Reservation Information
Please be aware that preregistration is always required prior to arrival. Before you register, please take time to carefully read the information below, including how to register and our cancellation policy.
Workshop Fees
Workshop fees are determined by your accommodation type and length of stay. In additional to your workshop, these fees include the following:
- Meals: Esalen serves a wide variety of food. Meat, vegetarian, and vegan options are commonly available. Much of Esalen’s produce is organically grown on our farm and picked fresh just hours before mealtime.
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations are included with your workshop, beginning with the workshop start date. Check-out is 12 noon on the final day of your workshop.
- Access: 24-hour use of hot mineral spring bath facilities, the Art Center (except when a workshop is scheduled), and the entire Esalen grounds.
- Movement Classes: Participation in movement classes scheduled during time on the property.
- Catalog: a 12-month subscription to the Esalen Catalog.
Accommodations
Accommodations at Esalen are almost always shared. Couples will be housed privately. A variety of accommodation options is possible with workshop registration. Since some of these fill more quickly than others, it is advisable to sign up as early as possible. Please indicate your second choice for accommodations and workshop in case your initial choice is unavailable. We cannot guarantee specific room requests.
Standard Accommodations: This is shared housing with two or three persons per room. In some cases, bathrooms are shared. Couples will be housed privately. The rates listed with the workshop descriptions throughout the web site refer to these shared standard accommodations. (Standard guaranteed single housing is available on a limited basis for an additional $125 per night).
Premium Rooms offer privacy, upgraded bathrooms, Internet connections, in-room telephone, and enhanced sound and climate insulation. Some rooms have in-floor heating and ocean views. Please call 888-837-2536 for details about premium room accommodations and availability.
Point Houses are private suites nestled behind the Esalen Garden and perched at the cliff's edge with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Each of the three Point Houses offers a living room with wood stove, a master bedroom, a sleeping loft, full kitchen and dining area, private redwood deck overlooking the Pacific with outdoor claw foot tub, Internet connections, and in-room telephone. Please call 888-837-2536 for details about Point House accommodations and availability.
Bunk Bed Rooms: Bunk beds are available for seminar participants who are willing to share a room with four or more persons. Limited in number, these spaces, are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.
Off-site Accommodations: If you are staying off the property, meals and unlimited use of the property facilities are included.
Sleeping bags: Some meeting rooms are sometimes used as shared sleeping bag space and may be available for workshop participants with limited financial means. There is a 7-day limit on sleeping bag stays. Should you choose sleeping bag accommodations, you are responsible for your own sleeping bag, blankets, pads, pillows, etc. Esalen provides towels and face cloths. Some rooms do not include a shower, though shower facilities are available at the baths. The meeting room is a public space where Esalen activities, scheduled and unscheduled, take place. Thus, the room is inaccessible between 9am and 11pm. Access to the room is not permitted while these activities are in process. Sleeping bag accommodations are coed, and several people may share a relatively small space. You may want to bring earplugs if you are a light sleeper or bothered by the sleep sounds of others.
All camping or sleeping on the grounds, either in tents, campers, or vehicles of any type is strictly prohibited. We do not have parking space to accommodate RVs.
Esalen 2012 Workshop Prices
The prices for Esalen workshops are as follows.
| Esalen 2012 Workshop Prices | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend Workshops | Five-day Workshops | Seven-day Workshops | 28-day Massage | ||||
| Rates | Regular | Friends | Regular | Friends | Regular | Friends | Standard | Standard | $730 | $705 | $1,215 | $1,190 | $1,855 | $1,830 | $5,155 |
| Premium Room | $1,210 | $1,185 | $2,340 | $2,315 | $3,535 | $3,510 | N/A |
| Premium Room Couple | $1,940 | $1,915 | $3,555 | $3,530 | $5,390 | $5,365 | N/A |
| Point House Single | $1,595 | $1,570 | $3,155 | $3,130 | $4,565 | $4,540 | N/A |
| Point House Couple | $2,290 | $2,265 | $4,310 | $4,285 | $6,330 | $6,305 | N/A |
| Bunk Bed | $555 | $530 | $935 | $910 | $1,430 | $1,405 | $3,885 |
| Off-site | $405 | $380 | $650 | $625 | $990 | $965 | Please contact. |
| Sleeping Bag | $405 | $380 | $650 | $625 | $990 | $965 | N/A |
| Child Enrolled in Workshop | $100 | $100 | $200 | $200 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Friends of Esalen
We invite you to become a Friend of Esalen. Your donation of $50 or more will benefit our programs and help build Esalen’s long-term financial base. As a Friend of Esalen you will receive the following benefits:
- A $25 reduction in tuition for all workshops over the next 12 months.
