The retreat guide Reviewed October 2026
Spiritual retreats.
Find the practice that speaks to you.
Compare ten UK and worldwide retreat settings, from Buddhist communities and yoga ashrams to mindfulness centres and wellness resorts.
About this guide: An editorial guide based on current provider information, rather than first-hand assessments. Review My Retreat offers paid marketing services to retreat providers. Check details and book your stay directly with the host.
Choose the practice behind the label.
A spiritual retreat creates time for reflection, prayer, meditation or a particular tradition’s practices. The word is used for very different settings: a Buddhist monastery, a yoga ashram, a mindfulness centre or a wellness resort. Before choosing a destination, decide which daily life and teaching you actually want.
Ask three questions: What will we practise? Who will guide it? What will the day involve? These answers tell you more than a promise of transformation or a photograph of a beautiful landscape.
This guide retains ten original places across the UK and overseas. They are options to compare, not an independently assessed ranking or ten versions of the same experience.
Map of 14 spiritual retreat locations
Fourteen physical locations represent the ten communities and retreat settings in this guide. The three Plum Village hamlets and three distinct Sharpham venues are plotted separately. Select a pin for its article section, official website, programme notes and Google Maps location; confirm the specific venue and arrival arrangements for your chosen stay.
Pins show the listed venue location. Confirm the correct entrance and arrival arrangements directly with the retreat.
Further afield
Five worldwide retreat settings.
| Place | Location | Setting | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ananda in the Himalayas | Uttarakhand, India | Luxury wellness resort | Yoga, meditation, Vedanta and Ayurveda-based programmes; not a monastic ashram. |
| Plum Village | South-west France | Buddhist monastic community | Shared mindful living in the Plum Village tradition; programmes and accommodation depend on the hamlet. |
| Spirit Rock | Woodacre, California, USA | Insight Meditation centre | Residential silent retreats, day programmes and online options; requirements vary by event. |
| Blue Spirit | Nosara, Costa Rica | Yoga and meditation retreat venue | Hosted retreats, workshops and programmes; check the organiser and complete package. |
| Sen Wellness Sanctuary | Rekawa, Sri Lanka | Wellness retreat sanctuary | Yoga, meditation and Ayurveda-based bespoke or group programmes; confirm the chosen retreat’s inclusions. |
Closer to home
Five UK options.
| Place | Location | Setting | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaia House | Devon | Insight Meditation centre | Silent Insight Meditation retreats led by a range of teachers, with programmes for different levels of experience. |
| Kagyu Samye Ling | Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland | Tibetan Buddhist monastery | Dharma events, hosted courses and personal guest stays use different booking routes. |
| The Sharpham Trust | South Devon | Mindfulness and nature-based retreats | Several venues and formats, including silent, introductory, creative and Buddhist programmes. |
| Mandala Yoga Ashram | Carmarthenshire, Wales | Yoga, advaita and tantra ashram | Residential courses and community guest stays with daily practice and service; simple shared accommodation. |
| Avalon at Broughton Sanctuary | Near Skipton, Yorkshire | Wellbeing centre and retreat setting | Wellbeing activities and hosted retreats; clarify accommodation, facilities and the actual programme. |
Consult Gaia House’s full retreat calendar for current teachers, themes, experience requirements and booking details.
Compare the experience
Six settings, in closer detail.
Ananda in the Himalayas
Uttarakhand, IndiaAnanda is a luxury wellness retreat on a former palace estate in the Himalayan foothills. Its offering includes yoga, meditation, Vedanta talks and Ayurveda-based programmes. This is a resort setting rather than a monastic community: accommodation, treatments and personal scheduling form part of the experience. Choose a named programme and ask what it includes rather than treating “spiritual retreat” as a single package.
Keep in mind: Compare programme length, accommodation and included sessions. Wellness terminology does not establish a guaranteed health outcome.
Spirit Rock Meditation Center
Woodacre, CaliforniaSpirit Rock offers meditation retreats and programmes rooted in Buddhist teachings, just north of San Francisco. Its residential retreat setting differs from its day events, classes and online offerings. The campus includes a silent-retreat area, while individual programmes specify teaching, experience requirements and practical arrangements. It is a useful option to explore if meditation practice is your main reason for travelling.
Keep in mind: Look for the beginner-friendly designation where appropriate. Check residential eligibility, application arrangements and any scholarship or sliding-scale information.
Sen Wellness Sanctuary
Rekawa, Sri LankaSen Wellness Sanctuary sits between the ocean and Rekawa Lagoon and combines shared retreat life with yoga, meditation and Ayurveda-based programmes. Bespoke stays and scheduled group retreats are separate choices. The centre’s own description emphasises communal life as well as personal programmes, so ask about the daily rhythm and the level of participation that comes with your booking.
Keep in mind: Confirm the retreat dates, duration, accommodation and included sessions directly. Discuss the suitability of treatments with an appropriately qualified professional.
Kagyu Samye Ling
Eskdalemuir, ScotlandSamye Ling is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery with guest accommodation, Dharma activities and hosted courses. A personal stay is different from attending a named course or teaching, and the booking process reflects that. The setting offers access to a working religious community, with its own conduct and quiet-hour rules, rather than a promise that every stay will be a formal silent retreat.
Keep in mind: For courses or Dharma events, use the event enquiry route. Personal stays currently have a separate online booking option for up to six nights.
