Location & how to get there
Nibana events are held in France, The Netherlands and Germany. The wonderful, stretched out grounds for our Summer Festival can be found in the beautiful Loire Valley in France. Have a look below to view all possibilities of traveling to the festival.
Exact location
Nibana is located in the Loire Valley, France, near the pitoresque village of Coullons and a slightly bigger city called Gien. Nibana doesn't have a proper address and can be found most easily using coordinates:
47.613861, 2.521917
By car
Nibana is an 8 hour drive from Amsterdam, 9 hours from London, 10 hours from Barcelona, 13 hours from Berlin or Madrid, 7 hours from Zürich and 9 hours from Milan. You can plan your trip using Google Maps.
Parking is available on the festival grounds.
For each event, we provide a Ride Sharing Sheet. It's more fun, better for the environment and you can share the fuel costs.
Note that French law requires that you have quite a few things on board.
By public transport
The nearest train station, Gien, lies 14km from Nibana. It's a 85 minute train ride from Paris. From Gien you can take a bus to Coullons, which is 3km from the festival terrain. The quicker you buy your train tickets, the cheaper they are.
You can take a Flixbus to Paris and a train to Gien from there.
Train tickets are available via SNCF and The Trainline.
Shuttle bus
We can arrange a shuttle but to travel to Nibana with up to 50 people from Utrecht, The Netherlands. We need 30 people to join the shuttle bus before April 1st in order to book it. You can select this option when you buy a ticket. You can also add it later.
The shuttle bus leaves from Utrecht Central station on Friday night at 21:45. The bus arrives around 08:00 the next morning. You can find the bus by going to Veemarktplein in Utrecht. The bus carries the name “De Avonturier”. The bus will leave exactly on time, so it’s better to be 30 minutes early than 5 minutes late. Make sure you carry ID on you, meaning a passport or European identity card. A non-French driver’s licence does not count as ID.
If you're at Veemarktplein and still can't find the bus, get in touch with the bus coordinator, the number of which we'll publish here on the day of departure.
The return bus leaves Nibana Saturday morning at 08:45 to return in Utrecht again around 19:00. The bus leaves exactly in time, so make sure to be there.
Ride sharing
For each event we publish a Google Sheet (right here) to enable ride sharing between participants. It's more fun, better for the environment and you can share the fuel costs.
Contacting Nibana
The different ways to get in touch with us can be found on the contact page. We're looking forward to hearing from you :)
What do the festival grounds look like?
Oh, it's amazing! You can find photos of the beautiful festival grounds here.
Dates, tickets and COVID
We’ve thought about it long and hard, weighed and re-weighed our options, looking for ways to transform the summer festival into a format that might be a possibility in the current crazy circumstances. And if we’re being completely honest: we still are. (Truly we can’t help ourselves...)
But for now, we have officially announced the cancelation of The Nibana Summer Festival for both 2020 and 2021. But perhaps something will emerge again at a later stage.
Arrival and departure times
The weeks start and end on Saturday. For the Summer Festivals, you're welcome on the festival grounds on Saturday as of 14:00 (or earlier if you join the shuttle bus). You're advised to arrive before 16:00 if possible, so you have time to set up your tent, eat and join the opening ceremony at 19:30. Attending the opening ceremony is highly recommended as it sets the foundation for the week.
The closing ceremony takes place on Friday. On Saturday you're asked to help us take down the terrain. Doing so is a great starting point for integrating your experience and transitioning back to the default world. And there's a bonus: you can stay one night longer on the terrain. If you're not helping to take down the terrain, you need to leave before 10AM.
How far in advance should I get a ticket?
The earlier you buy a ticket, the more you support the creation of the event and the less you pay.
There are six ticket rounds. The exact dates for these ticket rounds are still to be determined.
- Phase 1: €345
- Phase 2: €385
- Phase 3: €415
- Phase 4: €435
- Phase 5: €455
- Phase 6: €475
- There are no tickets at the gate
- Budget tickets are available
Have a look at the tickets section and follow Nibana on Facebook or Instagram to know when a sales round is about to end.
Why does Nibana cost what it costs?
Nibana is like a big retreat and we're making lots of costs to make it happen. Since we're organizing it at a bigger scale, the prices are actually lower than what you would pay for a regular retreat.
Quite frankly, to cover for the time we invest in making Nibana happen, the prices should be 1.5 times higher, but we don't want to ask for that.
