Hey there, beautiful soul!

We are beyond excited that you’ve chosen to be part of the European Ecovillage Gathering 2025 and can’t wait to welcome you onsite with everyone to create an inspiring, connecting, uplifting, nourishing and empowering event all together!

To make your experience as smooth as possible, we’ve gathered all the essential info you need in this guide. Please take the time to read it carefully—it likely answers most of your questions! If not, you can:

Check out our FAQ page on the Gathering website.
Join our Gathering Telegram group for updates and community chats.
Still got a question? Drop us an email at gathering@gen-europe.org

YOUR STAY AT MANAS GARDEN

☎️ Host Contact & Cancellation Policy

For questions about your food & accommodation booking – or if you need to cancel – please contact our host directly via email at info@megyesulet.hu 

Reminder: Check out our host’s cancellation policy.

Arrival: Tuesday, August 12, 2025

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!

Departure: Sunday, August 17, 2025

Last meal: breakfast (served from 7:30-9:00).

Please leave the site before 13:00 and plan your travels accordingly.

LOCATION & HOW TO GET THERE

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.
Google Maps link: Click here for exact location!

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 (Lengyeltóti városháza) at 4:56 pm. Manas Garden is a 20mn (1.4km) walk from Lengyeltóti Town Hall, 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/ (Attention: the bus number 5988 only runs on school days, but schools are closed in August, so this bus does not run during the Gathering.)

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 on this website. The distance from the railway station to Manas Garden is 4 km. You can take a local bus (number 6175) or walk (1h). 

On departure day, the easiest is to walk (20mn – 1.4km) to the Lengyeltóti Town Hall bus stop (Lengyeltóti városháza). There are several options from there, which you can search for on this website.

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. We recommend the “10-day”, which allows you to use any motorway in the country freely for 10 days. Price for a car: 6620 HUF, for a caravan: 9630 HUF. 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). 

Electric car owners: sadly, we can’t offer charging facilities onsite—please plan accordingly.

The closest public electric car charging station to Manas Garden is located at TEA – Lengyeltóti Kira Panzió. This charging station provides two charging spots for electric cars, with a 11 kW charging power. It is available to anyone, operating 24/7 all year round. The station is approximately 10 km away from Manas Garden, which is about a 15-minute drive by car. More information: https://tea.evtoltok.hu/?charger=PT328

Travel sustainably! We strongly encourage you to walk, bike, carpool, or take a train/bus rather than flying.

WHAT TO BRING

Here’s your ultimate packing list!

It is very likely that the weather will be hot & sunny but check the weather forecast for Lengyeltóti before you pack. 

➡️ Towel 

➡️ 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

FOOD & DRINKS

You’ll enjoy 3 delicious vegetarian meals per day—all included in your booking!

Vegan & gluten-free options available (clearly labeled).
We cannot cater to specific diets/allergies—please plan accordingly.
Yes, there’s coffee at breakfast! Plus, a tea & coffee hut for treats throughout the day.
A bar will offer light alcoholic & non-alcoholic drinks.

Meal times:
Breakfast: 7:30-9:00
Lunch: 13:00-14:30
Dinner: 18:30-19:30

Feeling snacky between meals? Bring some nuts, dried fruit, or your favorite munchies – packaging free!

HEALTH & SAFETY

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. 

Please do not walk barefoot as there are acacias with thorns that can cause infection.

ONSITE SERVICES & PAYMENTS

Tea & Coffee Hut: selling warm drinks & homemade cakes. Cash only (€ and HUF accepted, change given in HUF).
Bar: selling light alcoholic & non-alcoholic cold beverages. Cash only (€ and HUF accepted, change given in HUF).
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 and currency.
GEN Europe Merch: Bring your own shirt for lino print, or buy tote bags and stickers on-site! Cash (€) and card. 

INFORMATION FOR FAMILIES / YOUTH LEADERS

“It takes a village to raise a child.”

It is our communal responsibility to offer loving care for our children and we welcome all participants and families to contribute to and co-create a memorable experience for the children present.

Welcome dear families!

We are very pleased to offer you a wide range of activities for children and teenagers again this year. We have been co-creating a Children & Youth’s Programme that runs parallel to the full programme, offering a space for your children & teenagers to create their own transformational experience. Each morning we will have adults present at the children’s space offering activities in movement/games, bushcraft, theatre, crafts and more. We allow space for emergence and the children & teenagers present ultimately decide which activities they want to participate in that morning.

Taking care of your children

We offer activities within our program streams and support you as parents to feel safe, at home, and welcome. While the Children & Youth’s Programme is created with the intention of accompanying your children during the morning workshops, we will not force any child to stay with us or participate. If you choose to leave your child with us, be sure they know where to find you if they want to leave and have a clearly visible name tag with their name, mother tongue and your phone number. In the afternoons, the children’s space is open for self-organised activities for and with Kids & Families. Please leave the space better than you found it. 

A few important reminders:

• Please remember that you are responsible for your children at all times. While the grounds are child-friendly, they may not be 100 percent child-safe in all areas. Above all, take good care of your children near the lake. 
• Please ensure that children wear a nametag or wristband with their name, parents’ phone number, and mother tongue. This helps the Gathering community as a whole to care for your child if they are feeling lost or scared.
• Days are still long in Hungary in August, so please prepare for bedtimes as needed.
• All members of the Kids and Family team will wear badges.

