Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
20 Sep 2024
Reply rate
60.0 %
Usually responds within 10 days
Feedback
25
Email verified
Badges (2)
Find your perfect host
Details
Description
Located in the forested mountains of the Pyrénées Orientales, a retreat centre surrounded by breathtaking nature and lofty views. As a backdrop, the Catalonian sacred mountain 'Pic du Canigou', steeped in mystery and legend, is a protected natural heritage site. In the distance the view of the Meditterranean. This retreat centre is remote yet easily accessible, it offers silence and natural beauty and is ideal for meditation retreats. It is run by volunteers, who share in their wish to practice meditation and contribute towards a supportive buddhist community. We welcome people from around the world to retreat here.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Help with Eco Projects
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
A place of retreat where the mind can be free from distraction. A natural sense of freedom and openness. The nature, beauty of the views, changing seasons and vast skies. There is equality amongst volunteers living here. Warmth of heart and sincerity are alive, and our kitchen and wholesome good food will make you feel at home!
Twice daily, in the morning and in the early evening - there is group meditation practice which you are welcome to join. We often hold seminars and organise retreats on Buddhist topics where you can gain inspiration and learn from the visiting teachers, who are internationally renowned and respected in the Tibetan lineage tradition. You are welcome to join these free of charge when living and working here. We have a resident Tibetan Lama (monk) who is here most of the year, and who can answer questions you may have or give advice about meditation and retreat. We also have a library with Buddhist books on a wide variety of topics, foundational to advanced, and can also suggest online video and audio teachings and courses which can help you to learn more about (Tibetan) Buddhism.
It is also a perfect place for anyone who enjoys and feels inspired by outdoor activities such as biking, running, hiking and just being in nature, and who is happy to spend time in the peace of the environment.
Help
The retreat centre is run by volunteers, who share in their wish to practice meditation and contribute towards a growing community. We welcome people from around the world to reteat in this serene environment. Volunteers adopt a lifestyle of balance between relaxation, meditation, and work activities.
RENOVATION WORK / ENLARGING WINDOWS IN COUNTRY HOUSES / SETTING UP A WOOD WORKSHOP
PROFESSIONAL CARPENTERS or EXPERIENCED JOINERS - feel welcome to stay here and share your knowledge, we would like to learn from your skilled experience.
BRICK-LAYERS or artisans of any kind who wish to live and work in an independent and self-sufficient way, whilst enjoying a period of peace and insight into this Tibetan Buddhist community.
LANDSCAPING / GARDENING - we would love to establish our garden in a way that it becomes maintenance free, where the types of plants we include will naturally deter the growth of weeds.
If you have experience in any of these areas we would love to welcome you, but also if you wish to share in our household, kitchen / other areas of community service, we would be very happy to hear from you.
Languages
Languages spoken
Tibetan: Fluent
Catalan: Fluent
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
French: FluentThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
Our accomodation is basic but comfortable, we can mostly offer a single room, hut or cabin, depending on the number of people staying here at the time of your stay with us. If needed, accommodation will be shared with other volunteers. During the busy period in the summer we might ask you to stay in a teepee or a tent.
As a Buddhist community, we refrain from consuming meat, alcohol, or intoxicants of any kind. If you have any specific dietary needs, please let us know, I am sure our wonderful cooks can accommodate your needs if we know ahead of time.
Everyone who visits especially praises the excellent kitchen & good wholesome cooking, and feels at home in the warmth and kindhearted sincerity of the volunteer residents here.
What else ...
The place is quite remote, so the main entertainment is the forests, mountains, walks in the nature, company of kind hearted people. Since this is a retreat center, it is especially suitable for people who enjoy solitude and introspection, although there is definitely a community atmosphere as well. There are amazing hikes in the region. We are very close to the beautiful "pic du Canigou". Hiking and biking are possible from our main house, no need to drive (bring your own bike if you wish).
La Bastide village is within walking distance and you can visit this beautiful tiny neighbouring village (about 20 mins walk). Public transportation is limited, but there is a bus from Perpignan that runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays via the villages of Amelie-Les-Bains and Le Boulou. It is ideal if you can arrive taking this bus, we can share the schedule with you.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
Volunteers balance their lifestyle here with time for individual relaxation and contributing to the work of the community. 5hrs, 5 days a week
Feedback (14)
We shared lots of good moments together and she fulfilled all tasks very well
I would describe her as a very smart and open person and wish her lots of good experiences in the other hosts
The work is flexible and fair and you are given plenty of autonomy to complete any… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
We shared lots of good moments together and she fulfilled all tasks very well
I would describe her as a very smart and open person and wish her lots of good experiences in the other hosts
The work is flexible and fair and you are given plenty of autonomy to complete any… read more
Out of many Workaway experiences, this was the best and my favorite one. I have grown a lot as a person by living there, participating in meditation and Buddhist practices. I was happy to meet people who are joyful, peaceful, disciplined, wise and we had so many interesting conversations.
I’ll never forget the delicious… read more
She helped out in our center for msny month in all different areas like kitchen garden and small construction
She integrated well in our daily life and is also quite funny joyful and not complaining
I wish her all the best in all places she stays
Also an enthusiastic worker who is very efficient and well integrating in community
He helped out for some time mainly on construction and it was a pleasure to spent time with him
He can come anytime back
They came as helpers during our retreat and we experienced them as very friendly and open persons
We wish them many nuce places to stay and hope to see them again
Where to begin?!
This was my first ever WorkAway experience and perhaps also one of BEST and most cherished experiences of the year, maybe even the decade! I was welcomed warmly by the whole family and this warmth continued… read more
First this :
Wow, what a special and beautiful place, surrounded by mountains, stunning views, wonderful sunrises and protected by the sacred mountain of Canigou with its enchanting white top ... so, if you have a day off you can make beautiful walks and enjoy nature
The people are also great,… read more
From the moment Eudald picked us up in Perpignan we knew this experience was going to be great, we went shopping with him and his sweet dog Ter, and we enjoyed some Mate on the road. Then we had about an hour ride until we arrived , which is located… read more
Very good hearted and smart and always willing to help.
Very diligent and skillfull.
I hope we see each other again and wish them just the best
He is an easy going very smart person and also responsible with a very good sense of humor.
He managed all the tasks he had to do and connected very fast to the place and team here. And now he loves Hügelkultur😊
We hope to see him soon again abd wish him… read more
I stayed for just over a month and did a variety of tasks from cooking, cleaning but mainly outdoor work such as cleaning vegetation, Higelkulture, planting trees, making steps etc. Group meditations are in the morning and evening and are completely optional.
The surroundings are beautiful and the… read more
She has a very sunny charakter and is very responsible.
We wish her a very very nice journey and hope to see her again.
Many thanks Sarah
It was a pleasure to have you here😊
She is a very smart and open hearted person with lots of talents and an amazing dancer.
We hope to see her again.
Whenever you meet her give her please a big big hug from us
Well organized and always up for goid solutions.
We miss her and wish zi see her again
We are still impressed how he integrated and left his footprint in the hole area of this land.
He was much more then a helping… read more
Everyone was so welcoming even though I had no experience or knowledge in Buddhism prior my visit. I was welcomed but not pressured to participate in Puja and various other ceremonies involved in the retreat.
The food was DELICIOUS and the work was very rewarding. On my days off I packed some lunch and… read more
