This year's Samsara Festival runs until 11 August amid the lush greenery of the Töreki forest, bringing yoga and relaxing music to Balaton while ditching plastic waste.
As in previous years, the main stage of the Samsara Festival remains a provider of peaceful chill music, while DJs occupy the other two musical venues, Tilos Forest and Alter, with dance-friendly tunes in the lush forest of Töreki by Siófok.
Yoga, acroyoga and bodywork classes run all day, while you can try holistic therapies and various kinds of massages in the healing tents.
The festival is free of sponsors, and this year, instead of tickets, you can purchase a membership that provides free access to all Samsara events and yoga retreats worldwide in 2019.
Zero-waste festival
Food and drink are available at the Dharma Nonprofit Foundation canteen: most dishes are meat-free and made with the help of locals using locally sourced ingredients. Prices are lower compared with previous years, and you can also make your own meals in the community kitchen if you bring your own pots and tools, using ingredients brought from home or purchased at the festival shop. The only restriction is that you have to ensure that the products you purchase are packaging-free.
This is important because Samsara aims to be zero-waste. There aren’t any waste bins, and participants are responsible for all non-compostable rubbish. It’s recommended that you bring your own water bottle, mug and cutlery, although you can also purchase returnable ones at the festival. The website offers tips on how to enjoy the festival in a sustainable way.
The festival’s currency is called the Dharma token, which you can obtain by the canteen.
Goats and horses
Festival founders Csaba Czinkóczky and Gabriella Berecz regularly adopt neglected animals and give them a new home on the 40-hectare forest called the Dharma Lómenhely horse shelter – which is also the festival site, so there’s a chance you might bump into some of the rescued horses and goats during the event. Please do not feed them.
