Handpan Residence with
Daniel Waples
UK & European community
An international group of handpan lovers.
All levels welcome
Beginners, enthusiasts and players.
Limited to 15 participants
Small group, personal guidance.
Music in the Rhodopes
Mountains, rivers, forest and space to breathe.
Handpan in the mountains of Bulgaria
Far from crowded retreats and festival rush, this residency invites you into a slower and more grounded experience - a full week of music, nature and shared living in the magical Rhodope Mountains. Created for the UK and European handpan community, the residency brings together beginners, enthusiasts and experienced players in a small international group of just 15 participants. Whether you are deepening your musical practice or reconnecting with creativity and presence, the week is designed to offer both learning and space to breathe.
A week to slow down
Music, forests, rivers and a rhythm of life that invites presence and deeper listening.
International community
A carefully curated gathering of handpan lovers from across the UK and Europe.
The Rhodopes
Ancient mountains, hidden river spots and one of the most magical regions in Eastern Europe.
A rare opportunity to learn from Daniel Waples
Daniel Waples is one of the world's most recognised handpan artists and one of the early pioneers who helped introduce the instrument to a global audience. Through years of travelling, festivals, performances and online sharing, Daniel became one of the defining voices of modern handpan culture.
This residency offers something increasingly uncommon - the chance to spend real time learning and creating together in a small-group environment. Beyond workshops, the week opens space for conversations, shared meals, jams, questions and genuine connection through music. For many participants, this may be one of the very few opportunities to experience Daniel's teaching and musical presence in such an intimate setting.
- One of the most influential global ambassadors of the handpan
- Small-group learning with only 15 participants
- Groove, musicality, improvisation and creative freedom
Daniel Waples & Ivan Judas
Daniel and Ivan share a unique musical chemistry - playful, intuitive and deeply connected. Their sessions move naturally between groove and atmosphere, structure and spontaneity, technical precision and emotional expression.
Handpan pioneer, global performer and independent artist known for dynamic groove-based playing, improvisation and making music feel joyful, accessible and alive.
One of the driving forces behind Croatia’s handpan scene, he is known for expressive compositions, refined touch and emotionally immersive performances.
A full week of handpan immersion
The residence balances structured workshops, artistic exploration, nature, rest and spontaneous shared moments.
- Technique, touch and tone
- Rhythm, groove and timing
- Melody and musical flow
- Improvisation and composition
- Separate learning groups
- Small-group guidance
- Pressure-free atmosphere
- Accessible for complete beginners
- Group jams and ensemble playing
- Open mic evening
- Questions & creative discussions
- Shared musical exploration
- Morning yoga or movement
- Forest walks and river spots
- Swimming and relaxation
- Optional massage and quiet time
A clear rhythm for learning, rest and music
9:00 – 10:15
10:30 – 12:00
12:30 – 14:30
14:30 – 16:00
16:00 – 18:30
19:00 – 20:00
20:30
Morning yoga / movement
Gentle practice to wake up the body and arrive into the day.
Vegetarian brunch
Shared meal, coffee, mountain air and slow conversations.
Handpan workshops
Parallel sessions for beginners and players with Daniel and Ivan.
Practice, rest or river time
Free space for integration, personal practice, swimming or quiet time.
Nature, creative sessions or excursions
Forest walks, group jams, Q&A sessions, caves, hidden river spots and Rhodope landscapes.
Vegetarian dinner
A warm shared meal before the evening program begins.
Evening music program
Concerts, open mic, sound journeys, jams under the stars and conversations by the fire.
Savaya Tribe – a green residence in the Rhodopes
Hidden among forests, rivers and mountain silence, it offers the perfect environment for a week of music, presence and meaningful connection.
Rest, explore and let the music settle
Between workshops, Savaya gives you space to integrate the learning in your own way - through nature, water, stillness or gentle bodywork.
Water & rest
Enjoy the lake, swim in the pool, read in a hammock or simply rest in the quiet rhythm of the place.
Forest & excursions
Walk through the forest, visit nearby caves, discover river beaches and explore the magical landscapes of the Rhodopes.
