20 Best Meditation Retreats
1. Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, N.Y.
This meditation retreat is located in the Hudson Valley and is spread across 195 acres. People come here for both inspiration and rejuvenation.
The center offers not only deep relaxation, but also fast spiritual development. It offers 325 workshops, personal training sessions and conferences.
It has 15 meditation courses which are ranging from those offered for beginners only to advanced meditators.
All programs have hints of Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, Christianity, Sufism or Native American Traditions. The minimum stay is for two nights and the prices range from $140 to $1,449.
150 Lake Drive
Rhinebeck, NY 12572-3252
(845) 266-4444
2. The Abbey of Gethsemani, Trappist, Ky.
This abbey was founded in 1848 by French monks. It is America’s oldest Trappist monastery and it was the home of author Thomas Merton. You might now that his spiritual journey inspired millions of people all around the world.
Throughout years the abbey developed into a spiritual center for renewal and peace. It attracts people from all parts of the world searching for peace and soul development. The minimum retreat time in this abbey is two days and there is a tradition for guests to leave a donation.
It’s a very tranquil area with beautiful forests to refresh the spirit. The monks are very hospitable and warm. Although the premises have Christian symbols, both Christians and non-Christians are welcome.
3642 Monks Rd
Trappist, KY 40051-6152
(502) 549-3117
3. Kripalu Center, Stockbridge, Mass.
This yoga and health center offers 700 experiential workshops suitable for all kinds of tastes and needs. Classes such as mindfulness meditation, yogic breathing and walking meditation are taught by world-class instructors like Larry Rosenberg and Stephen Cope.
This meditation retreat offers all kinds of meditation-oriented programs which include music, self-discovery and conscious eating.
Interestingly, Kripalu is America’s largest center for yoga and holistic living. The center has its own signature yoga style, known as Hatha. This style is best known as meditation-in-motion.
Kirpalu also has one of the best yoga spas. The minimum stay is for two nights and the prices range from $160 to $437 per day.
Visits W St
Lenox, MA 01240
(800) 741-7353
4. Menla Mountain Retreat, Phoenicia, N.Y.
This spiritual center is a perfect spot for people who are stressed out and want to escape the business of the every day life. Here you will meet Dr. Robert Thurman, America’s leading Buddhist scholar who will teach you the secrets of meditation.
There are other experts that teach at this center, such as Sharon Salzberg, who is a meditation teacher or Mark Epstein who is a Buddhist psychotherapist. They offer different kinds of programs throughout the year.
Here you will be surrounded by beautiful mountains and will be able to indulge in various activities, such as swimming, eating vegetarian food, hiking and getting massages. This center offers programs that run for three days and the accommodation prices range from $195 to $400. This also includes three meals a day.
375 Pantherkill Rd
Phoenicia, NY 12464
(845) 688-6897
5. Breitenbush Hot Springs, Detroit, Ore.
This extraordinarily beautiful meditation retreat offers unusual yet inviting activities such as fire dancing and poetry reading. This sanctuary is located in the Willamette National Forest of the Oregon Cascades and is spread across 154 acres of wildlife.
There are 150 workshops available including meditation, yoga and other relaxing and soulful activities. You can also get involved in guided hikes, concerts, dances and singing.
Hiking is especially interesting since you will explore an ancient forest, river and mountain trails. You will also walk the labyrinth, nourish your body with vegetarian food and relax in natural hot spring pools.
Prices range from $51-$110 per person per night.
PO Box 578
Detroit, OR 97342-0578
(503) 854-3314
6. Shambhala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, Colo.
Since 1970, the stressed and the strained have been recharging in a pristine mountain valley retreat set on 600 acres in northern Colorado.
Dive into Buddhist meditation, practice yoga and explore your inner universe through contemplative writing. Upcoming programs include “Turning the Mind into an Ally” and “Meditation and Tai Chi.”
The meditation retreat boasts extensive gardens and a 108-foot stupa, or memorial, built to honor founder Chögyam Trungpa. Prices range from $70 to $210.
4921 County Road 68C
Red Feather Lakes, CO 80545-9505
(970) 881-2053
7. Mount Madonna, Santa Cruz, Calif.
Mount Madonna Center is tucked among 355 acres of redwood forest and grassland in the mountains overlooking Monterey Bay.
The Center’s spiritual inspiration is Baba Hari Dass, a silent monk who communicates by writing on a small chalkboard.
Here you will be able to take part in group events such as “Meditation for World Peace” and “Unraveling the Knots of Karma”.
You will also be able to do some solo recharging with swimming, hiking, yoga, meditation sessions and bodywork at the Kaya Kalpa Wellness Center.
You will be able to choose from hotel-style rooms, cozy cabins or a tent. Program rates start at $275. Accommodation prices range from $36 to $124.
445 Summit Rd, Watsonville
CA 95076
(408) 847-0406
8. Ala Kukui, Hana, Maui, Hawaii
The name of the center, Alai Kukui, means “Pathway of Illumination”. People come to this center in search of creative expression, spiritual restoration, deep dialogue and intercultural exchange.
It is build in an amazing location which is a legendary area of Hana. Hana is known as the land where the heavens meet the earth because of its breathtaking beauty.
The meditation retreat has an amazing view of Haleakala, which is Maui’s beautiful mountain. People come here mainly for personal growth and this is achieved through the global awareness and appreciation of Native Hawaiian cultural values.
The spiritual center offers various programs including Tibetan sand mandala painting, Vipassana meditation and a weekly writer’s workshop which is run by Hana writers of all ages. The minimum stay in the center is for two nights.
4224 Hana Hwy
Hana, HI 96713
(808) 248-7841
9. The Abode of the Message, New Lebanon, N.Y.
This spiritual center is spread across 430 acres of sacred land. It was established in 1975 and is nested in the Taconic-Berkshire mountains.
The Abode has beautiful historic Shaker buildings because it was formerly the place of a Shaker community.
The meditation retreat also has hermitage huts, campgrounds, an organic farm, gardens, abundant wildlife, hiking trails and a swimming pond.
It offers interesting programs which highlight the world’s greatest traditions, sacred dancing, walking meditation and spiritual music.
There is also a November workshop which is called Awakening to the Movement of Love and it teaches how to make a quantum leap in personal growth. It focuses on sound, breath and fluid movement.
The prices range from $40 to $70.
5 Abode Road
New Lebanon, NY 12125
(518) 794-8090
10. Esalen, Big Sur, Calif.
This spiritual center has been visited by world-famous spiritual people such as Joseph Campbell and Deepak Chopra. It is spread across 27 acres of beautiful Big Sur coast.
The meditation retreat offers over 500 workshops on various subjects, including massage, mindfulness and martial arts.
People come to this center in search of personal development and conversation with other people on a similar pathway. The minimum stay is for two nights and the rates range from $320 to $1715.
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
(831) 667-3000
Continue to read about the rest of the meditation retreats>>
Go back to All Articles from the Meditation Retreats page.
Go back to the homepage from the Meditation Retreats page.
You might also like:
My name is Simona Rich and I help people improve themselves through the articles and products of this website. Although I have found my life's purpose and now I spend my time traveling throughout India and sharing my knowledge, my life used to be completely different.
[...] There are many companies organising meditation retreats with hundreds of workshops, seminars and courses. Such companies are called spiritual or meditation centers. If you are planning to use a meditation center to plan your retreat, you should read about 20 best meditation retreats. [...]