All of our retreats (except the Family Retreat) are held in silence. Spending a period of time in silence is a very powerful way to support the deepening of meditative calm and insight. Being together in this way also allows us to explore a degree of solitude, while having the support of a group.
Silence fosters a sense of safety and refuge, even when among a group of people we do not yet know. Through letting go of the familiar world of words, we give ourselves space from the complexity of personal interaction, and can come to see our mind and its activity more clearly. Insight into the way things are arises through experiencing life directly, rather than filtered through language and concepts. This direct seeing is the foundation for inner peace, wisdom and compassion. More about silence.
Our retreats are predominantly based in the Buddhist practices of Insight (Vipassana) and developing the heart qualities of Loving-kindness (Metta), compassion, joy and equanimity. We also offer some retreats in the Zen tradition. All of our Dharma teachers share an aspiration to encourage a continuity of self-awareness and experiential learning. Group Retreats each focus on a particular practice, depending on the teacher and the theme of each retreat.
The teachings and practices offered here are founded in the spiritual teachings of the Buddha, who lived 2500 years ago. Through his own deep interest in life and commitment to discovering freedom he came to a profound realisation of the understanding and practices that ennoble and liberate a human being. What is offered in retreats is the opportunity to experience this ennobling wisdom for ourselves. More about Meditation.
All of us can benefit from exploring and developing greater mindfulness, compassion, and understanding of our experience. Silent retreats offer a precious opportunity to commit ourselves to a period of intensive practice in which we can nurture these qualities. They do not necessarily require any previous experience of meditation (though some retreats are appropriate for experienced practitioners only, as indicated in the retreat description).
If one is currently experiencing acute emotional distress, such as clinical depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, attending a silent retreat could be difficult. When negative thinking patterns are very intrusive or persistent, sometimes it could be easier to practice in a setting where there are more possibilities for active engagement (such as mindfulness-based stress reduction or mindfulness-based cognitive therapy programmes taught by an appropriately trained and competent instructor). Once the acute phase of emotional distress has eased, Insight Meditation retreats can then offer invaluable opportunities for developing practice further.
No – All you need is an interest in inner exploration and development. Participation in retreats does not require you to identify yourself as a Buddhist or to subscribe to the principles of Buddhism.
Gaia House is open to all, irrespective of religious or political beliefs.
Coming on retreat is an opportunity to explore and develop serenity, wisdom and compassion through meditation and mindfulness practice in a caring and supportive environment. To make it possible for us to offer an atmosphere which is conducive to meditation, we ask all retreatants to be aware of these guidelines:
Please respect the silent atmosphere in the house and the grounds at all times.
We ask you to switch off all electronic devices (mobile phones, iPads, laptops, Kindles etc.) for the duration of your retreat.
We ask that you don’t make telephone calls or send emails/post during your stay.
Consumption of drugs (except prescription medications) and alcohol is not permitted during your stay at Gaia House.
All retreatants are asked to abstain from sexual contact whilst on retreat.
Please commit yourself fully to your retreat and stay on the Gaia House premises or within the immediate vicinity, except in an emergency. If you need to leave the retreat, please liaise with a staff member and/or teacher.
All retreatants are expected to participate in the full retreat and can only shorten a retreat with the permission of a teacher.
Everyone is asked to contribute one hour of work to the house daily.
We encourage sensitivity towards all living beings and a non-harming relationship to all life.
The Five Precepts
The core ethical principles of Buddhism are known as the ‘Five Precepts’, which we ask everyone who lives, works and practices at Gaia House to observe whilst within the house and grounds, to support a retreat environment of safety, peace, sensitivity and respect. The precepts are not rules or commandments, but ‘principles of training’, which we ask you to undertake. They are founded on the understanding that our lives are deeply woven together and that all our actions affect others as well as ourselves.
Everyone at Gaia House is asked to:
– Refrain from harming or taking the life of any being.
– Refrain from taking or misusing anything that does not belong to you or has not been clearly offered.
– Refrain from harmful expressions of sensuality and sexuality, and while on retreat, from any intentional sexual activity.
– Refrain from harmful expressions of speech.
– Refrain from the consumption of drugs (except prescription medications), intoxicants and alcohol during your stay at Gaia House. Smoking is only permitted in designated shelter behind the Dartmoor wing.
Thank you for your help with preserving Gaia House’s unique retreat environment for the benefit of all beings.
Our group retreats are led by established and experienced teachers, and range in length from two to ten nights. During these retreats the group joins together in a daily schedule of sitting/stillness and walking meditation, and a short mindful work session to help look after the house and gardens.
There are regular talks on a theme from the teacher(s), instructions and guidance about meditation and teacher-led discussions or one-to-one meetings. Apart from the teaching (Dharma) sessions, the retreats are held in silence. More about silence. This shared experience is often felt as profoundly peaceful and safe for newcomers.
