Discounted Personal Retreat Rates for March – July 2024

Deepen your practice by staying at the Nyingma Institute for a self-guided personal retreat (2-week minimum) in late spring or summer this year at a highly discounted rate. 

Significantly reduced rates for personal retreats scheduled in March-July 2024 are $925 for a 2-week stay including a simple breakfast, plus an additional $12/meal for lunch or dinner. Full price is $1,750 for a 2-week stay. 

Space is limited, please contact us to reserve a room. Call (510) 809-1000 or email  

Image of students in the Meditation Garden.

Overnight Stay

We offer private rooms with views overlooking the bay, or the garden. Stay in a peaceful sacred environment: enjoy the garden, views and take time to relax and reflect.

Prerequisites: None 

Cost: $150/night, includes self-serve breakfast. Vegetarian lunch and dinner are $12 each. 

Image of students in the Meditation Garden.

Weekend Retreat

Extend the benefits of your Saturday workshop or day-long retreat by making it a overnight retreat. 

Prerequisites: Enrollment in a workshop or day-long retreat 

Cost: $150/night, non-inclusive of retreat cost. Includes self-serve breakfast. Vegetarian lunch and dinner are $12 each. 

Image of a bedroom at the Nyingma Institute

Semester-Long Retreat

Perfect for students who wish to deepen their practice at Nyingma Institute by living in our peaceful environment for 10 weeks and focusing on personal practice or study. You receive unlimited access to attend classes (with faculty permission) in our weekly evening schedule, as well as weekend workshops (with faculty permission), for one full semester (10 weeks). We provide freshly prepared vegetarian meals, served buffet-style, for lunch and dinner. Breakfast foods, teas, coffee, and fruit are available in our communal kitchen.

Prerequisites: Minimum stay of 10 weeks. 

Cost:  Please inquire for more information. 

Student studying

Personal Retreat: Lightly Guided

During an initial meeting, a faculty member will help you create an approach that will be a good fit for you, including specific practices and a practice schedule that you can follow in the privacy of your room. Your retreat includes time for reading and reflection, with recommended books available in our reading room.

Some of the practices we use include: seated meditation, walking meditation, chanting, and relaxation techniques. Your faculty advisor also meets with you at the mid-point and end of your retreat. Selected evening classes may be included as part of your retreat.

Prerequisites: None

Cost: $150/night, includes self-serve breakfast. Vegetarian lunch and dinner are $12/meal. Private instruction is an additional charge. 

Image of prayer beads and a book, Lotus Mandala

Personal Retreat: Mantra Accumulation

We offer support for your practice, including a private, comfortable room to practice in, a small altar in your room, all practice materials, and a schedule to follow. Includes an initial practice orientation meeting with a faculty member.

Types of mantra accumulation retreat:

  • Padmasambhava
  • Buddha Shakyamuni
  • Medicine Buddha
  • Avalokitesvara
  • Tara
  • Vajrasattva

Prerequisites:  Appropriate for Buddhist practitioners. 

Cost: $150/night, includes self-serve breakfast. Vegetarian lunch and dinner are $12/meal. Private instruction is an additional charge. 

Image of a student meditating on a bed

Personal Retreat: Practitioner

For those who have already received practice instructions, we can offer you a tranquil, quiet environment, a private room and all meals. Lunch and dinner are vegetarian and buffet-style. Please contact us to inquire about special support if there are any specific requirements, such as bringing meals to your room.

Prerequisites:  Appropriate for Buddhist practitioners. 

Cost: $150/night, includes self-serve breakfast. Vegetarian lunch and dinner are $12/meal. Private instruction is an additional charge.