A Yoga and Meditation Retreat in Mitzpe Ramon, at Alpaca Farm in the Negev
A yoga and meditation retreat in Mitzpe Ramon is right for people who are ready to slow down: the practitioner who wants a few unbroken days of practice, the beginner who arrives with no experience and a lot of curiosity, and the teacher or producer looking for a home for a group of twenty or more. Alpaca Farm, on Har HaNegev in Mitzpe Ramon, gives them a retreat center, a village of yurts, a studio, a dome, and alpacas and llamas that are part of the experience. We are a family farm and not a monastery, and it helps to know both sides before you book.
A yoga and meditation retreat in Mitzpe Ramon: who finds a place here
First are those who come to join a retreat led by a teacher. Retreats here are guided by leading teachers from Israel and abroad, and they include yoga, Vijnana, Satya workshops and business retreats. Beginners can arrive without worry: no prior experience is needed for the workshops, and the Satya retreat is open to new and long-time practitioners alike, including people who have never tried anything like it.
Next are those who want practice to happen inside a landscape rather than a closed room. For workshops and retreats the farm offers practice spaces, either a studio or under the open sky, along with room for walking and a complete quiet for watching the sunset. The retreats include yoga, meditation and emotional-release workshops, and a stay on the farm itself: time with the animals and practice facing the desert view.
Third are producers and teachers bringing a group. In recent years the farm has become a sought-after destination for retreat and workshop producers, and our team has experience accompanying producers and teachers through every detail of the planning. The compound is set up for groups of 20 participants and up, and for up to about 60 depending on the type of stay and activity.
All of this happens on a farm that has raised alpacas for wool since 1987, founded by Ilan and Naama Dvir, and that keeps the personal attention of a small family farm. The place is authentic, with soul, animals and real nature, and it was not styled for a photograph.
And who might look elsewhere
If you expect an open yoga class every morning that you can drop into, you will be disappointed. There are no regular yoga classes. Classes are held for groups by prior arrangement, and inside retreats led by a teacher.
If you are looking for a hotel that serves meals, plan differently. The farm does not serve meals, and there is a large, equipped kitchen for self-catering, so food is something you arrange ahead, whether you come alone or with a group.
If you want total disconnection, or the opposite, a flawless signal, expect something in between: there is cell reception and Wi-Fi, though the connection sometimes has faults. Open camping is not possible, because sleeping is only within the lodging areas. And if you hope for amplified music, look elsewhere: there is none here, though calm instrumental music is possible.
One more thing to know: the farm is open to visitors on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and every day during school holidays.
What is held here: Reunion, Satya and the sound weekend
Reunion is a weekend of deepening in yoga and in ourselves, led by Nitzan Agasi and Shahar-Yam Cohen. It runs three days, in November from the 5th to the 7th, and combines yoga and Buddhism, philosophy and practice, movement and silence. Nitzan is a student and teacher of yoga in the Ashtanga and Vinyasa traditions. Shahar-Yam teaches yoga, Buddhism and mindfulness, and leads retreats in Israel and abroad. To register or ask questions, call 0545213152.
Satya is led by Limor Gref, a psychotherapist and a communications and content professional. The retreat focuses on practice, on depth of awareness and on exposure to the unconscious.
And if sound is your way in, there is a musical weekend in the desert, a sound retreat held in November from the 19th to the 21st. This is the seventh year it has run, five teachers lead it, and it treats music as a tool for relaxation, connection, balance and opening the heart.
Where practice happens: a wooden floor, a dome and open sky
The studio is spacious, 80 square meters with a wooden floor and air conditioning, used for yoga and meditation. At the heart of the compound stands the geodesic dome, a space for gathering and movement, and around it are benches, seating areas in nature and fire corners for the evenings.
When practice moves outdoors, there are discussion circles facing a desert sunset, workshops in a desert tent and short desert walks. Several easy walking trails leave from the farm toward lookout points. Ramon Crater, an international dark-sky reserve and the first in the Middle East, is about seven minutes away by car, and the farm offers guided stargazing with professional telescopes and explanations of the objects overhead.
