Mark your calendar with these 2024 Dates:

February 10th - 17th 2024

This immersive yoga retreat in Thailand is suitable for all ages and experience level of yoga It will take you into the mountainous jungles of the north where you’ll find semi-captive elephants roaming free in the forests and Karen communities living as they have done for generations.

Relax and unwind surrounded by pristine mountain forests. Become immersed in the uniquely rich Karen culture and be embraced by the warmth of an entire community, nestled deep in the forest.

Learn about traditional Karen weaving skills and have a go at speaking the local language, allowing you the opportunity to share more than just smiles with your host family.

Meditate with the monks at the temple, breathing in 360-degree forest covered mountain views. All the while creating lifelong memories and making a life changing difference to the community.

Our community based responsible tourism vacations allow hill tribe villagers to truly benefit from our presence. Elephants, of course, also benefit and we aim for them to live freely in their natural forest environment without persecution from humans and the destruction of their habitat.

DAY 1

This project is located near the city of Mae Sot. We recommend you arrive to Mae Sot before 5pm . Mae Sot is a diverse and fascinating border town, with one of the best border markets in Thailand. You can stay at your chosen guest house or hotel and enjoy the Thai-Burmese fusion cuisine. Mae Sot is easy to travel to by bus or flight. We will arrange a welcome dinner at 6.30pm in Mae Sot.

We will all be staying at The Teak, a beautiful 4 star hotel located in the very heart of Mae Sot. A great location for exploring or relaxing by the pool

Note: we can arrange pick up and drop off in Chiang Mai and can provide the cost on discussion prior to booking.

DAY 2

• Wake up and enjoy breakfast in the town of Mae Sot.

• After breakfast begin the beautiful 2-hour drive up into the cloud forest to the tiny Karen village perched on top of a mountain.

• On arrival you will be welcomed by the villagers and introduced to your host family and taken on a tour of the village.

• We will meet at our beautiful yoga platform overlooking the mountains and forest at 5.45pm. Followed by a group dinner at one of the host houses.

DAY 3

• Start the day with yoga at our purpose built platform, this will be at 7am followed by breakfast with your host family.

• Prepare yourself for a day out in the forest with the elephants, learning about the life of the elephants and their mahouts. Observe the many natural behaviours of the elephants living in their natural habitat.

• Sit surrounded by pristine untouched cloud forest, observing the elephants enjoying the freedom of their forest home, from a safe and respectful distance.

• Have lunch with the mahouts out in the forest, before slowly making your way back to the village.

• We will make our way to the incredible golden temple at 5.30 for sunset and meditation. At 6.30 we will meet for a group dinner.

Day 4

• 7:00 am Yoga - platform 8:30 am Breakfast

• Spend the day immersed in the community, watch and learn how to weave traditional karen fabrics with the women of the village, sit with the men and try your hand at weaving a basket from bamboo or simply sit and drink a hot cup of mountain tea and learn about the region and its rich culture.

• Depending on the season, there may be opportunity to visit the local organic rice fields or visit the coffee plantations under the canopy of the forest and learn about how they are grown and harvested in the region.

• 17:30 Temple for a meditation 18:30 Group dinner cultural exchange and chat with the village

DAY 5

• 7:00 am Yoga - platform

• 8:30 am Breakfast

• 9:30 am depart for a day in the forest observing the Elephants Pack lunch provided

• 15:00 return to the village

• 17:30 Temple for meditation

• 18:30 Group dinner different house each night

DAY 6

• 7:00 Yoga - platform

• 8:30 Breakfast

• 9:30 Community Day

• 13:30 lunch

• 17:30 Temple for a meditation.

• 18:30 Group dinner - Fire and songs - enjoy an evening of hot chocolate around the fire and learn about traditional instruments.Accommodation

DAY 7

• 7:00 am Yoga - platform

• 8:30 am Breakfast

• 9:30 am depart to Mae Sot, we have one more night at The Teak Hotel with a farewell dinner. For those who need to leave today we will say farewell.

DAY 8

Time to depart from Mae Sot.

Accommodation

Accommodation

Option 1: Homestay (included in basic program fee)

Staying with a host family is both welcoming and comfortable. Placing you in the very heart of village life, leaving you with a real sense of community living. Each homestay is different, but all host stunning views and friendly smiling faces – all of which will be eager to learn more about you, your family and your country, making you feel right at home in no time.  

Your host family will provide you with bedding and a mosquito net. The Karen sleep on the floor and this is what is also provided for you, with the addition of a small mattress for additional comfort.   Bathrooms are clean and accessible with Asian style squat toilets or western toilet and traditional bucket showers – which are either refreshing or bracing depending on the time of year!

Your host family will cook for you throughout the duration of your stay, providing you with delicious traditional Karen dishes and the opportunity to sit together and be a part of their incredibly unique and special way of life.

Option 2: Our guest lodge (a small additional fee per person will be added to program fee)

Our guest lodge has been built at the very top of the village, providing guests with the most incredible views over the village and out across the stunning forest and mountains.

The lodge is equip with comfortable beds, mosquito nets, a large communal area allowing you to soak up the surrounding views and a private bathroom with a western toilet and hot shower.

While you will not be staying with a host family, there will be a family allocated to cater for you during your stay, providing you with delicious traditional Karen dishes and hot drinks... and your meals will be at the family home.

Please note; by choosing option 2 our guest lodge, there will be a small add on fee of £50.00 GBP per booking.

Getting to Mae Sot

Traveling to and from Mae Sot is incredibly easy and there are multiple travel styles to choose from. Mae Sot is accessible from both Chiang Mai and Bangkok, with easy flight connections down to the beaches in southern Thailand;

Fly to Mae Sot- Nok Air provides between 4/5 direct flights from Bangkok daily.

If this is the option of travel you choose try to aim to arrive in Mae Sot by lunch time. Please do not book a flight any earlier than 11:00am on the day of your departure, as our team will need time to transport you back to Mae Sot airport. An 11:00am flight will give you plenty of time to connect with further flights traveling within Thailand.

VIP Bus to Mae Sot – Green Bus Thailand provides 2 buses from Chiang Mai to Mae Sot daily (8:30am and 1:00pm), this journey takes approximately 6/7 hours through beautiful Thai countryside.

Please remember you will need to arrive in Mae Sot the day before your trip and if planning to travel back to Chiang Mai by bus straight after your trip with us, please book a your bus trip for the following day.

Private Transport to Mae Sot - We can arrange pick up and drop off in Chiang Mai and can provide the cost on discussion prior to booking.