- The Friends of Esalen Newsletters for one year.
- A tax deduction under IRS section 501(c)3 for the amount of the donation.
- The ability to stay as a personal retreat guest.
Pricing for Partner Programs
Esalen has partnered with other educational institutions such as Upledger Institute to provide programming on our Big Sur campus. In these instances when students pay workshop fees to the providing partner, Esalen's rate structure is as follows:
| Pricing for Partner Programs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Weekend Programs | Five-day Programs | Seven-day Programs |
| Pt House Single | $1,515 | $2,947 | $4,295 |
| Pt House Couple | $2,210 | $4,102 | $6,060 |
| Premium Single | $1,130 | $2,132 | $3,265 |
| Premium Couple | $1,860 | $3,347 | $5,120 |
| Standard (Shared) | $650 | $1,007 | $1,585 |
| Bunk Bed | $475 | $727 | $1,160 |
| Sleeping Bag | $325 | $442 | $720 |
| Off-Site | $325 | $442 | $720 |
Deposits
| Esalen Deposits Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Weekend: | $150 |
| 5-7 Days: | $300 |
| 12-14 Days: | $400 |
| 21+ Days: | $600 |
Since workshops fill quickly, it is advisable to sign up as early as possible. In order to reserve a space in any workshop, we require full payment or the deposits at right. To help Esalen with its mission and to lower costs, we ask all who are capable of doing so to please pay the full amount of their workshop or Personal Retreat at the time they make their reservation, rather than only making a deposit.
Balance of payment is due five days before arrival. Deposits are payable in U.S. currency only. Overseas residents must pay by checks drawn on U.S. banks or use a credit card. Please indicate your second choice for a workshop in case your first choice is canceled and we are unable to reach you.
Scholarship Information
A vital part of Esalen's mission is to help those seeking to acquire the skills and knowledge to transform their lives and the world at large. Esalen is committed to making this possible through need-based scholarships.
Our scholarship funds are limited, so awards will be made to those who will take what they have learned back to their homes, workplaces and communities.
We allow one scholarship per person per year.
Although personal growth is an essential step towards social transformation, almost all of our workshop scholarships are reserved for individuals who will use the information they gain to impact social change.
Priority is given to workshops focused on:
- Sustainability
- Community building
- Social justice
- Conscious business
| Esalen Scholarship | ||
|---|---|---|
| Assistance | Work | |
| Weekend | $50 | 4 hours |
| 5-9 Days | $100 | 8 hours |
Work Exchange for Workshops
Esalen occasionally offers assistance to workshop participants in exchange for a work commitment in the kitchen or cabins (housekeeping).
Please request a work exchange when making your reservation. Approved work exchange recipients will receive their work schedule upon arrival.
We allow one work exchange opportunity per person per year.
- 5 day workshop- reduced fee of $100 for 8 hours of work
- Weekend workshop- reduced fee of $50 for 4 hours of work.
How to Register
Our reservation form (in Adobe PDF format) is for your convenience in reserving a space in Esalen workshops. If you wish to make reservations for more than one person, please print a copy of the form so that each registrant has his or her own form, unless you are registering as a couple with the same address and phone number. A non-refundable deposit for each person registering and each workshop applied for must accompany this form.
To register on the web:
You may place an online reservation request through our Online Reservation Requests page.
