Winter Refuge: A Self-Guided Practice Retreat

Join us for a self-guided practice retreat held in Noble Silence. 

Registration for this program closes on Friday, November 27 @ 12:00pm MT.

Retreat Details 

• Teachers: Rotating Staff & On-Call Teachers
  
• Dates: December 4 – December 8, 2026.
• Arrivals & Departures: Students arrive between 2:30-5:00 pm on Friday, December 4th. If flying into Missoula, shuttles will depart on either Wednesday, December 9th at 9:30 am. Please note that it is a 1.5 hour drive from the Missoula Airport to the Namchak Retreat Ranch. 
  • A note on Shuttles to and from the Bodhi House: 
    • Arrival Shuttles- The final arrival shuttle to the Bodhi House departs from MSO at 3 pm on Friday, December 4th. Please arrive at the Missoula Airport by 2:30 p.m. at the latest to ensure you can make the 3:00 p.m. departure for Bodhi House.
    • Departure Shuttles- Shuttles will depart on Wednesday December 9th around 9:30 a.m. 
• Location: Namchak Retreat Ranch in Hot Springs, Montana
• Format: In-Person

About this Retreat

The winter months are the perfect time to turn inward and retreat into our inner sanctuaries. To support a ‘winter refuge’ for the students in our Namchak programs, we are offering ten days of dedicated practice time and space at the Namchak Retreat Ranch for students to gather and deepen into their current practices. This retreat will be  self-guided and held in Noble Silence with the intent to hold both flexibility and gentle structure for students.

Students engaging in Shamata, Vipassana, or Four Immeasurable meditation and those engaging in Ngöndro and other Tantric practices will each have dedicated times in the Shrine Room and a secondary space to support the most conducive practice environment for each group of practitioners. Practitioners will also have the freedom and space for individual practice in their own rooms and around the property. We will provide three scheduled meals a day, and an optional yoga or mindful movement class in the afternoon. All practitioners will also have the chance to engage in Karma Yoga to collectively care for the space. Our intention is to hold a caring and supportive space for each practitioner during this retreat, so that everyone can fully attend to their own practice.  

This retreat is only offered in-person. 

This Retreat Is Open To*

• Any student who has attended our Four Immeasurables Retreat with Lama Tsomo and has held a daily practice of at least 1 hour. 
• Students who are currently enrolled in or have graduated from our Walking the Path program.
• Students currently in or have graduated from our Ancient Wisdom Engaged (AWE program).
• Any student who has attended our Green Tara Retreat with Jetsunma and has held a daily practice of at least 1 hour. 
• Students outside of these programs who have an established, dedicated meditation practice and feel prepared for an extended, self-guided practice retreat.

*We ask that any student attending this retreat has an established relationship with one of our teachers (Lama Tsomo, Jetsunma, Khen Rinpoche, or Justin Kirkwood), and feels ready to immerse in a lengthier, practice-centered, self-guided retreat experience.
If you are unsure whether this retreat is a good fit for you, please contact our Community Steward, Kate (kmorris@namchak.org) and we will be happy to help you discern. 

Preliminary Schedule (Subject to Change)

Friday, December 4, 2026 (Arrival Day)

*Please note that you are always welcome to practice in your room or in an outside space during the designated practice sessions.

• 2:30 – 5:00 pm: Rolling Arrival and settling in
• 5:30 – 6:30 pm: Dinner
• 6:30 – 7:00 pm: Retreat Orientation 
• 7:30 – 8:00 pm: Entering into Noble Silence Together 
• 8:00 – 9:00 pm: Evening Practice Session: Shamata/Vipassana in Shrine Room; Ngöndro and Tantric Practices in Space 2
• 10:00 pm: Lights out in common spaces

Saturday, December 5, 2026 – Tuesday, December 8, 2026 (in Noble Silence)

