How to book a retreat

and important information to read before booking

A retreat, although often highly enjoyable, is not the same as a holiday or workshop.
A retreat situation is a place where the boundaries are defined specifically to create a real opportunity to step outside familiar patterns and explore different ways of being. Any retreat is a structure we give ourselves to for a set period of time. This can put us in touch with who we really are and can clarify what we truly value. The boundaries provide an essential structure for the retreat, to support meditation, reflection, community living and other Buddhist practices, which makes the experience both challenging and hugely rewarding.

We ask you to come being aware of this and willing to support the conditions of our retreats to support you and the other participants.

We have changed our website and booking system.

To make a booking:

Please select the retreat you would like to attend (please choose the appropriate experience level for you) and go through the registration process, which includes adding your name, contact details, health, diet, emergency contact information and payment details. You will receive email receipts and confirmation of your booking.

If you have any questions that are not answered by our FAQs page you can call us on 01825 733 764 or email us via the contact page.

 

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please read the following Terms and Conditions before making your booking:

BOOKINGS - DEPOSITS & PAYMENTS

Bookings can be made online, or by phone using a debit or credit card, or by post with a cheque.
Cheques should be made payable to 'Rivendell Buddhist Retreat Centre'.

No booking will be finalised without receipt of a deposit.

£80 deposit for weekends, midweek or long weekends

£100 deposit for week-long or longer retreats.

If booking within six weeks of the start of the retreat, please pay the full amount.

All deposit amounts are non-refundable and non-transferable in all circumstances.

COST OF RETREATS

Please pay the full rate for each retreat you book, if you can, to help support our activities.
The concessionary rate is only for those on a very low income
(e.g. the unemployed in receipt of benefits, and students).
If you are in financial difficulty, further concessions can sometimes be arranged - please contact us in advance to discuss options.

NEW! PAY MONTHLY OPTION

PLEASE NOTE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO SET THIS UP, it is not currently available yet, but we hope will be soon.

We are using a new booking system which will hopefully allow retreats to be paid for by recurring payments for our week-long or longer retreats to be taken over a period of time automatically, your card will be charged once a month until the payment is completed usually 6 weeks prior to a retreat (this option isn't available if booking close in time to the retreat when full payment will be required). The amount will be shown at the time of your booking and receipt email sent.

The aim is to make retreats more affordable and accessible to more people. We hope this is helpful.

CANCELLATION POLICY

If you wish to cancel your place on a retreat, we require a minimum notice of 4 calendar weeks before a retreat is due to start.

Cancelling more than 6 weeks before a retreat: full refund minus the deposit.

Cancelling 4 to 6 weeks before the retreat:
if we can fill your place, full refund minus the deposit:
if we can't fill your place, half refund minus the deposit.

Cancelling less than 4 weeks before the retreat:
any refund will be at Rivendell’s discretion, depending on circumstances.

Please let us know as soon as possible if you need to cancel, as there may be other people waiting for a retreat place .

Confirmation

No booking is final until payment is received in full and your booking is processed by a member of the Rivendell team.

The full balance must be paid 6 weeks prior to the start date of the retreat. We reserve the right not to accept a booking if the balance is unpaid, in which case no refund of deposit payments will be made.

Experience level

Ensure you have chosen a retreat appropriate to your level of experience:
Introductory, Triratna, Triratna Intensive or Order members.
If your experience level is not appropriate we reserve the right not to accept a booking, in which case any payment will be refunded.

Waiting list

If the retreat you wanted to attend is full at time of trying to book, there is an option to add yourself to the waiting list.

You will be contacted if a space becomes available.

An automated email goes out to the whole waiting list, and whoever books first receives the space. We are unable to administrate a place being offered one by one, as this requires waiting for people to reply, and often, it is a last-minute space.

ACCOMMODATION

Single sex bedrooms

Accomodation is upstairs in single-sex bedrooms shared with other retreatants, normally between 3–4 people per room with each person having their own single bed. The photos below give an idea of the rooms.
It is also possible to camp. Please let us know in advance if you intend to do so.

Room Sharing 

When booking a retreat here you agree to share a room, unless you wish to camp. If you are coming with a friend and wish to be accommodated in the same shared bedroom as them, please inform us when booking.

Single room

We only have one single room, which is allocated to a person with a medical condition, disability or neurodiversity that impacts room sharing. Please contact the office prior to booking to discuss your needs, if this is an issue for you.

FOOD & DRINK

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Vegan food

Food at Rivendell is healthy, tasty and vegan (vegetarian, but without eggs or dairy) and is prepared by our team of volunteer cooks based on years of experience from our own cook book and recipes.

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Drinks

We provide a range of teas, fruit and herbal teas, coffees (and de-caffeinated alternatives)

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Milks

We provide soya milk and oat milk, (non-dairy alternatives), if you are unable to drink those please bring your own alternative.
We don't provide cow's milk
(we prefer to use non dairy products wherever possible).

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Restricted diets

Can only be provided for genuine medical reasons and we will need to be informed on your booking.
To help our volunteer cooks, please keep dietary requests to absolutely essential medical requirements only.

Age

Bookings can only be accepted if you are aged 18 years or over.

Please click on each item below for more information

Health - You agree to inform us when you book of any physical, emotional or mental health issues

which could affect your own or others’ participation in the retreat. Please also inform the retreat team when you arrive at Rivendell. Any information given will not be communicated to other retreatants and is treated in the strictest confidence.

Refrain from intoxicants - We ask you to refrain from smoking, alcohol, sexual activity and illicit drugs whilst on retreat. 

This is to create good conditions for deeper awareness of ourselves and others on the retreat.

Wifi - Please note that there is no wi-fi or internet access available for retreatant's use
Devices - Retreats are a precious opportunity to reduce input. Please don't use mobile phones, laptops, tablets, audio players, etc

in the retreat centre or grounds during the retreat.

Attendance - You agree to attend the whole retreat from start to finish

It is disruptive to everyone on a retreat to arrive late, leave early or take excursions. Whilst on retreat please do not use your car, if you bring one, and please stay within walking distance of the retreat centre.

Arrival - Please arrive between 5pm and 7pm on the first day of your retreat.

Retreats start with a light supper at about 7pm.

Helping out - You will be asked to help with domestic tasks: washing up, laying out tables, serving food serving etc. and a clear up at the end
Departure Weekend retreats end between 3-4 pm. Long weekends end around 2 pm. All other retreats end around 10am on the last day.
Travel - Rivendell is easily accessible by public transport and is a short taxi ride away from local rail stations.

More detailed travel information will be sent with your booking confirmation and is available on the travel page of our website, as is our lift sharing scheme.

Bookshop payments - If you would like to make bookshop purchases, you can either bring cash on the retreat or make a card payment

at the end of the retreat (see one of the office team). 

If you have recently attended a retreat and need to settle some outstanding money, please use this link to make a payment. Thank you.