Insight Vipassana Silent Meditation Retreat is a golden opportunity to meet your true self and cultivate inner peace, conscious action and mindful thought.

Dive into an ancient method of meditation - pristinely simple in principle and profoundly transformative in application.

Live in silence for a few days in a picturesque natural location with clean fresh air in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding National Beauty. Give yourself a digital detox: turn off the phone and take a break from the information flow and endless affairs and tasks. Establish a healthy daily routine and diet in harmony with nature and the sun's cycles. Get better: nourish your body with a healthy, nutritious plant-based diet, prepared with love, with many vegetables and herbs grown organically at the walled gardens of Hardwick Estate. Slow down: immerse yourself into plenty of quality, distraction-free time to listen to your inner voice and reflect on your life.

The program of the retreat will include sitting mindfulness meditation as well as dynamic walking meditation practice. Silence is observed for 5 full days - you will be surprised at how nourishing this experience can be when you don’t have to speak to anyone. The exception is the optional personal interviews with a teacher where you will be able to clarify any questions related to the practice. Daily Hatha yoga asana supports the body in its mental and emotional endeavours, unlocking bodily blocks and releasing tension.

Use this time of solitude, supported by your conscious community and expert facilitators, to devote yourself to intense practice, deep learning, insights and clear seeing...

Carefully and thoughtfully curated ancient techniques in this meditative gathering on the banks of the river Thames will enable you to shed outer layers of stress and strife, revealing your pure nature within. 

The Vipassana technique is a meditation of observation, awareness and wisdom. It is an ancient form of meditation which has been passed on through monastery lineages for thousands of years. It is one of the most simple, but most profound methods of meditation to be found.

There are a few different ways of teaching this technique.  On this retreat, we will be following the teaching style practiced in some of the oldest monasteries in the world, by including dynamic walking meditation in addition to seated postures, to help inform the Vipassana practice. We will also be incorporating daily yoga sessions, specifically designed to prepare the body for sitting in meditation - building flexibility and strength so you can focus on your meditation without being distracted by too much physical discomfort.

The Vipassana method comes directly from the Satipatthana Sutta - The Foundations of Mindfulness -  a discourse attributed directly to the Buddha. It is a universal technique which does not come with any pre-requisite requirement of any religious or spiritual allegiance. On the retreat there are no rituals, ceremonies or required reading of religious literature. It is a beautiful and transformative technique which can be practiced by those of any religion, without confliction, and practiced by those with no religion at all. Whatever form your spirituality takes and to whatever degree, there is room to apply this technique and feel the benefit.

All levels of practitioner are welcome - if you have never meditated or done yoga before you will be introduced to the fundamental technique which underlies all others. Experienced meditators will find sincere practice in gorgeous surroundings, enabling states of deep consciousness.

Essentially, Vipassana mindfulness meditation is a system of exercises designed to train the mind, just as the gym is designed to train the body. We learn to see clearly - reality as it is without delusions that fog the mind. 

The practice of mindfulness calms the mind, improves concentration, develops memory and attention, and develops the skill of awareness and presence in the moment of now. 

Coming on a retreat like this can facilitate:

• Helping to let go of the burden of regrets about the past, worries, negative emotions
• The cultivation of an equal, objective and impartial attitude to what is happening
• Developed emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion for oneself and others
• Reduced stress and anxiety levels
• Fewer fears and obsessive or compulsive thoughts
• A clear and calm mind
• Improved awareness and consciousness of the body
• Developed presence in the moment and attentiveness to everyday activities
• Lessening of identifying with emotional states
• Less habitual and mindless reactivity to your environment
• Cultivation of patience and thoughtfulness of action
• Greater acceptance of life in its entirety and acceptance of one’s own life

The cost of participation in the retreat consists of two parts:

1 - organisational fee of £149 - to cover the basic price of accommodation and food for the participant.

2 — donation — for the retreat program itself.

It is important for Vipassana to be offered for donation, and not provided to generate private financial gain. This is the purest and most karmically beneficial path. The donation aspect allows both the organisers and the participants to show pure and sublime intentions.

