Kloster Gut Saunstorf is a modern interdenominational monastery in a listed manor house built in 1914–1916 in the small, quiet village of Saunstorf in north-western Mecklenburg, between the Hanseatic town of Wismar and Lake Schwerin. The house is surrounded by fields, meadows, a manor park, a monastery garden and a small pond; the grounds include a chapel open 24 hours a day, a library, a sauna and, opposite, the Buddha-Haus with a healing centre and a café. Three rooms are used for dark retreats: two in the monastery basement and a vaulted underground “earth room” (Erdraum) in the Buddha-Haus. The monastery was founded by the wisdom teacher OM C. Parkin, is run by the non-profit company Gut Saunstorf gGmbH and is led by the monastic community; they have been accompanying dark retreats here since 2010 and report more than 500 accompanied retreats.
The approach is spiritual and meditative: the darkness is meant to serve self-inquiry, silence and inner self-reflection, not to be an adventure or a challenge. The retreat is always accompanied – an introductory talk, a daily talk directly in the dark from the second night, and a closing talk; it begins and ends with a candle ritual and is followed by at least one “integration” night in the light. Twice a day you receive a hot vegetarian organic meal. It suits people with a regular inner practice (meditation, self-inquiry) who want a dark retreat in a quiet, well-organised monastery setting, with the option of staying on at the monastery afterwards, joining the communal meditations or visiting the chapel.
Dark retreat in the monastery: €215/night (incl. 2 meals a day and accompaniment)
Dark retreat in the Erdraum (Buddha-Haus): €235/night
4 nights: €860 (monastery) / €940 (Erdraum)
5 nights: €1,075 / €1,175
One-week retreat: €1,505 / €1,645 per 7 nights
10 nights: €2,150 / €2,350
Talk only every other day (experienced guests, from 7 nights): discount of €240 for 7 nights, €400 for 10 nights
Mandatory integration night in the light (min. 1): €105 (monastery) / €125 (Erdraum) + meals
Integration night incl. full board: €166 / €186; 2 nights €311 / €351
Meals after the retreat: full board €61/day, half board €40/day, breakfast €20/day
Fasting (water and tea) during the retreat: −€15/day
Vegan or gluten-free meals: +€5/day
Samadhi floating tank (1 hr): €85
Transfer from/to Bobitz station: €5 per trip
Price includes
introductory talk and introduction to the room
accommodation in a darkness retreat room (min. 4 nights) with a private bathroom with shower
2 hot vegetarian organic meals a day (1 meal each on the day of arrival and departure)
tea, fruit and nuts throughout the day
daily talk with your guide from the second night
closing talk
candle ritual at the beginning and at the end
Meals
included, vegetarian organic, 2× a day
The kitchen brings meals contact-free to a darkened anteroom: after the knock you close the inner door and knock back, and only then is the food set down.
Tea, fruit and nuts available all day; no coffee, sweets or snacks.
Water-and-tea fasting on request (−€15/day).
Vegan or gluten-free meals for a surcharge of €5/day.
The kitchen is certified organic (DE-ÖKO-034); ingredients come partly from the monastery garden.
Length of stay
from 4 nights in the dark + min. 1 night in the light
For a first experience they recommend 5–6 nights; in their view the deeper process starts after the 4th night.
They recommend stays of 10 nights or more only to people who have already done a dark retreat.
They recommend arriving a day early and spending the night in the room as an ordinary lit single room.
Deposit and payment
The website does not mention a deposit; ask before booking.
Booking via the enquiry form or by phone; it becomes binding once confirmed by e-mail or phone.
Payment on site at departure (cash, EC card, Visa, Mastercard).
Cancellation
Up to 2 weeks before arrival: handling fee of €75
Later: full price (accommodation, meals and accompaniment)
Leaving early: possible at any time, the room is never locked; they recommend contacting your guide first and closing the process together. The website does not say whether unused nights are refunded; ask before booking.
Health restrictions
Mental and physical stability is a prerequisite.
Before the retreat you fill in a questionnaire on your health and psychological condition, which your guide reads in advance; anything unclear can be discussed by phone.
Longer stays (from 7–10 nights) require good inner grounding.
The website does not list specific diagnoses that rule out a stay.
Other conditions
Arrival on the first day in the afternoon between 14:00 and 16:00; departure after breakfast following the integration night.
A stay without accompaniment is not possible.
The room is never locked; you can leave it on your own at any time.
During the stay no light sources (candles, electric toothbrushes etc.), no mobile phone or other media; a voice recorder only without a display or indicator lights.
For writing in the dark you get a lined writing board; in an emergency you can leave a message for your guide at the meal hatch.
No cleaning during the retreat; towels are exchanged contact-free through a light lock.
They recommend cutting down on caffeine and sugar a few days beforehand; no coffee, black tea or sweets during the stay.
After the retreat at least 1 night in the light is mandatory, in the same room used as a single room.
They recommend bringing a cuddly toy; they send a packing list in advance.
No outdoor shoes inside the house (bring slippers); dogs are not allowed.
Before booking you can get free advice by phone from the monastery reception.
Couples and room sharing: not stated on the website, the rooms are for one person; ask before booking.
Guide
Accompaniment team from the monastic community – experienced guides who have done several dark retreats themselves and have lived in the community for years; the website does not give names.
The spiritual leader and founder of the monastery is OM C. Parkin (teacher of Advaita and the “Stillen Tradition”).
Introductory talk, then from the second night a daily talk (30–60 min. according to the English version of the website) directly in the dark; the guide announces themselves with an agreed knock.
Experienced guests staying 7 nights or more can have a talk only every other day.
The guides also handle practical matters (e.g. arrangements with the kitchen).
Information taken from the operator's website kloster-saunstorf.de, last checked 9. 10. 2026. Prices and conditions may change; please confirm them with the operator before booking.. Texts are translated from Czech.
Getting to Kloster Gut Saunstorf:
Location: modern monastery in a manor house with a park in the Mecklenburg countryside near Wismar Train: 2 km Bus: 0,8 km
Kloster Gut Saunstorf on the map:
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Kloster Gut SaunstorfDELocation: modern monastery in a manor house with a park in the Mecklenburg countryside near WismarTrain: 2 kmBus: 0,8 kmPrice: ≈ 5,726 CZK/night€235/night incl. 2 meals a day and accompaniment; plus the mandatory integration night €125 + meals (€186 with full board)
Kloster Gut SaunstorfDELocation: modern monastery in a manor house with a park in the Mecklenburg countryside near WismarTrain: 2 kmBus: 0,8 kmPrice: ≈ 5,238 CZK/night€215/night incl. 2 meals a day and accompaniment; plus the mandatory integration night €105 + meals (€166 with full board)
How to book Kloster Gut Saunstorf
Book directly with the operator: website kloster-saunstorf.de, tel. +49 38424 227911 (Mon–Sun 9:00–12:00 and 14:00–17:00), e-mail info@kloster-saunstorf.de.
If they are fully booked, you can use these free dates at Léčba tmou near Kutná Hora. These are not dates of Kloster Gut Saunstorf, but of the centre in Lomec near Kutná Hora (Czechia):
Svatyně klidu is available from 17.10.2026 Book 3 nights
Svatyně zdraví is available from 17.10.2026 Book 3 nights
