation and facilities on offer, but a 5/5 in terms of location, value for money, and fun.

Got any questions?

Let me know in the comments section below!