Those who want another unhurried layer can add a horse workshop, with therapeutic riding and trust and communication exercises with the horse, or a personalized spa treatment such as Swedish massage, reflexology or aromatherapy massage, given by professional therapists.
Sleeping between sessions: yurts, the dome and the studio
The yurt village has ten Mongolian yurts, each sleeping up to five, at about 30 square meters. At the entrance there is a pergola and a private seating corner. Inside are made beds, towels, air conditioning and heating, and a private toilet and sink, with hammocks waiting outside. The yurts look out toward Ramon Crater.
The compound itself has nine toilet stalls and nine private shower stalls, and a large, equipped kitchen suited to self-catering for individuals and for groups of up to 50. The whole yurt village suits groups of up to 50 people, and grills may not be lit.
For groups that want to sleep inside the practice space, there are two options. The dome sleeps up to 14, on thick, comfortable 10 cm mattresses, and you bring your own bedding, blankets and towels. The studio sleeps up to 20, with three toilet stalls and two private shower stalls. Both are air-conditioned, and in both, grills are not allowed.
Those who prefer more privacy are welcome in the chalets and suites on the hillside, which look over the farm. They suit two to nine guests, at 29 to 50 square meters. There are also khans, rented as a private unit and not shared. Group lodging solutions start from seven guests and go up to 50.
Planning a retreat of your own
Retreats of two to four days can be arranged, for groups of 20 and up to about 60, depending on the type of stay and activity. The farm offers yoga and meditation retreats, spiritual retreats, a therapeutic retreat, movement and body-awareness workshops, desert workshops, personal empowerment, and creative and art workshops. The infrastructure includes halls, equipment, rest areas and full facilities.
For details about retreats, workshops and business events, call 051-2998460 or write to [email protected]. We invite you to tell us who the group is, how many days, and how you would like it to feel, and we will build the rest together.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need any experience to join a yoga and meditation retreat at Alpaca Farm?
No. Alpaca Farm in Mitzpe Ramon asks for no prior experience to take part in its workshops. The Satya retreat is open to new and long-time practitioners, including people who have never tried it.
Are there regular yoga classes for guests at the farm?
There are no regular yoga classes. Classes are held for groups by prior arrangement, and inside retreats led by a teacher. If you want to practice on specific dates, check the dates of upcoming retreats or contact us.
Where do you sleep on a yoga retreat in Mitzpe Ramon?
The yurt village at Alpaca Farm has ten air-conditioned Mongolian yurts, each sleeping up to five, with a private toilet and sink. Groups can also sleep in the dome (up to 14) or the studio (up to 20), and there are chalets, suites and khans as well.
Are meals included in a retreat at the farm?
The farm does not serve meals. There is a large, equipped kitchen for self-catering, suited even to groups of up to 50.
How many people and how many days can a retreat at the farm be?
The compound is set up for groups of 20 participants and up, and up to about 60 depending on the type of stay and activity. Retreats of two to four days can be arranged. Details: 051-2998460 or [email protected].
Should I bring my own yoga mat and equipment?
You can bring your own equipment, and in some cases basic equipment is available on site. It is worth confirming with the farm office or the retreat teacher what is provided. In the dome you also bring your own bedding, blankets and towels.
How do I get to Alpaca Farm without a car?
No public transport reaches the farm, but you can walk from Mitzpe Ramon or take a taxi. Drivers can park next to their unit, and day parking is outside the gate. Motor vehicles do not enter the grounds.
Can I bring my dog to a retreat?
No. Dogs and other animals cannot be brought onto the farm, nor into the dome. To arrange entry for a service dog, contact the farm office.
What are check-in and check-out times, and how do I pay?
Check-in is between 15:00 and 19:00, and check-out is by 11:00 on the day of departure. On weekends and holidays the minimum booking is two nights. Payment is made at check-out, and American Express is not accepted.
