Sanatha Suwaya

112/1 Araliya Mawatha, Kandy

www.sanathasuwaya.org

$

All Levels

Nestled in the serene hills just above Sri Lanka’s cultural capital, Kandy, lies Sanatha Suwaya—a tranquil retreat center thoughtfully designed with meditation and yoga at its heart. The center is guided by Michael, a kind and gentle teacher whose favorite shirt, emblazoned with “Loving Kindness,” perfectly reflects his approach to life. Originally from the United States, Michael now proudly calls Sri Lanka home, bringing a deep sense of care and attentiveness to every guest’s experience.

The open-air meditation hall, perched above lush treetops, invites you to immerse yourself in self-practice or join the peaceful guided morning meditations. Ascend another level, and you'll find the stunning yoga shala, where the breathtaking surroundings make it effortless to elevate your practice.

Sanatha Suwaya offers both structured retreats and nightly stays, making it accessible to all. The accommodations are clean, safe, and modern, offered at an incredibly affordable rate—an appealing option for budget-conscious travelers and backpackers seeking a sanctuary beyond traditional hostels.

Your stay includes a delicious breakfast and access to inviting common areas, perfect for unwinding and connecting with others amidst the retreat’s natural beauty.

Senso Di Cattaro

220 Dobrota, Kotor Montenegro

Palazzoradormiri.com

$-$$

All Levels

When visiting the blatics last summer I researched a retreat option.  To my surprise there was nothing in Croatia, where I was spending the majority of my travels.  I did find one not too far away in Montenegro. The option to visit this beautifull country made a perfect adjustment to my itinerary.

The retreat was offered by Anna and although her minimum stay for the wellness and yoga retreat is three nights, she made an exception for me.  I arrived much later than expected due to a very long border crossing but Anna was very communicative and had a dinner menu waiting upon my arrival…a vegan menu.  Before my arrival she was kind enough to ask about my dietary restrictions and to customize a menu full of options during my stya.  

Bamboo Yoga Retreat

South End Patnem Beach Patnem, Canacona, Goa 403702 India

https://www.bamboo-yoga-retreat.com/

All Levels

$-$$

Bamboo retreat center located in South Goa on the peach of Patnem.  This area is the less developed, no large resort side of the coastal region of Goa, India.  Upon arrival I was greeted by a friendly staff member of Bamboo who was there to carry my bags to the far end of the beach where Bamboo lives.  There is no driveway or walkway to get there so make sure you wear comfortable clothing and don’t make the mistake I did by brining a suitcase with rollers.  The open air lobby/restaurant has scattered tables, chairs and couches planted in the sand for plenty of space to lounge. All meals are included and are served in this common area.  The layout is rustic but a perfect tropical getaway.

Bamboo has three different yoga shalas and a rotating resident teacher offering great Vinyasa style classes several times a day.  They also rent space for private retreats which I was lucky enough to be staying during a time when that wasn’t happening, New Years Eve.  The accommodations are beach huts with a porch and lovely outdoor bathrooms and showers. Some rooms have ocean views while others are tucked back amongst the garden that has various lunging couches and hamocks sprinkled around.  The place is definitely geared toward relaxing and enjoying the peaceful environment.

The food was delicious! Most meals were Indian type cuisine – rice, salad and curries.  Alcohol is allowed and sold – it is Goa after all.

I had a lovely time during my stay at Bamboo. The yoga was challenging enough to keep my attention plus the location and food was top knotch.  It is also walkable to a host of other restaurants and yoga studios so it was great to explore. Wifi and cell service were not a problem. I would certainly go back to Bamboo and the beaches of goa.  The only thing I felt was missing was the meditation and serenity but I managed to wake up early and capture the sunrise and go for long beach walks and ocean swims in order for me to find that needed silence in solitude.  There was an afternoon where a group of very loud ladies decided to get drunk in the shared space which ruined the peaceful element but that was just one day of my entire stay.

If you are looking for an exotic location with vibrant options this is your spot.  Oh and the fireworks on New Years Eve were awesome. I felt like they lasted for three days – a huge celebration in that town.

Tassajara Zen Mountain Center

39171 Tassajara Rd, Carmel Valley, CA 93924

https://www.sfzc.org/practice-centers/tassajara

All Levels

$$-$$$

I was really excited to visit this retreat center- it has history.  The first Soto Zen training center the US, Tassajara is part of the San Francisco Zen Center and was established in 1967.  Although the price tag was steep for a weekend retreat, I felt like I had to experience this center which only opens it’s doors to visitors during the summer months.  The workshop I choose was a combination of yoga and hiking with a Buddhist perspective, it sounded like complete perfection to me. Getting to the retreat involves a four wheel drive vehicle since the dirt roads you have to traverse are rocky and steep.  The center offers a shuttle at different times during the day for an additional cost in case you, like most guests, don’t have an appropriate vehicle. This choice was what I opted for and was surprised it was an additional cost and not included in the price of the workshop.

