Places for Meditation Retreat around the World
Over the years I’ve participated in my fair share of meditation retreats. Here are some of the best meditation retreat centers that I’ve either experienced firsthand, or heard of through friends. I’ll try to update this list regularly on my website, but please let me know if you have input! Feel free to contact me if you want more info.
Special thanks to John Morecock for helping get this list started! You can find him offering meditation instruction at New Life Foundation in Northern Thailand.
Americas
Brazil
Khadro Ling, Tres Coroas, near Porto Alegre. A very authentic and traditional Tibetan monastery in the tradition of Chagdud Tulku. His autobiography is titled Lord of the Dance. Personal retreats are possible here. www.en.chagdud.org
USA
Crestone Mountain Zen Center, Crestone, Colorado. Gorgeous zen center in the tradition of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, tucked into the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Individual or group retreats offered here. www.crestoneretreats.org
Dorje Khyung Dzong, Gardner, Colorado. This is my all-time favorite meditation retreat center. Solitary retreat cabins in the gorgeous Colorado Rockies. All retreats are self-guided, however they will appoint you a meditation instructor for weekly (or more) guidance if you wish.
Insight Meditation Society, Barre, Massachusetts.
Karmê Chöling, Barnett, Vermont. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s original retreat center in the United States.
Karma Thegsum Tashi Gomang, Crestone, Colorado. Three solitary meditation cabins in a breathtaking setting.
www.kttg.org/pages/retreat-cabins.php
Mindrolling Lotus Garden, Stanley, Virginia. Mindrolling Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche is a very traditional and well-respected Tibetan Buddhist teacher. Also see Mindrolling Monastery, India. www.khandrorinpoche.org
Shambhala Mountain Center, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. Another one of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s original retreat centers, with a wide variety of offerings.
Spirit Rock, Woodacre, California. Founded by Jack Kornfield. Down-to-earth vipassana teachings and much more. www.spiritrock.org
Tara Mandala, Pagosa Springs, Colorado.
Vajrapani Institute, Boulder Creek, California.
Vajra Vidya, Crestone, Colorado. Retreat center of Thrangu Rinpoche, offering individual retreat rooms for self-guided retreat, with guidance from resident lamas. Also a traditional three-year retreat center.
Canada
Gampo Abbey, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, currently under the guidance of Thrangu Rinpoche. Traditional three-year retreats and other programs. www.gampoabbey.org
Sea to Sky Retreat Center, British Columbia. Self-guided retreats under the guidance of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s sangha. http://northamerica.siddharthasintent.org/sea-to-sky-retreat-centre
Asia
India
Bodhi Zendo, Tamil Nadu. A Zen training center in South India’s Perumal Hills, which also serves as the center for Bodhi Sangha, an international community of followers of Zen-Master P. AMA Samy. Bodhi Zendo is open to all who practice Zen, or who wish to experience it. You can spend some days or weeks in silence and meditation, and experiencing the brotherhood of the Sangha. The founder of this center, AMA Samy, is both a Jesuit priest and authorized to teach Zen. www.bodhizendo.org
South Korea
Temple Stay program. It gives foreigners the opportunity to study in many temples in Korea. https://eng.templestay.com
Nepal
Kopan Monastery, Boudhanath, Kathmandu. Has famous month-long retreats in November of each year that have been the start for many people on the path of Tibetan Buddhism. It has other retreats as well. It is part of a worldwide Buddhist organization: Foundation for the Preservation of Mahayana or FPMT. www.kopanmonastery.com
Rigpe Dorje Institute. Kathmandu. The institute conducts two programs annually, open to international students. The two-month Rigpe Dorje Philosophy program is designed to guide students to gain a clear understanding of the Sutrayana and Mantrayana view. The ten-day Rigpe Dorje Meditation program is aimed at guiding students in the practice of meditation from the foundation of Shamatha through the progressive stages of Vipashyana, and finally the meditation on Mahamudra. www.jamgonkongtrul.org/section.php?s1=3&s2=1
White Monastery, Boudhanath, Kathmandu. Chogyi Nyima Rinpoche often gives free Saturday talks, from fall through spring, at his monastery, and has online programs as well. In November of each year he offers a ten-day seminar, often followed by a retreat at Nagi Gompa in the hills near Kathmandu. He is one of three brothers (Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Mingyur Rinpoche) whose father, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, was one of the most respected teachers and yogis of Tibetan Buddhism in the recent past. www.shedrub.org
International Buddhist Academy, Boudhanath, Kathmandu. This Sakya Tibetan Buddhist center in Kathmandu has seminars every summer, usually followed by a practice retreat. This is a very friendly monastery that trains monks to be translators and leaders for when they return to their home monasteries. www.internationalbuddhistacademy.org
Taiwan
Dharma Drum Mountain, Keeling, Taiwan. There is a Saturday meditation program once a month, and a few seven-day retreats each year, in English. This monastery also has study groups in the United States, Europe, and other countries in Asia. Master Sheng Yen, the original abbot of this monastery, wrote excellent Dharma books available in English. www.dharmadrum.org
Fo Guang Shan near Kaoshung, Taiwan. This HUGE monastery has occasional residential meditation programs in English. They also have branches throughout the world, and even a fully accredited university (University of the West) in California. www.fgs.org.tw/en
Thailand
Wat Suan Mokkh in Chaiya (near Surat Thani). Offers traditional ten-day retreats focusing on anapanasati (mindfulness of breathing) at a retreat center started by Buddhadasa Bhikku, a well-known reformer in Thai Buddhism. The retreat facilities are very basic, but the center is in a peaceful and beautiful rural setting.
