Bangkok is a large, bustling city with influences and cultures from all over the world. The biggest influence on this city, though, would have to be Buddhism. This can be seen with the tremendous amounts of temples (wats) and altars seen throughout the city. Despite the loud sea of motorbikes and hoards of people commuting to work, there is still an underlying tone of mindfulness and gratitude that can be found throughout Bangkok.
Bangkok is a great place for yoga/meditation retreats. The best places in Bangkok (and surrounding areas) to visit for a meditation or yoga retreat include the Mon Lodge & Yoga Donmueang, Chiva-Som Hau Hin Resort, IngNatee Resort, and Wat Suan Mokkh.
There are tons of yoga and meditation retreats to choose from all across Thailand. Many differ in practices, locations, and price, but we have compiled a list of a diverse set of retreats that offer something for everybody. Whatever you are looking for in your yoga/meditation retreat to Bangkok, we have an option for you here.
The Budget Retreat
If you are balling on a budget, so to speak, then the best place to go in Bangkok for a yoga retreat would be the Mon Lodge & Yoga Donmueang. Located near the Don Mueang airport, this little Bed & Breakfast can be booked for less than $30/night.
With breakfast included and a full day of yoga classes on the schedule, this place is the perfect way to get some yoga in and enjoy a little time to yourself. This hotel offers a variety of private and shared rooms, as well as a beautiful meditation garden, terrace, and koi pond. They even have some adorable furry friends walking around the complex, including some rehabilitated cats.
When you aren’t practicing yoga at the Mon Lodge, you can head on over to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which is rather close. This market is the biggest outdoor market in all of Thailand and is home to tons of street-style clothing vendors, artisan boba tea shops, and delicious street food.
The Mon Lodge & Yoga Donmueang is also owned by a lovely Thai family and is the perfect mix of homestay and yoga retreat. If you want to have a yoga-retreat experience for the cost of staying at a budget hotel, then make sure to check out the Mon Lodge on your next stay in Bangkok!
The Luxury Retreat
If you are looking for an all-inclusive, luxury yoga and wellness retreat near Bangkok, then the Chiva-Som Hau Hin Resort is the perfect place for you. Located in Hua Hin, one of the closest beaches to Bangkok (and the prettiest), the Chiva-Som Hua Hin remains one of the most sought-after wellness resorts in the world.
After arriving in Bangkok, you can expect a personal Mercedes to pick you up and drive you to the beach resort (a quick 2-hour car ride away). Upon arrival, a wellness practitioner will meet with you to discuss your needs and create a bespoke wellness program specifically designed for your body. At the Chiva-Som, all group activities and spa treatments are included in the room price — so you should definitely make the most of your days by filling up a packed schedule.
The all-inclusive activities include yoga, Qi Gong, Thai boxing, mantra meditations, Tai Chi, cooking classes, facials, acupuncture, body sculpting, reiki, massages, hair treatments, and much, much, more. On top of this, the Chiva-Som has an incredibly large complex filled with beautiful pools and gardens for reading, meditating, and some well-deserved “you”- time. This resort also has top-rated chefs on board that serve healthy, gourmet meals which aid in the detox process.
The Chiva-Som has been voted ‘The World’s Best Destination Spa’ three times in a row in the Condé Nast Traveller magazine. Certainly, with all of these services, you can expect to pay a pretty penny. The rooms here at this all-inclusive resort start at around $1,000/night. If you can fork out this kind of cash, the experience is well worth it.
The Natural Retreat
Located just 45 min north of Bangkok right on a riverbank of the Chao Phraya River, sits the IngNatee Resort. This resort is nestled with lush tropical gardens, ponds, and a large river delta. The IngNatee Resort offers a 4-day, 3-night yoga retreat that costs $300-$400.
Here, you can escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok and spend your days doing yoga with the cool river breeze blowing through your hair. Breakfast is included each day, as well as 4 yoga classes throughout the day, lovely villa accommodations, and use of the riverside salt-water pool. When you are not doing yoga, you can hop in a boat right from the resort bank and take a tour down the river to see the many water-side temples.
Tours to Ayutthaya, the lost city of the Siamese Empire, and Pathum Thai are available upon your request. Additionally, if you are looking for a more rural feel, you can grab a bicycle and tour one of the near-by rice villages. Want a taste of adventure in between yoga sessions? Ask to wakeboard down the river with a boat guide! Need an after-yoga snack? There are many floating merchants that make their way down the river with delicious dumplings and barbecued meats.
Be sure to hang out by the river at sunrise to give alms to the many monks making their way down the river. During your free time, you can walk around the resort and see the many farms and sustainable food options at IngNatee (they have a fish farm, mushroom farm, and even a worm farm!) Between yoga, meditation, and all of the additional activities, this river-side resort will be sure to bring you the peace of mind you have been looking for.
The Disciplined Retreat
Our selection for the most disciplined meditation retreat near Bangkok is the Wat Suan Mokkh International Dharma Hermitage. If you think of mindfulness like running, then this place is an Ultra Marathon. Located about 600 km South of Bangkok, this school sits in a forested area and is home to over 40 monks.
Not for the faint of heart, this 10-day silent retreat boasts very humble accommodations — a concrete slab for a bed with a straw mat on top, covered by a thin mosquito net. The retreat includes about 10 hours of meditation a day, 2 vegetarian meals (with a soup for dinner), chores, yoga classes, hot springs, and walking meditations. And, of course, you do this all without talking to any of the other participants.
This style of meditation is called Vipassana and is known to be a rather intense experience for both your mind and body. Many people report feeling physical pain from all of the hours of sitting. At Wat Suan Mokkh, leaving in the middle of the retreat is not allowed. Wat Suan Mokkh believes that you must complete 10-days of silence in order to fully reap the benefits of this retreat.
For some, this may seem like torture. Crazy, even! But, if you wish to challenge yourself on your yoga/meditation holiday, then this place is perfect for you. Between the stay at the retreat (about $60 for registration — donations are also welcomed) and about $20 for your train ticket down to the monastery, this retreat is an incredibly inexpensive way to spend your meditation/yoga holiday.
You can rest easy knowing that this place is a world-renowned monastery and has hosted over 25,000 people since its inception.
Related Questions
What’s the best yoga retreat in Bangkok?
The best yoga retreat in Bangkok is at the IngNatee Resort. This hotel is located on the Chao Phraya River and offers many different kinds of yoga retreats. This hotel is just outside Bangkok and is in a beautiful, eco-friendly, natural environment.
What’s the best wellness retreat in Bangkok?
The best wellness retreat in Bangkok is the Chiva-Som Hau Hin Resort. This resort is consistently ranked as ‘The World’s Best Destination Spa’ by Condé Nast Traveller magazine. This resort is located in Hua Hin, a beach near the city of Bangkok.
