There is a lot to share about this retreat and all you could possibly want to know is outlined below so keep reading. You may also find it helpful to read about someone's actual experience. Fortunately the participants on last years Thailand Adventure have been very generous in sharing their experiences.
2027 Thailand Adventure
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Yoga, Ayurveda, Meditation, Reiki, Astrology, Community
30/1 - 1/3/2027 - 30 days $5,550 - $6450 (does not include international airfares) I loved the whole experience – the fun times, relaxing times, confronting times, quiet times, confusing times, enlightening times – loved them all! The first week of exploring was fabulous - I felt free to discover the area and people and settle into the environment. After the week, I was ready for the next stage, Yoga. The Yoga week was for me physically and mentally demanding as I had not done much yoga. However, as the week progressed and I learnt the routine and felt stronger my confidence grew and I was much more comfortable. Pancho and Beatrix are amazing teachers. I feel so blessed to have met them and to have learnt from them. Finally the last few days was a great way to consolidate what we had learnt. After an active few weeks it was a nice change. The value for money was outstanding! In my opinion there were “money can't buy experiences” and I feel so fortunate to have been part of the group. The accommodation was excellent, day trips amazing, food out of this world and the yoga course was life changing." Natalie Local Immersion
After flying into Bangkok we travel by sleeper train to Nong Khai to begin our adventure. The first few days are spent exploring the neighborhood and getting to know the locals, as well as venturing further afield to see some local attractions famous across South East Asia:
Local Attractions
Markets
Nong Khai is renowned for its markets and it can be hard to resist the bargains so come with room in your suitcase.
The Sculpture Park Known as Salakaewkoo, a visit to the Sculpture Park is a must when in Nong Khai. World famous as one of the most extraordinary artistic creations of South-East Asia, it contains over 100 sculptures, some of which rise more than seven stories high! It was built by the mystic shaman Luang Poo Boun Leua Sourirat, who constructed it with the help of devotees over more than 20 years. Some sculptures depict snakes, with other images taken from either Theravada or Mahayana Buddhism. Hinduism is well represented, with images of Shiva and Parvati, Brahma and Vishnu. Luang Poo passed away in 1996 aged in his early seventies. His mummified body can be seen on the third floor of the main building, under a glass hemisphere. Disciples claim his hair still grows and must be cut once in a while! The Historical Park The Historical Park near Ban Phu is one of the most extraordinary sites in Thailand, filled with many huge and strange mushroom-like rock formations, which bear carvings and cave paintings dating back more than 3000 years. Our guide will share both the legend behind and geographical explanation for these amazing formations. The Lilly Lake Wang Bua Daeng, a reservoir of pink water lilies, is a truly memorable experience. Silently gliding across the water at sunrise amid the thousands of blooming lilies is hard to describe. It's not to be missed. The waterlily pond at sunrise was an experience I will treasure for ever. Stunning to say the least. The markets we visited, food we ate, people we met on all excursions were amazing. The skywalk and temple visits were a great way to see the surrounding areas." Nat Getting Around Nong Khai
Our first activities together will be to orientate you to the local neighbourhood - first on foot and then on your push bikes - to show you where to get money changed, the supermarket, massages, , laundries, restaurants and markets - all the practical stuff. Nong Khai is an easy place to get around on foot, bicycle or Tuk Tuk. A pushbike is included in your retreat cost to give you the freedom to come and go as you like. You can get to lots of different places within just a few blocks of your accommodation without having to negotiate much traffic, or just ride along the promenade beside the Mekong. If the thought of riding a bike raises some trepidation it may help to know that most of the locals ride either bikes or scooters. If you would rather stay off the road you can enjoy a leisurely ride on the promenade that runs alongside the river. For Mary there is no greater joy than an early morning or evening ride along the river with an occasional stop just to sit and watch the river and world go by while enjoying a coconut ice-cream. |
Mutmee Garden
Retreat Location