There are several different options for accommodations at Tassajara.  I choose one of the Redwood Cabins, which was a collection of free standing small cabins.  The interior is decorated in very humble accommodations and in the traditional Japanese way there are two tatami straw mats on the floor and the mattresses sit on top.  I did not mind sleeping on the floor and the mattresses were actually really comfortable, but what I did mind was the collection of black spiders that continued to make an appearance during my stay.  I don’t have a ton of fears but spiders are on the list – up high on the list. Against my better judgement and needing to sleep in the cabin I exterminated a few, with regret and blessings, and thought of the irony here at a Buddhist Zen center where harming all sentient beings is wrong.  I began by trapping the first visitor in a glass cup which took what seemed like an hour since he would duck away and reappear across the room. What I later discovered that there was a village that lived in the cabin and there was no way I was going to sleep until they were cleared from my area.

The food was incredibly disappointing.  For vegans they had plain rice and lentils with zero seasoning – every meal.  It was barely palatable and for the cost of the retreat you would think the food offerings would be much better.  There were tables enjoying wine they brought so that was allowed although I don’t believe it was sold there. There is a cute bookstore and a really nice collection of hot springs.  The hot springs is what I looked forward to most during my stay and anxiously after check in grabbed my suit and headed over but the bummer was again – BUGS. More bugs! These were flying, biting little insects that were in masses.  They were so bad that the lounge chairs around the pool had netting to protect you from getting bit. This is an obvious reoccurring problem at the center.

I was super disappointed with my stay at Tassajara and was almost angered at the total charge of the weekend.  It is real hard to relax when there are spiders in your bed and the food options are sad. If this had been a donation based experience I would have been far less disappointed.  I could not wait to leave.  

I would possibly go back in a different season – maybe when the bugs aren’t as active and try a different type of accommodation

Deer Park Monastery

8447, 2499 Melru Ln, Escondido, CA 92026

https://deerparkmonastery.org/

Intermediate - Advanced

$-$$T

ucked within the hills of San Diego resides a collection of Vietnemese nuns and monks and a beautiful retreat center developed under the guidance and direction of the famous Zen Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh.  Driving down the driveway of the center, amongst the tall Eucalyptus trees are hand painted signs with reminders such as “You Have Arrived”, “Smile” and “Breathe”. The center is run by mostly native Vietnamese and is a working monastery.  This means you get the opportunity to live amongst the holy practitioners who seem to outnumber the visitors which create an incredibly unique experience where you get to become familiar with life as a ordained zen practitioner  

Accommodations are humble.  You are requested to bring your own bedding and have the option of either staying in a dorm style house with a couple of bunk beds and bathroom or to bring a tent and camp in designated areas.  When I go again I am going to camp. I noticed platforms throughout the property they allow tents. This seemed the better choice, weather permitting, for privacy and the ability to be surrounded by nature.

Meals are vegan and basic.  The dining hall is large in order to accommodate all the residents and visitors and is reminiscent of a cafeteria.  Where the Dining Hall falls short in details and architecture, the Meditation Hall grandly makes up for. The massive hall is perched on top of a small hill and is spectacular.  Each morning you are invited to an early morning meditation. This is one of the times I experienced both nuns and monks practicing together. In addition there was a group walking meditation through the grounds and a working meditation allowing us the opportunity to help keep the center maintained.  On my visit we broke off to different groups, mine being the ones who were pulling weeds.     

The women have separate living quarters than the men and most other spiritual activities were practiced with the nuns exclusively. There is a schedule each day but your attendance is optional.  There were times I chose to take a long hike with a newly made friend vs watch a recorded teaching with Thich Nhat Hanh.  

Little cell phone service and access to a town.  You are in a remote area. There is tons of hikes surrounding the center which allow you to even further immerse yourself in nature.

Pine Mountain Buddhist Temple

941 Lockwood Valley Rd, Maricopa, CA 93252

https://pinemtnbuddhisttemple.org/

Intermediate

Donation Based

There is a special spot in the high desert of Southern California, about an hour from the hippie enclove of Ojai, CA.  This retreat center is home to two Buddhist monks that have been ordained in the Soto tradition of Zen. There are a collection of three houses scattered amongst acres of a desert landscape with walking paths and statues of Buddhas throughout.  The love is felt in each detail of the property and although very rustic the center is incredibly groomed and clean thanks to Reverand Phoebe and Reverend Seikai but also the members of the sangha that visit routinely.  

Pine Mountain and the two Reverends survive on dana – the support of others generosity.  Sleeping quarters are in each of the three houses and it is very likely if you visit during a scheduled retreat that you will be sharing a bedroom.  The houses are divided men and woman and the other house is the common house where the kitchen and private office is. Each house has a large room with four beds as well as a secondary bedroom with two beds.  There are also free standing small houses along the property that are available if you require more privacy.  

There is a daily schedule which usually is comprised of three meditation sessions.  Most sessions begin with a morning or evening ritual which includes blessings, bows and chanting.  If visiting during a special occasion there will likely be extended ceremony, usually on Sunday, followed by a dharma talk and lunch.  If spending the night seems a bit much initially you can always come to the center for the afternoon most Sundays and participate in the service and lunch.