As organisers and teachers of the retreat, we offer the teaching in the spirit of selfless service. Giving the gift of this meditation is a beautiful thing, and one we are honoured to have the opportunity to facilitate. There is great bliss in bringing this knowledge to others, purely for the benefit of each individual and for humanity as a whole.

As participants in the retreat, there is the opportunity to touch knowledge without a consumerist expectation. As only the basic costs have been covered, going into the retreat the expectation of input from the organisers is only to provide this basic service, and then the exchange is equalised. Whatever occurs above that is at the discretion of the participant. It means that you yourself, based on the results of the retreat, have the right to evaluate how valuable the experience was for you and show adequate generosity for yourself so as not to devalue your experience.

There will be opportunity for you to make whatever donation you feel moved to give at the end of the retreat.

For those who would like to combine the experience of the retreat and the noble karma of the service, we have a few Seva Tickets. These tickets are designed for those who enjoy getting involved in the running of the retreat by giving the core crew a hand with whatever is needed to be done on the day, or those who can't afford the full price of the tickets but still want to come. 

If you’re keen to be involved in this way, please click here to complete our online application.

We will be eating fresh, organic, locally grown plant based meals lovingly prepared according to the Ayurvedic principle of food as medicine. We serve a wholesome and filling meal at breakfast time and at lunch time, and a warming, milky drink in the evening break such as spiced chai or cacao. Ayurveda views food as both nourishment and a primary tool for self healing, essential for balancing the mind, body, and spirit. 

This approach blends flavourful ingredients with health benefits, creating meals that satisfy your senses while enhancing your vitality with culinary richness and balance. We use a palette of sattvic ingredients to ensure that your food supports your yoga, mediation and cleansing practices, leaving you feeling nourished, balanced and strong. Here we move beyond calories and macronutrients to embrace food as a tool for creating harmony, balance, and optimal health.

As much as possible of our gorgeous fruit and veg will come from Tolhurst Organic farm, based on site, who use stock free farming to produce the lowest possible carbon footprint, cruelty free food. Their work is truly inspiring and aligned with our ethos of re-connecting and re-aligning with mother nature to live in more harmony.

We have various accommodation and ticket options available. Participants are welcome to bring their own tents, campervans or caravans, or choose from one of our pre-erected tents. 

From deluxe glamping experiences to basic tent packages, we have a range of options to suit every need. All accommodation is in our gorgeous riverside campsite, with fresh water, outdoor hot shower cabin, riverside sauna, composting toilets and a sparkling river to swim in! Luxury indoor showers and toilets are right next to the camping field, surrounded by lush green forests and wildflower meadows.

Camper vans & caravans are welcome at no extra cost, dogs must stay at home! 

This retreat is free from drugs, alcohol or intoxicants which cloud the purity of mind.

Our retreat takes place in a secluded and serene riverside setting on a community run rural estate in the Thames Valley. Surrounded by lush green forests with ancient oaks, rare wildflower meadows with astounding biodiversity and the glistening waters of the upstream Thames, this unique location is easy to get to, yet feels deeply held in wild nature.

All accommodation is in our secluded riverside campsite. There is fresh water available, hot shower cabin, riverside sauna, composting toilets, and a sparkling river to swim in! Luxury indoor showers and toilets are right next to the camping field.

Workshops are held in an open structures, and out in the meadows and forests to truly experience immersive nature.

Hardwick estate is only 40 minutes by train from London (Paddington), and just 20 minutes by car from Junction 12 on the M4.  Easily accessible from the main transport hubs at Reading, yet set in the rolling countryside of the Chilterns AONB, Hardwick is ideally located for a weekend getaway of peace and tranquility.

By Air

The closest airport is London Heathrow - LHR - which is only a 1 hour car journey from the retreat venue. There are direct train and coach services from LHR to Reading, our closest city. From Reading it is a seven minute onward train journey to Pangbourne, our closest village or a 20 minute taxi or car journey to the retreat venue.

