Seven-Day Retreat at Mandali, 30 August–6 September 2025

This will be the first of two back-to-back week long retreats at the beautiful Mandali Retreat Centre in Italy. There will be one day between the retreats to allow for a change over; guests are welcome to book into both retreats, if they wish. For those booking both weeks residentially at Mandali and wishing to stay on-site for the night between the two retreats, this can be arranged. Please email Neil for further information.

For those of us 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 three guided meditations in which we rest in being, as being, as well as a dialogue in which we discuss the non-dual understanding. Between these meetings, we enjoy three delicious vegetarian meals together, where the love and understanding effortlessly transmits itself through friendship. In the evenings, we might relax with friends, watch a movie 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 Mandali: Perched on a hilltop just over an hour from Milan, this welcoming retreat centre offers stunning views of Lake Orta and the Swiss Alps beyond – an environment perfectly suited for our gathering. During your stay, enjoy access to the venue's spa and pool facilities, along with opportunities to explore the rich natural landscape surrounding the centre. Learn more about Mandali.

Covid rules & regulations: Since 1 June 2022, the green pass is no longer required to enter Italy from EU member states and other foreign countries. This is subject to constant change. Please visit the website of the Italian Health Ministry for the most recent updates.

Mandali offers Twin/Double and Shared dormitory room accommodation on site. If you would like to stay in a single room, you will be able to add your name to the waitlist. We may offer single occupancy in twin rooms on a first come, first served basis if there are spaces available closer to the retreat date. 

Most of the Twin rooms are booked in pairs for couples or friends who wish to share together, the system will automatically add two tickets to your basket for you. It is possible to book a twin room to share with a friend or to be allocated to a twin room sharing with another person. If you wish to book only for yourself, please book using the appropriate button for a male or female twin room, and you will be allocated a room with one other person.

Shared dormitory rooms will have 4 attendees in total and are allocated by gender; please choose the appropriate ticket when booking so that we can allocate your room properly. There are single beds and single bunk beds available in shared rooms, please book with your preference. Please note that bunk bed tickets are either top or bottom bunks, which will be allocated by the organiser according to availability. 

If you wish to share a room with a friend, you will be able to book your tickets and email Neil with your sharing preference. 

Commuter tickets are for those who prefer to stay off-site at a local B&B or if you live close by. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and refreshments are included in the Commuter price, along with access to the spa facilities. 

Commuter tickets are non-residential. We advise arranging outside accommodation before purchasing a commuter ticket.

There are some accommodations available within walking distance of Mandali. A car is needed to reach the majority of accommodation options. You can find the list of outside accommodations here.

A short walk from Mandali, the family-owned Hotel Monte Mazzoccone is a popular guesthouse with our attendees. For more information and booking, please contact Samantha via WhatsApp at +39 0323 199 1076

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of local accommodations and you may also find options on the popular booking sites Airbnb and Booking.com.

House Yvonne and Thomas 

These two neighbouring houses, House Yvonne and House Thomas, are shared with other retreat attendees and offer comfortable communal spaces with breathtaking views over Lake Orta.

House Yvonne features a lounge, dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms, two shared bathrooms (one with a shower, one with a shower over the bathtub), and two gardens on different levels.

House Thomas includes a spacious communal area, dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms, a garden, and two shared bathrooms with the same facilities.

A complimentary minibus service will transport guests to Mandali in the morning before the first meditation and back to the houses in the evening, approximately 1.5 hours after dinner begins. Walking is also an option, though the 30-minute route involves hilly roads and is best suited for physically active guests.

To view photos of House Yvonne and Thomas please click here.

Casa Belvedere 

A two-bedroom apartment, owned by Mandali, is available just a one-minute walk (90 metres) from Mandali’s entrance. Situated within an apartment building, it features a shared bathroom with a shower and a communal kitchen, offering a convenient and comfortable stay close to the retreat centre.

Monolocale

A lovely little studio apartment in a rural setting owned by Mandali is 3-4 minutes walk from the retreat centre. 

If you would like photos or more information, please get in touch with Neil.

The nearest airport is Malpensa Milano Airport, which is roughly 80 minutes by car. There will be a coach service from the airport, for more details please email Neil – neil@rupertspira.com

Please note that Mandali discourages guests to fly to Linate or Bergamo Orio al Serio because they are further away by car, and have difficult connections for public transport.

For more information about how to reach Mandali please click here.

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.

Balance due 25 May 2025

The final balance is non-refundable and non-transferable except as outlined below.
50% of balance refundable if cancelled before 1 July 2025
No refund if cancelled after 1 July 2025

Payment FAQs
Terms & Conditions

To register, a €285* non-refundable, non-transferable deposit is required to reserve a space at the retreat, prior to arrival. Please book using the “Add to Basket” buttons below. 

Costs per person: (all tickets include, unless otherwise stated, include three meals and refreshments each day).

Lake View Single – €3,910

Garden View Single – €3,710

Lake View Twin or Double – €2,785

Garden View Twin or Double – €2,685

Shared room (4 sharing) * – €2,325

Commute* * with all meals – €1,745 or with Breakfast & Lunch  – €1,645 

* Shared rooms (4 sharing) consist of either bunk beds or single beds on a mezzanine floor. If you have any physical limitations that may make a particular bed type unsuitable, please contact the organiser Neil when booking.

* * Commuter tickets are non-residential. Anyone purchasing a commuter ticket must arrange their own accommodation and attend the retreat during the day. Before booking a Commuter ticket, we highly recommend arranging your accommodation and transportation first due to limited options in the local vicinity. For more information on accommodations in the area, click here or contact Neil to discuss local accommodation options: neil@rupertspira.com

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

Livestream participants have streaming access to all meetings during the retreat and will be able to view recordings from previous sessions from the livestream page; these will be streamable and viewable for 30-days from session date. This way, you can easily catch up on any missed sessions or listen again to take the understanding a little deeper. There will be a special discussion board for the livestream attendees where the streaming link will be posted ahead of the first session and will provide a place for everyone to communicate and share in the teaching.

Tickets for the livestream of this retreat will be available at the end of July 2025. Please subscribe to the newsletter for updates on any events.