Where to Find Silent Retreats

Here's a sampling of places that offer silent retreats:

Bethany Retreat House, East Chicago, Ind., (219) 398-5047

Private and directed silent retreats are available at this suburban home owned by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, a religious order of Catholic women. Retreats start at $45 per night, and include meals and a private room.

Eastern Mountain Retreat Center, Great Barrington, Mass., (413) 528-6617

Guests are welcome any time by prior arrangement with the center and may stay from two days to two weeks. A suggested donation of $30 per day covers room and board; spiritual advisers are available by request.

Elat Chayyim Center for Jewish Spirituality, Falls Village, Conn., (800) 398-2630

Silent retreats here last five, seven, or 12 days; they draw upon a tradition of Jewish mysticism and are open to all. Rates vary depending upon type of accommodation and length of stay. Donations are accepted for religious instruction.

Evensong by the Sea Ecumenical Retreat & Spirituality Center, Harwich Port, Mass., (800) 455-0247

Open October 1 through April 30, this seaside center offers five-day silent retreats from $450 or individual retreats from $95 per night.

Insight Meditation Society, Barre, Mass., (978) 355-4378

Silent retreats are offered throughout the year at this meditation center located on 200 acres of woodland in central Massachusetts. Course fees, which include food and lodging, are charged on a sliding scale, and scholarships are available.

Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Lenox, Mass., (866) 200-5203

This yoga retreat center in the Berkshires offers more than 60 programs and workshops, including silent retreats and spa services, available. Rates vary depending on the type of program.

Nurturing Nest Mineral Hot Springs Retreat and Spa, Desert Hot Springs, Calif., (888) 557-0066

Yoga, meditation, massage, colon cleansing, and hot springs are on offer at this desert spa. Rates begin at $179 per night for a room with a full kitchen. Five-day-long "Freedom Retreats" are $2,300, including accommodations and treatments.

Rolling Meadows Farm Retreat, Brooks, Me., (888) 666-6412

Silent yoga and mediation retreats are offered throughout the year at a historic farmhouse. Rates for weeklong retreats begin at $700.

Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville Retreat Center, Buckingham, Va., (800) 858-9642

Silent retreats featuring vegetarian food and yoga instruction are offered several times a year. Rates for a four-day silent retreat, which include tuition and room and board, begin at $360 for dormitory-style accommodations.

Vallecitos Mountain Refuge, Taos, N.M., (505) 751-9613

Silent and partially silent retreats are offered several times a year. Guests stay in single-occupancy solar cabins, yurts, or tents and eat vegetarian food. Rates for a six-day stay range from $500 to $800 depending on the type of retreat.