The teachers provide guidance through meditation instruction, evening talks, and individual and/or group meetings. The talks aim to clarify the nature of meditation practice, to explore its application in daily life, or to explore the nature of human experience in the light of spiritual teachings. There will be opportunities to discuss your experience and meditation practice with the teacher(s), in the form of group or individual interviews and/or question and answer periods. More about Gaia House teachers.
Meditation generally alternates between regular periods of sitting and walking. Sitting meditation is divided into manageable sessions of 30/45 minutes throughout the day, so that you get plenty of time to stretch your legs and enjoy the beautiful grounds. Sitting meditation may be done on cushions or a meditation stool or bench, or you may wish to sit in a chair: you can use the posture you find most comfortable.
While on retreat, we ask you to refrain from engaging in all forms of verbal and written communication with other retreatants and the outside world. You can speak with the retreat teacher(s) when appropriate, to ask questions and discuss your meditation experience, and with our coordinator and reception team if there are any essential practical matters you need to attend to. Following the schedule in silence with the same group of people and with comprehensive instruction creates an atmosphere of exceptional sensitivity, mindfulness and stillness, which supports and facilitate the deepening of meditation and the unfolding of insight.
Individual retreats vary, but an average day starts at 6.30am and finishes at 9.30pm. Most of this time is spent in meditation practice following a set structure as a group, either sitting/in stillness in the hall or walking in the peaceful grounds. Depending on the length of the retreat, personal and/or group meetings will be arranged with the teachers, offering an opportunity to share your experience and ask questions about meditation practice.
As part of this shared experience, each person is asked to contribute one hour of work per day, to help the coordinators and keep the house running smoothly. There will be a little free time after meals to rest or take short walks around the area.
It is important to Gaia House to be accessible and inclusive and we welcome people with disabilities.
We have a rambling old house. However, the ground floor is mostly accessible for people in wheelchairs and those with restricted mobility. We have an adapted bathroom and ground floor bedroom available, though this needs to be booked in advance. The main meditation hall is accessed via a gentle ramp.
Click here to read our Access information pack with pictures and floor plans of our building.
In some cases, a carer may stay free of charge to support a retreatant who needs personal care/support. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk.
If you have specific needs relating to a disability, long-term illness or mental health condition, please send an email to our Retreat Manager at retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk or call directly on 01626 333613 (ext 202) and we will be happy to provide you with more detailed information about the house and retreat guidelines/schedule and discuss your needs whilst you are on retreat.
Click here to read our Access information pack with pictures and floor plans of our building.
In some cases a carer may stay free of charge to support a retreatant who needs personal care/support. Please contact us if you would like to discuss this.
If you have specific needs relating to a disability, long-term illness or health condition please send an email to our Retreat Manager on retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk and we will be happy to provide you with more detailed information about the house and discuss your needs whilst on retreat. Alternatively, please phone our Retreat Manager on 01626 333613. We are keen to ensure that the retreat environment can be accessible to all.
We are conscious of our choice of language around ‘disability’, acknowledging that there are differing views on the appropriateness of this term and that language usage is constantly evolving. We are in a continual process of trying to improve our understanding in the area of equality, and make Gaia House more accessible and inclusive. Part of this is ensuring that the language we use across our communications reflects our genuine efforts to do all we can to support everyone to participate in our offerings. If you would like to offer any feedback around this, please feel welcome to email our Director, Anshin on director@gaiahouse.co.uk
Read more about Inclusion and Diversity at Gaia House.
For the benefit of everyone, we ask that you commit to attending the entire retreat—arriving at the beginning and staying until the end. Each person’s presence contributes to the collective field of practice and care that supports everyone’s experience. Early departures are felt by the community. Your wholehearted commitment honours your fellow retreatants and shows respect for the teachers and staff who dedicate their time and energy to supporting everyone’s wellbeing.
Pre-bookable single rooms: This option will be available for anyone to choose when booking until the limited number of pre-bookable rooms run out (8-10 rooms per retreat). On selecting this option, you will confirm that you need a single room to come on retreat, but will not need to provide reasons. Please ensure you let us know of any physical needs in the Additional Personal Information section provided so we can best support you.
Requests for single rooms: For those who would like to request a single room but can share if necessary, some single rooms will also be held. This request can be made on booking, but rooms cannot be guaranteed and will only be allocated in the days leading up to each retreat, so we are not able to let you know in advance. Priority will be given to those with specific physical or mental health needs or age.
If you need to book our only ground-floor (and wheelchair) accessible bedroom, please check availability before booking by emailing info@gaiahouse.co.uk or calling +44 1626 333 613.
Our accommodation is arranged in single, double and dormitories (shared between 3-6 people) all rooms have shared bathroom facilities.
Traditionally, Buddhist practice spaces have been divided, with females and males sharing different rooms. Many have come to expect or prefer this. However, this is not a good fit for some and we invite people to tell us either their sex, and/or gender and preferences for room sharing in relation to this. At Gaia House, we try to make room sharing arrangements that meet everyone’s needs, whatever their identity, preference or view.
Although it is not ideal from many perspectives, the current wording of the question on the booking form was arrived at after some years of research, reflection and conversation in our community. If you have feedback or questions for us about how we identify sharing needs and allocate rooms, please email us.
