About Menla

Mission & Vision

Surrounded by thousands of acres of Catskills forest preserve, Menla is nestled in a magical mountain valley. Throughout the year, guests enjoy deep serenity, abundant wildlife, and can explore many different levels of hikes.Area Information:Menla is 1,500 feet above sea level and set on a 325-acre private nature reserve. At 3,720 feet above sea level, the peak of Panther Mountain is one of the tallest in the Catskills. Menla is located in a region of the Catskills renowned for its unspoiled beauty, variety of wildlife, abundance of rushing streams and rivers, and ancient forested mountains.The Catskills are one of the oldest mountain ranges in the world and used to be connected to the Alps before the continental divide. Aside from its natural splendor, the area offers such activities as hiking, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing. For avid downhill skiers, the noted Belleayre and Hunter Mountain resorts are just half an hour away.An easy drive from New York City, Menla is located in Phoenicia, NY—voted one of the “Top 10 Coolest Small Towns in America”—and just 20 minutes away is the most famous small town in America, Woodstock, known for its deep-rooted culture of music, art galleries, and great restaurants.Meals:Menla’s wellness cuisine is centered around serving fresh, delicious and healing foods. We source primarily from local farms with an eye toward seasonal and organic fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes. We also receive a wonderful bounty from our on-site organic garden throughout the year.Our Executive Chef, Charles Goodall, loves to explore the fantastic flavors of various regional cuisines through their use of different ingredients, particularly herbs and spices. He and the kitchen team create combination of traditional and modern dishes that showcase what the Hudson Valley has to offer in a delicious and healing way.Most of our offerings are vegetarian and vegan with an emphasis on excellent taste and texture as well as balanced nutrition and wellness promotion.We work with a number of dietary restrictions and allergies, so let us know your needs in advance, and we’ll work with you to give you a fantastic dining experience during your time with us.Accommodation:Upon arriving at Menla, you enter into a natural paradise. Our accommodations are extremely comfortable, and the décor is accented with a touch of Tibet. Guests can choose from a variety of different rooms, from our deluxe private suites to shared housing.Additional Activities:○ Skiing (Belleayre, Hunter, and Windham Mountains)○ Hiking○ Art galleries○ Fine dining○ Antique shopping○ Music○ Theater (Upstate Films, Woodstock Playhouse)

Upcoming Retreats at Menla

Getting Here

Location icon Menla, 375 Panterkill Road PO Box 70 Phoenicia, NY 12464 United States

Customer Reviews

4.83 out of 5.0 average rating

5.0
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Just Perfect
My experience at Menla was exactly what I needed. It was quiet, serene, tranquil. The food was delicious! Aside from that, being able to be immersed in practice was glorious. I have not had the opportunity to be in practice in this was in almost 10 years. I fully enjoyed being able to practice every day, to hear about other people's practices and to once again learn from Cyndi Lee. I always refer to Cyndi as my teacher and It was truly wonderful to be able to hear the teachings again and continue to deepen my practice. I really loved this experience with great people in the perfect atmosphere.

5.0
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Silent retreat w Jayne
Amazing. Transformative. I’m still processing. The nature, the food, Menla is so amazing. The experience with the group, our facilitator m, was deeply healing.

5.0
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Cultivating Joy
Led by Jayne Gumpel, this retreat was a combination of guided meditation, forest bathing and making art. It created a loving atmosphere to go inside in a safe space. Jayne’s mantra is the group is the medicine and by the end of the retreat that became perfectly clear.

5.0
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aa hidden gem that will inspire you for what life used to be , great air, food, water, shelter, and great people!!
I just wish I knew about this place years and years ago. It is a piece of Paradise

with love to all of you at Menla
God bless Robert Thurman for what he created!!

5.0
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Fantastic stay and retreat experience!
I was so impressed with the quality of my stay at Menla! The natural beauty that surrounds the campus is rejuvenating and peaceful! The food was exquisite and lovingly prepared! My room was beautiful and very clean. My retreat with Banafsheh was top-notch! Highly recommend Menla for your next retreat!

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