Mark your calendars! We will hold an online introduction for families on Wednesday, July 30th from 17:30-19:00 CEST. In this meeting, we will review site & safety, introduce ourselves, and introduce the programme. 

We hope we have thought of everything and that everyone is feeling comfortable and safe. The Children Programme coordinators Alex (axmaximova@gmail.com +421 950 461 012) and Elisa-Maria (elisabeth.maria@strukt-ur-weise.at +43 6803017513) are available for questions, challenges, and organisation in the area of family and children. Find an invitation link for the Telegram channel below where you will also find a chat for “Kids & Families”. If there are urgent questions or information needed you can use this chat to reach us, too. You can join it via this link

SAFE & INCLUSIVE 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

Here are the participant aspirations and collective boundaries for the Gathering to 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

These are the rules and guidelines set by our host Mindenegyüttmegy Egyesület (MEGY) during their own event. Please note that dogs and bringing your own alcoholic drinks won’t be allowed at the Gathering.

Please note that there won’t be any trash cans (except for sanitaries in toilets of course) so any trash you bring, you’ll have to take with you

Manas Garden’s community consider their site and their surroundings to be of utmost importance, and they are working on the regeneration of land, waters & wildlife, so they ask that you help them and respect the following guidelines:

1. Only camp in designated areas, leave protected areas free.
2. Do not litter and do not throw cigarette butts.
3. Do not drive over planted saplings and bushes.
4. Don’t pollute the lake and protect the natural wildlife.
5. Do not use the lake as a toilet or fish in it.
6. Respect the private areas where community members live.
7. Use the compost toilets as intended: do not throw plastic, metal, or glass into them.
8. They build the vegetable gardens to provide for themselves, but are happy to give you a taste. You can ask members of their community about this.

Swimming in the lake is officially prohibited

There are 2 small sandy beach areas by the (small) lake. You are requested to wear a swimming suit, at least the bottom part (regardless of your gender).

Everywhere else onsite, humans of all genders are requested to wear a top (can be a light tank top). 

 Accessibility 

Accessibility for all is important to us and we are aware we have to improve in making the Gathering venues accessible to all. If you have specific needs, please contact info@megyesulet.hu to enquire about the facilities. 

Regarding PRM/wheelchair access: there are quite some areas that are grass/sand/earth and therefore difficult to navigate in a wheelchair, or at least alone, as well as different levels on the site, with stairs in some places. The beauty of community is that we support one another and with support anything is possible. But we wanted to give you an accurate picture of the site terrain. There is also, unfortunately no adapted toilet nor shower. We are really, sincerely sorry about this and have it in mind that we need to look into this for future Gathering venues. Do not hesitate to send us your comments and recommendations at gathering@gen-europe.org

Pets Policy

No pets allowed (except registered service/emotional support dogs—must be on a leash at all times & are not allowed in workshop spaces).

Alcohol & Drug Policy

Illegal drugs are strictly prohibited—anyone found using them will be asked to leave. 

Alcohol is only permitted at the bar in moderation. No outside alcohol allowed.

Smoking will be allowed in a designated area only. Bring your pocket ashtray with you. 

Photos & Videos Policy

Always ask for consent before taking someone’s photo or video.
No photos/videos allowed in workshop spaces or sharing groups.
Our media team will take photos/videos for GEN Europe’s public communication (website, social media, newsletter). If you don’t want to be in photos/videos, inform the media team and they will ensure you are filtered out.

Translation support

We will do our best to offer translation, at least of the main collective sessions. We hope to have a team of volunteer translators, who will support you to the best of their abilities. In the bigger sessions (the opening and closing ceremony, as well as the morning circles) they will be available to translate in designated areas, please keep an eye out for this. In the workshops, translation will be self-organised. 

PROGRAMME & DAILY SCHEDULE

Find the full programme here (we update it regularly!)
It will also be displayed onsite on big info boards along with a sitemap to find your way around. 

A Typical Day at the Gathering:
7:00-8:00 – Morning movement (yoga, meditation, etc.)
7:30-9:00 – Breakfast
9:30-11:00 – Collective Morning Circle (inspiring talks)
11:30-13:00 – Workshops
13:00-14:00 – Lunch

🤝 14:00-15:00 Networking (dedicated area to meet ecovillages, ecoprojects, networks, EU projects, etc.)
15:00-16:00 – Sharing groups
16:30-18:30 – More workshops!
18:30-19:30 – Dinner
20:00-22:00 – Evening concerts, dance, singing, or lakeside chilling!

STAY CONNECTED!

Follow us on Social Media! You can stay informed about the Ecovillage Gathering updates via our Instagram account @ecovillagegathering. For the usual Ecovillage content, be sure to follow us on Instagram @gen_europe, Facebook and join our Newsletter. And don’t forget to tag us on your posts!

We created a Telegram group with various channels, with the idea of self-organisation and collaboration, connection, the possibility of co-creation, and support for all things connected to the European Ecovillage Gathering. You can join it via this link. 

Can’t wait to see you at the Gathering!