Solitary Retreat Cabin Descriptions
Retreat cabins at Tara Mandala provide a rare and precious opportunity to be completely secluded and alone in a remote mountain setting. Here you are free to maintain intensive practice and connect with your innermost being. The retreat cabins have been created through the loving kindness, generosity, and hard labor of many people. Please note that the retreat cabins are very rustic and primitive, and while this may be part of the allure, it can be challenging to live for any length of time in this setting. Please contact our Registrar on this page for more details. Our cabins are insulated and have wood burning stoves for heat, thus they suited for year round inhabitance.
Karuna
Tucked into the south-facing slope of Tara Mandala’s northernmost ridge, Karuna offers a tranquil and secluded haven for deep retreat. This cozy 200-square-foot wooden cabin provides expansive mountain views with Ekajati Peak and the New Zhitro Temple in the foreground. The wraparound hardwood deck is perfect for yoga, seated meditation, or simply resting in nature.
Inside, Karuna is designed with simplicity and retreat in mind, featuring:
- Twin bed with bedding
- Wood-burning stove for warmth, with firewood stored in a nearby woodshed
- Utensils, a cooler and ice packs and filtered bottled water
- Limited solar power for lighting and small electronic devices
- A fully equipped kitchen with a four-burner propane stove, cookware
- Outhouse with a great view!
There is ample floor space inside for yoga asana, tai chi, or other movement-based practices, making it a versatile space for various forms of retreat.
Secluded and serene, Karuna is especially well-suited for long-term retreat, providing the solitude and simplicity needed for deepening practice.
Access to the cabin is via a steep 1/3-mile uphill trail, which may become snowy, muddy, or icy depending on the season. During dry conditions, our Solo Retreat Manager will assist you and your belongings with transport in and out.
Luminous Peak (Opens Springs 2026)
Luminous Peak is one of the most rustic cabins, conveniently located slightly closer to the road for those who are less able to carry gear and groceries a long distance. The hike is less than ¼ mile when snow or rain prevents driving. It is, however, still very private. The nearly 180 degree views from Luminous Peak are stunning and live up to its name, luminous. Small and very cozy at just over 100 sq ft, Luminous Peak has a twin bed and bedding, a wood burning stove, a counter top propane stove, and solar electricity. The cabin includes a minimally equipped kitchen, with the basics you will need for preparing meals. With its own water source, a good water filter, and a compost toilet located on the deck behind the cabin, this is a comfortable place to do retreat. The ample south facing deck also provides great opportunities for outdoor meditation in warmer weather.
Prajnaparamita
Prajnaparamita cabin is slightly less remote than some of our other cabins, making it easy to access with no hiking required, even in the winter. This quaint and serene cabin has a wraparound porch on which you will enjoy meditation, yoga, or simply moments of stillness communing with nature. Prajnaparamita cabin is equipped with a two burner countertop propane stove, a source for water plus a Berkey water filtration system and bottled filtered water. There is no refrigerator; a cooler and ice packs are provided. It has all the basic utensils you need to prepare a meal, a twin bed with bedding, a wood burning stove for heat, solar electricity, a composting toilet and a covered wood shed for firewood.
Two Trees
Nestled among the towering Ponderosa Pines on the south slope of Tara Mandala’s northernmost ridge, Two Trees offers a serene and secluded environment for deep solo retreat. This cabin sits at a higher elevation and features breathtaking views of Ekajati Peak, providing an inspiring natural backdrop for contemplation and spiritual practice.
The cabin’s hardwood deck is an ideal space for outdoor meditation, while the interior has been lovingly described by retreatants as “the perfect size” for solo retreat.
While immersed in nature, you’ll have the essentials needed to support a nourishing and focused retreat experience.
Two Trees is thoughtfully equipped with:
- Twin bed with bedding
- Fully outfitted kitchen, including a four-burner propane stove, cookware, utensils, and plenty of filtered bottled water
- Wood-burning stove for heating, with firewood provided
- Limited solar power to support basic lighting and small devices
- Cooler with reusable ice packs (please note: there is no refrigerator)
- Outhouse with an amazing view!
- Two outdoor meditation platforms
Ratna (re-opens spring 2026)
Ratna is Tara Mandala’s largest and most remote solo retreat cabin, offering profound stillness and uninterrupted solitude. Situated on a hillside overlooking the “Secret Valley,” Ratna faces south and opens to vast views of the surrounding southern and western landscapes. This is a truly secluded refuge for practitioners seeking deep retreat in nature.
Spanning approximately 350 square feet, Ratna offers ample space for movement-based practices such as yoga, tai chi, or other meditative disciplines. Expansive windows on three sides allow natural light to fill the space and frame sweeping views—ideal for morning practice or evening reflection. Inside, you’ll find:
- Twin bed with bedding
- A choice of meditation seats, including one positioned before a full-length window overlooking the valley and another facing traditional altar
- A fully equipped kitchen with a four-burner propane stove and oven, plenty of filtered bottled water and a cooler with Ice packs
- Limited solar electricity for lighting and charging small devices
- A wood stove for warmth
What makes Ratna truly special is its unparalleled silence—far removed from roads, people, and the distractions of daily life.
Access to Ratna is a ½-mile steep and winding walk downhill, which becomes more challenging in winter conditions. Note: Ratna is not accessible from November through May, unless you are an experienced and prepared winter hiker. During dry conditions, our Solo Retreat Manager will assist with transportation to the cabin for your arrival.