To register by phone:
Dial 888-8-ESALEN (888-837-2536). Phone reservation hours are Monday - Thursday 9am - 7pm, and Friday - Sunday 9am - 5pm. (All times are pacific time.) The most opportune time to call is after 2pm. For those who have previously taken a workshop at Esalen, reservation information can be left on our
To register by fax:
Fax the completed reservation form to 831-667-2724. All fax reservations must include credit card information and a signature. Our fax line is exclusively for reservations. No personal correspondence, please.
To register by mail:
Mailed reservation deposits are payable in U.S. currency only, and overseas residents must pay by checks drawn on U.S. banks or provide complete credit card information. Mail completed reservation form to:
Esalen Institute
Attn: Reservations
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
Reduced Rate Options and Discounts
Senior Citizen Discount: Esalen offers a special discount to individuals over 65 years of age. The discount for a weekend workshop is $25; a five-day or longer workshop is $50. Please request this discount at the time of registration. When you complete the reservation form, please indicate the discounts for which you qualify. If you qualify, and you make your reservation by phone, be sure to ask for this discount. (Please note: Senior discounts are not available for the Work Study Program.)
Accommodations for Families: Two full-paying adults housed in standard accommodations may have their children in the room for a meal charge of $20 per child per day ($10 for children under six). Note: If children are enrolled in Gazebo School Park or an Esalen workshop, additional fees are required. For more information see Gazebo School Park Early Childhood Program.
Personal Retreats
A Personal Retreat offers the opportunity to nourish body, mind, heart and soul without participating in a workshop. Those on personal retreat may structure their time at Esalen themselves, and can participate in daily yoga and movement classes, enjoy the hot springs, meditate and explore Esalen's beautiful land.
Esalen Personal Retreats are open only to members of the Friends of Esalen program, which supports Esalen's transformational mission. Learn more about the additional benefits of membership, and to join Friends of Esalen. Personal retreat rates are per day and are per person unless otherwise noted. They include all meals for the duration of your stay.
| Esalen Personal Retreat Prices applicable taxes will be added |
||
|---|---|---|
| Weekend Fri-Sat Nights |
Weekday Sun-Thu Nights |
|
| Standard Accommodations (2-3 persons in a shared room) |
$220 | $165 |
| Premium Accommodations Single (guaranteed single) |
$450 | $450 |
| Premium Accommodations Double (2 persons: charge is per room ) |
$600 | $600 |
| Point Houses (1 or 2 people) |
$700 | $650 |
| South Point House Annex (each person over 2 up to 4 total) |
$175 | $175 |
| Bunk Bed Accommodations (4+ in a shared room) |
$140 | $130 |
Esalen does not offer personal retreats more than one week in advance except when announced in the Esalen eNEWS or on the Esalen website. Earlier bookings are available for the Point Houses. Call for details. You must be a current Friend of Esalen in order to book a personal retreat. For additional information, please see the frequently asked questions about personal retreat list.
Note: personal retreat reservations must be made by phone with a reservations agent; they cannot be made online or by fax.
Personal Retreat Cancellation Policy: If you cancel your reservation at least 7 days before your reservations date, A $75 processing fee will be charged for each reservation (per person) and the remaining balance will be refunded. If less than 7 days, you will forfeit the price of one night's lodging (per person).
Transportation
Ridesharing: We would like to encourage ridesharing to reduce the number of cars on the road and at Esalen.
Click here to easily arrange for carpooling. You can get or give a ride.
You may also ask to have your name added to offer or receive a ride.
- By phone: please ask your reservations agent about ridesharing.
- Online Reservations Request: look for the ridesharing options.
- By Fax or Mail: mark "yes" in the ridesharing box.
Van Service: On Fridays and Sundays we have van service from the Monterey Airport at 4 p.m. and from the Monterey Transit Plaza (corner of Pearl and Alvarado, next to Ordway Drug) at approximately 4:20 p.m. If you plan to use this service, please inform the Esalen office at least 24 hours prior to your arrival. The $65 one-way fee (subject to change) is payable to the Esalen office when you check in. Return reservations may be made at that time. The only departing van service from Esalen is on Fridays and Sundays, leaving between 5:30-6:00 pm and generally arriving in Monterey between 7:00-7:30 pm. If you plan to use this departure service, please make sure that your reservations departing Monterey are after 8 p.m.