The overall policy of Gaia House, according to the Teacher Council, is that it is generally more beneficial for people not to share a room with someone they know. It is more challenging to maintain silence when one is used to communicating with someone. Most importantly, a retreat offers the opportunity to go through a process with oneself. Sharing with a close person can impact this to a great degree, as one’s process will be affected by the presence of the other, as well as one’s sense of what they are going through.
If you feel you do have a physical or mental health need to share, please email us at retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk and we’ll pass it on to the specific teachers of this retreat for their approval.
During the summer months we offer a few camping places for those attending group retreats only. We can only accommodate small one/two-person tents, each retreatant must have their own tent.
Please be aware that if there is poor weather, we may be unable to accommodate campers in the house.
For information on availability please contact our Reception team.
If you are booking a group retreat, you are welcome to book one more night at the end of your retreat. However, you can only book to arrive one night early if you have already been on a residential retreat at Gaia House.
Personal retreat (14 nights or more):
Anyone who has a regular meditation practice and has completed at least three weeks of teacher-led, Insight (Vipassana) or Zen meditation retreat in silence (either as three separate weeks or one continuous retreat of 21 days), not necessarily at Gaia House.
Personal retreat (7-13 nights):
Anyone who has a regular meditation practice and has completed at least two weeks of teacher-led, Insight (Vipassana) or Zen meditation retreat in silence (either as two separate weeks or one continuous retreat of 14 days), not necessarily at Gaia House.
Short Personal Retreat (6 nights or less): If you are applying for a Short Personal Retreat, we ask that you have a regular meditation practice and have completed at least two weeks of teacher-led Insight (Vipassana) or Zen meditation retreat in silence. You can only apply if you have been on a Residential Retreat at Gaia House before.
The daily rate varies between £53 and £92 per day, decreasing the longer it lasts. You can calculate the cost of your personal retreat by using the Personal Retreat Calculator. Simply enter your preferred ‘from’ and ‘to’ dates.
We have financial assistance available if the prices are too high, and 3-month bursaries at a subsidised price. For more details, see the questions below.
If our standard rate is too high, we invite you to apply for a funded place through our FAB Fund (Financial Assistance and Bursaries Fund), which offers a 50% reduction on our standard personal retreat rate.
The FAB fund option is not means-tested, and you simply need to fill in a short, confidential application form. If the FAB Fund rate does not offer enough support for you to be able to participate, please let us know. We really want to ensure that Gaia House is accessible to all.
As FAB places are limited, please email the Admin team at info@gaiahouse.co.uk before applying to ask about the availability of FAB for your preferred dates. They will share the FAB form with you to be completed and submitted at the same time as the Personal retreat application form.
For more information and an application form, please email our Admin team at info@gaiahouse.co.uk.
When applying for a personal retreat, we ask you to complete an application form online. The application form asks questions about your personal and medical history, including meditation and retreat experience. This confidential information is necessary so that our teachers can assess your preparedness for what will be a unique and profound experience, and your ability to negotiate the demands of a personal retreat.
Please read through the Booking and Cancellation Policy, before making your booking.
We have a limited number of supported places available each year via our Financial Assistance and Bursaries Fund (FAB Fund). If you require financial assistance, please contact our Admin team before submitting your application to check availability: info@gaiahouse.co.uk
Through the Financial Assistance and Bursaries Fund, Gaia House supports 12 bursary places per year for personal retreatants undertaking a retreat of three months. The cost of the three-month bursary in 2026 is £2,835. The bursaries are offered in fixed three-month periods, in 2026 starting on 1 January, 1 April, 1 July and 1 October.
To apply for a three-month bursary place, please see the calendar for personal retreats and complete the online Personal Retreat Application Form.
We provide retreatants staying 7 nights+ with single rooms in the Hermitage Wing. Each bedroom has a bed and furniture to store clothing. Rooms used for longer stays may also have a desk and sink.
For personal retreatants staying less than 7 nights, we offer single rooms in the main house between group retreats only (see Short Personal Calendar).
However long you stay, if you have mobility issues, please check availability of a ground floor option before booking by emailing info@gaiahouse.co.uk.
For those staying 7 nights+, you have access to a small meditation hall in the Hermitage, which has no fixed meditation schedule and can be used when you like. There is also a small tea-room and three shower rooms in this wing.
Between Group Retreats, all Personal retreatants and Dharma Service retreatants are welcome to use the main Meditation hall, following the fixed meditation schedule and the Yoga/movement room at any time.
All Personal retreatants and Dharma service retreatants have access to the lounge and library, unless being used for group meetings.
Yes, this may be possible – subject to availability. Each date change is subject to a £20 admin fee.
Personal retreats (of 7 nights+) are supported by a weekly meeting with a teacher. Soon after your arrival, an induction meeting will be arranged in which the nature and outline of the retreat will be discussed. Weekly one-to-one meetings are a requirement, and retreats may continue only with the agreement of one of the teachers. Personal retreatants staying for less than one week cannot be guaranteed a meeting with a teacher, but may sign up if there is a free space.