The Sharpham Trust
Near Totnes, DevonSharpham offers retreats across several estate venues, including Sharpham House, the Coach House and the Barn. Its programme spans mindfulness, nature connection, creative activities, Buddhist practice and different amounts of silence. A singing retreat and a silent meditation retreat will have very different rhythms, even on the same estate. The named programme should guide your choice.
Keep in mind: Check the venue and previous-experience requirements. Some longer silent programmes expect meditation experience; introductory retreats are separate options.
Mandala Yoga Ashram
Carmarthenshire, WalesMandala Yoga Ashram teaches yoga, advaita and tantra through residential retreats, online courses and opportunities to share community life. The emphasis extends beyond exercise to meditation, study and practical service. Its hillside setting is on the edge of Bannau Brycheiniog, with simple accommodation and a shared daily rhythm. This is a different experience from booking a private wellness-resort room.
Keep in mind: Most accommodation is in shared dormitories, with limited single rooms prioritised by need. Check daily practice, service, quiet periods and the application route.
Meditation centre, monastery or ashram?
These programmes may focus on sitting, walking, attention and reflection. Some are explicitly Buddhist; others use a secular framework. Silence and intensity vary.
Expect teaching and practices within a named tradition. A guest stay can include community duties, precepts and worship or chanting, rather than only meditation.
A yoga ashram can combine movement with meditation, philosophy, chanting and service. A luxury resort offering yoga is a different kind of setting.
Religious and personal spirituality can overlap. You do not need to define yourself as one or the other before enquiring, but you should understand the host’s approach and the practices you would be asked to join.
Four more ways to spend the time.
Plum Village focuses on mindful living within a Buddhist monastic community. Meals, walking and shared activities are part of the practice, rather than extras around individual sessions. Choose a hamlet and retreat that fit your needs.
Gaia House offers silent Insight Meditation retreats in Devon, led by a range of teachers, with programmes for different levels of experience. Read the particular retreat’s requirements and arrangements before reserving travel.
Blue Spirit hosts different retreat leaders and programmes in Costa Rica. Compare the actual organiser, teaching and package, including how accommodation and extra activities are charged.
Avalon is a wellbeing centre within Broughton Sanctuary, with activities and hosted retreats. Clarify whether your booking is for a session, a complete retreat or accommodation with separately booked activities.
A practical way to choose.
- Start with the purpose. Do you want teaching, prayer, meditation, a community stay, movement or simply time away? A beautiful venue does not make all programmes interchangeable.
- Check the level. Introductory, silent, specialist and advanced retreats have different requirements. Ask about previous experience and the length of daily practice.
- Understand guidance and support. Find out who leads the retreat, what their role is and how you can ask questions. Do not infer clinical care from spiritual or wellbeing language.
- Compare the complete cost. Include rooms, meals, teaching, treatments, transfers, travel and cancellation terms. A donation-supported event and a resort package use different models.
- Check the living arrangements. Ask about room sharing, bathrooms, food, stairs, quiet periods, devices and community work. Limited single rooms may be allocated according to need.
- Plan travel around acceptance. Confirm the programme and accommodation before buying transport. For overseas stays, check official entry and travel requirements.
For an intensive practice programme or treatments connected with a health concern, discuss suitability with the organiser and an appropriately qualified health professional. A retreat can be time for personal exploration without being a guaranteed treatment or life-changing event.
What to expect when you arrive.
Many retreats begin with an orientation explaining the timetable, shared spaces and practical rules. Some have a full day of scheduled activity; others leave more time for independent practice. Ask for a sample day and check which sessions are expected, optional or separately priced.
Allow the experience to be individual. You may enjoy the company and setting, find the schedule challenging or discover that another format would suit you better. There is no need to arrive with an expectation of a particular spiritual result.
Questions people ask.
Do I need to be religious?
It depends on the retreat. Some are rooted in a particular religion, some welcome many backgrounds and others describe a secular or general wellbeing approach. Read the host’s statement and ask about participation.
Are all the retreats suitable for beginners?
No. Check the specific programme rather than the centre’s general welcome. Some retreats are introductory, while others expect established practice, study or prior retreat experience.
Can I go alone?
Many people enquire as individual guests, but room sharing and group arrangements vary. Confirm a suitable room, meals and the amount of communal activity before booking.
Can I choose something affordable?
Compare local day programmes, shared rooms and any published concessions or bursaries. Volunteering does not automatically mean free accommodation, and travel can be a substantial part of the cost.
Will there be Wi-Fi and phone access?
Policies differ. Some programmes restrict devices to support silence or community life. Ask how essential communications and emergency contact are handled.
Sources and review notes.
Reviewed on 24 October 2026 using the linked official provider pages, guest information and programme descriptions. We retained all ten original settings while removing unsupported rankings, guaranteed outcomes and assumptions about beginners. Ananda is correctly described as a luxury wellness resort; Samye Ling’s location and booking routes and Mandala’s simple shared accommodation are clarified. Consult Gaia House for its full programme of retreats and teachers. Photographs come from the named providers.
For a correction, use our contact form. Programmes, prices, eligibility and accommodation can change; a listing does not confirm availability.
Choose your next step
Choose the practice first.
Let the destination follow.
A clear programme, suitable guidance and practical arrangements that work for you are a strong basis for a retreat.
Worldwide optionsKeep exploring
About Rob Horsfall
Rob has been interested in spirituality since visiting India in 2002. After completing his philosophy studies at university, he continued studying the Buddha's teachings in Sri Lanka. He returned in 2011 and now spends his time developing Review My Retreat, studying acupuncture and integrating insights from different spiritual traditions into everyday life.
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