If you can't afford a Nibana ticket, there are budget tickets available, as explained in the tickets section.
Make sure to get your ticket as soon as possible get it at the lowest available price and to help making Nibana a reality.
Are there lower income options?
Yes. There is a karma ticket fund that everyone can donate to. The money in this fund will be used to make budget tickets available. More info about this can be found in the tickets section.
Besides that, it's possible to buy your ticket in two installments. This option is available in the ticket shop.
Can I attend as a workshop facilitator or volunteer?
During Nibana 2019 we made a distinction between volunteers and participants. This distinction doesn't exists anymore. During the Nibana Summer Festival 2021 everyone is contributing in one way or another. So you work a few shifts in the kitchen, offer a workshop or contribute something else. We do not offer discounts in return.
While most of the workshop program is co-created, we make a handful of free tickets available for pro facilitators that offer at least 4 workshops during the week. If you're interested in joining Nibana this way, please use the application form that will be published before the event. Applying earlier does increase your changes as we give out these tickets in different rounds.
Understanding the concept
What exactly is the Nibana Summer Festival?
The Nibana Summer Festival is the kind of thing you can't really explain, but understand once you've been there. But hey, let's try.
Nibana is a one week fully immersive experience where everyone's invited to explore much of what life has to offer and to be their most authentic self.
In a way it's like a big 250-people retreat. There are Nibana ceremonies led by experienced ceremony leaders and you'll have a unique personal journey throughout the week that will take a different shape and form for everyone.
You could also call it a festival. You can roam around the festival grounds explore. Where retreats tend to focus on a single topic, Nibana allows you to try many different things. Experiment, then stick with it or change your mind. Do whatever feels right to you. Play. Connect. Reflect.
Nibana also has many similarities with burns. Sander's participation in Burning Man (2011 and 2018) has been a major source of inspiration for Nibana. The feeling of ultimate freedom. Dropping the plan, trying new things and embracing whatever the day will bring.
Nibana is a co-creative event. What that means is explained in the co-creation section below.
What does the schedule look like?
How you actually spend your day is 100% up to you. We offer a structure, which makes it easier to co-create this week together. On most days the structure looks like this:
| 07:00 - 08:30 | Early morning practice |
| 08:30 - 10:00 | Breakfast |
| 10:00 - 11:15 | Day opening |
| 11:30 - 13:30 | Workshop round 1 |
| 13:30 - 16:30 | Lunch and chill |
| 16:30 - 18:30 | Workshop round 2 |
| 19:00 - 21:00 | Dinner and chill |
| 21:00 - 23:00 | Evening program |
The schedule might still change over the coming months.
How does Nibana's co-creation work?
Following the success of the Nibana Conscious Winter Burn 2020, we're now making the Nibana Summer Festival 2021 a fully co-creative event. This means that everyone makes three contributions of about three hours each during or before the event. What happens when a group of people commits to contributing to creating the experience together is hard to explain and amazing to experience.
Wondering what you can do? There's a bunch of possibilities and you really don't need any skills. We always need people to cut the veggies.
- Offer a workshop, organise an activity, create an experience
- Create an area/tent of your own, decorate a toilet, and so on
- Decoration before the event (which is like a festival in itself)
- Being on the registration team or offer inga welcoming ritual
- Helping in the kitchen
- Tidying the grounds, looking after the wellness area, preparing spaces for workshops
- Transporting stuff to or from the festival grounds
- Joining the Emotional Support Team
- Joining the Intimate Playground team
- Being a photographer
- Making music
- Providing Medic First Aid
The program will be largely co-created online beforehand, but last-minute additions during the week are more than welcome.
No drugs and alcohol?!
Yes, we keep Nibana completely free of drugs and alcohol. It’s really really not allowed.
Nibana is full of opportunities for personal growth. It’s a safe environment where we take responsibility for our own actions and can trust others to do the same. We believe that this can be best achieved when we’re sober.
Sometimes, it might take just a tiny bit longer to loosen up, but when you learn to do so, it’s a skill that you can apply to all aspects of your life.
Added benefits: real human connections, crystal clear memories & no hangovers.
What about phones and photos?
To protect everone's privacy, taking photos of other people is not allowed unless you have the verbal permission of everyone in the photo. We highly encourage you to switch off your phone for entire duration of the event.