Kirsten Kratz and other teachers, offer individual interviews for long-term Personal Rretreatants staying 7 nights+ throughout the year.
Hover on the personal retreat calendar above to see the supporting teacher for your chosen dates (please note this is subject to change).
Please contact us if you would like specific information about which teachers will be available on particular dates.
There is a regular schedule for the main meditation hall of seven sitting/stillness meditation sessions per day, alternating with walking meditation periods. Alternatively, you may follow your own schedule and meditate in your room or, if you are staying in the Hermitage Wing, you are also welcome to use the small meditation hall there at any time.
Each day’s routine includes an hour’s work period in the morning. This is an invitation to contribute to the well-being of the house and its occupants, and enables us to keep our charges low.
Personal retreatants are encouraged to engage in sustained formal meditation (sitting, walking, standing etc.) and to approach all activities as opportunities for meditative awareness and the development of continuity of practice, as the primary focus of the day.
It may be possible to participate in group retreats during your personal retreat. We will put a sign-up sheet on the Hermitage Wing noticeboard shortly before the start of a group retreat if there is capacity for personal retreatants to participate.
It may be possible to participate in group retreats during your personal retreat. A sign-up sheet will be put on the Hermitage Wing noticeboard shortly before the start of a group retreat if there is capacity for personal retreatants to participate. This is sometimes not decided until the opening day of a group retreat, and is entirely at the discretion of the teacher leading the group retreat.
Please be aware that there is no guarantee that you will be able to participate in any group retreats that may be running during your stay as a personal retreatant.
The Gaia House library includes an extensive collection of Dharma talks given by Gaia House teachers. These are stored on a PC laptop computer in the library and can be downloaded onto MP3 players provided by Gaia House.
Please do not bring personal devices e.g. phones, laptops or tablets into the library.
We recommend that you refrain from making telephone calls during your stay and keep the writing and receiving of letters and emails to a minimum. If something urgent arises, we can arrange brief access to a phone or computer.
By letting go of the complexity of personal interaction and the familiar world of words, we give ourselves space to see our mind and its activity more clearly. This helps insight into the way things arise through experiencing life directly, rather than through language and concepts. This direct seeing is the foundation for inner peace, wisdom and compassion.
For long term retreatants we provide towels and a laundry service once a week.
Dharma Service retreats involve work that is often strenuous and physically demanding. You will need to be fit, in robust good health, and able to sustain effort across the full duration of your stay. Flexibility is essential — you should be prepared to work within any department that requires support, rather than in a role of your choosing.
The capacity to live and work in silence is vital, as is the ability to work independently, following instruction from the residential staff without ongoing guidance.
Dharma Service retreats are open to those with at least two weeks of previous teacher-led, Insight (Vipassana) or Zen meditation retreat experience in silence — whether as two separate weeks or one continuous 14-day retreat — along with an established personal meditation practice. This prior experience need not have been at Gaia House.
The independence of a Dharma Service retreat can be very challenging if you are not ready for it, so depending on your conditions, we may suggest that you participate in more meditation group retreats before embarking on a Dharma Service retreat.
Dharma Service retreats are at the heart of how Gaia House functions. The generosity and dedication of the Dharma Servicwe retreatants make it possible for others to practise in a supported, nourishing environment — it is truly an invaluable offering, and one we cannot easily do without. For this reason, we ask that you only book if you feel genuinely ready and fully committed to seeing the retreat through.
If you wish to register your interest, please email: info@gaiahouse.co.uk, with the following details:
Your full name
Details of your retreat experience, which meets the criteria explained in the previous question.
The dates you wish to attend
We will then confirm availability and send you a link to the online Dharma Service Retreat Application Form, which contains important questions about your personal and medical history. This confidential information is necessary so that our teachers can assess your preparedness for what can be a unique and profound experience.
If your application is accepted, Gaia House will be in touch to discuss available dates. Please do not pay your deposit or make travel arrangements until your place has been confirmed.We will email you back as soon as we can, but there may be a short delay and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
The minimum stay for a Dharma Service retreat is two weeks, the maximum is three months. If it’s your first Dharma Service retreat at Gaia House the maximum stay is 4 weeks. The retreats start and finish on a Sunday.
Whatever the length of your retreat, you will need to pay an initial booking fee and deposit of £100. £15 of this is a non-refundable booking administration fee, and £85 is a deposit that is refunded upon satisfactory completion of your retreat. Your deposit is a reflection of your commitment to honour the dates you have booked. Your deposit will not be refunded if you cancel your booking or do not complete your retreat for the dates agreed with your application. More about Booking Conditions.
Full payment will be required on confirmation of a place. If a more flexible way of paying would support your personal circumstances, please contact us to discuss this: info@gaiahouse.co.uk
You will be hosted in a single room in the Hermitage Wing.
We have now updated our Booking Terms and Conditions, which includes cancellation information. Please take time to review these before you book.
