What kind of retreats do you offer at Menla?

About 2/3 of the retreats that take place here are outside rentals, where groups not related to Tibet House rent housing and meeting spaces from us and offer their own classes. We have had a wide range of groups here, ranging from yoga to social justice, from shamanism to corporate meetings, and from student groups to teacher training. To see a partial list of retreats taking place this year, please click here. In most cases, Menla does not handle registration for outside rentals. To register for one of those programs, please contact the group's organizer directly.

We also offer a variety of our own retreats, most of which are related to some aspect of the Buddhist teachings. To see a complete list of this year’s Tibet House-sponsored retreats, please click here.


What is a typical Tibet House retreat like?

While each retreat is unique in its content, Tibet House-sponsored (i.e. in-house) retreats tend to follow a similar format:

- On check-in day, people typically arrive anywhere from early afternoon to evening, check in and settle in. Dinner is served at 6pm, followed by the introductory evening program from 7:30-9:30pm.

- The next morning we often offer optional yoga or meditation from 7-8am, followed by breakfast at 8am. The morning program usually begins at 9:30am and lasts until 11:45am. Lunch is from 12-1pm and is followed by a couple hours of free time, when guests have the opportunity to engage in any number of free-time activities (see below). The afternoon program usually starts at 3:30 or 4pm and lasts until 5:45pm. Dinner is served at 6pm and is followed by an evening program from 7:30-9:30pm.

- If the retreat is longer than the typical two day format, the same pattern is followed for each successive full day.

- Check-out day usually starts with optional yoga or meditation from 7-8am, followed by breakfast and check-out at 8am. Checking-out consists of stopping by the Front Desk, settling any unpaid charges, returning any borrowed items, stripping one’s bed of linens (but not the duvets) and placing them in a pile by the door along with a separate pile for towels. Guests are welcome to leave their belongings in their rooms until they leave (we just need to be able to collect the linens and towels to send them off to the laundromat.) Breakfast and check-out are followed by a closing program from 9:30-11:45am. Lunch is served at 12pm, and then guests start departing. You are welcome to stay on the premises until evening and enjoy a relatively empty Menla!

For information on the content of this year’s Tibet House retreats, please click here and then click on the specific retreat(s) you would like to know more about.


How much does it cost to attend a Tibet House retreat at Menla?

Costs vary depending on length of stay, type of housing you desire, and the specific needs of each program. Click on any of the titles of our in-house retreats to see more information, including rates (posted toward or at the bottom of each program page).


How much does it cost to book my own event at Menla?

Costs vary depending on the duration of the event, the number of participants, your choice of meeting space(s) and housing, the specific meal plan, and a variety of minor factors.  Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for specific pricing. Please note, we are a 501-c3 non-profit organization. Our rates are lower than other comparable retreat centers and are tailored to allow us to match the many costs of operating such a large center year-round. We do our very best to try to balance your needs with our own, and we deeply value the unique relationships we cultivate with each of the groups who choose to book here.


What is your cancellation policy?

For people cancelling attendance at a Menla/Tibet House retreat:

- If you cancel two weeks prior to the program, you will receive a 100% refund minus a $35 processing fee.

- If you cancel one full day to two weeks prior to the program, you will not receive a refund but instead will receive full course credit minus a $35 processing fee, that can be applied to any other Tibet House sponsored program at Menla.  This credit is good for one year.

- If you cancel on the day of the program or do not show up for any reason, no refund or credit will be given. 
Tibet House US/Menla Mountain Retreat & Conference Center reserve the right to cancel any program at any time for low enrollment or circumstances beyond our control.  Should this take place, a full refund will be offered.

For people cancelling attendance at a rental retreat, please contact the organizer of your event.


How can I become a Tibet House member and what does that entail?

You can call or stop by Tibet House or sign up online to become a member. You may also become a member during registration for Tibet House-sponsored retreats at Menla. All Tibet House members enjoy a 10% discount on program tuition for all events both at Tibet House and Menla, as well as a 10% discount on all items in our stores (including our online store).

