Nosce te ipsum is a retreat centre in the village of Podhorany, in its Sokolníky part, a short way north-east of Nitra below Zobor hill and the Tribeč mountains. It is a large house with 200 m² of living space, a 70 m² hall with a view, a kitchen, gym, sauna, hot tub, cold plunge pool, steam cabin, garden and private parking; besides dark retreats it is also rented out as a holiday house or a venue for group retreats. Dark retreats take place in a room with absolute darkness, with a large bed, a rocking chair, a yoga mat and its own bathroom with shower and toilet. The website is operated by the company PADOK s.r.o. from Topoľčany.
The approach is more wellness and holistic health than ascetic meditation: the team cites over 15 years of experience with traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, depth psychology, biohacking, Vipassana and other approaches, and tailors each retreat. The more expensive packages include an initial consultation with a “health analysis”, tailored food and supplements, red light therapy, guidance and treatments (sauna, hot tub, steam shower). The room also has a speaker with recordings, meditations and audiobooks. It suits those who want rest, body care and an individual programme with consultations alongside the darkness; anyone looking for strict silence without stimuli can choose the simplest Mini package.
Mini package (fasting or food once a day, water, teas): 60 €/night
Reštart package (initial consultation and analysis, tailored food and food supplements, red light therapy at the start and end, guidance): 90 €/night
Transformácia (as Reštart + treatments as needed: steam shower, sauna, hot tub, cold plunge pool, barefoot walking; individual diet and exercise plan after the retreat): 120 €/night
One week, 7 nights, Mini package: 420 €
Individual consultation: 120 €/hour
Private hot tub: 60 €/hour
Private sauna: 60 €/hour
Whole house (retreat centre / holiday house to rent): 240 €/night, min. 2 nights; elsewhere 300 € 1 night, 550 € 2 nights, 700 € 3 nights; without overnight stay 150 €/day
Price includes
Room with absolute darkness and its own bathroom (shower, toilet)
Large bed, blankets, pillows, duvets, meditation cushion
Shakti mat, massage roller and balls, hanging swing
Earplugs, notebook with pen, towel
Speaker with recordings (meditations, audiobooks, music)
Filtered and remineralised water
Hemp massage balm as a gift
Private parking
Food depending on the package: Mini fasting or one meal a day and teas; Reštart and Transformácia tailored food and supplements
Reštart and Transformácia: initial consultation, red light therapy, guidance; Transformácia also sauna, hot tub, steam shower and a post-retreat plan
Meals
included, depending on the package: fasting or one meal a day (Mini), tailored food (Reštart, Transformácia)
The Mini package means fasting, or food once a day, water and teas.
In the more expensive packages, food and nutritional supplements are tailored based on the initial consultation and a questionnaire (dietary preferences, allergies, medication).
The website does not say what specific food they cook or whether they offer a vegetarian or vegan option; ask before booking.
Length of stay
The website does not state a minimum length; ask before booking.
The price is per night; articles on the website mention stays from a few hours to several days.
For renting the whole house the minimum is 2 nights.
Deposit and payment
The website does not state a deposit or payment method; ask before booking.
Booking is via the contact form or by phone; the website has an availability calendar.
Cancellation
The website does not state cancellation terms; ask before booking.
Early departure: the website does not say whether you can end the retreat early or whether money is refunded.
Health restrictions
The website does not list specific contraindications; ask before booking.
Before the retreat your health is discussed and you fill in a detailed health questionnaire (medication, illnesses, anxiety, depression and more).
The website points out that everyone is responsible for themselves and that anyone with mental or physical health problems should consult a doctor or psychiatrist.
The services are not intended for people under 16.
Other conditions
The website does not give arrival and departure times.
The room is cleaned, disinfected and smudged with incense after each guest.
They recommend bringing comfortable clothes, thick socks and a voice recorder.
Cut down on caffeine, alcohol and heavy meals a few days before the retreat.
The premises are said to have no internet or mobile signal (according to an article on the website).
Directions: in Podhorany – Sokolníky, turn left into a dead-end lane 50 m before the church and drive to its end.
The website does not state any bans (alcohol, smoking) or conditions for couples.
Guide
The website does not give the guide's name or the qualifications of a specific person.
The team cites over 15 years of practice and courses in traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, depth psychology, Su Jok, biohacking, Vipassana, sleep protocol and more.
Reviews on the website name the therapist Pavol (Paľo) Kováčik (TCM diagnostics, sleep advice, medicinal mushrooms); the website does not explicitly say whether he guides the dark retreats.
Guidance during the retreat is part of the Reštart and Transformácia packages; according to articles the team is available around the clock.
A short closing conversation at the end of the retreat.
Information taken from the operator's website nosceteipsum.sk, last checked 8. 10. 2026. Prices and conditions may change; please confirm them with the operator before booking.. Texts are translated from Czech.
Getting to Nosce te ipsum Podhorany:
Location: room with absolute darkness in a large retreat house with wellness facilities in a village below Zobor Parking: 0 km Train: 1,7 km Bus: 0,3 km
Nosce te ipsum Podhorany on the map:
Do you own this centre and would like more photos or a different description here? Contact us at info@pobytvetme.com.
Nosce te ipsum PodhoranySKLocation: room with absolute darkness in a large retreat house with wellness facilities in a village below ZoborParking: 0 kmTrain: 1,7 kmBus: 0,3 kmPrice: ≈ 1,464 Kč/nightMini package 60 € per night for 1 person incl. fasting or food once a day; Reštart 90 €/night, Transformácia 120 €/night (tailored food, guidance, treatments)
How to book Nosce te ipsum Podhorany
Book directly with the operator: website nosceteipsum.sk, tel. +421 907 115 206, email info@nosceteipsum.sk.
If they are fully booked, you can use these free dates at Léčba tmou near Kutná Hora. These are not dates of Nosce te ipsum Podhorany, but of the centre in Lomec near Kutná Hora (Czechia):
