The Wi-Fi password is "silence." The irony isn't lost on me as I check into a former Benedictine monastery in rural Catalonia, where I'll spend the next five days not speaking a single word.
Silent retreats have exploded in popularity. Bookings at meditation centers are up 340% since 2020. The waiting list for Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hanh's famous community in France, stretches six months. Something is happening.
Why Now?
The obvious answer: screen fatigue. The average person checks their phone 96 times per day. We're drowning in notifications, emails, Slack messages, doomscrolling. The nervous system is shot.
But there's something deeper. The pandemic gave many people their first taste of genuine quiet—and they liked it. Now they're seeking it intentionally.
What Actually Happens
Day one is brutal. Your mind screams for stimulation. You reach for your phone (locked away). You want to chat with the person next to you at breakfast (forbidden). You're alone with your thoughts, and your thoughts are loud.
By day three, something shifts. The internal monologue quiets. You start noticing things: the quality of light through a window, the taste of simple food, the rhythm of your own breathing. It sounds clichéd until you experience it.
By day five, you don't want to leave. Speaking feels violent. Noise feels like assault. You've touched something important, though you can't quite articulate what.
Top Silent Retreats Worldwide
Gaia House, UK — Devon countryside, serious Buddhist practice, donation-based. For experienced meditators.
Spirit Rock, California — Rolling hills of Marin County, excellent teachers, structured programs. Great for beginners.
Kopan Monastery, Nepal — Tibetan Buddhist tradition, stunning Himalayan setting, deeply transformative. For the adventurous.
Plum Village, France — Thich Nhat Hanh's legacy, engaged Buddhism, community focus. For those seeking gentle practice.
Tushita, India — Dharamsala location, rigorous curriculum, mountain views. For committed students.
Practical Considerations
Length: Start with a weekend. Five days is substantial. Ten-day Vipassana retreats are intense—don't attempt without experience.
Cost: Ranges from donation-based (£0-100) to luxury wellness (£500/day). The expensive ones aren't necessarily better.
What to Bring: Comfortable loose clothing, journal (writing is usually permitted), layers (meditation halls run cold).
What Not to Bring: Expectations. Phones (they'll take it anyway). Books (defeats the purpose).
The Return
The hardest part isn't the silence. It's going back to normal life. The first time your phone buzzes post-retreat, you'll feel it in your chest. The first loud restaurant will overwhelm you.
This sensitivity fades—too quickly, most people say. Within a week, you're back to 96 phone checks per day. Which is why serious practitioners go annually, minimum.
Is It For You?
Silent retreats aren't vacation. They're work—inner work. They can surface difficult emotions, childhood memories, existential questions. Not everyone should do them. Not everyone needs to.
But if you've ever wondered what exists beneath the constant noise of modern life, a few days of silence will show you. The answer might surprise you.
It's quiet in there. Quieter than you'd think.