At the beginning of a Dharma Service retreat, you will be inducted by one of the coordinators who will be your contact person during your retreat, and responsible for managing the workload of your retreat. If any difficulties arise during your retreat, you will be referred to a teacher for support. A review will be carried out at the mid-point of your retreat (and at regular intervals for retreats longer than a month).
All Dharma Service retreatants participate in a weekly teacher-led Dharma Service retreatant meeting. In addition, we ask you to sign up for a weekly one-to-one meeting with the Gaia House teachers.
If there is capacity during a group retreat, a sign-up sheet for personal and Dharma Service retreatants will be posted on the Hermitage Wing noticeboard. However, please be aware that this is never guaranteed — whether spaces are available is often only decided on the opening day of the group retreat, and rests entirely with the teacher leading it.
If a group retreat is open and you’d like to join any sessions during your stay, please speak with your contact coordinator to work out together what might be possible, bearing mind that the needs of the house and your service role will always take priority. Full participation in any group retreat won’t be available to you during a Dharma service retreat.
We want to be transparent about this so that your expectations feel well-grounded from the start. A Dharma Service retreat is its own complete and meaningful container, and the opportunity to sit with a group retreat is a welcome bonus when it arises, rather than something to count on.
Gaia House offers a balanced, plant-based diet of world cuisine at lunch and tea, with dairy products available as part of breakfast and hot drinks.
Gluten-free options are available. At lunch, we also offer a ‘Simple Diet’ consisting of gluten-free wholegrain, steamed vegetables and plain pulses, egg or tofu. This diet is intended to meet nutritional needs whilst being as plain as possible.
Both the gluten-free option and the simple diet can be requested on arrival.
If the above does not meet your needs, or if there is a medical need for a different diet, please contact the kitchen manager (link to kitchenmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk) before booking a retreat.
If you experience difficulties with hearing, we encourage you to contact our Retreat Manager via email at retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk to discuss how we can support you to get the most from your retreat at Gaia House. Our retreats are mostly in silence, but you will also be listening to talks and instructions offered by the teachers on a daily basis.
We do have a Hearing (Induction) Loop facility in the meditation hall, where you will be listening to the teacher’s talks and instructions. To benefit from the Hearing Loop, your hearing aid must be fitted with a Telecoil, with the necessary settings enabled. If you are in doubt about whether your hearing aid is set up to receive the Hearing Loop, we recommend you speak with your audiologist to check that your hearing aid is compatible, and also to familiarise yourself with how to switch into (and out of) the T / Loop mode.
There are also some other ways in which we can support you to hear the teachings whilst on retreat if you have hearing loss and do not wear a hearing aid. If you contact us in advance we can arrange to meet you on arrival and offer all the support you may need.
Gaia House is approximately 4 miles from Newton Abbot, located between Exeter and Plymouth in Devon, UK. Newton Abbot is easily accessible by train or coach from Exeter. Please see Getting to Gaia House.
Group retreats: Registration takes place between 2pm and 4.45pm on the first day. A light evening meal is served at 5.45pm. The retreat begins at 7.30 pm with an opening talk. All retreatants are expected to arrive on the first day and stay for the entire length of the retreat.
Finishing times: Retreats of 2 nights usually end at about 4 pm, while longer retreats finish at lunchtime on the last day. You are welcome to stay for lunch on the last day, after the retreat ends. We will inform you by email of any exceptions to our normal times.
Personal & Dharma service retreatants: We ask that you arrive in the afternoon if possible. Your room will be available after 2 pm. If you are arriving early in the morning or late at night, please let us know. If you have not been to Gaia House before, please aim to arrive before 5 pm, when a coordinator will meet you to show you around.
On departure, we request that you vacate your room by 9.30am, leaving it clean so that it is ready for the next arrival. You are welcome to stay for lunch before leaving.
Two weeks before the start of your retreat full details and practicalities will be emailed to you.
Please bring your own towel. Toiletries: unscented, please. Remember to bring any food supplements or medication you regularly take – enough for the length of your stay.
Please bring a watch or clock (which is not your mobile phone). Although there are bells to wake you up and mark activities during the day, having your own watch or clock supports you in turning your mobile phone off.
We have a very small shop containing a small selection of toiletries and first aid supplies, should you run out of these.
All bed linen is provided. Meditation mats, blankets, cushions and benches are also provided, but you are welcome to bring your own if you prefer.
Please dress modestly, as an expression of respect for this place of spiritual practice – as you would in a church, temple, synagogue or mosque. Comfortable, loose clothes are best for sitting meditation. You’ll need indoor shoes or slippers and good outdoor shoes, boots or wellingtons for walking. If you are coming on a Dharma Service retreat please make sure you bring sturdy shoes to enable you to work in the house in a variety of departments. Warm clothes are advisable throughout the year – Devon weather can be changeable in any season. A raincoat is essential!
Our accommodation is arranged in single, double and dormitories (shared between 3-6 people) all rooms have shared bathroom facilities.