There are a variety of levels of membership, each with its own perks and rewards (please see the online form for more information). We greatly appreciate each of our members, and would very much like to see our membership grow. Being a member means contributing in whatever ways you can to an amazing and rewarding cause. We encourage you to tell your friends about us, to bring them by for a visit or, better yet, to participate in an event and share the magical experience of Menla!


What are your meals like?

Amazing!  Head Chef Rebecca and her fabulous kitchen crew pour their love into the food, and our guests can taste it. Much of our food comes straight from our organic vegetable garden, and we also strive to provide the most nutritious and delicious foods from local vendors. Most meals are gourmet vegetarian, although some groups request meat options in addition to the vegetarian selections. We can handle most special dietary needs (e.g. vegan, gluten-free, wheat-free, nut allergies, etc) with sufficient notice. Please let us know your needs during registration.


What should I bring?

Menla is nestled in a wooded valley and is a very different environment from urban and suburban environments. We recommend bringing the following items:

•    Warm clothing (evenings can be quite chilly, even in warmer weather)
•    Walking shoes
•    Flashlight
•    Toiletries
•    Blow dryer
•    Alarm clock
•    Ethernet wire (to use the Internet in your room, if available)
•    Notebook and pen
•    Umbrella
•    Raincoat
•    Insect repellent (during warmer months)
•    Bathing suit and swimming towel if you wish to use the pool (warmer months)
•    Slippers (no shoes are allowed in most meeting spaces)
•    Phone card


What kind of phone and Internet access will I have at Menla?

Cell phones do NOT work at Menla or the surrounding area.  All rooms in Delos Inn, Hill House, and Mountain House have guest phones with private voice mail and Internet jacks. Delos and Hill have high-speed wifi access, while Mountain has dial-up (please bring your own phone chord). There is a fee for in-room phone use unless you use a calling card. A phone may be installed in Snowlion when a group rents the entire house, in which case we will bill you upon receipt of our monthly Verizon statement. Phone cards are available at the Front Desk. There is free Wi-fi available in the lobby/dining room area in Delos Inn as well as in the Cafe and Bookstore Lounge in the Conference Center. There is a public telephone available in our Business Center for which you will need a phone card or opt to pay by call upon check-out. 

Please note: we do not have in-house tech support to immediately solve problems with ports or internet connection to your laptop.


Is Menla wheelchair-accessible?

Yes. While some of the buildings are not setup for wheelchair access, Delos Inn—the main lodge at Menla—is equipped with a wheelchair ramp, an elevator, and four rooms with specially-designed bathrooms to accommodate guests with wheelchairs.  Additionally, Hill House has a six rooms on the first floor that are similarly designed.  The Main Hall and Café/Bookstore area of the Conference Center is wheelchair-accessible. Please be sure to let us know your needs when you register.


Can I bring my pet(s)?

While we love animals and enjoy sharing our valley with many of them, we do not permit guests to bring their pets. Seeing-eye dogs or animal assistants are welcome, however.


Can I park my Airstream/Camper on the grounds and sleep there?

Yes. We have plenty of room.


Do you have camping facilities?

Yes. We have five wooden platforms for tents and plenty of additional space on the grass by the Pantherkill Stream.  Falling asleep to the sound of water is magical and quite refreshing. In the lower level of the Conference Center, we have men’s and women’s bathrooms for campers which are equipped with a shower. The Conference Center is quite close to the camp grounds.


Can I bring my child(ren)?

Children are welcome at Menla! Children under 8 yrs old may accompany their parent(s) free of charge, while children ages 8 - 12 are charged half-price. Children 13 and up are considered adults and are charged the full amount. Younger children usually either share a bed with their parent(s) or sleep in cots which we can provide. Older children may sleep in regular beds or cots (less expensive).  We only have one crib, so you may want to bring your own if you have an infant. There is not a playground at Menla, but if accompanied by their parent(s), children can swim in the pool, go on nature hikes, and marvel at the abundant wildlife.


Can my spouse, partner, or friend stay with me but not attend the program itself?