Full immersion extras
Optional massages, sound experiences, spontaneous jams and personal practice time with your instrument.
Sanya Barakova
Sanya Barakova is an artist, certified Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga teacher, and a street music soul with over a decade of deep connection to the magic of the handpan. As one of the earliest ambassadors of the instrument in the Balkans, she co-facilitated the very first handpan workshops in Bulgaria.
Her musical path began on the streets of the world, where she spent years embracing the absolute freedom of intuitive improvisation (busking). Sanya’s dedication to movement later led her to study yoga in Portugal, Bali, and Mysore, India, under the guidance of world-renowned masters. Today, she seamlessly weaves together movement, sound, and energy work to help others journey back to their authentic selves.
As the creator and heart of the magical Savaya Tribe retreat center in the Rhodope Mountains, Sanya will be your grounded, nurturing guide for this immersive residence—balancing masterclasses with ease, inspiration, and shared presence.
Limited to 15 participants
To keep the residence personal and immersive, the group is intentionally small. Your seat is reserved with a 30% deposit.
€1,200
Available for the first 5 spots. Reserve your place with a 30% deposit.
- Handpan workshops with Daniel Waples and Ivan Judas
- Accommodation & vegetarian food for 7 days
- Yoga sessions, mountain excursions and relaxation spaces
€1,500
Regular pricing applies after June 30, subject to remaining availability.
- Handpan workshops with Daniel Waples and Ivan Judas
- Accommodation & vegetarian food for 7 days
- Yoga sessions, mountain excursions and relaxation spaces
Everything you need
Handpan experience
Daily workshops with Daniel Waples and Ivan Judas, creative sessions, jams, concerts and open mic evenings.
Accommodation & food
6 nights at Savaya Tribe with vegetarian brunch and dinner every day.
Nature & wellbeing
Yoga sessions, mountain excursions, pool access, relaxation spaces and immersive Rhodope atmosphere.
Handpans at the Residence
Most group sessions during the residency will be centered around D Kurd, creating a shared musical space for ensemble playing, improvisation and flow.
We warmly encourage participants to bring their own handpan if they have one.
A selection of Zendō Sounds instruments will also be available throughout the week for beginners, travellers and shared sessions, so everyone can fully participate in the experience.
Whether you arrive with years of playing or touch the instrument for the first time here, the residence is designed to support both exploration and connection through music.
About the organizers
Zendō Sounds
Zendō Sounds is a musician-led handpan brand, dedicated to making the handpan accessible as a natural gateway into music for people from all walks of life. We collaborate with trusted makers around the world to offer handcrafted instruments created with attention to sound quality.
Beyond building instruments, we actively nurture the handpan scene in Bulgaria and across the Balkans through handpan retreats, concerts and festivals bridging the local and the global scenes. In January we were honored to host the first Handpan Around the World festival in the heart of Sofia, with Daniel Waples, Ivan Judas, Nadayana, Bunyverse and Sanya.
Travelling to Savaya Tribe
Savaya Tribe is located near the village of Srednogortsi in the Rhodope Mountains, around 20 km after Smolyan in the direction of Madan. The closest practical route for international guests is usually to fly to Sofia or Plovdiv, then continue by car or shared transfer towards Smolyan / Madan.
By plane
Fly to Sofia Airport or Plovdiv Airport. Sofia usually offers the most international connections.
By car / transfer
The mountain road journey is part of the experience. We will help participants coordinate shared rides or transfers where possible.
Arrival support
After registration, we will create a travel coordination channel so guests can share arrival times and organise lifts together.
A few simple things to pack
For practice
Your handpan if you have one, a notebook, water bottle and anything that helps you learn comfortably.
For nature
Comfortable shoes, swimsuit, towel, sun protection, light daytime clothes and warm layers for cooler mountain evenings.
For shared living
Indoor flip-flops, earplugs for sleeping, personal toiletries and an open heart for a week of community.
Come spend a week inside
the world of handpan
Music, mountains, rivers, late-night jams and an international community gathered in one of Eastern Europe's hidden gems.
