Staying as a Guest
General introduction
If you would like to come for an overnight visit, please write to make a reservation.
All foreign nationals visiting Slovenia must register with the police within 3 days of arrival or risk paying a fine. The Monastery will usually do this as part of the check-in procedures. You will be asked to fill up a form with basic information that will be emailed to you by the guest monk before your arrival.
All visitors are asked to observe the Eight Precepts and to participate fully in the daily schedule of the Monastery. The main emphasis of the Monastery however, is silence and seclusion. There are no pūjas (group chantings), but guests are expected to assist in meal preparations in the kitchen, work in the forest, or in the gardens.
We do not charge for rooms (nor for teachings) but rely instead on the spirit of generosity.
Lodgings
Our accommodations are very simple. There is a guesthouse, called Nirodhā Hermitage, 10min walking from the main house of the Monastery. The guesthouse has a very modest bathroom with a toilet and a shower.
Food
Monks only consume food between dawn and midday and guests staying overnight are expected to observe the same practice (see the Eight Precepts). No food can be consumed after midday. If you have a medical condition or other compelling reason to be exempted from this precept please inform the Guest monk of your situation and needs.
The food at the hermitages is not necessarily vegetarian as is sometimes assumed. The monks respect the generosity of all laypeople and do not refuse any offerings of food. The food available to lay visitors is the same as offered to the monks. If you have special dietary needs due to illness or allergies, please inform the Guest monk so that the kitchen will be able to accommodate you.
Arranging for Transport
We do not arrange transport for guests and request that they organize their own transportation both to and from the hermitage before arriving. Guests are expected to arrive before 5pm. For information on how to get here, click here.
Retreat
The Monastery is a place for silence and contemplation. As guests are sharing in community life, it is not appropriate to come and go without notice or engage in external business during their stay.
To help make the hermitage a haven of quiet, simplicity, and solitude, guests are asked to limit their use of smartphones for calls or emails during their stay.
Ticks
Ticks are common in the forests of Slovenia and can spread Lyme as well as Tick Borne Encephalitis (TBE). Guests are therefore advised to check themselves daily for ticks. Even though TBE is rare, guests may want to consider consulting their local GP or health centre about the availability of a TBE vaccine in their country of residence before arrival.
Note: a TBE vaccine typically comes in three doses with several weeks in between the first two vaccinations. Acceptable protection begins two weeks after the second dose, so timing matters.
Items to Bring
– a set of sheets (no need if you are coming from abroad)
– pillow case (no need if you are coming from abroad)
– towel & toiletries
– flashlight
– sturdy work boots/shoes
– work clothes
– thermos (if you want to drink tea in your room)
We ask all overnight guests to dress fairly conservatively (i.e. wearing comfortable, loose fitting clothes). This includes wearing pants, long shorts or long skirts and to wear long or short sleeve shirts.