During your stay there are three meals served and most are formal which means the meal will not begin until all are seated at the table.  Together a prayer and blessing are recited before getting your meal buffet style. After your plate has been filled you wait until all have been seated and eat together.  All stay seated until the last person is finished and a closing blessing is recited. Mindfulness is practiced during the meals and you are asked to only take as much as you will finish.  Reverend Phoebe prepares all meals and although very simple – think lentil soup and baked bread, are delicious.

You are expected to help with chores during your stay at the center.  Everyone washes dishes and there are periods of working meditation throughout the day that can involve various tasks like tidying up your sleeping area or collecting pine cones or raking leaves outside.  In order to attend a retreat at Pine Mountain there is an application and interview process.  

Pine Mountain offers a rare opportunity to live and learn amongst two very wonderfully skilled spiritual guides.  I have been visiting Pine Mountain for years and hope to continue for many more. There is zero cell phone service or internet access.  You are completely unplugged and fully immersed in a peaceful and powerful place. No alcohol is allowed on premises. 

1440

800 Bethany Dr, Scotts Valley, CA 95066

1440.org

Beginner

$$-$$$

In the same vein of Esalen, there is a newish retreat center a little further north in Scotts Valley, close to the bohemian coastal town of Santa Cruz.  The campus of 1440 is gorgeous; manicured lawns, fire pits, infinity jacuzzi all surrounded by redwood forest. 1440 used to be a university so once it was sold, additional accommodations were constructed and a catalog of classes was developed.  1440 feels like if a hotel and retreat center had a baby. There is a front desk, which always has someone available, fitness center, hiking maps and a gift shop. There are a range of accommodations. I opted for a Japanese style shared space titled ‘pods’ but there are also shared rooms and individual suites available.  My accommodation required me to climb up a few stairs which lead to my bed and a small closet area for my belongings. I shared a bathroom that had multiple showers and toilets which reminded me of a nice gym. This I felt like was perfect for a solo traveler that did not spend much time in my room, why would there were so many other options to choose from.  

The cafeteria food is locally sourced, mostly organic and gourmet.  The cafeteria is huge and there are different stations for each meal where you have unlimited access to the delicious dishes and if happen to not eat enough during meal times (not a very common problem since most fellow retreants are complaining about the opposite – how over full they are the entire stay) there is a small café onsite that offers espresso, juices, beer, wine and a few food options.  This is the spot where you go for a bottle of wine on Saturday or cold tall craft beer before heading to the infinity jacuzzi underneath the redwood forest stars.

The workshops offered at 1440 seem a little less intense than Esalen.  I signed up for a yoga weekend and ended up switching to a series with a shaman and Ironman champion which involved rituals of offerings and deer dancing and tips for a healthy body and mind.  The integration was so unusual and perfect all at the same time. This workshop, and the people I met there, were a huge inspiration for me to begin my endurance training.

I would recommend 1440.  It is a great beginning center to dip your toe into retreats yet suitable for the well-seasoned retreatant.  You aren’t going to get much guided silent time or meditation but there is a lot of opportunity since the campus is very spread out making it easy to find a spot immersed in nature you can be quiet in.  The downside is that there is not a lot of extracurricular activities offered outside the workshop schedule. There is a map of very short hikes around the property and a fitness center but other than that you are on your own.  The lack of activities isn’t horrible since you are just a short drive from Santa Cruz and full cell phone service so you can easily slip away to a local beach or yoga class in between workshop schedule.   

Esalen

55000 CA-1, Big Sur, CA 93920

https://www.esalen.org/

Beginner$$-$$$

Tucked against the rocky cliffs overlooking the northern California Pacific Coast of Big Sur is the legendary retreat center, Esalen.  Jack Kerouac used to frequent this institute and wrote an entire book, Big Sur, about his experience.  Esalen was my very first retreat and it proves to be a great beginners choice.  There is an extensive year long catalog of workshops offered that vary from deep psychological work to yoga and massage.  The choice of accommodations is just as varied with the possibility of sleeping bags in communal areas to an ocean view private room for you and your guest.  They have a farm onsite and the food in the cafeteria is incredible – freshly baked bread, and an extensive buffet served three times a day filled with healthy and delicious offerings. 

If I could go to Esalen and just eat and soak in the hot springs, I would be up there a lot more often.  They used to offer this under the booking ‘personal retreat’ but as of this writing, this is no longer possible and a stay at this gorgeous place will require your participation in a workshop.  The workshops are all either 5 or 3 days and are taught by leading professionals in the industry. Each retreat I have attended has been emotional work coupled with delicious food and a magical environment.

There is not cell phone reception and no place close enough to walk so once you arrive, you stay.  There is a computer to use that has internet and designated wifi zones so you aren’t completely disconnected from the outside world.  In addition to your workshop there are usually other activities offered like morning yoga or hiking. There is also beer and wine served at the cafeteria so if being on retreat without abandoning your worldly pleasures sounds great, Esalen is the place for you.  A perfect entry to the retreat life