Vipassana
6 Day Meditation Retreat
6th - 11th April 2027
Monchique, Portugal

Join us for six days of Vipassana at Karuna Retreat Center, high in the Serra de Monchique above Portugal's Algarve coast. It's one of the region's most secluded and silent corners, among forested mountain trails with natural thermal springs close by, and a fitting place to slow down and learn to see clearly

Vipassana means "seeing clearly", seeing things as they really are, not as we fear or hope them to be. It's the insight practice the Buddha taught, one of the oldest forms of Buddhist meditation and one of the most direct, and it leads the way towards awakening.

For six days we set everyday life aside and give ourselves fully to practice. The retreat is held in noble silence with phones switched off, and each day runs from 6:30am through sittings, walking meditation, chanting and yoga, closing with an evening Dhamma talk that brings the day's practice into focus.

The teaching draws on three streams of the insight tradition: the moment-by-moment noting of Mahasi Sayadaw, body scanning in the style of S.N. Goenka, and the natural awareness of Ajahn Chah's Thai Forest tradition. Each has a slightly different way in, and over the six days you get to try them all and see what actually opens things up for you. Alongside this we practise Metta Bhāvanā (loving-kindness) and Tonglen (compassionate exchange), so clear seeing is held by a warm and open heart.

This is a retreat of genuine commitment. From the third day, some sittings are held as sittings of stillness, where we stay unmoving for the full session. Discomfort will come, and we meet it with curiosity and equanimity, without fighting it or running from it. In doing so you start to see for yourself that sensations arise, change and pass, and that you don't have to react to each one. Impermanence, suffering and non-self become things you've actually seen, and this is where the deepest insight begins.

Beginners are warmly welcome. You don't need prior experience, only a willingness to show up fully for each sit.

The Details

Sample Schedule

Our retreats are rooted in practice. Each day follows a clear, disciplined schedule of sitting meditation (guided, group and solo), morning chanting, yoga and pranayama, Dharma talks, shared meals and time in nature. Days start early and there's plenty of time on the cushion, including strong determination sits and back-to-back sessions. The structure creates a strong container, so you can let go of everything else and simply practise. The rhythm is the same across all our retreats. What changes is the theme running through the talks and enquiry.

6:30 – 9:00 am

Morning Practice

Chanting, meditation & yoga

9:00 – 10:00 am

Light Breakfast

Tea, coffee & fruit

10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Guidance & Group Sits

Four 20-min sits with walking

12:00 – 2:00 pm

Lunch & Rest

Lunch, rest & walks

2:00 – 4:00 pm

Afternoon Deepening

Group, guided & solo sits

4:00 – 6:00 pm

Workshop & Tea

Guided workshop, then tea

6:00 – 7:30 pm

Dinner

Community meal

7:30 – 9:30 pm

Dharma Talk & Evening Sits

Talk, chant & sits

Karuna Retreat Center

Our venue is Karuna Retreat Center, literally translated as “Compassion.” Karuna is a non-profit retreat and meditation center that has been inspired, conceived and nurtured by the love of many friends from all around the world.

Accommodation

The accommodation is the same across the retreat venue, with multiple twin or triple rooms + single beds in each room.

Location

 

Address: Karuna Retreat Center, Centro de Retiros Karuna, Apartado 1 8550, Monchique, Portugal 

How to arrive: ​For those in Portugal, it might be a few hours’ drive to Monchique. The closest airport is Faro. There are cheaper flights if you fly to Lisbon and trains that go to Faro each day. We recommend arriving a day earlier if you are flying from abroad, to ensure you are rested for the retreat.

Reserve Your Place

Dates: 6th – 11th April 2027
Arrival Time: 2-4pm on the 6th
Departure: Time By 2pm on the 11th
Early-Bird Pricing Until: 10th February 2027

Standard

Full Amount: €650

Early‑Bird: €595

Deposits

  • Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Payments

  • To qualify for early-bird pricing, full payment must be received by the indicated date.

  • If a deposit is paid but the full balance isn't received by the early-bird date, the booking reverts to the standard rate.

  • If you book within 6 weeks of the retreat start date, payment is due in full at the time of booking.

Remaining Balance

  • The remaining balance (total cost minus deposit) is due at least 6 weeks before the retreat start date.

  • We'll email you a link to pay the remaining balance once your deposit has been received.

Cancellation Policy

  • If you wish to cancel, please email us as soon as possible.

  • We get it, plans change; if you cancel 6+ weeks before the start date, we'll refund everything paid, minus the deposit;

  • Or, if you'd rather, transfer your payment to a future retreat within 18 months, subject to availability.

  • If you cancel within 6 weeks of the event, the deposit is forfeited as usual, and we'll refund 50% of whatever you've paid beyond that.

In the unlikely event that we cancel the retreat, you'll receive a full refund of everything you've paid.

Payment Terms