Some of the participants will form the media team. They'll be very sensitive about when to take photos or not. There's a signal to indicate you don't want to be in a particular photo (cross your arms in front of your chest), photos can always be deleted upon request and there will be a wristband system that allows you to indicate that you don't want to be recognizable on any photos.
What if it all sounds a bit new and scary?
Please know that many participants feel this way. Especially if they attend for the first time. So if you feel that way, maybe just allow yourself to feel that way.
Also know that we strive to create a gentle environment where nothing is ever expected of anyone. We take this very seriously and have used our co-creating process to create a number of tools that help making Nibana a safer space, much of which you can read about in the festival booklet.
We have the terrain guide & rules that define how to navigate the terrain in a respectful way. There are guidelines for intimate interactions between those that offer workshops and their participants. We have general consent guidelines to stimulate safe and enjoyable interactions for everyone and collaboration values to support a healthy environment for those who are working a team shift. Finally we've created a checklist to support us in creating safe & inclusive spaces.
What's the role of nudity & sexuality?
We believe sexuality and nudity are a natural part of life, which is why we've thought very carefully about how to include them in Nibana. We offer a broad program and Conscious Sexuality is just one of six workshop themes. So if you want, you will be able to find it.
All genders are allowed to be topless on the terrain. We do ask that you generally wear some sort of bottoms. Full nudity is welcome in the wellness area, in the Intimate Playground and during certain workshops and activities, in which case it will be indicated during the workshop (and ideally beforehand). Being nude is never expected of anyone. Wanna suddenly dance naked for a while on the dancefloor? Go for it. But put your bottoms back on before you dive into that stack of pillows.
The Intimate Playground, which is a wonderful tent where you can safely and comfortably explore sexuality. There will be workshops and sometimes a so-called open space. During open space can explore your sexuality while the area is being looked after by a team of spaceholders.
The Intimate Playground is in very carefully selected spot on the terrain. Meaning it's easy to find and just as easy to ignore. And there'll be always plenty of other stuff going on, so if you don't want to have anything to do with the sexuality part, you will still have a full Nibana experience.
Attending Nibana
What 'kind' of people attend Nibana events?
Nibana is a place to live and let live. We actively welcome all (adult) ages, shapes, colors, ethnicities, gender identities, orientations, religions and cultures.
Part of our crowd considers themselves to be quite mainstream, while others can relate to keywords such as conscious, hippy, (ecstatic) dance, yoga, tantra, poly, LGBTQ, kinky or many others. Don't relate to any of these? Great! Let's make this list more diverse. Feel a bit unsure about all of this? That's okay. A little bit of curiosity goes a long way. Everyone that's 18+ is more than welcome to participate.
Whether you consider yourself part of the majority or a minority; know that you are welcome here.
How many people attend?
To create an intimate vibe where we can all feel connected, the Summer Festival is limited to 250 people.
Can I attend by myself?
Yes, please! Many of our participants come by themselves. It gives you the freedom to follow your every impulse and creates so much space to meet new people. You're in good hands: we pay lots of attention to building a strong community. A lot of the opening ceremony will be focussed on connecting with the people around you in various ways. Attending by yourself surely is an enriching experience.
We strongly encourage you to join the opening ceremony and the day openings at 10AM, since those will help you to stay connected to the group, but it's fully up to you.
We wrote a blog post with some social tips that may come in handy if you're attending by yourself.
Do I have to participate in the activities?
Absolutely not. And you don't have to justify yourself either. One of our principles is 'live and let live', meaning that we're creating a space where everyone can do what's right for them.
Are non-cisgender people welcome at Nibana?
Yes, yes, yes. We actively welcome people of all gender-identities. We believe that the only person that can determine their gender is the person themself.
We think that more flexibile gender roles and gender expression would make the world a better place for everyone.
We cannot guarantuee that every Nibana participant has a full understanding of this topic, but we're surely trying to raise awareness. If you ever run into any issues, we're here to support you.
Is there a dress code?
You are very much invited to wear whatever feels right for you. Dressing up, dressing down, dressing extravagantly, wearing a suit and tie, wearing your underwear, trying a different style, dropping gender conformity or simply wearings jeans and a t-shirt are all equally in line with our 'live and let live' principle.
It's OK to be topless, regardless of your anatomy or gender identity.
Bottom-line: you're invited to stay true to yourself and dress however you want to in any given moment.
Can I facilitate a workshop or activity?
Yes, everyone can offer a workshop or activity. We'll soon launch a platform where all participants can propose activities, vote on the ones they like or offer help or suggestions. When you post an activity, feel free to ask for help or support from others.
