10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats UK in 2023 (Updated)

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For deeper insights into what makes up a safe and quality plant medicine retreat, check out the results from our recent plant medicine retreats survey.

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1. If you’d like a holistic understanding of your opportunities to improve your quality of life, take this self-diagnostic.

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2. If this is your first time with Ayahuasca, this short quiz will help you assess your level of mental, emotional, and spiritual readiness for this powerful and sensitive work.

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3. If you’d like to understand more about the nature of psychedelic healing work, human potential, and who and what you really are, watch the video below.

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Like most things in life, there are a broad variety of Ayahuasca retreat options, and a number of factors that effect the safety, quality, and cost of an ayahuasca retreat:

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12 Tips for Choosing a Safe and Transformative Ayahuasca Retreats UK

Here are 12 recommendations to help you avoid sketchy options and choose a safe and transformational experience:

1. Safety First: Unfortunately, many small transformation retreat centers are not in a position to make meaningful investments into screening and safety. Our recommendation is to choose a retreat provider that does in-depth conversational, medical, and psychological screening to protect your safety and well-being, and the vibes of the whole group on retreat. ‍
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2. Legality:  Experienced practitioners who have dedicated their lives to plant medicine typically live in locations where the work is legal, so they don't have to live in a state of "what if". Our recommendation is to travel to legal locations where you can benefit from legitimate healers who operate above the radar, so you can truly relax on retreat.
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3. ‍Size of the group: It's common for retreats to have 20, 50, even 100 people in ceremony, which can be chaotic. An understatement! In a large group, you are less likely receive the level of attention from healers that you may be looking for. Our recommendation is to choose a retreat with an intimate group of say, 8-15 people. For those of you in a position to do so, you may also like to consider applying for a private retreat).
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4. ‍Length of the retreat: Shorter healing retreats feel rushed, and there are limits to what can be achieved in a few nights. We recommend you spend time (at least a week) for an ayahuasca retreat to give your mind, body, heart, and soul the attention it deserves. ‍
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5. ‍‍Comfort: We recommend you choose a retreat where you are confident you will be physically comfortable and have your own private bedroom to decompress and integrate, especially if this is your first time. Go for the full jungle mosquito immersion on your second retreat, your future self will thank you later.
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6. Energetic Alignment: Select a retreat that feels energetically aligned and allows your own subjective experience to unfold naturally. The energetics of the retreat and its ceremony leaders will have a material effect upon your experience.
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7. Holistic approach: Work with an organization that takes a holistic approach to working with plant medicine, and has options to support and guide your mental and emotional evolution alongside a retreat. If a provider implies that "medicine will solve all your problems", proceed with caution (because it won't!).
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8. Service: Select a transformation retreat that you believe can meet your individual needs. Consider whether or not they've taken the time to get to know you and understand you, or it's more of a take it or leave it retreat center.
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9. Booking process: Speak with the provider before finalizing your booking. If it’s all online, this may be a strong indicator that the provider is not screening and/or carefully on-boarding their guests. This entire experience should be handled with care from start to finish.
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10. Expertise: Find an organization that emphasizes healing, and you believe has the breadth and depth of expertise to guide your transformation. Look for facilitators and healers who have a lightness of being and a sparkle in their eyes. Healing work is all about the transmutation of energy, so you are looking for people who have the energy you aspire to. If they aren't able to keep their energy right, that tells you quite a bit about either where they are at and their capabilities.
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11. Reputation: At a minimum, Google the provider, you may be surprised by what you find. If there's not much information, that is also information :) You may also like to look up the Founders and see what their energy is all about (hint hint). A famous comedian recently went to one of the most popular Ayahuasca retreat centers (known for large groups) and mentioned there were people on the retreat who didn't even know what Ayahuasca and the effects of ayahuasca was. Yes, seriously.
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12. ‍Volunteers: Please support ethical plant medicine work by selecting an organization that pays their team. Unfortunately, it is common practice for retreat centers to cycle through young, eager, and worn out volunteers and/or not pay healers fairly. If the people supporting your retreat aren't living their best life, they're not going to be able to lead you to yours. Don't be shy to ask this question directly when you speak to prospective centers.

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Looking for guidance for one of the most important decisions of your life? Watch this video.

Ready to explore a transformational retreat?

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The 10 Best Ayahuasca Retreats UK (or close by)

‍Ayahuasca is a powerful plant medicine with a long history of use in indigenous Amazonian cultures. It has gained increasing popularity in recent years as a means of spiritual growth and self-discovery, and many people travel to participate in ayahuasca retreats in countries where the substance is legal. If you are considering attending an ayahuasca retreat in the UK, there are many options to choose from. 