Yes! In these cases, they simply pay for their accommodations and can enjoy all our gourmet vegetarian meals, the natural splendor of the property, and a variety of free time activities.


What free time activities are there at Menla?

When not in session, guests often like to:

1) Take advantage of our new Mahasukha Spa:

> Massages: since space is limited, please sign up as far in advance as possible. One hour massage - $125. One-and-a-half hour massage - $180. Suggested gratuity: $10 - $20. 

> Steamrooms, saunas, and showers available. Use of these facilities is complementary if you sign up for a massage, otherwise the cost is $12.50 for 30 minutes.

> Other bodywork offered (depending on practitioner availability): Shiatsu, Craniosacral, Reiki, Acupressure, Acupuncture, Shamanic Divination.

2) Swim in or lounge by our Sapphire swimming pool, which is located next to the Mahasukha Spa. Menla does not provide lifeguards, so please be careful and swim at your own risk. Pool towels are available at the Front Desk. Children under the age of twelve must be accompanied by an adult.

3) Take a stroll through our organic Contemplative Garden where veggies and flowers abound.

4) Play tennis on one of our two tennis courts. Rackets and balls are stored in the back room of the 150 year-old vintage barn.

5) Do your meditation or yoga practice.  There is a beautiful seven-sided Sanctuary for private silent meditation (when it is not being rented by another group). We recommend sitting in the Sanctuary early mornings and clear evenings at sunset. Others prefer to sit by the pond or the stream.  If it’s not being rented by another group, guests are welcome to use the Yoga Studio. 

6) Use the Physical Fitness Room located on the lower level of Nalanda Conference Center. Towels for workouts are available at the Front Desk.

7) Sit and socialize with other guests at our Lhasa Internet Café, located on the upper level of the Nalanda Conference Center.  Guests can enjoy free Wi-Fi access, make calls on the payphone, order coffee, tea, and snacks, or peruse our Book and Gift Shop. Adjacent to the Café, there is a very comfortable lounge replete with stunning photographs donated by Steve McCurry and a TV/VCR.

8) Take advantage of our Delos Business Center, a small workstation with two public computers, free Wi-Fi Internet Access for your laptop, and a public telephone.

9) Occasionally we offer sweat lodges. A sweat lodge is a traditional Native American ceremony where the lodge leader leads prayers in a collective effort to connect with Mother Earth as everyone sweats. The fire keeper tends the fire outside the lodge where stones are heated and then brought into the center of the lodge periodically to maintain the heat. Depending on the schedule, our sweat lodges last about three hours. People are allowed to leave prematurely if they feel overwhelmed, so don’t be afraid!  Our lodge can fit up to about 30 people.

10) Take a hike! (On one of our meandering trails) There is a sign up list at the Front Desk. Please be sure to sign it, indicate which hike you are embarking upon, and cross your name off when you return (this way, in the unlikely event you get lost or injured, we will be able to find you more easily). As we do not have our own rangers, we highly recommend hiking with at least one other person. Trails are marked with blue flares and/or small cairns.
Purity Hike:  a mild enjoyable hike that takes one along the Pantherkill Stream towards its source (it does not go all the way to the source). This hike is the shortest and easiest one at Menla and is appropriate for elderly guests or people who essentially want to go for a stroll.

Logging Road Hike:  beginning just behind Eagle Cottage, there is an old logging road that gradually follows and ascends the northern ridge of Menla. This beautiful hike is longer than the Purity Hike.

Waterfall Hike:  a more challenging trail leads to a beautiful waterfall (depending on recent rainfall) across the Pantherkill stream. This trail has not been maintained but is clearly established and marked with blue flairs.

Lookout Point Hike: the most spectacular and challenging hike on the Menla property leads to Lookout Point, where one can sit and enjoy a partial view of the Catskill Mountains. This trail is quite steep at times, takes about 30-45 minutes each way, and is not recommended for people with physical limitations. 