Traditionally, Buddhist practice spaces have been divided, with females and males sharing different rooms. Many have come to expect or prefer this. However, this is not a good fit for some and we invite people to tell us either their sex, and/or gender and preferences for room sharing in relation to this. At Gaia House, we try to make room sharing arrangements that meet everyone’s needs, whatever their identity, preference or view.
Although it is not ideal from many perspectives, the current wording of the question on the booking form was arrived at after some years of research, reflection and conversation in our community. If you have feedback or questions for us about how we identify sharing needs and allocate rooms, please email us.
If you feel you do have a physical or mental health need to share, please email us at retreatmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk and we’ll pass it on to the specific teachers of this retreat for their approval.
You are welcome to practise mindful movement, such as yoga, tai chi or qi gong, outdoors at any time, so long as the space of other retreatants is respected. Indoors: please practise only at the designated times and in the designated places – these will be explained on each retreat.
In the spirit of simplicity and silence, please refrain from other activities such as playing musical instruments, art and craft work, juggling, acrobatics etc., anywhere on the premises or grounds of Gaia House.
During group retreatants we asked you to refrain from reading and writing during your stay here.
Personal retreatants may read to support your retreat, you are encouraged to do so with moderation, and only in the library or your bedroom.
Experience has shown that it can be very disruptive to the intensive practice of meditation – for oneself and for others – to leave the sensitive retreat environment. For this reason, we ask all retreatants to remain within the tranquil atmosphere found within the grounds of Gaia House and the surrounding area for the duration of the retreat.
Walking in the countryside is fine, but if you need to make an unavoidable trip further afield (or to town), please liaise with one of the residential service team to gain permission from the teacher(s).
In the case of an emergency, a message can be conveyed to you whatever time of day or night. We hope that this will support you in switching off your mobile phone whilst on retreat.
Instructions for contacting a retreatant in case of an emergency can be found on our Contact Us page.
For Group retreat rates, please check the individual retreat page you are interested in.
For a Personal retreat you can check our Personal retreat calculator page.
If you cannot afford our rates we invite you to apply for support from our Financial Assistance and Bursaries Fund (FAB Fund)
Our retreat rates cover the cost of food, accommodation and teachers’ travel expenses. They also contribute to our management and support costs, including administration and maintenance of our building and grounds.
In the Buddhist tradition of ‘Dana’ or generosity, all teachings at Gaia House are offered freely. Teachers are not paid for their time and energy, so at the end of your retreat you will be given the opportunity to offer Dana for the teachers who have guided your retreat or practice, for the coordinators who care for our retreatants and retreat space, and for the support of Gaia House. Before you come on retreat please read About Dana.
The word ‘dāna’ comes from Pali, the language of early Buddhist texts. It refers to the act of giving, supporting and sharing with an open heart.
In the Buddhist tradition, the teachings are offered freely because they are considered priceless.
At the end of each Gaia House retreat, course or event, there is an opportunity to make a dāna offering (donation) to your teachers, Gaia House and our residential service community. This is an invitation to participate in an ancient and rich tradition that has sustained the Buddha’s teachings for more than 2,500 years, enabling the support of monasteries, the creation of retreat centres, and a whole range of social and peace practices and projects.
The teachers leading your retreat: Gaia House teachers offer their time, energy and wisdom and do not receive a fee. They rely on voluntary donations from retreatants for their livelihood.
Gaia House: As a charity, we depend on the support of our community to continue offering the Buddha’s teachings of wisdom, compassion and meditation practice and ensuring that our programme is accessible to everyone, irrespective of financial circumstances.
Our residential community: Our coordinators are a team of 8 people who live at Gaia House offering service for up to 2 years, supporting our retreatants. Donations for this team are much appreciated.
There is no correct sum to give. The amount depends on your circumstances and what your heart is moved to offer.
We are deeply grateful for every expression of dāna. All contributions support the flourishing and sustainability of the Dharma teachings offered at Gaia House.
Read more about dāna here [add link]
Click here to check out our network of local meditation groups.
If you run a local meditation group and you’d like us to add your details to our website, please contact Hannah Seyfert, Development Manager: devmanager@gaiahouse.co.uk
London Insight Meditation, Oxford Insight Meditation, Sheffield Insight Meditiaton and Bristol Insight Meditation are organisations connected to Gaia House, offering a programme of retreats and meditation groups, based in the Insight (Vipassana) Meditation tradition.
You can listen to a selection of Dharma talks from Gaia House teachers from our library of over 2,000 – available online through Dharmaseed. We invite you to consider making a small donation to contribute to the costs of production and administration. Talks from the retreat attended will be shared via email a few weeks after the retreat ends.
For newly launched ad upcoming retreats and courses, teacher interviews, Gaia House news, and reflections from our retreatants and volunteers, sign up for email updates [here – add link].
If you no longer wish to be on our mailing list, every e-news we send includes an unsubscribe button. Alternatively, you can send your request to: comms@gaiahouse.co.uk
Please visti our FAQ section. If you have other questions, our Reception team will be pleased to answer your questions and help in any way we can. Contact us on +44 (0)1626 333613 or email info@gaiahouse.co.uk. Reception is open Monday – Saturday and the best time to call is between 9.30am and 12.30pm. If we don’t answer the phone, please do leave a message and we will do our best to respond within 24 hours.