To help you find the best retreat for your needs, we have compiled a list of the top 10 ayahuasca retreats UK or close by based on factors such as reputation, safety, and the qualifications of the facilitators. Whether you are a seasoned ayahuasca participant or new to plant medicine, these retreats offer a safe and supportive environment for your journey of transformation.

‍Here are some ayahuasca retreats or ceremonies in the UK (or nearby) that we highly recommend to get a transformational experience.

1. Behold Retreats in Portugal, Netherlands, Costa Rica & Mexico:

Because of the legal grey areas, Behold Retreats doesn't facilitate Ayahuasca in the UK, but we do offer some close-by options. If you are wondering, "Where to do Ayahuasca Retreat in USA", there are very few places in the USA serving Ayahuasca legally, so if you're willing to take a short flight to Portugal, Behold Retreats offers a holistic and modern approach to plant medicine refined over serving 1,500+ clients. Our organization curates and facilitates life-changing plant medicine journeys with an emphasis on client goals, preparation, and integration.

Guests of Behold Retreats can also choose between a variety of other entheogens, locations, and options, for example a small group retreat overlooking the jungle in Costa Rica, on the dutch country side with Psilocybin in the Netherlands or perhaps a culturally immersive encounter in the golden mountains of Mexico with 5-MeO-DMT (Bufo).

For those who do choose to attend upcoming retreats in the USA, Behold Retreats offers high quality coaching before and after your retreat, and we can point you in the direction of a trusted retreat within the country.  Apply for a free consultation with a plant medicine expert to share your individual needs and preferences, and to understand whether (or not) there is a mutual fit.

Group retreat sizes are smaller than most retreat centers - typically no more than 10-12.

Client safety and confidentiality are given the highest importance, and healers, facilitators, therapists, and coaches have decades of experience under their belt.

Find out more information, or apply for a free consultation.

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2. Shamanic Space Retreat Center

Disclaimer: This place does not offer Ayahuasca ceremonies in the UK, only in the Amazonian jungle.

Shamanic Space offers intensive Ayahuasca healing spiritual retreats with Shipibo plant doctors. The center was founded nineteen years ago, by the Peruvian-born Shaman Rubén Orellana and the American psychotherapist and shamanic practitioner Michele Costa Lukis.

Their aim is to offer safe and legal Ayahuasca and San Pedro ceremonial retreats in Peru. As with most Ayahuasca centers, they solely work with the medicine with the intention of deep healing, be it spiritually, mentally, physically, and/or emotionally. Recreational usage is not permitted.

Over the years, the center has evolved to include workshops and upcoming retreats in the UK, Europe, and New Zealand. However, Ayahuasca ceremonies are only offered in the brew’s natural habit: the Amazonian jungle.

Nonetheless, they do offer some healing retreats in the UK, such as their Shamanic ‘Walking in Wales’ weekend, for example. While these retreats do not include mother Ayahuasca, they can serve as a way to get to know the center a little better before embarking on a Peruvian Ayahuasca journey with them.

‍Good to know! The consciousness-expanding San Pedro cactus is known to engender deep introspective journeys, and the visionary plant perfectly complements Ayahuasca’s healing.

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‍3. Behold Retreats Costa Rica

This spiritual retreat combines ancestral wisdom from various cultures worldwide with outdoor activities to help you discover a fresh perspective on yourself and your life. It offers opportunities to make new connections, appreciate nature's beauty, and engage in light outdoor activities.

Our experienced retreat facilitators and medicine guides will ensure your well-being on all levels - physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Between each ayahuasca ceremony, you'll have ample time to unwind, introspect, write in your journal, and appreciate the breathtaking panoramic views, spacious rooms, and infinity pool available on the property. Additionally, you can participate in yoga classes, practice meditation, and explore your inner world at your own pace.

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4. Origen Sagrada

‍Origen Sagrada describes itself as a community that helps others through Ayahuasca healing. This community is made up of like-minded people who want to provide health and deep healing through the power of sacred plant medicine ceremonies.

Their main Ayahuasca center is nestled in the Andes mountains just outside of Medellin, in Colombia where they host their aya healing ceremonies. As the center is surrounded by lush vegetation and beautiful flowers, the location is idyllic.

