Meditation practitioners will tell you all about its benefits—how it can help reduce stress and improve overall mental and physical wellbeing. Researchers agree. Meditation triggers the body’s relaxation response.
It can calm your mind and body by quieting the stress-induced thoughts that can cause a state of agitation.
For some, a quiet room in the house or a peaceful spot in the park can be enough to serve as a place to practice mindful meditation. But others may need more guidance with yoga classes or workshops, and a calm respite from their bustling cities and busy households with soothing, inspiring views and luxurious amenities. Meditation retreats offer these—and more. They can help you re-energize, connect with nature, and learn mindfulness techniques you can bring back home. Here, we’ve rounded up the best meditation retreats in the country.
The Best Meditation Retreats of 2022.
- Best Overall: E-salen Institute.
- Best Budget: Meditation Center.
- Most Flexible, Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
- Best for Beginners , Shambhala Mountain Center.
- Best Intensive: Green Gulch Farm Zen Center.
- Best for Wilderness: Alaska Still point Lodge.
- Best for Instructions: Insight Meditation Society.
- Best Meditation Retreats.
- E salen Institute.
- Meditation Center.
- Spirit Rock Meditation Center.
- Shambhala Mountain Center.
- Green Gulch Farm Zen Center.
- Alaska Still point Lodge.
- Insight Meditation Society.
- Final Verdict.
- Compare Providers.
- How To Choose.
- Comparing Meditation Retreats.
- FAQs.
How Much Do Meditation Retreats Cost?
What Are Meditation Retreats?
What Happens During Meditation Retreats?
Who Should Go On Meditation Retreats?
Methodology.
BEST OVERALL .
- E salen Institute
- Institute
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Why We Chose It.
A beautiful retreat in California's Big Sur Region, the Institute offers mindfulness workshops, yoga instruction, forest bathing and other classes designed for self-exploration against a backdrop of lush ocean views.
Key Specs.
- Cost: $530-$8,000, based on accommodations
- Location: Big Sur, California
- Length: Most workshops are weekends, or 5 or 7 days long
- Pros & Cons
- PROS
- Variety of workshops
- Natural hot springs
- Meditation Hut and Art Barn
- CONS
- Rustic accommodations
- Pricey
- Dates fill up fast
- The California coast is home to hundreds of weekend and week-long retreats inspired by the beauty of this cliffside wonder at the Institute in Big Sur, California.
Guests can choose from several three-day workshops, including mindfulness retreats for lawyers, meditation in nature, self-love, and kindness that benefits all, mindful self-compassion intensive training, and mindfulness meditation. Other options include modern life, music, mediation, and technology.
Longer retreats, lasting five to seven days, take on a more focused approach to helping participants integrate meditation into their daily lives. In addition to guided meditations and silent practices, you can spend hours of the day exploring the 27 acres surrounded by the Big Sur coastline. E salen is also home to a community farm and garden, a cliffside bathhouse, and natural hot springs.
BEST BUDGET
- Meditation Center
- Meditation Center
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Why We Chose It.
The Meditation Center and Tibetan Buddhist temple is an affordable retreat that offers silent meditation, workshops, and hikes.
Key Specs.
- Cost: Workshops start at about $20; weekend retreats start at roughly $60
- Location: Glen Span, New York
- Length: 1-day workshops, 3-5 day retreats available
- Pros & Cons
- PROS
- Budget-friendly
- Offers silent retreats
- Good for beginners
- CONS.
- Limited onsite accommodations
- Pricing doesn’t include Lodging or meals.
- Onsite dining has limited hours.
Located in the Catskill Mountains in New York, the Meditation Center and Tibetan Buddhist temple offer both personal and group retreats. With budget-friendly options and various offerings, the Meditation Center is a good choice for those interested in exploring meditation without the hefty price tag often attached to meditation retreats.
Individuals looking to gain a fresh perspective through quiet relaxation will find peace and calm with one of their personal Finding Peace retreats. And, if you're new to meditation or looking for a group experience, you might want to try one of the group retreats to help you find ways to integrate the practice into your daily life.
A quick weekend away includes guided activities and individual time, Friday through Sunday, with meditation workshops, hikes in the 82 acres of natural woodlands, delicious food, and more. The Meditation Center also offers in-depth silent retreats that focus on the teachings of meditation and silent meditation. These guided experiences involve two days of teachings, followed by three days of a silent retreat.
The Meditation Center is ideal if you're looking to stick within a budget because of the variety of Saturday meditation workshops that only cost around $20. Add on a vegetarian lunch for about $5, and you have a day away for approximately $25. Workshop topics include developing confidence, letting go of stress, a day of silence, the power to be happy, anger detox, and many more.
Can't travel for a retreat? Check out the best meditation apps around.
- MOST FLEXIBLE.
