It is highly individual, and we are happy to offer a free consultation call to help you find the most suitable retreat length. You can book a call at this link: Book a free consultation.

As a general guideline: If you have little or no experience with meditation, retreats, or other spiritual practices, we recommend booking three or four days. You can, of course, also book a shorter stay to simply try the experience.

If you are more experienced, you are welcome to book a longer retreat. A completed health declaration is required for all retreat guests.

The room is completely dark, with no light sources whatsoever. You won't even be able to see your own hand in front of your eyes. Everyday activities such as showering, using the toilet, and eating may take a little longer at first, but in our experience, most people quickly get used to the darkness and adapt naturally to the new experience.

Yes, there is always at least one facilitator on site during your darkness retreat. However, it is important to understand that the retreat is a completely solitary experience. Our team is available outside to support you if needed, but we will never disturb your process. We only communicate if necessary, usually at your request or if we assess that we need to get in touch with you.

We deliver food twice a day. If you need to reach us, you can either use the intercom button in your room to speak directly to the facilitator, or write a note and place it in the food box (paper and pen are available in your room). We will always respond as soon as we can.

Before you enter the darkness, you will receive a briefing on what to expect and valuable tips for your stay. We will also have a conversation with you before you enter, show you the room, and answer your questions. Once we have left you and you blow out the light on the altar, your inner journey begins.

The experience is entirely on your own initiative, and you decide how long you want to stay in the darkness. Yes, you can leave the room whenever you want, and someone from our team will be there to welcome you.

Sometimes there is a need to end your darkness retreat earlier than planned. This may be because you feel that your process is complete, that the experience is more intense than expected, or that you initially booked more days than you were ready for.

We recommend that you, together with the facilitator, try to get support in completing your retreat. At the same time, it is perfectly okay to choose to leave, and possibly return if it feels right. There is no prestige in the experience; it is a personal journey and each process is unique.

Regardless of the reason, we do not offer refunds for any unused days.

No, darkness retreats are not suitable for everyone. We do not allow people with a history of serious mental illness, certain chronic illnesses, or those in an unbalanced mental state to participate in a darkness retreat. To ensure that the retreat is suitable for you, it is mandatory to fill out a health declaration and have a consultation with us before entering the darkness.

Beyond this, everyone is welcome to participate. We recommend that those with less experience of meditation, retreats, or other spiritual practices start with a three- or four-day stay. For more experienced participants, it is possible to book five or six days.

We highly recommend entering your darkness retreat with an open mind and as few expectations as possible. Each experience is unique and unfolds in its own rhythm and depth.

Attending a darkness retreat can be a profound and transformative process, completely different from a retreat in light. In the dark there are no distractions, only you and your mind. In everyday life, we often avoid worry, anxiety, and fear through external stimulation, but in darkness, you are given the opportunity to face and process what lies within you.

Visions and altered states of consciousness are common during darkness retreats, but we recommend seeing them as natural experiences rather than goals in themselves. Observe them as you would your thoughts, they come and go.

Just as deep insights and strong emotions can arise, you may also experience moments of boredom, joy, peace, and gratitude. Your pace and nervous system will gradually slow down, which in itself can be deeply healing.

To ensure a calm beginning, we recommend completing important tasks before your retreat so that you can enter the darkness without stress or unfinished obligations.

No, darkness retreats at Noord are not offered as a form of therapy or medical treatment. They are provided as a personal development experience, and for some, as a deep practice aimed at self-reflection, restoration, and inner clarity.

While some studies suggest that time spent in darkness may have positive effects on mental health and well-being, there is currently not enough scientific research to classify darkness retreat as a therapeutic or clinical treatment.

If you are currently undergoing therapy or medical treatment, we recommend discussing your retreat plans with your healthcare provider before participating.

We do not require any preparation, but recommend that guests follow the points below to ensure the best possible experience. Guests can choose how they want to prepare.

• Try to come with an open mind and without expectations. A darkness retreat is a unique experience that cannot be compared to anything else. Therefore, it is best not to have any expectations, but instead to approach the experience with an open mind and heart.
• Avoid alcohol and other drugs for at least one week before entering.
• If possible, avoid coffee and tobacco for at least three days before entering.
• Avoid watching or listening to violent films, series, or podcasts for at least three days before entering.
• Try to finish up any everyday tasks and commitments so you can be fully present during your stay.

Once you've booked your retreat, you'll get a more detailed brochure along with your booking confirmation. It'll have detailed info on what to expect, as well as practical tips and prep stuff to make your experience as rewarding as possible.