For those who can’t make it to Colombia, there is some great news: Origen Sagrada believes in providing the sacred medicine for all, and besides traveling to the US 4 times a year to host retreats, they also occasionally hold traditional Ayahuasca ceremonies in Ireland. You can check their upcoming events in Ireland here.

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5. Pachamama Shamanic Healing in Ireland

Pachamama Shamanic Healing offers 4-day Ayahuasca retreats in Ireland. The retreat serves as an opportunity to get to know yourself more intimately and find out who you truly are.

Throughout this entire process of self-discovery, you are accompanied by trained facilitators. Unlike in other Ayahuasca retreats UK or nearby, shamans do not guide the ceremonies. Instead, Pachamama Shamanic Healing’s staff consists of a group of experienced therapeutic counselors.

Apart from the Ayahuasca assisted therapy, these counselors also conduct a deep healing psychotherapeutic process of integration, emotional release, and sound therapy. The relaxing vibrations of numerous shamanic instruments guide you through the entire ceremony experience. Think of the beautiful sounds of the drums, didgeridoo, Tibetan bowls, and quartz bowls.

The retreat includes accommodation in the ceremony room, breakfast and lunch, shamanic remedies, psychotherapy work, varied cleansing rituals, and any follow-up support that you may need afterward. In addition to Ayahuasca experience, the powerful Kambo and Bufo Alvarius are also available.

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6. Acsauhaya in the Netherlands

Getting to the Netherlands from the UK isn't too much of a hassle. And the Acsauhaya Shamanic Retreat Center can definitely be worth the trip.

The aya retreat is situated in the middle of grasslands at the foot of a large nature reserve, making it the ideal venue to reconnect with nature.

The team has over 30 years of experience and they work together with authentic shamans from the Peruvian Ucayali area.

Ceremonies are held in a gorgeously renovated Dutch farmhouse. And each retreat includes fresh vegetarian meals, two Ayahuasca ceremonies, an integration toolkit, as well as private and group sharing circles the day after each transformational experience.

7. Sinchi Runa in Portugal

Sinchi Runa is a revered and well-known Ayahuasca center in Portugal. Nestled in the rolling hills above the Algarve coast, this center provides those who visit a deeply authentic experience.

They offer several 8-day spiritual retreats, and their 23-day retreat is specifically catered to those who want to fully immerse themselves into their Ayahuasca journey and uncover all that the medicine has to share with them.

Each retreat includes a transfer to and from the retreat venue, daily homemade organic meals, and an English/Spanish translator. In addition to the healing ceremonies themselves, they also offer integration exercises and therapeutic activities.

8. Union in Arutam in Spain

Union In Arutam is located on the beautiful island of Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands.

After learning from the Shuar Amazonian Shamanism tradition, the retreats’ founder, Arutam Ruymán, began teaching medicine at the age of 22. And today, the retreat center has been conducting Ayahuasca ceremonies in the UK (or nearby) for more than twelve years.

Ceremonies are held in quiet locations, deep in nature. To make sure that each participant is truly ready for the intense journey that lies ahead, a preliminary interview with the community coordinator is required. And besides the Ayahuasca experience, they also offer other medicinal plants, such as San Pedro.

‍Interesting to know! The Shuar are an indigenous people of Ecuador and Peru, who are well-known for their Ayahuasca shamanism and their use of ‘natem’ (the indigenous name for the Ayahuasca vine Banisteriopsis caapi).

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These top 10 ayahuasca retreats UK offer a unique opportunity for healing, self-discovery, and spiritual growth. By considering factors such as the reputation and experience of the retreat center, the qualifications of the facilitators, and the overall safety and comfort of the environment, you can make an informed decision and choose a retreat that aligns with your individual goals and needs. Whether you are seeking to overcome personal challenges, deepen your spiritual practice, or simply explore the transformative potential of ayahuasca, these retreats provide a supportive and nurturing environment for your journey of transformation.

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If you’re curious what happens at an ayahuasca retreat, you may check out our retreats list to get an idea.

‍Check out our article on the top 10 Ayahuasca retreats in Spain!

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Still need some help choosing a retreat?

We would be honored to guide you in choosing the best retreat for your needs. Behold Retreats coordinates expertly guided retreats with Ayahuasca, Psilocybin, and 5-MeO-DMT (Bufo Alvarius) with highly experienced facilitators. Reach out to us to set up a complimentary discovery call and we can point you in the right direction.

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5-MeO-DMT in Tepoztlan, Mexico

Ayahuasca in Costa Rica

Psilocybin in the Netherlands

5-MeO-DMT in Portugal‍