Giant Ledge Hike:  a much longer (and more rewarding) hike takes 2-4 hours and leads to Giant Ledge high above Menla where breathtaking vistas reveal the awesome beauty of the Catskills east of Menla. This trail is not accessible from Menla and requires one to drive a few miles off campus to get to the trailhead. Local hikers abound on this locally famous hike, and each Fourth of July weekend Robert Thurman leads a hiking retreat, when guests and friends get together for a barbeque, ascend Panther Mountain to Giant Ledge where Thurman gives a teaching, and attend evening lectures on Buddhism.


Can I come to Menla for R&R?

While Menla is not a hotel and does not rent rooms to individuals when there are no retreats happening, we are happy to book individuals, families, or friends for R&R if there are available rooms during a retreat. Accommodations fees for R&R are the same as our fees for in-house Menla/Tibet House retreats.


Can I spend an extra night or extra nights?

As long as another group has not booked it, you are more than welcome to book your room for an extra night or extra nights. However, please be aware that unless the kitchen is open for another retreat, we will not be able to provide you with meals (and the accommodations fee will be prorated accordingly). Bring your own ready-made food or check out our recommended local restaurants (see below).


How early can I arrive on check-in day and do I have to leave immediately after check-out?

You may arrive anytime after 10am on check-in day, although actual check-in does not officially start until 2 or 3 pm. Although you must check-out at the designated time, you are welcome to stay and enjoy the property until sundown.


Do you provide transportation to and from Phoenicia?

We offer a shuttle to and from the bus station on check-in and check-out days only ($5 each way). If you will be staying an extra night, we can provide you shuttle service to the bus station, but you should arrange any other trips to town or Woodstock in advance (i.e. rent a car, since taxi service here is exorbitant). 


I don’t have a car—what’s the best way to get to Menla by public transportation?

The fastest and most affordable way is to take an Adirondack Trailways bus to the nearby town of Phoenicia. For people coming from NYC, the bus departs from Port Authority in Manhattan, takes about 3 hours, and costs approximately $30 each way. If you give us advanced notice of when your bus will arrive, for $5 we will send a shuttle to pick you up at the station and bring you here. Adirodack Trailways can be contact at 800-776-7548.


Do you offer work-study arrangements of any kind?

Yes! For Tibet House-sponsored programs, we have a work-study program available for 2-4 people (depending on need and the size of the retreat). We ask for four hours of work (usually in the garden or kitchen, although we may ask you to do other tasks as needed) per full day. That means, two hours for check-in and check-out days (since they are half-days) and four hours for the days in between. In exchange for your service, we cover the cost of your room (though we still ask you to cover part of the food expenses) and give you half off program tuition. Please see our Volunteer/Work-Study page for more information.


Can I come and volunteer?

Yes! Our staff is small, and we have more than enough work to go around. We LOVE volunteers and are happy to have them come up and help for any length of time. Volunteers help with the garden, the flowerbeds, setting up and breaking down meeting spaces, cleaning, data entry, kitchen support, spring and fall cleanup, and any number of special tasks that we don’t always have the time to address.

Usually volunteers stay in a tent or on a cot in one of the staff houses, although occasionally we may put them up in other housing. Volunteers enjoy free delicious food, access to Tibet House-sponsored classes, and much needed rest from their daily lives. They also come away feeling that they have meaningfully contributed to a great cause. Volunteers are expected to work at least 4 hours a day and follow all the rules for staff. Volunteers should be polite and friendly with guests and help us maintain our professionalism as an organization. Please see our Volunteer/Work-Study page for more information.


Can I drink the water from the tap?

Menla sits at the top of a watershed, and the source of the Pantherkill Stream is on our property. We have a sophisticated water-filtration system which takes water directly from the stream, passes it through seven filters, and then zaps it with ultraviolet light to kill bacteria. Needless to say, the water here is some of the cleanest one can drink. Drink freely from any tap!


Can I visit and walk around without attending a program?

