Bhakti Yoga Retreat

When: Friday 2nd October to Monday 5th October 2026A rare immersive experience of Bhakti, kirtan and devotion,in the living presence of a Vaishnava monk.

United Kingdom · An Exclusive Small Circle
Where: Snowdonia · Colwyn Bay, Wales Limited Places
An exclusive small circleFri 2 to Mon 5 October 2026 An exclusive small circleFri 2 to Mon 5 October 2026 An exclusive small circleFri 2 to Mon 5 October 2026
A Rare Opportunity

Join us for a 4-day Bhakti immersion

For centuries the path of devotion has been passed from heart to heart in the sacred land of India. Now, for a few days only and for a small, limited circle, Sripad Bhaktivedanta Damodara Maharaja, a lifelong monk, brings this living tradition to British soil, in an intimate immersive experience.

Experience the Beauty of Bhakti Yoga

The essence of all Vedic scriptures and the heart of all yogic practices culminate in Bhakti Yoga, the process of re-establishing our eternal relationship with the Divine, Sri Krishna, through loving devotional service.

We invite you on a journey of the heart, in self-discovery and immersion in the practice of devotion to the Supreme, Sri Krishna.

This is your opportunity to step out of your mind and into the sanctity of your heart.

Together we will cultivate a space for sacred prayer through mantra meditation and kirtan, the chanting of the Names of God, allowing us to clean the mirror of the mind and heart.

Our Guest · A Gaudiya Vaishnava Monk

Sripad Bhaktivedanta Damodara Maharaja

We are very much blessed and excited to welcome Sripad Bhaktivedanta Damodara Maharaja, a monk from the Gaudiya Vaishnava lineage, for the entire duration of the retreat.

Born in Australia, Maharaja has spent over 30 years practising the path of Bhakti Yoga in Vrindavan, India. In 2003 he received sannyasa, the renounced order of lifelong celibacy, and has since dedicated his life to travelling the world to share the path of Bhakti.

Through his profound knowledge of the Vedic scriptures, deep realisation of Gaudiya philosophy and captivating storytelling, Maharaja delivers timeless wisdom with both depth and lighthearted humour, that keeps us all engaged.

“I feel this is an all-encompassing and non-sectarian philosophy that can be practised by anyone of any culture, as it is based on purely chanting the names of God.” Sripad BV Damodara Maharaja
Our Immense Good Fortune

The blessing of association

When our vision is clouded by material conditioning and endless desires, it is difficult to realise the deep and esoteric truths of the Vedic scriptures. It is our immense good fortune to associate with and learn from Maharaja, who shares what he describes as “an all-encompassing and non-sectarian philosophy that can be practised by anyone of any culture”, a mercy that has the power to open our darkened eyes and to make the impossible possible. Maharaja carries the teachings of his beloved Gurudev, Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja.

Retreat Schedule

The rhythm of our days together

A thoughtfully curated balance of nourishing practice for mind, body and soul, with spacious free time for rest, integration and peaceful walks in nature.

Friday
2nd October · Arrival
  • 3pmArrivals
  • 5pmGreeting Circle / Kirtan
  • 6pmEvening class
  • 7pmDinner
  • 8pmCampfire
Saturday & Sunday
3rd & 4th October
  • 6amMorning Program
  • 7amJapa Walk
  • 8amBhakti Yoga class
  • 9amBreakfast
  • 11amNature Walk / Gong Bath
  • Afternoon
  • 1:30pmLunch / Rest
  • 5pmKirtan
  • 6pmBhakti Yoga class
  • Evening
  • 8pmDinner
  • 9pmCampfire
  • 10pmRest
Monday
5th October · Farewell
  • 6amMorning Program
  • 7amJapa Walk
  • 8amBhakti Yoga class
  • 9amBreakfast
  • 10amClosing Circle
Teachings & Lineage

The path of devotion to God

Bhakti-Yoga is the path of devotion to God. The transcendental scriptures Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad Bhāgavatam reveal that the soul's eternal nature, nitya-dharma, is to lovingly serve God, whom we know as Śrī Śrī Radha-Kṛṣṇa, with humility, sincerity and devotion.

