With Ven Thubten Wangchuk: Sunday 9th November to Friday 5th December. Those who complete the retreat will also be invited to join a Yamantaka Solitary Hero self-initiation on the 6th and 7th December. Please note, it is possible the retreat will be extended by two days if more time is needed for mantra recitation. (ONSITE ONLY)

Ven Wangchuk has kindly agreed to return to lead a one month Yamantaka Nearing retreat, his fourth at Land of Joy. Ven Wangchuk has studied with many great masters of this and the previous generation, as well as having studied many commentaries. His teachings on the practice are both clear and reliable. Those who complete the mantra count will have the opportunity to complete the self-initiation on the 8th & 9th December.

With Alison Murdoch & Anna Colao: Friday 30th January to Sunday 1st February.

As we step into a new year, this weekend offers an opportunity to slow down, release what no longer serves us, and reconnect with our inner capacity for joy and wholeness. Drawing on the deep wisdom of the Buddha, we’ll explore how letting go—of craving, aversion and confusion—creates the space for joy to naturally arise.

The retreat will offer a rare opportunity to step out of the noise of daily life and into a safe, nurturing space where we can reconnect with our body, align heart and mind, and begin to understand the habitual patterns of craving, aversion and confusion that obscure our natural clarity. Together we’ll explore what it means to let go with warmth, playfulness and self-compassion so that we can be a more beneficial presence in the world.

With Roy Sutherwood: Saturday 7th February to Saturday 14th February. Everyone is welcome but it is most suitable to those who have some stability in their meditation practice.

Land of Joy warmly welcomes back the much-loved annual Mahamudra retreat. In the dark winter days, join us to turn inward under the guidance of the experienced and kind-hearted teacher Roy Sutherwood. The retreat is open to both newer and more experienced meditators, and is most suitable for those with a little stability in meditation.

With Phara Khenchen Rinpoche (Tulku-la) and Di Carroll: Monday 24th February to Wednesday 4th March. Requirements: See retreat information page

We are delighted to host a 10-day White Tara Long Life Retreat dedicated to the long life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Held during the Days of Miracles—the auspicious period after Tibetan New Year (Losar) when virtuous actions are said to be powerfully multiplied—this retreat offers an exceptional chance to gather merit and make strong prayers for His Holiness’s continued health and activity.

This will be the first retreat Phara Khenchen Rinpoche (Tulku-la) will lead at Land of Joy and we are extremely grateful to him for offering his precious time and knowledge, supported by the wonderful Di Carroll.

With Paula Chichester (supported by Yeshe Palmo), Sunday 10th April to Thursday 7th May. Requirements: See retreat information page.

Land of Joy warmly welcomes the return of the Vajrayogini Enabling Action 100,000 Mantra Retreat, an important step for those wishing to deepen their connection with Vajrayogini. It offers the chance to accumulate the required mantra recitations within the supportive and peaceful conditions of retreat. More than this, it creates space for the heart to open, for clarity to grow, and for Vajrayogini’s fearless wisdom to become ever more alive within us.

With Paula Chichester & Lou Beaumont, Friday 15th to Sunday 17th May.

This weekend retreat at Land of Joy is an invitation to open our hearts to the power of loving kindness — for ourselves, for others, and for the world we share.

Through a blend of teachings, guided meditations, group discussion, and gentle body practices, teachers Lou Beaumont and Paula Chichester will guide us in exploring kindness as a profound source of strength and happiness. Together, we will look closely at what supports kindness, what can prevent it, and how we can cultivate it in daily life with courage, balance, and warmth.

With Paul Wielgus, Friday 19th to Monday 22nd June.

Join us for a beautiful, relaxing, and deeply meaningful gathering in the heart of nature—held over the luminous days of the Summer Solstice at the serene sanctuary of Land of Joy. This is not just a retreat. It’s a remembering. A re-rooting. A celebration. Over five slow, sun-warmed days, we’ll immerse ourselves in the wild stillness and soft rhythms of the land. Together. This is a space to unplug from urgency and reclaim connection—with yourself, with others, and with the living world.

With Liza Weber, Friday 26th to Sunday 28th June.