Yes! We are happy for local residents, people passing through, prospective retreat organizers, former Pathworkers, or anyone else to drop by and enjoy our breathtaking property.  Please stop by the Front Desk when you arrive and check-in with us. We will provide you with a map and notify you which buildings are off-limits (staff housing and any buildings being rented by a group).  There are only a few times a year when Menla is closed to the public—when large groups rent the entire property and have exclusive use. 


What kinds of birds can I see at Menla?

In 2006 Menla was officially recognized as an Audubon Important Bird Area. So far our list includes well over a hundred different kinds of birds, including the elusive Bicknell’s Thrush (one of the Holy Grails of bird watching) which is mysteriously found only on or very near the neighboring Slide Mountain.


What kinds of local activities/interests are there within easy driving distance?

1) Shop for antiques at Country Gallery and Acorn Antique's Craftsman's Gallery on Route 214 off Main Street.

2) But really, Phoenicia is about exploring the great outdoors. Tubing is the most popular activity in town. The Esopus Creek follows Route 28 and winds through the bottom of town. There's a quiet, calm section for family fun and a relaxing view, and a wilder section with rapids and whitewater for the more adventurous tubers, for a total of five miles of tubing pleasure. Each section takes about two hours to tube. The Town Tinker tube rental in central Phoenicia (on Bridge Street off Main--look for the barn with red and white trim) is open daily during season (May 15 to September 30). Rates are $12/day for inner tubes, $3 for life jackets, and $5 per trip for the Tube Taxi which will drop you off and pick you up from the creek. Worried about cold water? Rent a wetsuit for $15/day. A $25/day package includes inner tube with seat, life jacket, and wetsuit.

3) Horseback riding Indian paths and old logging trails in the beautiful Catskill Forest Preserve is also a pleasant past time. The Saddle up Ranch, on Kinsey Street off Route 28, offers year-round riding daily. They have a shop selling tack and western wear, including boots and hats. They also sell American made jewelry, dream catchers, and leather goods. Sign up for riding lessons or day camps, or go snowmobiling in the winter.

4) The Catskill Forest Preserve is 300,000 acres of unspoiled woods, which the New York State constitution has deemed "Forever Wild," never to be commercially developed. And hiking is a great way to see this countryside. Follow the numerous trails, maps of which are available at Morne Imports and the Phoenicia Library.

5) The flyfishing is good in Phoenicia! The Esopus Creek is noted for its rainbow trout in the spring and its native brown trout in the fall. There's even a flyfishing tournament in May (visit the Phoenicia Supermarket for details). For those of you who have always wanted to try flyfishing, a local guide gives lessons at Morne's Imports on Main.

6) In the wintertime, you can go snowtubing or skiing. Tubers should head to Romer Mt. Park, off Route 28, about a mile south of downtown. The closest place to ski is Belleayre Mountain, the highest skiing peak in the Catskills. Ski and snowboard rentals are available from the Belleayre Ski Shop. Adult ski passes are $39 on weekends and holidays, and $30 all other times. Two-day packages, group rates, season tickets and specials are available too. Hunter Mountain is a close fifteen minutes away from Phoenicia.

7) The Catskill Mountain Railroad offers a 45-minute scenic rail ride along the Esopus Creek on weekends and holidays during summer. One of the train's stops is the Empire State Railway Museum, located in the 1899 Ulster & Delaware railroad station, where you can catch a glimpse of the rich history of the railroad.

8) If driving, stop at Catskill Corners, just three or four minutes south of Phoenicia on Route 28. In addition to numerous gift shops, two restaurants and a tourist information center, Catskill Corners is home to the world's largest kaleidoscope.  Don't miss this kaleidoscope made of a sixty-foot tall hall of mirrors. They also offer historical lessons on everything from art to modern light sculpting. When you finish touring the exhibits, drop into the Kaleidostore, which sells thousands of kaleidoscopes, from inexpensive models to works of art worth literally thousands of dollars, all displayed on open shelves and available for your viewing pleasure. In fact, the only kaleidoscope you're not allowed to look through is the world's smallest, which is OK because it's too small to see much through anyway.

For more information, please visit Escapemaker.com:
http://www.escapemaker.com/ny/phoenicia/phoenicia.html