• About
    • About Us Overview
    • Thich Nhat Hanh
    • Meet Our Community
    • Employment Opportunities
    • News
  • Learn & Listen
    • Learn & Listen Overview
    • Media & Resources
    • Library
    • Creativity
    • Online Courses
  • Mindfulness
    • Mindfulness Overview
    • Foundations of Mindfulness
    • Mindful Living
    • Trauma-Informed Mindfulness
    • Guided Meditations
  • Community
    • Join Our Community
    • Initiatives
    • Journal
    • Start a Sangha
    • Wake Up (18-35)
    • Become a Monastic
    • Order of Interbeing (OI)
    • BIPOC Sanghas
    • LGBTQIA+ Communities
    • Lay Dharma Teachers
  • Visit
    • Visit Overview
    • Events
    • Types of Visits
    • Register for a Retreat
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
  • Bookshop
    • Overview
    • Shop Online
  • Donate
  • About
    • About Us Overview
    • Thich Nhat Hanh
    • Meet Our Community
    • Employment Opportunities
    • News
  • Learn & Listen
    • Learn & Listen Overview
    • Media & Resources
    • Library
    • Creativity
    • Online Courses
  • Mindfulness
    • Mindfulness Overview
    • Foundations of Mindfulness
    • Mindful Living
    • Trauma-Informed Mindfulness
    • Guided Meditations
  • Community
    • Join Our Community
    • Initiatives
    • Journal
    • Start a Sangha
    • Wake Up (18-35)
    • Become a Monastic
    • Order of Interbeing (OI)
    • BIPOC Sanghas
    • LGBTQIA+ Communities
    • Lay Dharma Teachers
  • Visit
    • Visit Overview
    • Events
    • Types of Visits
    • Register for a Retreat
    • Volunteer
    • Contact Us
  • Bookshop
    • Overview
    • Shop Online
  • Donate
  1. Home
  2. Plan Your Visit
  3. Register for a Retreat

Register for a Retreat

Hero Secondary
Family Retreat 02

Turn Your Inbox into a Dharma Door

Subscribe to our Coyote Tracks newsletter on Substack to receive event announcements, writing, art, music, and meditations from Deer Park monastics.

Support Deer Park

Donations are our main source of support, so every offering is greatly appreciated. Your contribution helps us to keep the monastery open to receive guests throughout the year.

Donate
    • About Us
    • Learn & Listen
    • Mindfulness
    • Community
    • Plan Your Visit
    • Online Courses
    • Journal
    • Coyote Tracks
    • Bookshop
  • INITIATIVES
    • Thich Nhat Hanh Museum
    • Thich Nhat Hanh School of Interbeing
    • Sister Chan Khong Film
    • Happy Farm
  • Publishing
    • The Hidden Mountain Record
    • The Mindfulness Bell
    • Plum Village App
    • Podcasts
  • Donate
    • Contact Us

Plum Village Practice Centers

  • Blue Cliff Monastery

    3 Mindfulness Road
    Pine Bush, NY 12566
    United States 

  • Deer Park Monastery

    2499 Melru Lane
    Escondido, CA 92026
    United States

  • Magnolia Grove Monastery

    123 Towles Rd 
    Batesville, MS 38606 
    United States

  • Stream of Compassion Mindfulness Practice Centre

    670 Concession 20 W, Tiny, ON L9M 0H6, Canada

  • Plum Village

    437 Chemin du Pey
    
24240 Thénac
    France

  • European Institute of Applied Buddhism

    Schaumburgweg 3 Germany
    D-51545 Waldbröl
    Germany

  • Healing Spring Monastery

    2 Rue Pascal Jardin
    77510 Verdelot
    France

  • Maison de l’Inspir

    8 Rue des Fans
    77510 Villeneuve-sur-Bellot
    France

  • Thai Plum Village

    Pong Ta Long
    Pak Chong District
    Nakhon Ratchasima 30130
    Thailand

  • Asian Institute of Applied Buddhism

    Lotus Pond Temp, Ngong Ping
    Lantau Island
    New Territories
    Hong Kong SAR China

  • Stream Entering Monastery

    530 Porcupine Ridge Road 
    Porcupine Ridge VIC VIC 3461
    Australia

  • Mountain Spring Monastery

    2657 Bells Line of Road
    Bilpin NSW 2758
    Australia

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

We offer two types of retreats: General Practice Retreats and Special Retreats. For available dates or to register for a General Practice Retreat stay, please scroll down for more information. For info about Special Retreats, please click here. 