This retreat, “Tasting Kum Nye: Tibetan Yoga, Massage, and Visualisation”, introduces participants to a series of Tibetan yoga exercises and massage techniques that guide body and mind into a state of profound relaxation. Indeed, as the founder of the Nyingma Institute, Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche, explains, Kum Nye can bring about “a vital and lasting quality greater than the feeling of well-being.” By joining this retreat, you’ll give yourself the gift of slowing down and reconnecting with your body and mind

With Ven Mary Reavey, Friday 3rd to Saturday 11th July.

The Buddhist path to awakening is often described as two wings of a bird: wisdom and bodhichitta. Only when both wings are fully developed can we truly take flight. In this retreat, Ven. Mary Reavey will guide us in exploring these two essential aspects of practice. We will look more deeply into the Lamrim—the graduated path to enlightenment—focusing on cultivating wisdom and the compassionate intention of bodhichitta. The emphasis will be not only on intellectual understanding, but on using meditation to feel and experience the teachings directly, so that they become a living part of our practice.

With Wendy Ridley, Friday 17th – Sunday 19th July.

Feeling overwhelmed by global crises, work, family, or personal challenges? Seeking practical tools for positive change and emotional resilience? This experiential weekend retreat is designed for you.

We will explore embodied mindfulness and universal ethical values in this Level 1 of the 16 Guidelines for Life Program developed by the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom (FDCW). The program offers a simple yet profound framework for reflecting on how we think, act, relate to others, and find meaning. Through mindfulness, self-inquiry, and ethical reflection, we will gain tools to foster well-being, purpose, and inner strength.

With François Schick: Friday 4th – Sunday 6th September.

This weekend at Land of Joy, François Schick will guide us into a gentle exploration of the second pāramitā — ethics and morality. Together, we will deepen our understanding of this essential practice and the ways it supports a meaningful life.

Throughout the retreat, François will invite us to reflect on how ethical conduct nurtures inner peace and how our choices shape both our present and future through the law of karma. Rather than abstract philosophy, we will focus on how these timeless teachings can be applied to the small moments of daily life — in our words, our actions, and our relationships.

With Geshe Rinchen, Thursday 25th September – Friday 2nd October. 

Emptiness lies at the heart of the Buddha’s wisdom: the key to freedom from confusion and the source of genuine compassion. Over the course of this retreat, Geshe Rinchen will guide you through a step-by-step exploration of emptiness as presented in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, drawing inspiration from the works of great masters such as Je Tsongkhapa.

Through a balance of study, reflection, and meditation, you’ll have the opportunity to engage both intellectually and experientially with this essential teaching — discovering how understanding the dependent nature of reality can bring greater clarity, peace, and kindness into everyday life.

With Ven Mary Reavey, Friday 25th September – Friday 2nd October. 

Shamatha is the development of attention which enables us to focus our attention on an object without agitation or dullness, eventually reaching the clear mind of. Shamata (calm abiding) is the clear mind that provides us with the focus we need to positively transform our minds for ourselves and others. We all need to start where we are so no matter what our level of meditation might be, you will find benefit from training your attention.

With Andy Wistreich, Friday 9th – Friday 16th October. Requirements: To have received a Yamantaka Solitary Hero Initiation

Join us at Land of Joy for a rare and precious opportunity to engage deeply with the Yamantaka Solitary Hero practice — one of the most profound methods of Highest Yoga Tantra. Guided by Andy Wistreich, this retreat offers the chance to strengthen your connection with this powerful path in a peaceful and supportive environment.

During the retreat, we will engage in the Yamantaka long sadhana, short self-initiation, and completion stage practices as transmitted by Geshe Wangchen. Texts for these practices will be provided to registered participants.

Come and immerse yourself in this sacred practice in the tranquil setting of Land of Joy, supported by community, lineage, and the clear, warm guidance of an experienced teacher.

With Ven Mary Reavey, Friday 30th October – Sunday 1st November. 

Tibetan Buddhism is a rich spiritual tradition that combines philosophical teachings, meditation practices, and ways of living with compassion and wisdom. It offers practical guidance for understanding the mind, working with emotions, and developing clarity, kindness, and insight.

This weekend retreat is a short introduction, designed for anyone curious about Tibetan Buddhism who wants to learn a little and see if they would like to explore further. You’ll touch on foundational Buddhist concepts such as bodhicitta (the mind of awakening), wisdom, ethical conduct, karma, the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, rebirth, impermanence, death and dying, and taking refuge in the Three Jewels.

No prior experience is needed — you can come simply curious and see how these teachings resonate with you.