They outline that by living in this way, under the guidance of a self-realised soul, we can awaken our dormant and natural love for God, Sri Krishna.

At the heart of Bhakti-Yoga is Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, maha meaning 'great' and prabhu meaning 'master', an incarnation of Lord Sri Krishna who appeared in Navadvip, West Bengal, 500 years ago. He appeared in this world to taste and distribute prema-bhakti, pure love of God, through the sacred 16-syllable Maha-Mantra.

Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja
The Sacred Maha-Mantra
Hare Kṛṣṇa Hare Kṛṣṇa
Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa Hare Hare
Hare Rāma Hare Rāma
Rāma Rāma Hare Hare

Krishna has invested all His power, sweetness, beauty and mercy in His Holy Name. The Holy Name bestows pure spiritual intelligence, destroys all afflictions, fulfils all desires, and fills the heart with joy. These treasured teachings come through a living lineage (guru-paramparā) of self-realised souls, whose every word and action are in service to the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Krishna.

“This human form of life is a good boat by which one can cross the ocean of nescience… the instructions of Krishna are the favourable winds, and the spiritual master is the navigator.” Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 11.20.17
The Practices

Japa & Kirtan

What is Japa?

Japa is the personal, meditative practice of repeating the Maha-mantra whilst keeping a count on prayer beads. This practice helps to focus the mind, purify the heart, and build a direct relationship with the Divine.

What is Kirtan?

Kirtan, also known as sankirtan, is the practice of singing the Maha-mantra congregationally. In Sanskrit san means 'together' and kirtan means 'to glorify', so it is essentially the practice of glorifying God together.

Where You'll Stay

A tranquil Victorian villa by the sea

We are happy to welcome you to a beautiful 6-bedroom Victorian house at the foot of Snowdonia in Colwyn Bay, just 5 minutes' walk from the beach, with generously sized communal spaces, a garden, hot tub and sauna.

To support the intentional nature of the retreat, men and women will have separate sleeping quarters on separate floors, each with its own shared bathroom.

  • Six beautifully designed bedrooms, the whole villa, exclusively ours
  • Most rooms comfortably sleep 2; a few larger suites host up to 4
  • South-facing garden with hot tub & infrared sauna
  • Five minutes' walk to the sandy beach, at the foot of Snowdonia
Food · Prasadam

Three vegan meals, made with love

We serve three tasty vegan meals each day, made with love. This food is first offered to Krishna and becomes blessed food, known as prasadam.

We will do our very best to cater for specific dietary requirements, such as intolerances and allergies, upon booking you'll have the opportunity to provide these details.

Please note that outside food is not permitted. All wholesome meals, snacks and beverages are fully provided, so you can completely unplug from planning, cooking or managing food, and simply be present.

Held With Care

Everything is taken care of

01

Accommodation

3 nights in the Victorian villa, in serene single-sex quarters.

02

Prasadam

Three vegan meals a day, plus snacks and drinks, all provided.

03

Daily Practice

Morning programs, Bhakti Yoga classes, japa and breathwork.

04

Kirtan & Campfire

Devotional chant, gong bath and evening gatherings.

05

Time with the Monk

Teachings and satsang with Maharaja throughout the retreat.

06

Nature

Beach walks, woodland trails and spacious free time to rest.

Contributions & Booking

Reserve your place in the small circle

Starts Friday 2 October · Ends Monday 5 October 2026.
Reserve your place with a secure contribution.

To reserve your place in this intimate circle, click below. On the next step you'll see your full retreat, everything included, and complete your reservation.

Reserve here

Next: your details, full retreat & secure payment
◆ Limited places for this UK retreat ◆
The Circle Is Small

A door that opens once

Only a small circle of seekers will share these days with Maharaja. If your heart is called, we would be honoured to hold a place for you.

Get in Touch

Send us an email

Have a question about the retreat? Leave us a message and we'll get back to you.