By Train/Taxi

There are direct trains to Pangbourne, our closest village, from London (40 minutes) , Reading (7 minutes) and Didcot Parkway (20 minutes). From Pangbourne it is a 40 minute walk or a 10 minute taxi or car ride to the retreat venue. We give out some local taxi numbers in our booking confirmation, and we recommend you make a reservation with them for your journey if you plan to travel this way - we are in a rural location so they do not wait by the station and there is no Uber!

By Car

The retreat venue is just 20 minutes by car from Junction 12 on the M4, halfway between London and Bristol.  If you have a spare seat in your car and are happy to share a ride, or if you need a lift to the gathering, join the link to the our retreat community WhatsApp group.

Is this retreat suitable for those with limited mobility/ongoing physical health issues?

The campsite we stay in and hold the meditation sessions is in a grassy field which is made of uneven ground. Pathways are not paved. Parking is available within the campsite and the distance between the vehicle and camping area is about 50 metres.

The compost toilets in the camping field are accessed up a set of three steps and have narrow doorways and cubicles. There are step-free flushing toilets available at the entrance to the camping field. To preserve the rural nature of the environment we minimise any electrical lighting at night. You are recommended to bring along a torch or headlamp if you require extra light when moving around after dark.

The accommodation is all camping which requires a certain degree of mobility to negotiate low doorways and camp beds etc. You are welcome to bring your own tent, equipment, camper van, caravan etc which meets your needs. The deluxe glamping option available on our booking page is in a pre-erected bell tent which has plenty of headroom inside and a framed bed with proper mattress at a standard height. The doorway to these requires bending to enter.

The seated meditation sessions require sitting for at least 45 minutes. If you are not able to do this, then this retreat is not suitable for you. Participants are usually required to sit on the floor. You are recommended to bring with you a meditation cushion or stool or whatever else you need to be comfortable. We are able to provide a chair if needed for medical reasons.

The walking meditation sessions require slow, continuous steps for 45 minutes. If you are not able to do this, sitting for these sessions as in the manner given above is acceptable.

Participants are required to attend all meditation sessions and follow the timetable. Please see the booking page for an example itinerary. If you feel you will not have the stamina to follow the timetable as it is given, then it is better to wait until a time when your health will allow it.

The two dates we have available are in the very early and late summer, so the weather may be damp and cold at times. Participants need to be able to be comfortable camping in this weather. The mediation sessions are held in an open sided marquee, so there must be resilience to meditate in these conditions.

Can I miss sessions if I want to or follow a timetable which I feel better suits my requirements?

Participants on this retreat are required to attend all the sessions and follow the timetable as it is given. The scheduling we follow is in line with Vipassana retreats all over the world and is designed to replicate monastic living. This extended continuity of practice is essential for success in the technique.

There is plenty of time allocated for rest within the timetable. Sometimes people can find the wake up time on the timetable daunting as it is earlier than most people usually rise. However, being in meditation for the whole day expends very few calories and gives great rest to the brain. Bedtimes are equally early, so eight hours of night time rest is given and there is a long afternoon break during which participants may sleep they need to.

I cannot stay for the full seven days. Can I arrive later/leave earlier?

On this retreat we are only able to accept participants who are able to commit to attending for the full seven days.

There is a lot of important information communicated on the first day of the retreat which participants need to receive in order to successfully and smoothly engage with the experience. As it is a silent retreat, there is not an opportunity to go over this again at a later point.

The meditation technique is also introduced progressively, so participants need to be there for the full week to gain a developed understanding of what is being taught.

Vipassana meditation retreats can be an intense experience. For this reason it is important that participants are guided slowly in and slowly out of the retreat, and our program is specifically designed to ensure there is space for assimilation and integration. We request that you only book the retreat if you have the willingness and determination to stay for the full week.

Will my friends/family be able to reach me during the retreat if there is an emergency?

We recommend that participants hand in their phones at the beginning of the retreat for safe keeping. We will give participants a mobile phone number from the organising team, which can be passed on to friends or family for them to contact if need be. Any messages from family or friends which need to reach participants will be communicated directly by a member of the organising team.