TYPES OF RETREATS

Special Retreats: Throughout the year we offer multi-day retreats around a specific subject matter and/or to people who identify as belonging to specific groups. These retreats include, but are not limited to: Teen Camp, Wake Up Retreat for young adults (18-35), and Family Retreat. 

You can expect to be accompanied by many friends at the Special Retreats, as we often welcome 200-300 people for each retreat. We receive overnight guests only on the listed arrival days. To see our Special Retreats schedule, please visit our calendar of events page here. 

General Practice Retreats: Throughout the duration of one or two weeks, or sometimes a weekend, you spend each day following the schedule of the resident monastics and lay community. Participants enjoy the daily schedule of the monastery and the basic practices such as sitting meditation, walking meditation, and mindful eating. To see our retreat schedule and pricing information, please scroll down for more information.

In addition to the 50+ monastics living here full time, the General Practice Retreats vary in size but are much smaller than the Special Retreats. We receive overnight guests only on the listed arrival days. 

Wake Up 20250430 9
Our Hamlets

Deer Park Monastery is composed of two separate living areas called “hamlets”.

The hamlets are self-contained communities where the monastics and lay practitioners live, eat, practice, work and relax as a spiritual family. They are also where guests stay during multi-day overnight retreats.

For our larger Special Retreats, mostly everyone stays, practices, and enjoys meals together in Solidity Hamlet. 

For our smaller General Practice Retreats, folks stay either in Solidity or Clarity Hamlet, depending on their gender, and mostly practice and enjoy meals in the hamlets in which they are lodging in. 

 

Solidity Hamlet is where the Deer Park monks (or “brothers”) live and practice. If you are a man or a nonbinary friend who was AMAB (assigned male at birth) or a mixed gender couple, please register to stay in Solidity Hamlet. There are 6bed or 3bed dorms available in Solidity Hamlet. There is an attached bathroom, including shower, sink, and toilet in all dorm rooms. Camping and bringing your own tent is also an option, and there is a restroom and shower block area in the campground area. 

Clarity Hamlet is where the Deer Park nuns (or “sisters”) live and practice. If you are a woman or a nonbinary friend who was AFAB (assigned female at birth), please register to stay in Clarity Hamlet. For indoor lodging, there are only 6bed dorm rooms available, and each one includes a bathroom with a shower, sink, and toilet. Camping and bringing your own tent is also an option, and there are restrooms and showers near by. 

Choose a Hamlet to Start the Registration Process for a General Practice Retreat

Solidity Hamlet

Solidity Hamlet is where men, nonbinary friends who were AMAB, & mixed gender families stay alongside the monks.

AVAILABLE ARRIVAL DATES FOR GENERAL PRACTICE RETREATS

  • August 15: One week stay only
  • August 29: One or two week stay
  • September 5: One week stay only
  • September 26: One or two week stay
  • October 3: One week stay only
  • October 24: Weekend stay only
  • October 31: One or two week stay
  • November 14: One or two week stay
  • November 21: One or two week stay
  • December 5: One or two week stay
  • December 19: One or two week stay
  • December 26: One or two week stay
  • January 9: One or two week stay
  • January 23: Weekend stay only

Regarding future dates, our office will add more dates when they are determined. For additional information, such as pricing or possible financial assistance support, please scroll down to the Important Information section. 

 

Register
IMG 20250209 025548 2

Clarity Hamlet

Clarity Hamlet is where women & nonbinary friends who were AFAB stay alongside the nuns. 

