FAQ’s

All bookings are NON-REFUNDABLE. If you need to cancel your stay with us, Ratna Ling Retreat Center requires 30 days notice for 100% credit to be TRANSFERRED to a future retreat within 1 year of original booking.

In the event that a program must be canceled due to force majeure (unavoidable events like natural disasters and road closures), Ratna Ling will offer a 50% refund and a 50% credit for future use.

To ensure a private cottage for yourself, you can book two rooms for yourself. For some retreats, based on availability, we can offer you a discounted rate.

We offer Space & Ease as our signature Personal Retreat. If you are looking for a more customized program, please call or email Reservations@Ratnaling.org. If you are looking to be a short -or long-term volunteer at Ratna Ling, please email volunteer@ratnaling.org.

We occasionally have availability for practitioners to retreat on weekdays, for a 2-night minimum. Please call Reservations at 510-809-4995 for more information.

We welcome children on property, and we require them to have the Covid vaccination. Some of our programs may be child-friendly, so please ask the Facilitator of your retreat if children are welcome. The cost for children age 0-11 is $150 per night for meals and lodging. The cost for guests aged 12-18 participating in a retreat is the same individual rate as adults.

Yes, you can have 3rd and 4th guests in your cottage, although we do not provide extra beds. Please email reservations@ratnaling.org to make your request. The cost for the 3rd or 4th guests is roughly 40% off the single occupancy price, which includes meals, lodging, and classes. We do not allow for guests to attend just for meals and lodging, unless they are there to supervise a child who is not attending classes.

We welcome all people regardless of lifestyle, culture, or religion and a relationship with Buddhism is not necessary. Ratna Ling is not a traditional monastery, but we do uphold Buddhist principles. We ask that all guests and residents adhere to mindful practices such as compassionate and respectful behavior toward oneself, one another, animals and insects, and the property.

We offer retreats from January to December. We close for a winter break from late December to early January. All of our staff are volunteers, and we honor the workday hours of 8am-5pm.

Standard Check-In Time Is 3pm On The First Day of your retreat. The first meal is dinner, served at 5:30pm. If you require early or late check-in, please call Reservations in advance. Please note that it can be more challenging to arrive at Ratna Ling after sunset. We will leave you a map and key for you to find your cottage if you do arrive at a late hour. Checkout is generally at 12pm on Sunday, with Brunch being served at 10am. Some schedules may vary.

Sorry, we do not accommodate guests here who do not participate in the retreat.

Yes! The Welcome Guide in your cottage lists several helpful actions that you can take to help tidy your cottage before you leave. Tasks such as stripping the beds or turning off the thermostat may seem insignificant, but actually are greatly beneficial to our housekeeping team. Of course, such actions are not required, but are much appreciated.

For the safety of guests, residents, our cottages, and our wildlife, we do not allow pets at Ratna Ling. For guests who require service animals, we require a permission form to be filled out.

While STS (Santa Rosa) is the closest at 1.5 hours away, more flights come through to SFO (San Francisco) and OAK (Oakland), which are 3 hours away.

Unfortunately, due to the remoteness of Ratna Ling, there is no public transportation that can bring you directly to the Center. There are car rental companies at all area airports.

Yes! Should you choose to venture off property, our location is ideal for exploring the sheer natural beauty of 76 miles of Pacific Coastline and ancient redwood forests. As Ratna Ling is situated on the ridge line of Salt Point State Park which encompasses 6,000 acres and has 20 miles of hiking trails. We can provide all guests access to hiking trail maps of the surrounding area, complete with suggested routes to our favorite hiking trail and clear directions to other local trail heads. These maps are located on the Reception desk of the main Lodge for easy access during retreats.

There is rarely cell phone reception in this area (coastal highway Route 1 to Ratna Ling). If you need to use your cell phone, plan to make your last phone calls well in advance. Every cottage has a telephone that is available for your use and calls within the country are free of charge. The phone in your cottage can also receive calls and your direct line will be displayed on the telephone’s LED screen. Feel free to give this number to family or friends once you have arrived. Complimentary wireless internet is available in every cottage and in common areas. There is no password needed. Verizon customers have cell reception on parts of the property.

Yes, this is true. We ask all guests and visitors to kindly and respectfully remove their outdoor shoes at all entrances including the Lodge and Dining Hall, Yoga Room and Cottages. Clean “indoor only shoes,” such as slippers, are wonderful items to bring. Bare feet or socks are also fine indoors.

All meals are vegetarian buffets, with gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options. If you have specific dietary requests or needs, we ask that you indicate this in your registration form. We serve dinner upon arrival, 3 meals a day, and then brunch on your departure day. If you require other foods/snacks, we encourage you to bring your own to store in your cottage.

You can bring layers, closed-toe shoes, and flashlights/headlamps. Feel free to bring indoor slippers/socks, as we do not wear shoes in the Lodge or the practice rooms. 

Your bathroom is equipped with a hair dryer and hand and body soap.  We recommend that guests bring their own personal toiletries.  We do have small bottles of shampoo and conditioner upon request. There is no sundries store on site, and the nearest stores are 30-60 minutes away.

We provide meditation cushions, yoga mats, blankets, blocks and bolsters. You are welcome to bring your own props, if you wish.

Ratna Ling is a drug-free and smoke-free facility, with no exceptions, including marijuana. There will be a cottage clean-up charge assessed if this policy is violated. It is fine to bring a bottle of wine or beer to enjoy in the privacy of your cottage. Please refrain from bringing hard alcohol. Alcohol may not be consumed in common areas.

We are cognizant of environmental sensitivities from which some people suffer. We have designed our spaces to be comfortable for most people. Please do alert the Ratna Ling staff prior to booking if you have any specific allergies so that we can confirm our ability to accommodate you comfortably.

  • Sun Protection: Hat, sun block, sunglasses, breathable long-sleeved shirts, etc.
  • Rain gear, umbrella and good sturdy shoes during the rainy season
  • Appropriate outerwear for the season
  • Yoga clothes or clothes that allow you to move freely
  • Flashlight (it can get extremely dark outside at night and there is very limited outdoor lighting)
  • Water bottle
  • Alarm clock
  • Slip-on shoes or slippers for indoors
  • Insect repellent for summer retreats
  • Personal hygiene items such as your favorite shampoo, moisturizer, toothbrush/paste, soap etc. (Towels, bedding, shampoo and hand-soap is provided)
  • Calling cards for international calls. Domestic calls are complimentary.
  • Meal service is provided, however, you are welcome to bring additional snacks and beverages into your cottage.

We offer gift certificates. You can find them here.

Upon purchase, we will send you a PDF to offer to your recipient.