If you are at a point in your life where it is likely a friend or family member will need to reach you during the retreat, we ask that you wait until a more peaceful time to undertake your Vipassana retreat.

Can I share my accommodation with my friend/partner?

On this retreat in particular, sharing accommodation between partners or friends is not permitted. All pre-erected tents we have available to book are for single occupancy only, and we ask that if you are bringing your own accommodation, you ensure that each participant you are booking for has a tent or equivalent for their own personal use.

We do this in effort to give every participant the best chance of succeeding with the precept of noble silence. It is also because Vipassana meditation is a very personal journey, and one that should be undertaken in an environment with as little opportunity for distraction or disturbance to your own experience of it. When we are in close quarters with someone who we are in an intimate relationship with, it is a barrier to the peace which is necessary for successful practice. It is very difficult to disengage your experience from theirs. If you would like any further clarification on this, please do get in touch.

I see you only provide breakfast and lunch. Can I bring my own food for dinner/snacks?

When undertaking a Vipassana retreat, participants make a commitment to adhere to a certain number of precepts which are laid down in the Buddhist sutras that describe the practice of Vipassana meditation. One of those precepts is to refrain from eating after midday. Therefore we serve a wholesome and filling meal at breakfast time and at lunch time, but not in the evening. We serve a warming, milky drink in the evening break such as spiced chai or cacao instead. While this may be less food than you are used to, most participants do not find that this is problematic for them whilst on the retreat, as being in meditation for the whole day expends very few calories.

If you have a medical condition such as diabetes which requires you to eat more regularly, or you are pregnant, please do get in touch and we will be happy to make arrangements for you.

The food we serve is plant based, and as locally sourced and organic as possible. We are able to accommodate vegan diets, gluten free diets, and nut-based allergies. If you have any other dietary requirements which are medically necessary, please do get in touch with us to discuss your needs. We are a small team catering for many participants, so while we do our best to provide for all of our meditators, we are unable to accommodate dietary preferences, likes or dislikes other than the ones given above. We humbly ask that you receive the food provided.

This is a silent retreat. What happens if I have an issue I need to communicate?

Noble silence on the retreat begins on the evening of the first day, after all the orientation and induction talks have been given, and after participants have been given opportunity to ask any questions that have arisen since their arrival. Silence continues until the evening of the sixth day. There will be opportunity to share and discuss your experience with your fellow meditators on the final, seventh day.

During the retreat there will be daily opportunities for you to meet with the meditation teacher and discuss any questions you may have about the technique or your practice. There will also be daily opportunities for you to meet with a representative of the organising team to communicate any issues you may be having which relate to your accommodation, food or other domestic arrangements. The organising team and teachers are here to help you, but at the same time it is expected that communication with them is kept to its absolute minimum, and that during the retreat you do your best to move through any issues you are having by yourself, without unnecessarily involving others.

Talking between participants is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that you will be asked to leave if we learn of this precept being broken, for the sake of the peace of the other meditators.

I have ongoing mental health issues. Is this retreat suitable for me?

Vipassana retreats can be a very intense experience - physically, mentally and emotionally. The technique requires you to deeply observe your mind as it truly is, without any distraction or delusion. This can be unsettling for people - and can potentially be traumatising for those with ongoing mental health issues or a history of severe mental suffering or anguish.

The technique provides an effective toolkit for dealing with the vicissitudes of life, for managing life's ups and downs with appropriate perspective and calmness, and for finding emotional stability. It provides a golden opportunity to learn how to experience life with balance, peace, compassion and equanimity. It is not however, a replacement for therapy or medically necessary assistance in dealing with serious mental or emotional upset. We recommend that you consult your doctor or medical professional before attending, and let us know before you book, if you have experienced these sorts of issues in the past.

If you are at a point in your life where you are very much entrenched in destructive habits or suffering from serious mental or emotional distress, we ask that you wait until a more stable time to undertake your Vipassana retreat.