Best Meditation Retreats in the World
Meditation retreats have exploded in popularity over the last few years, with people looking to find stillness and peace, and travellers looking for wellness breaks. Retreats are a great place to explore and discover oneself, providing guidance and inspiration. Take a look at our pick of the best meditation retreats in the world.
Esalen
Established in 1962, Esalen is a retreat and non-profit educational centre based in the Big Sur in California. It welcomes reservations and scholarships and has 100 acres of nature, mountainside, hot springs, and organic farms.
Esalen offers comfort, transformation and healing. Its approach and research explores new ideas around creativity and the workings of the brain, bodywork, spirituality and plant medicine, among others.
Spirit Rock
Spirit Rock is a retreat and meditation centre offering a range of programs, from day retreats to longer residential retreats. Its group sizes are between 30-100 participants, with retreats being held in silence, encouraging participants not to speak to one another nor read or write. This silent environment produces increased awareness, a quiet body, a clear mind and openness for understanding and insight.
At Spirit Rock, there is a likelihood that participants will leave the retreat with a deeper understanding of themselves than before. Participants will practice kindness, attentiveness, and clarity and discover the path to liberation, inner freedom and contentment.
Tushita Buddhist Retreats
Tushita is a meditation centre offering group retreats for Buddhist practitioners. They offer four or five group retreats every year, designed for people who are committed to Buddhism and would like to deepen their experience.
Apart from their 3-month Vajrasattva retreat, there are usually four sessions of the Kriya Tantra during the retreats. It starts with taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts in the morning, then Combined Jorcho/Lama Chopa in the first session, and later three sessions of the particular sadhana.
Insight Meditation Society Retreats
Insight Meditation Society (IMS) is one of the world’s oldest meditation retreat centres, dedicated to providing a spiritually safe place for those seeking to deepen their insight and freedom. The retreats focus on Buddhist practices known as vipassana (insight) and metta (lovingkindness), helping develop awareness, compassion and happiness. The retreat facilities are situated in a quiet, peaceful woodland environment in Massachusetts.
Drala Mountain Center
Drala Moutain Center is a retreat in the Colorado Rockies that offers an opportunity for stillness, relaxation, connection, and the ability to unwind. It is a 600-acre site surrounded by mountains, forests, and meadows. Participants can choose their program focus, including art and creativity, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and Shambala. These programs help individuals to calm the mind, awaken and inspire.
Aro Ha Wellness Retreat
Aro Ha Wellness Retreat offers a six or eight-day award-winning programme designed to elevate the body and mind. It is a space of transformation where all aspects of natural health are embraced, as guests adventure into their wellbeing with daily yoga, mindfulness, hiking, strength classes, plant-based cuisine and daily massages. The retreat has been designed and constructed by a team of leading wellness consultants to embody best practices for living in balance with nature while meeting modern needs – From the minimalist luxury accommodations, world-class sauna and spa, and permaculture gardens, to the curated retreat programmes, guests are invited to reconnect to their sense of wellbeing
The Ranch Italy
The Ranch Italy at Palazzo Fiuggi combines The Ranch Malibu’s award-winning results-oriented fitness program with the services and expertise of the team at this renowned medical wellness spa just 50 minutes from Rome. With 4 and 7-night experiences, programs are limited to 25 guests and feature an active daily schedule of four-hour morning mountain hikes, naptime, strength classes, yoga and daily massage along with diagnostic and blood testing and a doctor’s consultation. The result is a transformative program. Guests leave with a greater sense of self, feeling rested and rejuvenated, gaining strength and mental clarity while losing fat and inches.
The Phuket Meditation Center
The Phuket Meditation Center has been offering regular group meditation sessions, meditation retreats and various events on Phuket Island since 2009. Throughout the years they have grown into a small community of dedicated students and practitioners. Their teachings are rooted in classic Buddhist mind-training and meditation practice. The focus is on presence, mindfulness, meditation and character cultivation with special emphasis on the development of sincerity, kindness and compassion. The inquiry into the nature of consciousness and truth is at the heart of their events. Their retreats and free group sessions are excellent for beginners and everyone who loves turn inward.
Willka T’ika
Willka T’ika or “sacred flower” in Quechua, is the premier luxury wellness retreat center in the Sacred Valley of Peru, located between the Incan Capital of Cusco and the World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu. In 2022, Willka T’ika was voted “Best Digital Detox Retreat” by Vogue Magazine and one of “9 of the World’s Best Wellness Retreats” by CNN Travel.
An exquisite wellness sanctuary designed for rejuvenation and reflection, Willka T’ika was founded in 1995 to honor the culture of the Quechua, descendants of the Inca. Reverence for Pachamama (Mother Earth)radiates throughout Willka T’ika’s 7 Chakra Gardens.
Satsang House Sedona Retreat
Satsang House Sedona Meditation Retreat will help you rediscover meaning and purpose as you dive into your self-care practices, create new healthy lifelong habits and connect with a like-minded community to bring out the best in you.
Lounge by the saltwater pool, explore the beauty of the Sedona Red Rocks, wake up to the birdsong as the sun rises over Cathedral Rock and rest in the stillness. Treat yourself to a massage, sit in silent meditation or take a yoga class in Sadhana Hall. Enjoy fresh and healthy chef-prepared meals as you reconnect to your truest self.
Summary
There are many mediation retreats to choose from, from drop-ins to weekly residential retreats, so there is something out there for everyone. No matter what your needs are, meditation retreats are a great way to find peace and harmony in this chaotic and stressful world.
Gareth Michael can help you manage your stress through spiritual coaching and therapy. He works to understand every part of you to find the right support for you and improve your wellbeing and happiness. Schedule a free discovery call to find out more.
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