Philosophy
Our story
Mahakala’s mission is simple: to create a place where people can recharge and reconnect.
In today’s hectic world it can be hard to find time to detach from the societal rush and slow down. When your week is full of deadlines and responsibilities, it may feel like you’re chasing one goal after another without having time for taking a step back to consider what it is that you really need. However, taking care of yourself is the most important thing of all and treating yourself with kindness will help those around you to bloom, too.
Mahakala was founded by a mother-daughter duo to create a space for anyone to recharge and reconnect with their inner selves. A space where people can find community, connect deeply with nature and rediscover a sense of inner balance and peace. Montenegro always felt like a perfect place for creating our beloved Mahakala as it is where our ancestors come from. Still today, we are a small women lead company, with the aim to support you in returning to simple yet powerful daily habits and rituals and to forge a deeper sense of connection with yourself.
Our Location
Montenegro
The retreat is located in the small seaside village of Buljarica in Montenegro, cradled by the mountains with breathtaking views of the Adriatic Sea. Surrounded by the four elements of earth, air, sun and water, the setting of the Mahkala Retreat provides an energizing natural balance.
Montenegro is a small country in Eastern Europe, and with its diverse range of untouched natural landscapes it has a touch of fairytale magic. It is home to mountains and high pasture valleys, as well as over 35 lakes and the world’s largest clean water gorge. Log-cabin style mountain chalets exist alongside the sun kissed Adriatic coastline and its turquoise beaches, adding to the variety and charm of this small but beautiful land.
Buljarica is one of the most authentic and beautiful seaside towns in Montenegro. It is still an untouched gem of the Adriatic Coast, with its unique beach stretching for more than 2,250m. Buljarica is peaceful and has largely retained its authentic appearance, as it isn’t filled with hotel chains and other manmade developments. There are a handful of restaurants, a monastery and a small shop. We have close relationships with our local community and our neighbours, and in the summer season we tend to have more tourists and neighbours around us. If you prefer complete seclusion, we recommend that you visit us in the low season.
Regrenetative Tourism
Looking after nature is close to our hearts, and our retreats are designed with the Earth’s best in mind. Supporting our local farmers and community members who grow sustainable and organic food is one of our main goals. We grow some organic food and herbs in our own garden and aim to source local and organic produce wherever possible, reducing the environmental impact of the food we serve. We have researched and traveled around Montenegro to find the best, most natural and ecological farms in the area who produce the food we offer to our beloved guests. Additionally, we source fresh water from the mountains, keep our appliances eco-friendly with saltwater filtration application, use an ecological heat pump to warm up the room temperature and utilize organic sewage systems, as well as solar power. We also support local NGOs that are helping the nearby area and Montenegro’s wildlife at large.
We follow a regenerative tourism approach meaning that we are striving to have a net positive impact on the whole system that we’re living in – benefitting the people we work with, the community we live in and the people who visit us. Our core values include building meaningful relationships where exchange and learning can happen, and we always endeavour to base our decisions on equity. We strive for creating a space that is rooted in its environment, and by connecting with nature through nature-based activities and active stewardship that we offer for our guests, we aim to contribute to the whole ecosystem. Our goal is to offer a space for others to get inspired and to spark a shift towards a more socially and ecologically aware mindset.