To book a Group Retreat, visit the webpage for the retreat you’re interested in and follow the instructions provided there. You can find our Group Retreats on our Programme page (link).
To book a residential group retreat you must be aged 18 years or over.
For all residential bookings we need to know your full name, address and telephone number, your email address, your age and and shared room needs (so that we can allocate rooms appropriately) and any medical condition that may affect your stay.
Booking for more than one person or more than one retreat:
Please make separate bookings for each person and each retreat. If booking for somebody else, please be sure to use their name and contact details when entering retreatant details, not your own. Please complete each form in full, as we cannot cross-reference booking information.
About summer camping:
During the summer months, we offer a small number of camping places for those attending our group retreats only.
Please note that camping is at your own risk, whatever the weather – sorry, but we cannot accommodate you in the house.
You need to bring all your own camping equipment: Small one/two-person tents only and each retreatant must have their own separate tent.
If you wish to apply for a personal retreat, please read the information on our personal retreat webpage and complete the application form.
To apply for a Dharma Service Retreat, please read the information on our Dharma Service Retreat webpage (link) and then email: info@gaiahouse.co.uk, with the following details:
– Your full name
– Details of your silent retreat experience, outlining how you meet the criteria for Dharma service retreats.
– The dates you wish to attend.
All bookings are provisional until you have received confirmation from Gaia House.
Please pay by debit card if possible – Gaia House incurs substantial bank charges when payments are made by credit card.
Booking conditions may be subject to alteration.
Travel arrangements: Please do not make any travel arrangements until after you have received confirmation of your booking. Gaia House cannot be held liable for travel costs.
For Group and Personal Retreats:
Initial deposit:
Retreats of three nights or less must be paid for in full at the time of booking.
Retreats of two to 13 nights require a £100 non-transferable deposit to secure your place.
Retreats of 14 nights or more require a £200 non-transferable deposit to secure your place.
Personal retreats: Please pay only after receiving confirmation of your place and dates.
If our rates are too high for you, we invite you to apply for support from our Financial Assistance and Bursaries Fund. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch about this before booking your retreat.
Dharma service retreats: deposits must be paid for in full once you have received confirmation of your place and dates.
Paying the balance:
All group retreats must be paid for in full at least one month before the start of the retreat. If we don’t receive your full payment one month before the retreat’s start date, your place may be cancelled and offered to someone on the waiting list.
Personal retreats of four to 14 nights must be paid at least one month before the retreat start date.
Personal retreats of more than 14 nights must be paid at least two months before the retreat start date.
Most of our group retreats fill up quickly and we offer waiting lists for places that may become available.
Joining the waiting list is free. Please go to the specific retreat page and go through the checkout process to enter your details into our system, helping us to administer waiting lists efficiently and fairly.
You will be able to fill in information relevant to the retreat you wish to attend and you will receive important information about our single room and food policies, as well as the terms and conditions of any retreat place offered. Please read our Privacy statement.[GH1.1]
Confirmation of being added to the waiting list will be emailed to you and then we will contact you if a place becomes available.
We offer places sequentially based on the order of people on the waiting list. If, however, we have places become available in the final week before a group retreat starts, we will offer the places via email to everybody on the waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.
If your plans change, please contact us so that we can remove you from the waiting list. This helps us to keep the list up to date with names of people who can take up places if they become available.
Once your booking has been confirmed, please make changes only if absolutely necessary.
Changing your Group retreat: Transferring bookings, payments or deposits from one retreat to another is not possible due to administrative complications. If you wish to change your booking to a different retreat, you need to cancel your old booking and book the new retreat. Normal cancellation fees apply.
Changing your Personal retreat dates: All changes will be subject to a £20 administration fee. For changes less than four weeks before your retreat start date, normal Cancellation fees apply.
Cancellation Fees
For retreats of 2-13 nights:
• 8 weeks or more before the start date: £50 cancellation fee
• 4-8 weeks before the start date: £100 cancellation fee
• 2-4 weeks before the start date: 50% of the retreat cost or £100, whichever is greater
• Less than 2 weeks before the start date: Full amount paid is non-refundable
For retreats of 13 nights or more:
• 8 weeks or more before the start date: £50 cancellation fee
• 4-8 weeks before the start date: 25% of the retreat cost
• 2-4 weeks before the start date: 50% of the retreat cost
• Less than 2 weeks before the start date: Full amount paid is non-refundable
For the group Work Retreat, the Young Persons’ Retreat and all Young Persons bookings:
• 4 weeks or more before the start date: £10 cancellation fee
• 2-4 weeks before the start date: 50% of the retreat cost
• Less than 2 weeks before the start date: Full amount paid is non-refundable
Extra retreat nights
• 4 weeks or more before the start date: Full refund minus £20 admin fee
• Less than 4 weeks before the start date: Full amount paid is non-refundable
Meditation Days:
• 4 weeks or more before the day: £10 cancellation fee
• Less than 4 weeks before the day: Full amount paid is non-refundable
For Dharma service retreats:
Your £85 deposit is refunded on satisfactory completion of your Dharma Service retreat. Your deposit will not be refunded if you cancel your booking or do not complete your Dharma Service retreat for the dates agreed with your application.
