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Tour the Sacred Shambhala Sites on Cape Breton Island

Gampo Abbey on Cape Breton, with resident teacher Pema Chodron

 

Have you always wanted to visit Gampo Abbey  or Kalapa Valley but don’t know how to get there and/or need a guide?

This tour may be of particular interest to people doing Shambhala retreats at Dorje Denmaling near Tatamagouche or visiting Halifax.

Cabot Shores is the ideal place to begin a tour of  Kalapa Valley,  the Stupa of Enlightenment at Gampo Abbey and the Cape Breton National Highlands Park in between.  We are located 1/2 hour from Kalapa Valley on the Atlantic side of Cape Breton and we are a Shambhala business.

We offer complementary meditation and Qi Gong to our guests every morning; we can give presentations of both Kalapa Valley and Gampo Abbey;  and on request, we can even take you to both places.

 

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Kalapa Valley Waterfall

Hike to the waterfalls of Kalapa Valley and spend some time sitting by the Ashe pole.  Enjoy the open, grassy valley, the lively Ingonish river, the beautiful wild flowers, trees and perhaps spot a moose or eagle.

Then drive through the National Park to Gampo Abbey.  Visit the Stupa of Enlightenment, dedicated to world peace,  on the grounds of the abbey and circumambulate it while contemplating one of the Lojong Slogans.  During July and August, on weekday afternoons, you may want to participate in a tour of the Abbey, learn about Shambhala monastic life, and visit the amazing shrine room overlooking the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.

Shambhala Shrine Room at Gampo Abbey, Cape Breton
Shrine Room at Gampo Abbey

From the garden of the Abbey, you’ll occasionally spot a pod of whales off the coast.

These two sites are very important to the Shambhala and people from over the world come to visit them.  The importance of the Kalapa Valley is noted by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, the current lineage holder of  Shambhala: ““While the capital is in Halifax, the secret heart centre is in Kalapa Valley…. Its energy is essential to propagating Shambhala…”

The Sakyong’s father, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche originally identified the sacredness of  Kalapa Valley, as he did the location of the Gampo Abbey.  Under his auspices, Gampo Abbey as a western Buddhist monastery  following the Shambhala tradition was founded in 1983.

The  first director and current resident teacher of Gampo Abbey is Acharya Ani Pema Chodron.  Pema Chodron is the author of a number of books that have great influence on people, regardless of their faith,  including:  The Wisdom of No Escape, Start Where You Are, When Things Fall Apart, The Places that Scare You, No Time to Lose, Practicing Peace in Times of War, Taking the Leap – Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears and  most  recently Living Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change.

 

Pema Chodron, Resident Teacher of Gampo Abbey
Pema Chodron, Resident Teacher of Gampo Abbey

By clicking here, you can watch a video about Life at Gampo Abbey as narrated by Pema Chodron.

Here are the locations of Gampo Abbey, Kalapa Valley and Cabot Shores on Cape Breton Island:

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Good
Based on 298 reviews
MacKenzie Cutcliffe
MacKenzie Cutcliffe
February 17, 2024.
We had an excellent stay! We stayed in the tiny house and got the hot tub as an addition - the house was an adorable little cabin, very clean and had everything we needed (mini fridge, microwave and more!). The hot tub was worth the addition! Paul and the staff were so considerate, he even called me before we arrived and let me know how the roads were and to make sure I knew how to get to the tiny house since we were probably arriving after dark. I can’t say enough good things! We will definitely be back!
Alexis Helena
Alexis Helena
February 16, 2024.
It was a great space, the manager was very helpful and answered all our questions. Will definitely be coming back
Katie Crossley
Katie Crossley
January 25, 2024.
My husband and I got married at Cabot Shores last October, after staying there multiple times in the past and falling in love with the scenery and food!! Paul was amazing to deal with leading up to the wedding! I was definitely a needy bride lol and he was always so patient and helpful with everything. The whole thing went off without any issues at all and my guests had a great time and raved on and on about the food! We are huge out door people and loved the whole vibe ! We can’t wait to go back again soon and make more wonderful memories at this slice of heaven in our favourite place in the world, Cape Breton !!
‍하준수(교원-영상디자인학과)
‍하준수(교원-영상디자인학과)
January 10, 2024.
An unforgettable experience for a family trip. A yurt experience is more than just lodging, especially if you have young children. What is most impressive of all is the owner and his wife, who are so kind and affectionate.
Karleigh Johnstone
Karleigh Johnstone
January 8, 2024.
Stayed in the Phoenix Dome for 2 nights and had the most wonderful experience. The dome was lovely and stayed warm through the night. The highlight of our stay was the food. My husband has been a chef for 20+ years and was blown away by the quality of the food. We had dinner one evening and the salmon was absolute perfection. We were lucky enough to be the only guests for breakfast so they cooked us a few items instead of the buffet and we enjoyed every bite. Hands down the best scrambled eggs I have ever eaten! The staff were so wonderful, kind and accommodating. We would love to return and spend more time here exploring the trails and relaxing on the beach. Thank you to everyone at Cabot Trail for such a wonderful experience!
Bobbi Zahra
Bobbi Zahra
January 1, 2024.
Hot tubs were great, overlooking the gorgeous water view. Yurt was super comfortable, very spacious, and even when the fire died while we were sleeping, we stayed cozy and warm - the bedding was superb. Recommendation for Red River Trail was great, and we enjoyed the hike very much.
Sandy Mackley
Sandy Mackley
November 27, 2023.
The staff at Cabot Shores actively took opportunities to make our stay relaxing and enjoyable. Our Mongolian Yurt was comfortable with the wood stove and outside hot tub. Would strongly recommend calling these fine folks and discussing your stay with them.

Good
Based on 51 reviews
Lukas
Lukas
September 21, 2022.
Verified
Very nice people and a place full of joy ! Stayed 2 nights in the „Eagle dome“ which was really comfy and clean!Had really delicous dinner at the main lodge where paul played some music just for us and had nice conversations whith him and the other staffmembers.Also booked the hot tub at our dome for our last night from where we had a great view on the campfire.Lovely place where you see how much effort they put in every detail.
Nicole
Nicole
August 22, 2022.
Verified
Amazing adventure! Lots of fun sleeping underneath the stars!
Ryan
Ryan
August 14, 2022.
Verified
Relaxing
Nigel
Nigel
July 25, 2022.
Verified
Beautiful place and very friendly staff. Perfect location if you’re travelling along the Cabot Trail, I highly recommend checking this place out! Would definitely stay here again. Thanks for a fantastic experience.
Anooj
Anooj
October 25, 2021.
Verified
This was our first time staying in the Eagle Dome and we absolutely fell in love with this beautiful place. Super clean place to stay!
Redwan
Redwan
October 17, 2021.
Verified
Very nice place to spend a couple of nights in the nature! My wife and I enjoyed our stay.It might be a good idea to install a heater in the dome as it can get chilly at night.
Brooke
Brooke
October 1, 2021.
Verified
Beautiful, quaint place to stay! So unique and off grid. We loved staying at the dome!
Madison
Madison
September 9, 2021.
Verified
We had a great stay in the Eagle Dome! We loved watching the sunset and sunrise, and being able to hear the waves from the ocean. Next time we would stay a few more days and prepare a bit better - we weren’t packed for off grid but we made it work. Outhouse was a few steps away, shower and toilet a short walk. We didn’t get the hot tub or use the sauna/other amenities but would certainly consider it next time.

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