How do the team shifts work?
We ask everyone to make three contributions during the week, so we carry the event together. This idea of active participation, instead of mere consumption, has been borrowed from Burning Man and leads to a completely different experience. As an added benefit, we need less staff and therefore can keep ticket prices under control.
Some people will contribute by offering an activity. Many will do so by doing a few 3-hour team shifts. You can choose how you contribute from a number of available shifts. For example by cutting veggies, looking after a space, taking care of the hot-tub, cleaning or helping to decorate. An online system will be made available for this shortly.
Practicalities
What should I bring?
The essentials:
- Sleeping gear: tent, sleeping bag, pillow, sheets
- A plate, knife/fork/spoon, a cup and water bottle (all with your name on it)
- A regular towel for showering and a big towel for massage and for the Intimate Playground
- Toiletries, sunscreen and mosquito repellent
- Plenty of 50 Euro cent coins for warm water in the shower (one coin for four minutes)
- A flashlight (it gets VERY dark at night)
- Warm clothes and socks (it does cool down at night)
- Comfy clothes for movement workshops
- If you come by car: French law requires that you have quite a few things on board.
- If you’ve booked accommodation: a mattress cover, pillowcase and a blanket
- Toilet paper (we ask everyone to donate three or more toilet rolls)
Enhance your experience:
- Yoga mat and meditation pillow (some available, but not enough)
- Party clothes for the Grand Celebration and other moments to dress up (or down) during the week.
- Dress up clothes for others (so we can co-create a transformation corner)
- Eco friendly (!) glitter and face/body paint
- Hula hoops, juggling balls, hammocks, slacklines, poi, footballs, badminton rackets and so on
- Swimwear (if you prefer to wear something in the wellness area)
- Sunglasses and a raincoat
- Pen and paper (to make notes during/after workshops)
- Massage oil
- Safer sex supplies
- Musical instruments
- A pocket knife (for nature workshops)
- A blindfold (for certain dancing workshops)
- Whatever you can think of to enhance the experience of you and others
What NOT to bring
- Animals. Sorry, but we cannot accommodate your super cute doggy.
- Alcohol and drugs (besides this going against the entire idea of Nibana, be aware that possession of all drugs, including marijuana, is a criminal offence in France).
Where will I sleep?
Most people bring their own tent. You can also bring a van to sleep in. Normal cars will have to be parked on the parking lot
We also have a limited amount of bungalows and small shacks available, and we're offering dorm tents. Check out the tickets section for more info.
What's arranged in terms of food and drinks?
Free tea and water are always available. Other drinks can be purchased for a fair price; both basic alternatives as well as fancier drinks. There will be fruit and snacks for sale too in the Nibanana Bar.
Every morning the local baker comes to the terrain with a selection of different kinds of bread.
You're very welcome to bring your own cooking equipment, food and (non-alcoholic) drinks. There's a freezer available to cool your freezer packs in order to preserve your food in your own cool box.
About 90% of the people join the communal cooking operation , which costs €175 per week and includes dinner on the Saturday you arrive, three delicious vegan meals per day from Sunday till Friday and breakfast on the final Saturday morning. There's also a dinner only meal plan available for €99 per week. Both are available in the tickets section.
A supermarket can be found 3 kilometres (2 miles) from the terrain.
Are there lockers?
There are no lockers available.
Money on the terrain?
You won't encounter much money at Nibana. You might want to buy some drinks or snacks at the center camp.
In theory they accept European/Meastro debit cards, but the Internet connection is really flaky, so it often doesn't work. So please bring cash or use the ATM in the the village of Coullons (3KM).
Can I bring my doggie?
We love doggies, but no, you cannot bring them. We only allow humans and unicorns.
Is Medic First Aid available?
Nibana is a small event and has no dedicated Medic First Aid (MFA) team. Everyone carries the responsibility to take care of themselves and each other. More about this can be read in the Medic First Aid guidelines.
Is Nibana wheelchair accessible?
We're aiming to be as inclusive as possible. Unfortunately we can't guarantee that the festival grounds for the Summer Festival are fully wheelchair accessible. We strive to be as inclusive as possible, so please get in touch if you have any questions/suggestions about this.
Note: the venue we use for our winter events is fully wheelchair accessible.
..still have questions? That's a great excuse to get in touch with us. Or just let it go, get a ticket and simply find out.