🌿 Check-in at the entrance: 14:00-20:00 – please do not arrive earlier than 14:00
and make your travel plans accordingly. (If you don’t manage to arrive by 20:00, there will be a person on call to check you in and give you a wristband.)
🌿 Have your Gathering ticket (QR code) + food & accommodation booking ready.
🌿 Dinner is served from 18:30-19:30 (you must be checked in & wearing your wristband to receive your meal!).
🌿 Opening Ceremony at 20:00 at the main stage—don’t miss it! ✨
🌿 Last meal: breakfast (served from 8:00-9:00).
🌿 Please leave the site before 13:00 and plan your travels accordingly.
Manas Garden is nestled near Lake Balaton, in Hungary, in a beautiful spot perfect to connect with nature & community!
📍 Address: Lengyeltóti, Rágniczapuszta 4, 8693 Hungary.
🚆 By public transport:
A direct bus service departs from Budapest every day from Népliget autobus station. It departs at 2:50 pm and arrives at Lengyeltót Town Hall at 4:56 pm. Manas Garden is a 20-minute walk from Lengyeltóti Town Hall (1.8km), but you can also take another bus from here (number 6175) to the “Lengyeltóti, Kék-tó” stop, right next to the entrance of Manas Garden. More information: https://menetrendek.hu/
In addition, a train leaves for Fonyód every hour from Budapest-Déli railway station, and from there (Fonyód) the Kaposvár train takes you to Lengyeltóti railway station. You can find more information here: https://menetrendek.hu/ The distance from the railway station to Manas Garden is 4 km. You can take a local bus (number 6175) or walk (1h).
You can also check on Google Maps for directions with public transport.
🚗 By car:
The fastest way is to come via the M7 highway and exit at Fonyód or Balatonboglár towards Lengyeltóti. Pay attention to the information signs on the road. You leave the village on the eastern side of Lengyeltóti, the gate is just a few hundred meters from here. Attention: to use the M7 motorway, you need to buy a motorway sticker, which is available at any petrol station. More information: https://www.hungary-vignette.eu/en You can choose from several languages at the top right.
You will be directed to the parking area at the entrance gate (when checking in), please do not obstruct the traffic by waiting and parking on the side of the road.
You can ask for rideshares in the Gathering Telegram group (rideshares channel).
🌍 Travel sustainably! We strongly encourage you to walk, bike, carpool, or take a train/bus rather than flying. 🚆🚲
⚡ Electric car owners: sadly, we can’t offer charging facilities onsite—please plan accordingly.
Here’s your ultimate packing list! ✅
➡️ Towel (if you are camping AND if you are staying in the hotel)
➡️ Camping gear if you’re camping: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, etc. ⛺
➡️ Water bottle (plastic or metal—please avoid glass)
➡️ Plate, cup, and cutlery 🍽
➡️ Jumper, rain jacket, waterproof shoes (just in case!) 🌧
➡️ Comfy clothes for movement practices + yoga mat 🧘
➡️ Butterfly-themed clothes or wings for the last evening celebration party 🦋
➡️ Your favourite musical instrument to jam with fellow attendees 🎸
➡️ Earplugs & sleeping mask (if you’re sensitive to noise/light) 😴
➡️ Biodegradable toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.) 🧴
➡️ Natural mosquito & tick repellent 🦟 (essential oils)
➡️ Swimsuit🩱
➡️ Sunscreen – respectful of aquatic life (mineral filters) 🪸
➡️ A sun hat & sun glasses 🕶
➡️ Any medications you need 💊
➡️ Safer sex protection (because we encourage safer connections!) ❤️
➡️ Notebook & pen for workshop notes ✍️
➡️ Headlamp or flashlight 🔦
➡️ Pocket ashtray (if you smoke) 🚬
➡️ A bag to collect your litter, since there will be no bins onsite (except in bathrooms for sanitaries) 🗑
➡️ A little blanket/towel to sit on (sitting will be on the floor), a foldable chair if you need one (we’ll do our best to provide a few chairs in each space for our elders) 🪑
🚫 WHAT NOT TO BRING:
❌ Non-biodegradable toiletries & sunscreen
❌ Pets (sorry, but they’re not allowed) 🐕
❌ Outside alcohol & illegal drugs (see our policy below) – HUNGARIAN POLICE HAS ZERO TOLERANCE WITH DRUGS AND THEY DO SEARCHES ON FESTIVALS SO YOU COULD BE IN SERIOUS TROUBLE IF YOU HAVE DRUGS ON YOU
❌Individual fires at the campsite are not allowed
❌Camping gas stoves are not allowed
☕ Tea & Coffee Hut: selling warm drinks & homemade cakes. Cash only (€/HUF).
🧃 Bar: selling light alcoholic & non-alcoholic beverages. Cash (€/HUF) & card.
🎪 Market Area: selling ethical handmade products (e.g.clothes, jewelry, soaps, etc.) and produce (e.g. honey, herbal teas, etc.) from ecovillages and ecoprojects as well as from the region. Each seller will decide on their payment method.
👕 GEN Europe Merch: Bring your own shirt for wood print, or buy tote bags and stickers on-site! Cash (€) and card.
SAFE & INCLUSIVE SPACE
(courageous space)
Everyone is welcome at the European Ecovillage Gathering! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🌎🌍🌏 Your diversity enriches this event! 🩷❤️🧡💛💚🩵💙💜🖤🩶🤍🤎
It is very important for us to create a safe, respectful and inclusive space for all, so we ask you to read and respect our various policies.
We acknowledge that there will always be room for improvement and will welcome your feedback in the Gathering evaluation form.
1) GEN Europe’s Participant Aspirations and Collective Boundaries
Please read the participant aspirations and collective boundaries sent to you via email for the Gathering and help us navigate the social waters. We ask all participants to read this carefully and reflect upon it before arrival. Breaching of our collective boundaries might lead to you being asked to leave the Gathering.
2) Our Host’s Rules and Guidelines
The rules and guidelines set by our host Mindenegyüttmegy Egyesület (MEGY) during their own event have been sent to you as well if you are a participant. Please note that dogs and bringing your own alcoholic drinks won’t be allowed at the Gathering.
Your wellbeing matters! 🌻
🌟 If you get sick with a contagious virus, we kindly ask you to cancel your participation.
🌟 Wash your hands, cover your mouth when coughing, and respect hygiene best practices.
🌟 If you have life-threatening allergies or conditions, bring your own medication (this applies to medication for mental health too 💜).
💖 Support Teams Available Onsite:
🩺 Medical Team
💬 Emotional Support Team
🛡 Safety Team
We will explain how to reach them at the opening ceremony.
Everybody is responsible for their own safety (and their children’s) onsite, including in & around the lake.