Accommodation & Contributions

All accommodation in Plum Village is communal. Most living areas and all rooms are shared to encourage community living and mutual support in our practice. Please note that we do not provide single rooms.

Most beds are single and some in dormitories are bunk beds.

In rented “gites” (guesthouses), there may be the option of a double bed for couples.

Accessibility

We have a few rooms with wheelchair access and a dedicated parking space (retreatants need to provide their own wheelchair).

We do recommend that wheelchair users come to Plum Village with a car because of the required commuting between hamlets (Thénac, Loubès-Bernac, and Dieulivol) during the retreats.

We also recommend that retreatants with certain disabilities come with a friend or family member who may provide extra support during their stay, because currently our accessible facilities and resources are limited and under development.

To see how we best we can support you, please contact one of the hamlets.

Bedding

Most of the year, outside of the themed retreats, mattresses, pillows, sheets, duvets and covers are provided. In the cooler months, you may wish to bring a sleeping bag or light blanket for extra warmth.

During themed retreats such as the July Summer Opening, when hundreds of retreatants arrive each week, every hamlet may have a different policy. Some hamlets will provide a mattress and a pillow only, others will provide undersheet and pillow covers. Please check with the hamlet you have registered in to know what you need to bring.

Camping

We have rustic camping areas and sometimes on unlevelled ground. Camping is only available in the warmer months of the year from late spring to autumn (mid-March to 1st November).

Please bring your own tent, a foam pad/mat, sleeping bag, pillow and any other items that will make your camping comfortable. There are on-site bathrooms and toilets available for campers. In Lower Hamlet and New Hamlet only, there are a limited number of tents available for rent on a first come first served basis (Upper Hamlet does not offer tents for rent).

We have rustic camping areas and sometimes on unlevelled ground. Camping is only available in the warmer months of the year from late spring to autumn (mid-March to 1st November).

Please bring your own tent, a foam pad/mat, sleeping bag, pillow and any other items that will make your camping comfortable. There are on-site bathrooms and toilets available for campers.

Camper Van

There are a few spots for camper vans.

You can park your camper van in the tree-lined parking lot of the hamlet you are staying in. Please note that there are no utility hook-ups to water or electricity.

Commuter

If you choose to come as a “commuter”, you need to find lodgings yourself outside Plum Village and pay for them separately, in addition to the commuter fee you contribute to Plum Village towards retreat expenses (which include your food and use of the facilities and grounds at Plum Village, as well as a contribution toward the teachings).

The hamlet you register with can provide a list of local “gites” (guest houses) on request.

Contributions

Plum Village retreat contributions are calculated in line with current costs in France and go towards covering the expenses of every aspect of your stay and experience.

The practical side includes: accommodation (from €18-50/day), full board & refreshments (approx. €12/day), contribution towards the retreat facilities and site (from approx. €25/day), and an administrative registration & payment fee of about 5%.

In addition, the contribution rate includes a separate “dana” offering which goes towards supporting the teachings and monastic community (from approx. €100/week).Please note: the scholarship rates for dorms, tents, campervans, and commuters do not include this “dana” offering. The contribution is only enough to cover practical expenses (food, lodging, facilities), and does not include a contribution for the teachings or monastic community.

We are very grateful for your contribution, which helps us maintain and develop the monastery campus, grounds, and facilities, so we can create a healing and peaceful environment for your retreat, and for generations to come. 

Your contribution supports the residential community's international training and service program for young monastics and practitioners, helping us nurture the roots of the living Dharma in the West. 

It is thanks to your support that the monastic community can thrive and share the path of mindfulness practice, both in Plum Village and beyond.

Plum Village monastery is a non-profit charitable organization and registered religious congregation supported by "dana" “Dana” is a Pali and Sanskrit word meaning “donation” or “offering”. For over 2,500 years, the Buddhist monastic community has been sustained through the generous donations of practitioners, rather than by taxes, land, or other accumulated wealth. .

We gratefully accept additional donations to support our monasteries and service projects around the world.  

Our new tiered pricing makes retreats more accessible and expands our scholarships, while supporting Plum Village’s work in the world. These fees cover accommodations, meals, retreat facilities, land care, and a contribution to the teaching community. Your generosity also supports monastic training, volunteers, and fellow retreatants. Please consider choosing the highest rate you can offer.

Retreat contributions vary according to the type of lodging you choose and are per person, per week.

Pricing Tiers

• *Scholarship (-25%) For those who need financial assistance. This reduced rate is available thanks to the generosity of other retreatants. Availability is limited.
• Reduced Covering the essential costs of your retreat. We offer this rate to make our retreats accessible to everyone.
• Sustaining This rate fully covers your retreat costs and contributes towards monastic training, taking care of the Plum Village hamlets, and supporting our engaged work in the world.
• Supporting Your generous contribution helps provide healthcare for monastics, fund essential development projects, and maintain a welcoming refuge for all.

*For students aged 25 and under, or those on unemployment benefits, who may be in need of greater financial assistance, please see Further Reductions below.

• Teenagers (13-17) receive a 30% reduction
• Children receive a 50% reduction
• There is no charge for children under the age of 6.
  

* Please register each member of the family, including children of all ages.

Payment methods

You can contribute through the following payment methods

• Card payments (worldwide)
• European direct debit (SEPA) for bank accounts in Europe

* We regret to say that due to French accounting regulations we are no longer able to receive cash, check or manual bank transfers as payments for our retreats.

* Payment is required at registration to secure a place. If you cannot pay the full amount straight away, you can choose a payment plan.

Changes to payment process

From 3 January 2025 onwards, retreat contributions will be split into two payments to comply with French law:

• Main payment: to Bienvenue Aux Pruniers S.A.S., our new social enterprise managing the practical aspects of your retreat (food, accommodation, facilities, administration, taxes, etc.).
• Monastery contribution: to Congrégation Bouddhique Zen Village des Pruniers, the officially registered Buddhist Congregation supporting the monastic community.

After payment, your bank statement will show two charges, and you will receive two invoices.

Cancellations & Refunds

We understand that life circumstances change.

There are limited places on Plum Village retreats, and yet many friends wish to come and practice with us. Please be compassionate to others by making your cancellation as early as possible, so others have a chance to reserve your place.

If you let us know:

• 28 days or more before arrival: Your contribution will be refunded, minus a €100 admin & cancellation fee.
• 14-27 days before arrival: The €100 non‑refundable admin fee will be deducted, and we can refund 50% of your contribution.
• 13 days or less before arrival: No refunds.

Cancellation of Retreats by Plum Village
Plum Village reserves the right to cancel a retreat under any circumstances. In this event, you will be offered a full refund for any payments you have made to us already, including the admin fee.

Plum Village accepts no further liability for retreat cancellations beyond the retreat registration fee refund. For example we cannot be liable for any funds spent on advance travel arrangements, such as flight tickets and visas.

We encourage all our guests to take out travel insurance to cover all risks and loss in case of emergencies.

Further Reductions

* Applicable to a dormitory of 6 – 10 people with shared bathroom or camping

• For students 25 years old and under upon presentation of a valid student card by email
• For retreatants on unemployment benefits, upon presentation of proof of your situation and your income by email.
• Please contact the hamlet that you have registered in, or wish to register in, about applying for a further reduction, with proof of one of the above criteria. Please quote your reservation number if available.
• Please note that availability for a further reduction is very limited and not all requests may be granted.