Two authentic Shaolin retreats, one in Dengfeng beside the Shaolin Temple and one in London. Real lineage masters, small groups, and no experience required. Below is everything you need to choose between them.
A Shaolin retreat is a fixed length, fully organised training trip. You arrive, you are met, and for the next five to twelve days everything is handled: accommodation, meals, transport and roughly four hours a day of training under masters who have practised since childhood. You do not need to speak Chinese, arrange anything locally, or have ever thrown a punch.
That is what separates a retreat from long term enrolment at a Kung Fu school. A school is open ended and you organise your own life around it. A retreat has a start date, an end date, a price that covers almost everything, and a group you travel with. For most people it is the right first step, and many of our students come back afterwards for longer stays.
We currently run two. The 12 day China retreat in April 2027 is the full experience at the source, in Dengfeng, minutes from the Shaolin Temple. The Winter Intensive in London in December 2026 is for people who want serious Shaolin training without a flight to China. Both are taught by lineage masters. Neither is a tourist programme.
The honest comparison. Both are real training. They suit different people, budgets and amounts of time.
| 12 Day Retreat · China | Winter Intensive · London | |
|---|---|---|
| Dates | 21 April to 2 May 2027 | 11 to 15 Dec (5 day) or 11 to 20 Dec 2026 (10 day) |
| Price | $2,500 | $1,800 or $3,000 |
| What that covers | Training, accommodation, all meals, airport transfers, cultural classes, two sightseeing days | Training and food. Accommodation and travel arranged by you |
| Deposit | $500 non refundable, balance before departure | $500 non refundable, balance by 10 Nov 2026 |
| Where | Dengfeng, Henan, China. Minutes from the Shaolin Temple | Shaolin Temple UK, Tufnell Park, London |
| Daily training | Around 4 hours, plus Qi Gong and meditation | Full day intensive format |
| Group size | Small group, limited spaces | Limited to 30 students |
| Experience needed | None. Beginners welcome | None, though it is physically demanding |
| Also involves | Calligraphy, tea ceremony, temple visits, Longmen Grottoes | Practical combat, Chan philosophy, Shaolin culture |
| Best for | The full immersion, the culture, and training at the source | Serious training on a shorter timeframe, no visa or long haul flight |
Availability changes. Check each retreat page for current places, as some tiers sell out.
Small groups, real lineage, unforgettable training. Secure your place with a deposit.
Train traditional Shaolin Kung Fu at its source. Twelve days of authentic training, Qi Gong, meditation and cultural experiences, taught by lineage masters near the Shaolin Temple in Dengfeng.
An intensive at Shaolin Temple UK in London: traditional Kung Fu, practical combat, Qi Gong, meditation and Shaolin culture, with Shifu Shi Yan Zi, a 34th generation Shaolin master.
Students from the United States, Poland and Scotland joined our first China retreat. These were filmed on the last day, unscripted.
"I came knowing nothing about Shaolin, with a number of health issues. My physicality, balance and nimbleness improved in just ten days. If you've never done anything, you can do this."
"I'm terrified of heights, and getting up on those pillars was a huge deal for me. By the end I did it alone. If you want the authentic thing, this is where you need to be."
"I recommend this, but not as a vacation. For people who want to challenge themselves. Shaolin teachers show that strength starts in the mind."
"It was absolutely extraordinary. Being far from all the distractions is ideal. It felt like home. I would do this again and even more."
Arrive, train and immerse. We handle the rest so you can focus on your practice.
Flights are the main cost not included, so you can book the route that suits you. Everything else on the China retreat is covered by the $2,500.
A typical day at the retreat: structured, immersive and paced for all levels.
Wake the body and settle the mind before the day begins.
Fuel up with fresh, traditional food.
Stances, forms and fundamentals with the masters.
Recover and recharge in the midday break.
Power, technique and partner drills.
Stillness and focus to close the training day.
Tea, culture and recovery with the group.
These are not holidays. Picking the right one matters more than picking the cheaper one.
You have twelve days and want to train where Shaolin Kung Fu actually comes from, visit the Temple itself, and live in the culture rather than visit it. Most people who do this describe it as the trip they had been putting off for years.
You cannot take two weeks off, do not want the visa and the long haul flight, or want to test whether this is really for you before committing to China. The training is genuinely demanding and taught by a 34th generation master.
Both retreats take complete beginners, and every retreat we have run has included at least one. Masters adapt the training to what is in front of them. You are expected to try, not to already be good.
If you already know you want serious depth, a retreat may be too short. Open enrolment at a Shaolin school in China starts from around $1,150 a month all inclusive and runs as long as you like.
The 12 day China retreat is $2,500 all inclusive, which covers training, accommodation, all meals, airport transfers, cultural classes and two sightseeing days. A $500 non refundable deposit reserves your place and the $2,000 balance is due before departure.
The London Winter Intensive is $1,800 for five days or $3,000 for ten, with food included. Accommodation and travel are arranged by you, which is what makes the shorter option cheaper than it first appears once you add a London hotel.
The main cost neither price includes is flights. For China, budget for a return flight to Zhengzhou (CGO) via a major hub, plus a tourist visa if your passport needs one. Many nationalities can now enter China visa free for 30 days, so check the current list before you assume.
For comparison, if you are weighing a retreat against simply enrolling at a school for a month, we have published a full breakdown of what training in China actually costs, including the schools we work with and their real monthly fees.
No. Our retreats welcome all levels, from complete beginners to seasoned practitioners. Masters adapt the training so you progress at your own pace, and every retreat we have run has included complete beginners.
The 12 day China retreat is $2,500 all inclusive. The London Winter Intensive is $1,800 for five days or $3,000 for ten. Both take a $500 non refundable deposit to reserve your place. Flights are not included in either.
You do not need to be an athlete. Training builds your strength and stamina over the retreat, and you are encouraged to rest when you need to. If you have any medical concerns, tell us in advance and we will pass them to the masters.
It depends on your passport. Many nationalities can now enter China visa free for 30 days, which covers the retreat comfortably. Others need a tourist visa. See our current visa free country list, and once your place is secured we provide any documents you need.
No, so you can book the route that suits you. Accommodation, meals, training and airport transfers are included on the China retreat. We advise on the best arrival airport and timing once you are registered.
A retreat is a fixed length organised group trip with a set itinerary, a fixed price and cultural elements built in. A training camp or open enrolment school is longer, more flexible and more self directed, and you handle more of the logistics yourself. Retreats suit first timers, schools suit people who want months rather than days.
April to May and September to October are the sweet spots in Dengfeng, which is why the China retreat runs in late April. Summer is hot and busy, winter is cold and quiet. We have written a season by season guide if you are planning further ahead.
A $500 deposit secures your place. The remaining balance is due before the retreat begins, and for London by 10 November 2026. The deposit reserves a limited spot and is non refundable.
Comfortable training clothes, trainers, a water bottle and an open mind. We send a full packing list and everything you need to prepare once you are registered.
Retreats are open to adults of all ages, and our groups have spanned several decades. If you would like to bring a younger family member or have specific requirements, contact us and we will do our best to help.
Everything we know, written down. No signup required.
Hour by hour inside a real retreat, told by the April 2026 group.
Real monthly fees, what is included, and where the hidden costs are.
Season by season on weather, crowds and the dates worth planning around.
An honest comparison of the schools that actually take international students.
Who can enter without a visa, for how long, and the transit rules.
What to bring, what to leave, and what is already provided.
Retreats are a powerful entry point. For full discipline, daily structure and long term cultivation, explore our Shaolin long term training paths in China.
Spaces are limited and retreats fill fast. Be the first to know when new dates open.
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