How to request a cancellation: All cancellation requests can be made by email. Please note that cancellations can only be accepted from the named retreatant and not from third parties. Any refunds can take up to five working days to be processed.
Weather conditions: If you have to cancel your retreat due to adverse weather conditions, our standard Cancellation Policy (above) still applies. Please see the note below about travel insurance.
Train strikes and other travel issues: If you have to cancel your retreat due to a train strike or other travel-related issue, our standard Cancellation Policy (above) still applies. Please see the note below about travel insurance.
Taking out insurance: We recognise that booking to come on a retreat at Gaia House may be a significant financial commitment, so we advise taking out appropriate insurance to cover your travel and retreat fees should you be unwell or unable to come on retreat for another reason.
Compassionate circumstances: At our discretion, Gaia House may waive cancellation fees in particular circumstances (for example, you contract a dangerous communicable illness or experience a bereavement). Please email info@gaiahouse.co.uk setting out your reasons for cancelling your booking.
Changing your booking: If you wish to change to a completely different retreat, it is necessary for you to cancel your old booking and book the new retreat. Normal cancellation fees apply. Please ensure that you are clear about your dates and retreat costs before you book.
Travel arrangements: When booking any type of retreat, group, personal or Dharma service retreat, please do not make any travel arrangements until after you receive confirmation of your booking.
All bookings are provisional until confirmed by Gaia House. Gaia House cannot be held liable for travel costs.
Please note that Gaia House reserves the right to cancel any bookings that are deemed unsuitable or inappropriate.
Cancellation fee for online events is £5. This administration fee will be retained from your paid registration when requesting a refund.
Cancellation and refund requests can be made by email to onlinecoordinator@gaiahouse.co.uk. Please note that cancellations can only be accepted from the named retreatant and not from third parties. Refunds can take up to five working days to be processed.
Please note that some retreats/programmes have a capped number of participants and are booked by paying a larger non-refundable deposit. This will be made clear on the webpage for these retreats/programmes.
Yes – unless specified in the retreat description, most of our online group retreats are recommended for beginners as well as for more experienced practitioners.
Clicking on the title of a retreat within our Calendar will provide a description of the retreat and a brief biography of the teacher(s), along with details of dates and registration rates. From here, you can book a place via our online booking system.
We suggest that you have in mind your plan for the days of our retreat. For example, will you be:
– Maintaining silence?
– Continuing with/doing additional sitting and walking meditation?
– Cultivating an attitude of retreat throughout?
If so, be sure to set up conditions that support you, including discussing with those you share your space at home with.
It would be helpful to plan in advance, using the guidelines below, to simplify as much as you can and set boundaries around what you will and will not engage with. These are skilful ways of creating continuity and settling more deeply into practice and quiet.
– Find a quiet and comfortable space to practice and make it as pleasant and welcoming as you can.
– If you like, you can arrange a small altar with candles, flowers, or altar objects near you.
– You may like to keep a small candle burning throughout the day as this helps to remind us that we are practising on retreat.
– We want to create a space that feels like we are with each other as much as possible. Even though we are not together physically, arriving on time is still important. Settle in and prepare your space and yourself before each session begins.
– Whilst we are online together, don’t multitask. Turn off your other devices and any other programs you have been using.
– Engage with the session and teachings offered just as you would on a retreat you attend in a retreat centre. Give yourself this time to be present and awake.
– Consider how you are going to use the time between our online sessions and try to keep life as simple and free from distractions as possible.
– We encourage sensitivity towards all living beings and a non-harming relationship to all life and suggest you may want to follow these five ethical guidelines whilst participating in a retreat.
The Five Precepts
The core ethical principles of Buddhism are known as the ‘Five Precepts’, which we ask all people who live, work and practice at Gaia House to observe whilst within the house and grounds, in order to support a retreat environment of safety, peace, sensitivity and respect, you may want to bring this to your home whilst you engage on a retreat online. The precepts are not rules or commandments, but ‘principles of training’, which are undertaken freely.
1. Refrain from harming or taking the life of any being.
2. Refrain from taking or misusing anything that does not belong to you or has not been clearly offered.
3. Refrain from harmful expressions of sexuality.
4. Refrain from harmful expressions of speech.
5. Refrain from the use of intoxicants and substances which cloud the mind.
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The teachers provide guidance through meditation instruction, talks, and sometimes small group meetings. The talks aim to clarify the nature of meditation practice, to explore its application in daily life, or to explore the nature of human experience in the light of spiritual teachings. There will be opportunities to discuss your experience and meditation practice with the teacher(s), in the form of question and answer periods. More about Gaia House teachers.
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