Dipabhavan Meditation Center, Koh Samui. This center, associated with Suan Mokkh, offers three-day and seven-day mediation courses by donation. www.dipabhavan.weebly.com
Wat Koh Tahm, Koh Phangan. Traditional seven-day vipassana retreats led by an Australian Theravada Monk, Anthony. Very simple accommodations at a wat in the hills on Koh Phangan. www.kowthamcenter.org
Wat Umong, Chiang Mai. This tranquil forest monastery just outside of Chiang Mai City welcomes foreigners.
Phra That Soi Duthep, “International Buddhist Meditation Centre,” Chiang Mai. Traditional three-week retreats and ten-day retreats at this beautiful and famous Wat.
Wat Ram Poeng, “Northern Insight Meditation Center,” Chiang Mai. Disciplined vipassana courses. Minimum stay is ten days; basic course is twenty-six days. Taught by Thai monks with translators. www.watrampoeng.net/watrampoeng
Wat Tam Doi Tohn, Chiang Mai. This monastery, located in the hills thirty-four miles from the city of Chiang Mai, has a traditional seven-day vipassana retreat each month. The charge is by donation. www.vimuttidhamma.org/en
Tam Wua Forest Monastery, Mai Hong Son. This forest monastery, about twenty-two miles from Mai Hong Son, welcomes foreigners to join in their daily schedule.
Wat Pah Nanachat, Ubon Rachathani. An international forest monastery started by Ajahn Chah for people who are interested in the monastic lifestyle. While it is not a meditation center, guests, both male and female, are welcome to visit and join in the schedule.
New Life Foundation, Chiang Rai. A great place to stop and retreat when life gets you down. Also wonderful for those new to meditation who want a supportive community to get them started. Offers ongoing programs that include daily practice, life coaching, community activities, and more. Several times a year they offer scheduled, silent retreats from various traditions. www.newlifethaifoundation.com/retreats
Europe
France
Plum Village is Thich Nhat Han’s main center. His books and teachings are very practical and straightforward.
Germany
Buddhayana, Waidhofen.
Waldhaus
Italy
Merigar, Namhkai Norbu offers retreats here at his center. There is also a link to many different Dzogchen centers throughout Western Europe. www.dzogchen.it
Lama Tzong Khapa Institute. Tuscany, Italy. Yearly two-month retreat guided by B. Alan Wallace. If you can’t make it live to the retreat, you can follow along at your in-home retreat by listening to the podcasts that he uploads daily during the retreat. www.iltk.org/en
Spain
Dag Shang Kagyu. Network of meditation centers in the Kagyu Tibetan tradition with locations all over Spain.
United Kingdom
Gaia House, South Devon. Silent retreats, primarily in either the Theravada or Zen traditions, are offered. Many excellent visiting teachers. www.gaiahouse.co.uk
The Barn (Sharpham Trust Retreats), Ashprington, South Devon. This center has an ongoing schedule of meditation retreats, primarily with a secular presentation such as in the style of Jon Kabat-Zinn. www.sharphamtrust.org
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. www.amaravati.org
Worldwide Retreats
BodhiCharya. Ringu Tulku Rinpoche offers retreats around the world, including one in Crestone each fall. He is both a scholar and an accomplished meditator, and has written several books in English. www.bodhicharya.org
Pundarika is the organization headed by Tosknyi Rinpoche, who travels worldwide giving teachings. He has an excellent website with many resources in addition to his excellent programs. https://tsoknyirinpoche.org
Tergar is the organization headed by Mingyur Rinpoche, author of two highly respected and accessible books on Buddhism: Joy of Living and Joyful Wisdom. In Joy of Living he talks about overcoming panic attacks early in his life. He recently returned from nearly four years of wandering as an ascetic, and delivers top-notch teachings to those ready for a serious meditation practice. He offers retreats around the world. Highly recommended. www.tergar.org
Goenka Retreats. Retreats led in the style of Goenka are offered all over the world at no charge (but a donation is requested). These vipassana retreats are based on mindfulness of body (body scanning) rather than mindfulness of breathing. www.dhamma.org
Ajahn Chah. The website below lists monasteries that accept foreigners in the tradition of Ajahn Chah.
www.forestsangha.org/monasteries
Dharmata. The official website for Anam Thubten, a highly respected lama from the Tibetan tradition, teaching in English. Check the website for upcoming retreats.
https://www.dharmata.org