Top California Meditation Retreats

Name: 3 Day Plant Sacrament Retreat / San Diego CA / March 21st – 23rd
Start: 2025-03-21T11:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-03-23T16:00:00-07:00
Location: Virtual Events

California is home to some of the world’s most sought after meditation retreats and retreat centers. In fact, it’s argued that Esalen could be credited with starting the concept of the modern day ‘meditation retreat’ as most people conceive it in the West, offering raw beauty, mineral baths, and co-ed nudity today as it did when it opened in 1960. Whether you’re after a spiritual reset, or an immersion into the meditation practice of your choice, here are the meditation retreat experiences worth exploring in California.

Esalen

If self discovery is your intention, you’ll find a wealth of programmed retreats at Esalen in Big Sur, with a broad mix of teachers and healing modalities. Esalen is a not-for-profit holistic educational center offering wild comfort and space for emergent transformation and internal exploration since 1962. There are two ways to visit Esalen. 1. You can stay on the Big Sur campus for a weekend or week-long course. weekends and courses are typically led by visiting faculty who represent a spectrum of disciplines, experiences, and perspectives. 2. You can join Esalen for a lightly-guided week. This is one step up from a self-guided retreat, as you’ll have access to partial programming.

1440 Multiversity

In Scotts Valley, be sure to explore the 1440 Multiversity campus, which offers a range of beautiful programs with great teachers across spiritual and wellness traditions, from Adyashanti to Janet Stone. 1440 Multiversity aligns with organizations, thought leaders, foundations and individuals who have a similar commitment to the greater good of humanity. They curate world-class experiences for those seeking to make a difference in the world. This is a bucket-list experience for many!

Spirit Rock

In Woodacre California, you’ll discover Spirit Rock a revered Buddhist center offering guided retreats and programs with teachers like Jack Kornfield and Trudy Goodman. On the land, online, or on-demand, Spirit Rock supports you at every stage of your path to grow a vibrant, nourishing spiritual life. You can drop in for a practice or take part in a retreat experience to practice Insight Meditation, Dharma teachings, and mindfulness in a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to the liberation of all beings.

New Camaldoli Hermitage

Seeking a holy atmosphere? Two religious centers that have opened their doors to all include the popular New Camaldoli Hermitage run by Roman Catholic Monks and La Casa De Maria in Santa Barbara.The community in Big Sur is situated in the rugged coastal mountains overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Located on 899 acres at an elevation of 1300 feet, the Hermitage is surrounded by California chaparral, redwood, madrone, bay laurel, and an oak forest. The view is of both ocean and woods – a natural setting profoundly conducive to the contemplative way of life.

More California retreat options …

Our list isn’t complete without mentioning:

You can also explore these California Yoga Retreats and upcoming Plant Medicine Retreats in California. We exist to support people in discovering coherence between the head the the heart… discover our recommended healers, discover practices like guided breathwork, and sign up to get our personal wellness tips to your inbox.