Reconnect with yourself at these silent retreats

Time to unplug and drown out the noise? Quiet retreats are booming around the world, with studies confirming that staying schtum – which has roots in Buddhism but now attracts all manner of spiritual seekers – brings a huge range of benefits. From lowering blood pressure and reducing cortisol levels to improving sleep and boosting creativity, regular retreaters say nothing beats the recharge offered by settling into silence and turning your focus inward. 

To maintain that calm throughout your trip, remember to sign up for Chubb travel insurance before you leave home. In addition to peace of mind, you can now earn HKD2 = 1 – with no ceiling.

1. India: unleash your creativity

Can staying quiet make you more creative? The founders of Awata's six-day lakeside retreat , located just outside Mumbai, believe that inspiration flourishes in silence. That’s why they offer daily optional activities including pottery and art, alongside the usual meditation and yoga. Try nurturing a journalling habit to record the insights that come when you disconnect from the wider world.

2. Cambodia: a retreat for two

Most silent retreats ask participants to come alone, to avoid friends or partners distracting you from your reflections. Jupiter’s Eye near Siem Reap does things differently, welcoming couples and solo travellers to unwind in a private room in a traditional Khmer wooden house. This four-day private silent retreat takes a structured approach: the first two days are about releasing tension and negative emotions. Next, you move on to practising transformative techniques and integrating these practises into your daily life.  

3. Spain: coffee-free days by the forest 

New to quiet contemplation? This Hot Yoga Academy's four-day silent retreat in Santa Maria de Merles, near Barcelona, is the perfect way to ease yourself in. The daily schedule includes not just meditation sessions and yoga but also contemplative hiking, mindfulness lectures and even ecstatic dance. You’ll stay in a century-old farmhouse surrounded by cows and horses on-site, plus there’s a swimming pool to cool off in. Our tip: this is a caffeine-free retreat, so you might want to wean yourself off that morning coffee before you arrive.  

4. Hong Kong: dive deep

Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey are just two celebrity fans of vipassana, a meditation practice grounded in Buddhist beliefs. Dhamma M​utta on Hong Kong’s lovely Lantau Island is a great silent meditation retreat offering a traditional 10-day vipassana course. The practice has strict rules – you won’t have access to your phone and no form of communication is allowed, even written. A packed timetable of daily meditation classes allows you to keep the focus firmly inward. 

5. California: comfort and contemplation 

Not everyone wants to spend a week or more without speaking, or to sleep in the communal ashram-style beds offered at most retreats. If you are silently nodding your head in agreement, Silent Stay’s two- and three-night programmes at the Pacifica Graduate Institute near Santa Barbara may be the answer. Set amid lush gardens framed by the Santa Ynez Mountains, the retreat boasts inviting private guest rooms, giving you plenty of creature comforts to savour between your sessions of meditation and silent sitting. 

6. Bali: set your own pace

A serene tropical escape north of Ubud, Bali Silent Retreat isn’t aligned with any particular practice, but was designed as a place to suit anyone on a spiritual journey. There is no set programme either; guests are free to join whichever activities appeal to them. That may include movement and meditation classes, soaking in hot springs, cooking demonstrations and garden tours. Accommodation is kept simple, and if you want to give it a test run, day visitors are also welcome.   

7. Australia: peace by nature

Exploring your inner self doesn’t have to mean shutting out the rest of the world. Indeed, the right surroundings can actually speed up the journey, and the Unesco World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains west of Sydney fit the bill. Here, Happy Buddha Retreats offers a two-night silent retreat that promises to leave you feeling energised and aware. Connecting to nature is an integral part of the experience, which will also teach you some new meditation and mindfulness tools. 

8. Italy: silence in style

A silent retreat with a spa? That’s the first sign that Eremito Hotelito del Alma , set in a 14th century monastery overlooking a picturesque Umbrian valley, follows its own path. While accommodation may be in compact monks’ cells, you’ll enjoy a restful sleep on hand-embroidered hemp sheets and eat dinner in a candlelit dining room. Daily activities include walks and yoga, or you can relax at the spa with a session in the steam room. Most radical of all: after-dinner conversation is encouraged by the firepit, which helps create a sense of community. 

* 1. Terms and conditions apply.

2. The above information is for reference only. Please refer to the Policy Wording for the exact coverage, terms, conditions and exclusions.  

3. The above insurance plan is underwritten by Chubb Insurance Hong Kong Limited (“Chubb”). Cathay Pacific Airways is an insurance agency (License No.: FA3522) authorised by Chubb for the distribution of general insurance products in HKSAR. Chubb reserves the right of final approval.