Retreat & Renewal

Retreat & Renewal at Drala Mountain Center is a wellness retreat in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, set among the mountains and wilderness trails of a contemplative center that has welcomed practitioners for more than 50 years. It suits anyone drawn to a meditation retreat in a quiet natural setting, from first-time visitors to long-time students of Shambhala teachings, indigenous wisdom traditions, body awareness practices, contemplative arts and mindful living.

The center describes its programs as taught by accomplished practitioners and teachers, with something for beginners and advanced students alike. The material for this event does not name a specific teacher, so this page does not either.

What to Expect

Drala Mountain Center offers its programs year-round, and the retreat experience here takes several forms. Some people come for a guided program. Others make a self-guided retreat, booking a room and shaping the days themselves, whether alone, with a loved one or with a group of friends.

A self-guided stay is built around simple, unhurried things:

- Hiking along eight miles of wilderness trails
- Visiting the Great Stupa
- Meditating, journaling, reading or practicing yoga
- Resting under a tree with a good book
- Eating three healthy meals a day

The natural setting is meant for personal introspection and inspiration, and the pace is yours to set.

The center also runs volunteer work programs, such as work weeks at the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya and seasonal set-up and take-down periods when the summer campus is opened or dismantled. These pair outdoor work with meditation, workshops and classes, and with meals and housing provided in exchange. Past take-down schedules described around six hours of work on each work day, with arrival on Sundays, dinner at 6:30 p.m. and a short orientation at 7:30 p.m. Those details belong to the volunteer programs, not to a standard retreat stay.

The Setting

Drala Mountain Center sits in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado, in the United States. It was formerly known as Shambhala Mountain Center, and the land is home to the Great Stupa of Dharmakaya, a landmark visitors can walk to and spend time near. Lodging comes in several types, including lodge dorm and single rooms, and meals are part of the stay on the retreat programs described above.

Before You Go

No prior experience is required. The programs are described as open to beginners as well as advanced students, and a self-guided retreat asks only that you bring your own intention for the time.

Gift certificates are available for those who would like to give a stay or program to someone else. Program credit bought this way expires two years after it is issued.

Because the center offers many programs on varying dates, check the current offering that matches the kind of stay you want, whether a guided program, a self-guided retreat or a volunteer work period, before planning your travel.