- Spirit Rock Meditation Center
- Spirit Rock Meditation Center
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- Why We Chose It
Spirit Rock Meditation Center holds a variety of one-day and multi-day retreats and offers scholarships, sliding scale payments, and volunteer opportunities for those with financial constraints.
Key Specs.
- Cost: Offers sliding scale for retreats, $200-$4,320
- Location: West Marin County, California
- Length: Day-long, week-long, and month-long retreats
- Pros & Cons
- PROS
- Sliding scale payments
- Retreats for LGBTQ+ people available
- Silent retreats available
- CONS
- In-person programs fill up fast
- Some programs have prerequisites you must meet
- Fragrance-free facility may not appeal to some
Buddhist teachings, extensive time for meditation, walks in nature, and a silent and mindful environment, are the key features that make the Spirit Rock Meditation Center in West Marin County, California, such a popular location for group meditation retreats.
The center offers day-long, week-long, and even month-long retreats suitable for both new and experienced meditation students. Fitting a retreat into your schedule is easy with the variety of stays they offer. Spirit Rock Meditation Center focuses on the teachings of Buddha and the practices of insight and loving-kindness meditation.
Spirit Rock also infuses meditation into every part of the day, including sitting, walking, and eating, which helps you better understand food and mindful eating. If you want to stay overnight, you can choose one of their residential retreats.
But, if you live close by or want to stay off-site, Spirit Rock offers multi-day non-residential retreats that allow participants to spend the day learning and practicing meditation, and your nights, away from the center. These non-residential retreats are ideal for newer practitioners just learning to deepen their practice.
Interested in the benefits of meditation? Here's our guide to its positive effects on mental health.
BEST FOR BEGINNERS.
- Shambhala Mountain Center
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Why We Chose It.
Shamble Mountain Center provides a stunning retreat setting for studying yoga, meditation, and contemplative arts—including introductory courses for beginners looking to connect and grow in their practice.
Key Specs.
- Cost: Retreats start at about $150, with sliding scale available for some programs
- Location: Red Feather Lakes, Colorado
- Length: 2-day, 3-day, and week-long retreats
- Pros & Cons
- PROS
- Offers several programs for beginners
- Offers family retreats
- Outdoor activities such as hiking and kayaking
- CONS
- No cell phone reception at the site
- Lodging expenses added on during registration
- 10:30 p.m. curfew each night of retreat
- Nestled in the mountains of northern Colorado, the Shamble Mountain Center offers a variety of retreats, activities, and programs for all levels, but more specifically, to people new to meditation.
Participants can choose from guided meditations, hiking, yoga, and kayaking, among other indoor and outdoor activities. While the variety of activities is set up to accommodate all levels, what sets Shamble apart from other retreats is its programs focused specifically on beginners. Their “Learn to Meditate” retreats are designed for people curious about the teachings and practice of meditation.
One popular option, Fresh Start: Yoga and Meditation for All Beings, is a two-day retreat that combines yoga and meditation to help beginners find a sense of relaxation, peace, and calm. Through this relaxed state, guests will find that meditation helps them reduce stress, increase body awareness, and increase mental clarity.
Shamble Mountain Center also offers week-long family retreats that center on community, creating a culture of kindness, wholeness, and strength. The teachings are done through play, outdoor time, and guided meditation. These family retreats involve group time, as well as individual time spent in separate spaces.
BEST INTENSIVE.
- Green Gulch Farm Zen Center
- Green Gulch Farm Zen Center
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Why We Chose It.
The Green Gulch Farm Center is a Buddhist practice center that focuses on the Japanese Soto Zen tradition in a year-round study format where participants commit to following an intensive daily schedule of zazen, work practice, and formal classes and ceremonies.
Key Specs.
- Cost: Online programs start at about $180
- Location: Muir Beach, California
- Length: 1-day to 7-day programs
- Pros & Cons
- PROS
- Year-round schedule of Zen meditation
- Offers online programs
- Organic farm and garden
- CONS
- Intensive schedule may not be as beginner-friendly
- Some offerings currently unavailable due to the pandemic
If you’re looking to deepen your meditation practice, focus your energy, and commit to an in-depth program, consider booking a stay at the Green Gulch Farm Zen Center in Muir Beach, California.
Just north of San Francisco, this Buddhist practice center focuses on the Japanese Soto Zen tradition in a year-round study format. Guests can stay short-term or extend to a long-term meditation retreat that also involves working in the community for sometimes months.
The long-term option is geared towards individuals who want to dive deeply into an intensive meditation practice while being part of the greater community. This includes a seven-day Sesstin (which means to collect the heart and the mind) to meditate, eat, and work in silence. The goal is to devote all of your energy to a deeper understanding of the Buddha Way.
Shorter sessions include guided meditations with on-site resident teachers that focus on a particular aspect of the practice.
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