AVAILABLE ARRIVAL DATES FOR GENERAL PRACTICE RETREATS

  • August 15: One or two week stay
  • August 22: One or two week stay; weekend stay is CLOSED
  • August 29: One or two week stay
  • September 5: One week stay only
  • September 19: One week or two week stay; weekend stay is CLOSED
  • September 26: One or two week stay
  • October 3: One or two week stay
  • October 10: One week stay only
  • October 31: One or two week stay
  • November 7: One or two week stay
  • November 14: One or two week stay
  • November 21: One or two week stay
  • December 5: One or two week stay
  • December 12: One or two week stay
  • December 19: One or two week stay
  • December 26: One or two week stay
  • January 2: One or two week stay
  • January 9: One or two week stay

Regarding future dates, our office will add more dates when they are determined. For additional information, such as pricing or possible financial assistance support, please scroll down to the Important Information section. 

 

Register
IMG 20250209 025553 1
Please Read

Important Information About 
General Practice Retreats

Deer Park is located about 40-miles from downtown San Diego and six miles from downtown Escondido. We are closest to I-15 and HWY-78.

Taxi in Escondido: To take a cab from Escondido, you can contact either All City Taxi Cab at 760-747-8888 or A1 Taxi Cab of Escondido at 760-690-2080.

The nearest airports to Deer Park include:

  • San Diego International Airport (SAN) is about 40 miles away with a typical travel time of about an hour by car. From there you can travel by car, train, or bus. More details below.
  • John Wayne Airport (SNA), located to the north in Orange County, is about 75 miles away with a typical travel time of about 1.5 hours by car. From there you can travel by car, train or bus.
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located to the north in Los Angeles County, is about 115 miles away with a typical travel time of 2.5 hours by car, depending on traffic. From there you can travel by car, train, or bus.

The Escondido Transit Center is serviced by SPRINTER Light Rail. SPRINTER travels between Oceanside Transit Center on the coast inland to the Escondido Transit Center.

Visitors traveling south can take Amtrak or Metrolink to Oceanside. 

Visitors who land at San Diego International Airport can take the COASTER Rail (after a short bus ride) to Oceanside.

You can use the North County Transit District Trip Planner to get information on travel times and rates for both SPRINTER and COASTER.

Most buses arriving in Escondido and traveling within Escondido, start and terminate at the Escondido Transit Center including Greyhound Bus service.

Within Escondido, the closest bus stop from the monastery is located 3-miles away from the transit center at the corner of Rincon and Broadway. This is serviced by Route 358/359 of the BREEZE bus service operated by North County Transit District. Travel time is about 2O minutes.

It is possible to take a Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus from the San Diego Airport to downtown San Diego and transfer to a bus that takes you to the Escondido Transit Center. Total travel time is about 1.5 hours.

Only the arrival dates and stay lengths listed for each hamlet are what we have available for overnight stays.

Only the arrival dates and stay lengths listed for each hamlet are what we have available for overnight stays.

Arrival time on Fridays is between 2 – 4 PM. Departure for 1 or 2 week-long stays is after breakfast at 9 AM on the Friday of departure. For weekend stays, departure is at 3 PM on Sunday.

Arrival time on Fridays is between 2 – 4 PM. Departure for 1 or 2 week-long stays is after breakfast at 9 AM on the Friday of departure. For weekend stays, departure is at 3 PM on Sunday.

We kindly ask that folks who register be able to stay for the full length of the retreats we are offering.

Please do not make travel arrangements to the monastery until you receive full confirmation from our registration office, which typically takes place within a week or two after payment has been made.

We kindly ask that folks who register be able to stay for the full length of the retreats we are offering.

Payment is required when registering. Reservations made without payment will be canceled.
 

Please do not make travel arrangements to the monastery until you receive full confirmation from our registration office, which typically takes place within a week or two after payment has been made.

For cancellations made prior to arrival day, partial refunds will be available with a cancellation fee of $10 per night for adults, and $5 per night for teens and children 6 years and older. Cancellations made on or after the retreat arrival day do not qualify for a refund. Registration is non-transferable.

