Seven-Day Retreat at Garrison Institute, 11–18 October 2026

BOOKING WILL OPEN AT THE END OF JANUARY 2026 – Subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of the page to be notified of ticket launch dates and more.

For those who love to dive deeply into the heart of the non-dual understanding, retreats offer an unprecedented opportunity: seven days with Rupert and friends, nestled in a beautiful location in nature, where we steep together in the peace of our true nature. Retreats gather us in the heart of being, where we spend our days in self-abidance, friendship and creativity.

Each day features guided meditation in which we rest in being, as being, as well as dialogue in which we discuss the non-dual understanding. Between gatherings, we enjoy three delicious vegetarian meals, where the love and understanding effortlessly transmits itself through friendship. In the evenings, we might relax with friends, watch a film together or celebrate through poetry and music.

Whether you seek peace, happiness, truth, love or freedom – or if you would simply like to reunite with old friends – retreats provide the priceless opportunity to taste your true nature in an atmosphere of kindness and beauty. The people you meet on retreat will quickly become your non-dual family, so please join us as we gather in the spirit of friendship to celebrate the unity of being.

About Garrison Institute: Formerly a Capuchin monastery, the Garrison Institute is set on the beautiful ninety-five-acre Glenclyffe property in Garrison, New York, overlooking the Hudson River. Its tranquil, park-like grounds include gardens, a boxwood labyrinth, a gazebo on the river bluff and numerous walking paths, offering a natural setting for rest and contemplation. The property also connects directly to the Hudson River walking trails and the Appalachian Trail.

Accommodation is simple, quiet and comfortable. Please do not contact the retreat centre directly. For all retreat enquiries, email Francesca at francesca@rupertspira.com. Francesca will also post practical information for participants on the retreat discussion board in the weeks leading up to the event.

In the unlikely event that the retreat is cancelled due to Covid-19 or other comparable health concerns, any deposit payments will be automatically transferred to a replacement Retreat at Home.

There are Single, Double and Shared (3-4 people) rooms available. Please note, Garrison does not have a guest elevator and all rooms are accessible by stairs only. Shared (3-4 people) rooms are on the fourth floor. We recommend signing up for a double room if the stairs to the fourth floor might be an issue for you. 

There are two communal bathrooms (usually one male, one female) on each residential floor as well as a comfortable lounge with sofas and easy chairs, where tea and (instant) coffee are available 24 hours a day. The lounges also are equipped with a wireless, high-speed internet connection for laptop computer users. 

If your accommodation of choice is sold out, you will be able to use the ‘Join Waitlist’ button, and you will be notified of any spaces that come available.

There are several local hotels within driving distance from Garrison for those who wish accommodations with a private bath. If you wish to stay off-site, please register as a commuter, which includes three meals per day.

List of Hotels:

The Hudson House Inn
6 miles from Garrison, 12 minutes by car -  www.hudsonhouseinn.com 

Bear Mountain Inn
5.5 miles from Garrison, 11 minutes by car - www.visitbearmountain.com 

Overlook Lodge
8 miles from Garrison, 16 minutes by car - www.vistbearmountain.com/overlook-lodge 

Also please note that there are options available on www.airbnb.com

By train: The retreat center can easily be reached in 1 hour 20 minutes from New York’s Grand Central Station on Metro North’s Hudson line. From the north, take AMTRAK to Poughkeepsie then transfer to Metro North railroad. 

By car: The Garrison Institute is located directly off Route 9D in Garrison, New York, approximately 50 miles north of New York City. Major highways nearby include Interstate 84, Route 9, the Palisades Parkway and the Taconic State Parkway. There is on-site parking for those who will arrive by car.

By plane: The local airport near Garrison is Stewart International Airport in Newburgh, NY. Visit www.stewartintlairport.com for more information. Garrison Institute is also accessible from LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark International Airports.

By taxi: For traveling to and from the Garrison Institute we can suggest the following transportation vendors:

Alley’s Way Car Service - 845.265.8294 

All County Car Service - 914.631.2277

Izabela Taxi - 914.830.6977

By bus: Shortline Bus service is available into the Poughkeepsie, NY, station (approximately 30 minutes to Garrison). For local bus schedules and more information contact: Shortline Bus: 1.800.631.8405 or visit www.shortlinebus.com
From New England: Peter Pan Bus offers service into New York City where you can connect with a MetroNorth train to Garrison. For local bus schedules and more information contact: Peter Pan Bus Lines: 1.800.343.9999 or visit www.peterpanbus.com

All meals will be lacto-vegetarian. It is possible to select gluten or dairy free meals during the booking process; if you have special dietary requirements, please contact the organiser to check that your requirements can be met by the catering team before booking. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all special diets can be catered for.

The discussion board will be available for attendees to communicate prior, during and post retreat. This can be accessed via ‘My Account’ at the top of the page, simply click on the ‘My Events’ tab to view the events you have booked. Each event has a link to the discussion board under the details.

Balance due Monday, 13 July 2026

The final balance is non-refundable and non-transferable except as outlined below.

50% of balance refundable if cancelled before Thursday, 27 August 2026
No refund if cancelled after Thursday, 27 August 2026

Payment FAQs
Terms & Conditions

BOOKING WILL OPEN AT THE END OF JANUARY 2026 – Subscribe to the newsletter at the bottom of the page to be notified of ticket launch dates and more.

To register, a $300* non-refundable, non-transferable deposit will be required to reserve a space at the retreat. Please book using the ‘Book Ticket’ button and simply add the number of tickets you require, with your preferred ticket type in the booking area when tickets open.

Shared rooms are allocated by gender; please choose the appropriate ticket when booking so that we can allocate your room properly. If you wish to share with a friend, please book your tickets and email Francesca with your sharing preference. If you are booking a twin room as a couple, you can book a 'couples' ticket, which automatically adds two tickets to your account and ensures that you will be given a room together.

Costs per person to attend in person at Garrison Institute: 

Single – $3,275

Twin – $2,955

Shared – $2,840

Commuter – $2,485 (3 meals included)

HOW TO BOOK

Please book using the Book Ticket button at the top of this page, when registration opens. All of the ticket options will be available on the ticket page; from there you can simply select the number of tickets you would like, for your preferred ticket type, then click the Add to Basket button at the bottom of that page to checkout and secure your place.

Tickets will be sold on a first come first served basis; we will not be able to reserve rooms for individuals. These events are very popular so if your ticket preference is sold out please add your name to the waiting list in case of cancellations closer to the start date. Booking is strictly through the website, please do not contact the venue to try to book into the retreat.

*Should the retreat be cancelled for any reason related to Covid-19 or similar health concerns, the deposit payments made will be automatically transferred to a replacement Retreat at Home.

This retreat will also be available to join via livestream for those unable to attend in person. The online format includes all main sessions of Rupert’s guided meditations and dialogues, two of the dialogue sessions will be integrated with Zoom to give livestream participants the opportunity to ask Rupert a question. All sessions are broadcast live from the venue and will also be recorded for replay during and after the retreat.

Supported tickets will be available upon application and will be available for application directly from the event page listed under Livestreams in the Events section of the website.

To receive updates on when the Livestream tickets are released, future events and publications, you can sign up for Rupert’s newsletter at the bottom of this page.