A darkness retreat is about stripping away external stimuli and giving yourself the opportunity to turn your attention completely inward. Without distractions from light, screens, or the outside world, you can begin to observe your thoughts, feelings, and bodily experiences on a deeper level.

Each person experiences the retreat in their own way, but many find it helpful to establish a simple and calm rhythm during the day. We recommend that you let silence and presence be central parts of your stay, but sometimes it can also be valuable to move your body, for example through gentle movements or stretching.

A day in darkness is usually divided into three phases:

• The morning before breakfast
• The day until dinner
• The evening after dinner

Before you enter the darkness, you will receive a briefing on what to expect and valuable tips for your stay.

A darkness retreat can be a profound inner journey where you encounter yourself without external distractions. In the darkness, there are few opportunities to escape thoughts and feelings by keeping yourself busy, and sometimes this can cause anxiety, distress, or even panic. Your first impulse may be to interrupt the retreat and leave the room, but we hope that you will instead see this as an opportunity for greater self-awareness. Our trained facilitators and counselors are there to support you through the process if you choose to sit with the discomfort.

There is no prestige in completing a retreat or staying for a long time. The important thing is your own journey.

It is also important to know that the door is never locked (you lock it yourself from the inside). You can leave the room at any time. We are there to support your decision and are outside to welcome you. Interrupting is not a failure; it may be just what is needed. In very rare cases, the staff on site may assess that you need to end your retreat and come out, for your own safety. If you feel a greater need for support, we can arrange contact with one of our own psychologists for consultation.

At Noord, there are three licensed psychologists who regularly work with us and are available for consultations when needed. If necessary, they can also help you find talk counselling of the retreat. However, it is important to remember that neither a darkness retreat nor our consultations are a form of treatment.

It is completely understandable that you feel concerned about your loved one entering the darkness. Chances are this is the first time you have heard of darkness retreats. You can rest assured that we take the safety of our guests as our absolute priority, and there will always be someone there throughout the entire stay. Before a retreat takes place, a psychological assessment is carried out to ensure that the participant is suitable for a darkness retreat. Read more about darkness retreats and the team behind Noord here.

During your darkness retreat, two meals per day are served via a food box. The food is delivered without any light being allowed into the room. We open the box from the outside, and you open it from the inside when you are ready to collect your meal.

You eat in the dark and then place the empty food box back in the food box, which we collect when we deliver your next meal.

If you have special dietary requirements or allergies, this can be arranged in advance. This is registered when you make your booking.

We do not recommend fasting during your darkness retreat. Although fasting can have many positive effects, it tends to be distracting in the dark and can take focus away from the inner process. Food should be the least of your concerns during the retreat, so that you can devote all your attention to the subtle impressions and insights that darkness can enable.

Currently, we only offer solo darkness retreats. The retreat is a deep inner process that is best experienced in solitude, without external influences. Darkness creates a unique opportunity to turn your attention completely inward, which can be more difficult to achieve in the company of someone else.

If you and someone you know want to do a retreat at the same time, you can book separate rooms and do the retreat in parallel, but each in your own space.

Yes, certain guidelines are in place to ensure a safe and focused retreat experience:

• Smoking, alcohol, and drugs are strictly prohibited throughout the stay.
• All electronic devices must be handed in before the retreat begins, including phones, smartwatches, and any other devices that might disrupt the experience.
• Guests are expected to treat the room with care and respect, keeping it a calm and clean space for themselves and future participants.

These guidelines are designed to help you have as deep and undisturbed an experience as possible.

Normally, you enter the darkness in the evening at sunset on the first day and come out in the morning at sunrise on the last day. This is to give your eyes the opportunity to gradually get used to the light again.

It is important that you give yourself time and space when you come out, as the experience often continues to affect you even after the retreat. We recommend that you minimize or preferably avoid mobile phone use for the first 24 hours to allow the integration to happen naturally and maintain inner stillness for as long as possible.

Bookings are binding once payment is made. However, you may rebook your retreat once, free of charge, if the request is made at least 60 days before your retreat start date and the new dates are available.

Tickets can be transferred to another person up to 7 days before the retreat, provided they complete the Health Declaration and are approved by Noord.

Please note that no refunds are offered for cancellations, late changes, or no-shows.

If a retreat is cancelled by Noord (for example due to illness, low attendance, or other unforeseen events), you will be offered a new date or a full refund.

For full details, please read our Terms and Conditions.