Schedules
Check-in, Check-out and Meals: Guests are welcome to arrive anytime after 2pm. Rooms become available at 4pm. Weekend programs begin with dinner on Friday and end with brunch on Sunday. Five-day and longer programs begin with dinner on Sunday and end with lunch on Friday. We ask guests to remove all personal effects from their rooms by 12 noon on the final day of their workshop. Guests are invited to enjoy lunch and stay on property until 2 pm. Your timely departure ensures that we may prepare for and welcome our next group of workshop participants.
Workshops: Workshop sessions normally begin at 8:30 pm on the first evening and end at 11:30 AM on the final day.
Cancellation Policy
Esalen Institute reserves the right to cancel any program at any time.
If You Cancel a Workshop
If you cancel or change any part of your reservation at least seven full days before the start of your workshop(s), your non-refundable deposit, less a $75-per-workshop, per-person processing fee, will be transferred to an Esalen non-refundable credit account to be used within one year.
If you cancel a workshop with less than seven days notice, you forfeit your entire deposit. If you have prepaid your entire reservation fee, we will retain the fees as stated above and return the balance to you.
If You Cancel a Personal Retreat
If you cancel your reservation at least 7 days before your reservations date, A $75 processing fee will be charged for each reservation (per person) and the remaining balance will be refunded. If less than 7 days, you will forfeit the price of one night's lodging (per person).
If You Have Applied for a Scholarship
If you have applied for a scholarship and we are unable to give you any assistance, we will, at your request, refund your deposit in full if you cancel your reservation at least five full days prior to the start of your workshop.
Cancellations must be made by phone with one of our reservation staff. "Seven full days" means by Sunday before a Sunday workshop, and by Friday before a Friday workshop. Donations to the Friends of Esalen are nonrefundable.
Additional Information
Please be aware of the following important information:
Esalen is located approximately 45 miles from "civilization." This isolation and tranquility can deepen your experience at Esalen yet for many guests it can be a significant change in environment. We have minimal electronic communications available; there are some terminals available for Internet connection, though speed is slow and availability limited. There is no cell phone service at Esalen, but free WiFi is available in the Lodge, except during meal times.
- Snoring: If you will be staying in one of our shared accommodations and you snore, please come prepared to do everything possible to minimize the discomfort this may cause a roommate—perhaps you should think about taking a private room if possible. If you are not a snorer, please come prepared (earplugs, etc.) for the possibility of sharing a room with a snorer.
- Flashlights: Be sure to bring a flashlight for use at night while walking on the grounds, as they are very dimly lit.
- Health Services: Esalen has no medical services or pharmaceutical supplies on site. If you will require medical attention or supplies during your stay, please come prepared to administer to your own needs. Esalen is 45 miles from the nearest medical facility or pharmacy.
- Illegal Drugs: In accordance with state and federal laws, the possession or use of illegal drugs on Esalen grounds is strictly prohibited.
- Lost and Found: To inquire about items left behind from your Esalen visit, call 831-667-3019.
- Money: Esalen is able to accept cash, checks, and credit cards. Please bring sufficient funds for incidentals as Esalen does not have an ATM, and the nearest ATM is a 30 minute drive north. Cash on property may be needed for purchases of beverages and chocolate at our dinner bar, and also for gratuities for massage practitioners.
- Personal Guests: Seminarians are not allowed guests on the property during their stay.
- Pets: Other than Service Animals, pets are not allowed.
- Smoking: Smoking is not permitted in any accommodations, meeting rooms, or other indoor spaces.
- Valuables: The Esalen office has no facilities to store your valuables.
- Volunteering: Esalen is a learningcommunity/organization made up of guests, students, staff, and volunteers. A variety of contributions goes toward enhancing this community. Guests contribute to this in many ways, including making their beds and bussing their dishes. Guests are also welcome to contribute a couple of hours to work with the Esalen staff, usually in the kitchen. Your help enables us to meet the pressures of peak working times and enables you to experience Esalen from the inside out.