Darkness & Silence Retreat · Pisac, Sacred Valley of Peru
Five days of darkness
and silence.
Three days to come back.
Eight days in the Sacred Valley with Kamel and the YanaSamyay team. Blindfolds, mostly outdoors. Sound, touch, smell, taste and movement. Then a slow return to light.
Retreat available inEnglishEspañolFrançais
- Next datesNov 5–12, 2026 · Feb 12–19 · Jul 5–12, 2027
- Duration8 days, 7 nights
- PriceFrom 2,090 USD · all inclusive
- PlaceMelissa Wasi, Pisac, Peru
Five days without seeing. Then this moment.
Keep scrolling.
The blindfold
comes off.
Five senses,
one at a time.
During the days in darkness, sensory workshops bring attention back to the present moment. Breath runs through all of them.
Sound
Listening without a face to watch. The valley, the voice, the sound sessions.
Touch
Textures, temperature, the ground under your feet and your hands.
Smell
What you notice when smell is not competing with sight.
Taste
Meals eaten slowly, without seeing them first.
Movement
Dancing and moving guided by the body instead of the eyes.
Press and hold for a few seconds.
What changes
when you can't see?
Darkness here comes from a blindfold and you spend most of it outdoors, in the gardens of Melissa Wasi in Pisac.
You can feel the sun on your skin, hear the wind and the birds and smell the earth after rain.
Without sight leading every moment, sound, touch and smell may start to feel closer and more detailed.
The team moves with you through each day: meals, workshops, walks and rest.
What research says
In a Harvard study, sighted adults wore a blindfold for five days. By day five, the part of the brain that normally processes vision had started responding to touch and their ability to tell Braille letters apart improved. The change faded within a day of removing the blindfold.2
Research on darkness retreats is still small. We share this as a possibility, not a promise.
What becomes noticeable
when conversation stops?
This line is the noise of an ordinary day.
Want to hear what is underneath it?
Turn your sound on.
What did you notice first?
After a few days without speaking, you may notice how much of your inner dialogue runs on its own.
What research says
In a study in the journal Heart, researchers played music to 24 people and inserted two minutes of silence between tracks. During those pauses, heart rate, blood pressure and breathing dropped below their starting levels.3
In a study on mice, two hours of silence a day was linked to new cells forming in the hippocampus, an area tied to memory. It is an animal study, but an interesting one.4
Eight days,
from dark to light.
Seven nights at Melissa Wasi, in Pisac. Five days of darkness and silence, then three days of experiences and integration.
- Day 1
Preparation & welcome
An introduction to the practice, then you enter darkness and silence.
- Days 2 to 4
Full darkness and silence
Complete immersion. Sensory workshops with sound, touch, smell, taste and movement.
- Day 5
Return to light
The blindfold comes off. Integration begins, still in silence.
- Days 6 to 8
Integration & sharing
Sound returns gently. Observation, sharing in the group and visits to sacred sites of the valley.
Melissa Wasi,
in Pisac.
A retreat house among eucalyptus and gardens, with a wooden shala, a fireplace lounge and a terrace facing the mountains. Seven nights and all meals included.
Private room
One person per room. Limited, so book early.
Shared room
Share your room with another participant and pay less.
Couple
A private room for two, paid in full.
Kamel
My role is not to fix anyone, but to hold a safe space.
Kamel founded YanaSamyay and created the Darkness and Silence Retreat. He is a somatic practitioner, breathwork facilitator and guide, with many years of work with the breath, somatic practice and sound and the study of indigenous spiritual traditions.
Also holding the space
Daya Nimai Das
Daya founded the Andean Yoga School in Pisac and has lived in the Sacred Valley for over a decade. A Yoga Alliance RYT 500 teacher, musician and ceremony holder, he weaves yoga philosophy with Andean cosmovision, bodywork and kirtan.
Kailin Marie
Kailin is a pranayama and meditation teacher, musician and Bhakti yoga singer, with ten years of meditation and yoga study and more than 500 hours of training at Hridaya Yoga in Mexico.
In their words
Press play to listen. The French videos have English subtitles.
"I was surprised at how quickly the time in darkness and silence passed."
"Being in my silence and darkness while being gently held by mentors and guides was one of the most transformative experience of my life."
"Spending several days in darkness and silence can seem intimidating, but the support I received allowed me to live it with full trust."
Is this for you?
It often suits people who
- Already have some experience with meditation, breathwork, yoga, therapy or other inner work
- Feel real curiosity about what darkness and silence could show them
- Want time away from screens and constant input, for more than a weekend
Good to know
- It is intense. Days alone with yourself are not always comfortable.
- It does not replace medical or psychological care.
- If you have a serious physical or mental health condition, or you are unsure, book a discovery call with Kamel first.
Choose your dates.
8 days, 7 nights · Melissa Wasi, Pisac · English, Spanish and French
- November 2026Nov 5 to 12Early bird until Oct 15, 2026
- February 2027Feb 12 to 19Early bird until Jan 22, 2027
- July 2027Jul 5 to 12Early bird until Jun 14, 2027
What is included in your ticket
- Accommodation8 days / 7 nights in the Sacred Valley
- Airport transfersTo and from Cusco airport on the first and last day
- Daily mealsExpertly crafted by our talented chefs
- WorkshopsSound, touch, smell, taste and movement
- Sacred sitesVisits and tickets included
- Before the retreatA reading call and intention setting
- After the retreatOne private integration call
- EquipmentEverything for the dark and silence retreat
One person. Private rooms are limited.
Share your room with another participant.
A private room for two, paid in full.
Early bird: 25% off when you book at least 3 weeks (21 days) before your retreat starts, paid online with "Pay early bird". For the 3-month plan for a couple room, write to us on WhatsApp before paying. Prices before tax. Ask us about group discounts. If cost is a concern, contact us directly. We will always find a solution.
3 monthly payments online, 5% tax included: 3 × 840 USD for a private room or 3 × 735 USD for a shared room. For a couple room, ask on WhatsApp.
Your participation is voluntary. You may remove your blindfold, speak, request assistance or stop any activity whenever needed.
30% non-refundable deposit. Cancel 30 days or more before the start and the other 70% is refunded. One free change to a later date, subject to availability.
Questions
Is it a dark room?
No. Darkness comes from a blindfold and you spend most of the time outdoors at Melissa Wasi.
Where is it and how do I get there?
At Melissa Wasi, in Pisac, in the Sacred Valley near Cusco, Peru. Transport to and from Cusco airport is included on the first and last day.
When are the next dates?
November 5 to 12, 2026. February 12 to 19, 2027. July 5 to 12, 2027.
How much does it cost?
Private room 2,390 USD. Shared room 2,090 USD. Couple 3,890 USD (price for two). Peru residents: 1,150 USD private, 750 USD shared. You pay online in full. Early bird: 25% off when you book at least 3 weeks before your retreat. You can also split the price into 3 monthly payments: write to us on WhatsApp for either option.
Which languages is it held in?
English, Spanish and French.
What is included?
Seven nights' accommodation, daily meals, all workshops, airport transfers, visits and tickets to sacred sites, an intention call before the retreat, one private integration call after and all the equipment for the darkness and silence.
Is it right for me?
It is an intense experience and it does not replace medical or psychological care. If you have a serious physical or mental health condition, or you are simply unsure, book a discovery call with Kamel before you decide. He will answer you personally.
What if I need to cancel?
30% of the price is a non-refundable deposit. If you cancel at least 30 days before the start, the remaining 70% is refunded. Less than 30 days before, there is no refund. You can change to a later date once, free, subject to availability.