  • 3 Bed Dorm (available ONLY in Solidity Hamlet) – Adult $140/night | Teen $112/night | Child $70/night
  • 6 Bed Dorm – Adult $100/night | Teen $80/night | Child $50/night
  • Bring Your Own Tent – Reservations are per person, not per family, nor per tent. - Adult $70/night | Teen $56/night | Child $35/night

Payment is required when registering. Reservations made without payment will be canceled.
 

For cancellations made prior to arrival day, partial refunds will be available with a cancellation fee of $10 per night for adults, and $5 per night for teens and children 6 years and older. Cancellations made on or after the retreat arrival day do not qualify for a refund. Registration is non-transferable.

General Practice Retreat Sample Schedule:

5:00 AM – Wake up bell
5:45 AM – Sitting meditation
6:45 AM – Exercise time
7:30 AM – Breakfast
9:00 AM – Working meditation
11:30 AM – Walking meditation
12:30 PM – Lunch
2:00 PM – Mindful rest period
3:00 PM – Class or meeting
4:30 PM – Walking or sitting and chanting meditation
6:00 PM – Light dinner
7:30 PM – Class or personal study time
9:30 PM – Noble silence
10:30 PM – Lights out and bedtime

For those in need of a possible reduction in cost, please see here to apply for a Contemplative Fellowship. 


Upcoming Special Retreats

See below for our upcoming Special Retreats. Please note that we will NOT be hosting a Holiday Retreat this year.

  • 54264 DAE B195 4 DD2 A7 C3 010584 F0 E913 1 105 c
    August 29 / 4:00 pm - September 1 1:30 pmAlaska Mindfulness Retreat

    Join Deer Park Monastics in Alaska for the "Peace is Every Step" Mindfulness Retreat, in partnership with Floating Leaf Sangha.

    Read
  • Rains retreat
    October 17, 2025 2:00 pm - January 26, 2026 9:00 am}Rains Retreat 2025-2026

    Rains Retreat: Three Months of Engaged Mindfulness Practice

    Read
View More

Other Ways to Visit Deer Park

We hold a variety of different events at Deer Park each year. In addition to our frequent Day of Mindfulness events, we offer longer retreats and annual events.

Day of mindfulness
A Day of Mindfulness

Enjoy a day of mindfulness and peace at Deer Park. On most Sundays we host an in-person day for adults and families, including kids from 9AM - 2PM. Space is limited and these events do fill up. Advanced registration is required.

Events
90 day retreat
90-Day Rains Retreat

Taking place from late October to late January, this sacred period — deeply rooted in an ancient practice tradition which dates back to the time of the Buddha — offers an opportunity to dwell peacefully at Deer Park Monastery while nurturing your mind and spirit.

Rains Retreat 2025-2026
Teen camp
Teen Camp

At this annual summer event, teens will learn the art of self-care through the practices of mindfulness. They learn skills to help them embrace and transform strong feelings of fear, anger, and despair, and to be happy, healthy, and free.

Teen Camp 2025
Group photo of volunteers
Volunteer

Before, during, and after some special retreats, we need additional help, so we invite mindfulness practitioners who have already attended a 7-day retreat (or longer) at Deer Park to apply for the volunteer program on an as-needed basis.

Volunteer
Bipoc
Events

Special events at Deer Park occur throughout the year. From the Lunar New Year’s Eve Ceremony and Celebration, to Vesak Celebration (Buddha’s Birthday), Day of the Dead Celebration, and more, we invite you to spend time in the great hidden mountain.

Events

Explore Online Courses

From time to time we offer multi-week courses related to mindfulness, the teachings and life of Thich Nhat Hanh, and a variety of similar subjects. Please see our schedule of upcoming courses.

Upcoming Courses
Laptop mockup

Plum Village App

Take the Deer Park Monastery and Plum Village community with you wherever you go. The Plum Village app is designed to cultivate mindfulness, compassion, and joy through guided meditations, deep relaxations, practice poems, bells of mindfulness, and other practices — all through a mobile device.

Open Plum Village Mobile App in the App Store
Open Plum Village Mobile App in the Google Play Store