WELLNESS

The 11 Best U.S. Meditation Retreats of 2021

If you’ve been dabbling in meditation, you may be curious about attending a meditation retreat and wondering what’s it like, what’s expected, and what the benefits are. It’s important to note that not all meditation is the same, and neither are the retreats available. That means it’s worth exploring the options and whether a particular retreat is the right fit for you. We’ve researched some of the top retreats available in the United States so you can find the right option to deepen your practice.

Quick look at the best meditation retreats of 2021

• Best for beginners: The Art of Living Retreat Center

• Best for serious practitioners: Introduction to Vipassana Meditation

• Best eclectic option: Esalen Institute

• Best for loving-kindness meditation: Spirit Rock

• Best for R&R: Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health

• Best yoga and meditation combo: Mount Madonna Center

• Best for social consciousness: Upaya Institute and Zen Center

• Best Mahayana retreat: Kadampa Meditation Center

• Best Zen retreat: Zen Mountain Monastery

• Best online retreat: Insight Meditation Society

• Honorable mention: Shambhala Mountain Center

What is a meditation retreat?

A meditation retreat is an opportunity to go deeper with your meditation practice or learn the techniques to begin one.

For those new to meditation, a meditation retreat is an opportunity to spend time immersing yourself in practice, learn from others in the meditation community, and get the chance to discuss any concerns or questions you might have about meditation in general.

For those with a dedicated practice, a meditation retreat is a way of strengthening your practice, connecting with a community, and going deeper into making practice a part of your life.

Meditation retreats can last anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks to a month or more. There are many options to choose from, and it all depends on you, your time, and what you’d like to get from attending.

How we chose the best meditation retreats

We independently researched and selected the retreats mentioned below based on:

• organization reputation

• appropriateness for beginners to advanced meditators

• retreat offerings

• accommodation options

• facility amenities

• cost

• reviews

Pricing guide

• $ = under $200

• $$ = $201–$500

• $$$ = $501–$1,000

• $$$$ = over $1,000

Our picks for the best meditation retreats in the U.S.

Most meditation retreats focus on exploring one type of meditation.
Below are some of the most popular types of meditation retreats and the best retreats available in the United States.