A 3-Day Psilocybin Retreat by the Essence Institute
The Core Retreat is the foundational retreat of the Essence Institute.
It is a three-day psilocybin retreat, held in the Netherlands, in a safe and legal setting.
This retreat offers a clear and carefully guided introduction to working with psilocybin.
Nothing needs to be achieved. The experience unfolds as it does.
FOR WHOM
The Core Retreat is open to people who feel drawn to explore psilocybin in a guided and respectful way.
No prior experience is required.
A careful intake is part of the process.
The Retreat
The Core Retreat consists of three days in a small group, guided by an experienced team.
Preparation, ceremony, and time afterwards are all part of the process.
There is structure, and there is space.
Silence, rest, and simple practices support the experience.
Psilocybin truffles are used within a legal framework, with attention to safety and care throughout the retreat.
The three Days
DAY1
Arrival
The first day is for arriving, settling in, and preparing. We take time to slow down and become familiar with the setting and with each other.
DAY2
Ceremony
On the second day, the psilocybin ceremony takes place. The session is held in a calm environment, with facilitators present throughout.
DAY3
Integration & Closing
The final day allows space to reflect and to gently return. The retreat is closed together.
Why Participants Choose the Core Retreat
Participants have shared that the Core Retreat supported them in:
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Emotional release
Creating space to feel what has been held, without forcing catharsis or resolution. -
Greater self-understanding
Seeing inner patterns, beliefs, and responses more clearly, with more gentleness toward themselves. -
Deeper sense of connection
Feeling more present with themselves, with others, and with life as it is. -
Breaking habits
Noticing habitual ways of thinking and reacting, and creating room for something new. -
Access to intuition and creativity
Experiencing more clarity around direction, expression, and what feels meaningful. -
Meeting the Shadow with care
Developing a greater capacity to face aspects of oneself that were previously avoided or unseen. -
Moving through transition
Holding space for change, or uncertainty with steadiness and support.
Testimonials
Book Your Psychedelic Retreat
Essence Institute
The Essence Institute offers psilocybin retreats with attention, simplicity, and responsibility.
The Core Retreat forms the basis of the Essence retreat program.Other retreats build upon the shared experience that begins here.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Core Retreat
The focus is not on peak experiences or rapid transformation. The Core Retreat emphasizes structure, calm, and careful guidance, with equal attention to preparation, ceremony, and integration.
Safety is central to the approach of the Essence Institute. This includes a thorough intake process, small group sizes, experienced facilitators, and a legal, supportive setting. Both mental and physical well-being are taken into account.
The experience does not end with the ceremony day. The final day is dedicated to reflection, integration, and gentle closure. In addition, follow-up and integration support help insights settle gradually into everyday life.
This retreat is not suitable for those seeking a quick fix or guaranteed outcomes. Participation may also not be appropriate for individuals with certain medical or psychological conditions. These considerations are always discussed during the intake process.
We use high-dose psilocybin truffles during the ceremony as part of the retreat experience. The dose is chosen to support a deep inner journey and is part of the facilitated process led by trained professionals.
A retreat ticket is typically around €1,950 for a shared room or €2,150 for a single room, and includes:
Facilitated psilocybin truffle ceremony
- 3-day stay in nature
- All meals (healthy, vegan food)
- Bodywork, yoga, meditation, breathwork
- Preparation guidance & integration support
- Psilocybin truffles, journal and materials
- 21% VAT included
Yes. All meals provided during the retreat are healthy vegan foods.
Experienced facilitators and trained mental health professionals are present throughout the ceremony and the retreat to support you and help you work through challenging moments safely.
The retreat follows a structured three-day format:
- Day 1: Arrival, welcome, intention setting
- Day 2: Morning practice, bodywork, breakfast, psilocybin ceremony, dinner
- Day 3: Morning practice, integration work, departure
Along the way you’ll have yoga, meditation, breathwork and guided integration support.
We use psilocybin truffles (legal in the Netherlands), which contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin. In a safe environment, these truffles support deep emotional, psychological, and spiritual exploration under professional guidance.
Availability changes frequently. The best way to check is to visit the Upcoming Retreats page or contact our team directly through the Contact page.
Integration begins on Day 3 with guided reflection and continues with materials and suggestions you can use for weeks or months after the retreat. They provide guidance to help you apply insights from your experience into daily life.
The main venue (Centre Venwoude) is located in the Netherlands, between Amsterdam and Utrecht. Exact travel times depend on your arrival airport and transport choice.
Yes. Anyone in good physical and mental health can apply, and many participants attend with friends or partners.
Yes, you can reach out via our contact form or email to schedule a short call. We are happy to answer your questions personally.
Breathwork sessions are part of the retreat schedule (e.g., on Day 2 Morning), and details are shared upon booking and in your program outline.
Psilocybin truffles have less physical impact than ayahuasca, with less nausea and a shorter experience and recovery time.
The standard group retreat at Essence is a 3-day program.
We require participants to be in stable physical and mental health. During our intake process we assess whether the retreat is safe and suitable for you. Our retreats are not a replacement for medical or psychological treatment.
Participants come with different life experiences and intentions. We carefully screen everyone to create a safe and supportive group dynamic.
We work with small groups to ensure personal attention and safety. This allows us to maintain a high facilitator-to-participant ratio.
For many people, one retreat is deeply transformative. Others choose to return later to deepen their process. It depends on your personal journey and intentions.