Founded by Katja Kreher and Nicola, two women from Europe who now call the U.S. home, OMKISA is more than a retreat company—it’s a return to self through travel, movement, and shared laughter. Their story doesn’t begin in a boardroom or on a vision board. It begins with friendship. With a love of nature. And with a desire to experience the world as real women living real lives.

“We create retreats the way we would like to experience them ourselves,” Katja says with quiet clarity. “Non-touristy. Deeply connected. Adventurous but grounded. Always authentic.”

Nicola adds, “We’re not here to push people into something they’re not ready for. We’re here to offer a space. And if it calls to you—you’ll know.”

A Journey Rooted in Connection

Katja and Nicola met in the swirl of everyday life, but it was their shared craving for depth that became the foundation for OMKISA. What started as hikes and heart-to-hearts evolved into something bigger—a movement of women gathering across the world not just to see new places, but to become new versions of themselves in the process.

“We’ve always traveled with our hearts,” Nicola says. “That’s why each retreat is different. Austria is about alpine strength and heritage. Costa Rica brings us into flow. Berlin offers bold, creative contrast. We let the location shape the experience.”

And the women who join them? They come from everywhere—CEOs, teachers, mothers, artists. Each one carrying a story. Each one seeking something just for her.

The OMKISA Experience: More Than a Trip

From hiking across the Austrian Alps to eating pasta in the middle of the mountains after crossing into Italy on foot, these retreats are layered in meaning. There’s movement—yes. But also restoration. There’s beauty—but also grit.

“No two retreats are the same,” Katja explains. “Because we don’t manufacture connection—it happens naturally. The people, the energy, the land—it all comes together when women feel safe to be themselves.”

Nicola nods. “It’s about honoring each woman’s pace. Sometimes that means hiking to a summit. Other times it means lying in a meadow doing absolutely nothing. Both are sacred.”

The word “retreat” often conjures an image of luxury. But OMKISA isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence. “We’re open books,” Nicola says. “We bring that to everything we do. Our travelers either know us or know someone who does. There’s trust from the beginning. We don’t perform. We invite.”

Q&A: Voices from the Trail

Q: What do you hope women walk away with?
Katja: “A deeper appreciation for where they are—geographically, emotionally, spiritually. And a sense that investing time in yourself isn’t selfish. It’s essential.”

Q: What challenges have you faced?
Nicola: “Oh, we once had to navigate a retreat with a hotel manager who was… let’s just say ‘difficult.’ We stayed kind. We protected our energy—and more importantly, our group’s energy. We’ll never go back to that place, but we learned a lot about grace under pressure!”

Q: What’s your idea of well-being?
Katja: “It’s not about doing more. It’s an attitude. I live very intentionally. Daily yoga, meditation, and nature—that’s my balance.”
Nicola: “Silence has been one of my greatest teachers. Being in nature with my dogs—those are the moments that refill me.”

The Women Who Make It Magic

There’s an undeniable warmth in both Katja and Nicola. You hear it in their voices. You feel it in the way they speak about the women who travel with them—not as clients, but as sisters. There’s laughter. There’s reverence. And always, a return to simplicity.

“We don’t sell an escape,” Katja says. “We offer a mirror. We invite women to come see themselves more clearly—somewhere beautiful, somewhere real.”

They don’t do mass marketing. They speak directly. Every woman is known, welcomed, chosen with care. “We talk to every participant before they sign up,” Nicola says. “If it doesn’t feel like the right fit, we’ll say so. It’s not about numbers—it’s about energy.”

What’s Next for OMKISA?

The future isn’t rushed. It’s unfolding.

Plans include walking the Camino. A Tuscan villa retreat. Hiking in the Dolomites. A soul-centered experience in Hawaii. But none of it is about expansion for expansion’s sake.

“We follow what excites us,” says Katja. “We live in the present. The ideas flow when we’re in alignment. That’s how OMKISA began—and that’s how it will grow.”

Real People. Real Places. Real Growth.

When asked what OMKISA stands for, the answer is less a tagline than a truth:
“Retreats for real people.”

These are experiences shaped by curiosity, held by nature, and guided by two women who embody both strength and softness. Katja and Nicola don’t lead from a stage—they walk beside you. Through mountains. Through laughter. Through the quiet moments when something clicks, and you feel more yourself than you have in years.

And that’s the point, isn’t it?

To return not just home—but to your truest self.

“We know a lot of wonderful people all over the world. We don’t follow the tourist guides or Yelp—we connect with people who live in these places (usually our friends). That’s what makes the experience unique.” -Katja

LEARN MORE: Retreats for Real People.

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Read More About Omkisa’s Upcoming Retreats in EGW Luxury Magazine