• 6:50 am: Bell to Start the Day
• 7:00 – 8:30 am: Practice Session #1: Ngöndro and Tantric Practices in Shrine Room; Shamata/Vipassana in Space 2
• 8:30 – 9:15 am: Breakfast
• 9:15 – 9:45 am: Morning Karma Yoga & Break 
• 10:00 – 12:00 pm: Practice Session #2: Shamata/Vipassana in Shrine Room; Ngöndro and Tantric Practices in Space 2
• 12:00 –12:45 pm: Lunch
• 12:45 – 1:15 pm: Afternoon Karma Yoga & Break
• 1:30 – 2:30 pm: Yoga/Mindful Movement Class; Walking 
• 3:00 – 5:00 pm: Practice Session #3: Ngöndro and Tantric Practices in Shrine Room; Shamata/Vipassana in Space 2
• 5:00 – 5:45 pm: Dinner
• 5:45 – 6:15 pm: Evening Karma Yoga & Break
• 6:15 – 7:00 pm: Mindful Movement; Walking
• 7:00 – 9:00 pm: Practice Session #4: Shamata/Vipassana in Shrine Room; Ngöndro and Tantric Practices in Space 2
• 10:00 pm: Lights out in common spaces

*We will come out of Noble Silence together the evening of Tuesday, December 8. 

Wednesday, December 9th (Departure Day)

• 6:50 am: Bell to Start the Day
• 7:00 – 8:30 am: Optional self-guided practice
• 8:30 – 9:15 am: Breakfast
• 9:30 am: Shuttles depart 

*There will also be specific times for 1-1 interviews with teachers integrated into the schedule. Times TBA. 

Lodging + Meals 

Participants will enjoy nourishing meals, with vegetarian and meat options, prepared on-site during their stay at the Bodhi House, including breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and tea. 

Meals are designed to support your practice, with options to accommodate dietary restrictions.

Sliding Scale Pricing Structure:

Financial Accessibility
Our intention is to make this offering financially accessible to all, so we offer a tiered fee structure. Please choose whichever level works best for you. No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds.
If you would like to apply for financial assistance to attend this offering, please reach out to our Community Steward, Kate (kmorris@namchak.org).

Payment Plans
If supportive, students may opt to pay a 50% deposit on their ticket at the time of purchase and pay out the remaining 50% of the retreat ticket cost in equal installments over the next 6 months (180 days) following the start of the program (December 4, 2026).

Our Tiers

• Supported – For those with limited financial resources who will benefit from participating in the retreat.
• Suggested – For those with sufficient financial resources who can pay for the experience without difficulty.
• Sponsored – For those with the financial resources and the desire to support access for others.

In-Person Tuition Options

The in-person ticket price for this retreat includes a shuttle* from Missoula Airport (MSO) to Bodhi House at Namchak Retreat Ranch in Hot Springs, Montana, meals, and lodging.

• Supported Room -$425
• Suggested Room -$525 
• Sponsored Room -$625 

Logistics & Transportation:

• Shuttles:
  • A shuttle to and from the Bodhi House from the Missoula airport will be provided on arrival and departure days.
  • Arrivals: In order to be included in the arrival departure schedule, please plan to arrive in Missoula, MT by 2:30 pm at the latest on your arrival day.
  • Departures: Please note that the shuttles back to Missoula will not arrive at the ranch before 9:30 am. We recommend scheduling return flights accordingly. We will provide a departure shuttle on departure days leaving at 9:30 AM for the Missoula Airport (90-minute drive).
  • If you need to catch an early morning flight, you’ll need to book a private shuttle with MSO Shuttle. Their one-way fare is approximately $325, and they can be contacted directly for scheduling. You can also rent a car from the Missoula airport upon your arrival to accommodate your flight schedule. 
  • Lodging (small individual rooms with a twin-sized bed at the Bodhi House), food, and a shuttle are included in the retreat price.
  • If you have questions or concerns about shuttle timing, feel free to reach out to our Program Logistics Manager, Meggan, at mquigley@namchak.org.

Minimum Enrollment

To ensure a meaningful retreat experience, a minimum of 12 participants is required for this retreat to take place. If we have not reached 12 registered participants one month before the retreat begins, the retreat will be canceled and all retreat fees will be fully refunded.

We will notify registered participants of any cancellation at least one month before the retreat. Please keep this in mind when making travel arrangements and consider booking refundable or flexible travel whenever possible. Namchak is not able to reimburse travel expenses.