7-Day Yoga and Meditation Retreat at a Thai Village Sanctuary

The retreat runs over seven days and six nights in the Saraphi district of Chiang Mai, a twenty-minute drive from the city centre but a world away in feel. The property has two parts: a traditional Lanna wooden house with a large garden, coconut trees, a private lake, and communal practice areas, and a small resort a few minutes' walk away where the bungalows sit around a swimming pool. All yoga sessions happen outdoors in this natural setting, which Paolina calls 'a gym for the spirit'. You won't find a studio here – just open-air decks and gardens, with birds and breeze as the soundtrack.

A typical day starts with jala neti (nasal cleansing), pranayama, and meditation, then moves into an asana practice that could be Hatha, Vinyasa, or her own style, Anusaranga – a blend of Anusara and Ashtanga. The morning sessions are designed to energize; the evening ones to wind down. After lunch there's a long free block of four hours, which guests use to swim, rent a bike and explore the village, book a Thai massage, or simply nap in a hammock. The schedule includes two set workshops: Yoga Nidra and The Sound of Chakras, where you learn the bija mantras and mudras. There's also a 20-minute Ancestral Sound Bath session included, and a Karma talk with Paolina at some point during the week. On day six, instead of the evening practice, everyone cooks dinner together at a bonfire by the lake.

What makes this different from a bigger resort retreat is the scale. With only six guests, Paolina can adjust the practice to what you actually need, and she does. She's been teaching since 2019, trained in everything from Hatha to Rocket to Iyengar, and specializes in Anusaranga. Her aim is to make yoga accessible to everyone, not to push you to your limit, though she will invite you to try backbends and arm balances if that's what you want. Two guests mentioned her cooking as much as her teaching, so the food side is clearly looked after too. If you want a retreat that feels personal, taught by one person who knows your name, this is one of the better options around Chiang Mai.

What's included

- 6 nights accommodation in a private bungalow - 3 daily delicious and nutritious meals - Water throughout the day - Daily meditation classes - Daily yoga classes - Daily pranayama classes - Ancestral Sound Bath (20 minutes) - Karma talks - Specialized workshops (Yoga Nidra, The Sound of Chakras) - Parking - Wi-Fi connection

What's not included

- Flights costs - Travel insurance - Visa fee - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Additional treatments (e.g., massage, Reiki, Muay Thai) - Airport transfer (available for an extra fee)