Nong Khai is located in north east Thailand, just an overnight train trip from Bangkok, on the banks of the mighty MaeKong River. Although it is quite a substantial town, with a custom bridge to Vientiane, the capital of Laos, we will spend most of our time in a corner that attracts yogis from around the world. The Soi (lane) runs directly down to the banks of the Maekong and is home to Mut Mee Guesthouse where we will stay in traditional accommodation. The Pantrix Alternate Centre runs yoga and reiki courses, Silvie is a resident therapist and Aey, owner of the Hornbill Bookshop/Café, will be our guide and provide our Thai cooking demonstrations. Mary has gained much from this little community in the 5 years she has been going to Nong Khai and the aim of this retreat is to share this unique and very special experience. "Mary is a loving, supportive and beautiful person and has so much to give. I cannot recommend her attention to detail, thoughtfulness and genuine care, love of people and her passion highly enough. Her passion, knowledge of the area and people are what made the trip." Nat 2019 
Traditional dancing at the markets
Sculpture Park
The mighty Maekong
Local temples
Our little Soi (lane)
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Yoga & Reiki Courses
One of the main components of the retreat is the opportunity to attend the Pantrix 7-day yoga course, and 4 day Reiki Part 1 course. Pantrix comes from the name of the two founding teachers: Pancho and Beatrix. Very briefly, they have studied yoga for over 35 years, and are both deeply committed to their own sadhana (practice) and sharing the teachings in a way that is accessible to anyone. Pancho also plays a mean bass guitar and Beatrix is the resident Reiki Master and Astrologist. Mary Girishaa has done the introduction to yoga course multiple times and is confident that anyone can benefit from the experience, regardless of how much or how little yoga they have done. In fact, her second time doing this course was just after finishing her 2 year Satyananda Yoga teacher training, and alongside people who had never done any yoga before, it was a life changing experience for everyone. The 7 day Yoga course runs from 7-10am and 3–6pm daily, although the sessions have been known to go a tad over, so don’t watch the clock! Reiki has emerged as a simple, easy to learn technique readily accessible to the average person. The Reiki 1 course is based on a time honoured system of ritualised initiation and prepares the student to channel the healing energy Reiki is famous for, for both self healing and sharing one to one. Spread out over 4 days the course runs from 10.00am-1.00pm. Allow for some practice time in the afternoon. Pantrix also offers daily early morning (6-7am) for students who have completed the 7 Day Intensive and in the afternoon (2- 3pm) meditation sessions that are open to everyone. |
Beatrix, Mary Girishaa & Pancho
The Yoga House
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Ayurveda Immersion
The last component is an Ayurveda and meditation immersion at the Barn Suan Sanctuary located on the outskirts of Nong Khai. The owners, Don and Jeem, have created a space they describe as 'a secluded retreat for friends and like-minded people…a meditative space for the creative soul.' One visit to the sanctuary and Mary knew it was the ideal space to sit with everything you have received in the first 3 weeks. A time to put into digest and put into practice the things you want to take home with you. Purpose built to provide a sanctuary to 'get away from it all' this is the ideal space to sit with and process the experience of the preceding Pantrix course/s. Small traditional huts hidden within a tropical garden surround an infinity shaped path for walking meditations and multiple spaces for sitting in stillness scattered throughout the garden. We will cook and eat together in the common kitchen and dining area and to support the reflective intention of our time here our food will be very simple - mung bean soup/dhal. There is also the opportunity to explore some intermittent fasting and water fasting if you wish. Mouna (measured speech) and karma yoga will also be part of our practice. Maintaining our space by sweeping the meditation path each day with traditional brooms in preparation for a meditation walk…swish…swish…swish; some gardening and preparing our food. This YouTube link will give you a sense of the space and the care Don has taken in the Sanctuary's creation. It also reflects his love of collectables! This video has a German commentary but you’ll get the picture! Don has a cameo at the 5.30 mins mark. Special Bonus Inclusions
Not included but available
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Tranquil Barn Suan
Don & Jeem, our Barn Suan hosts
Sunrise on the Lilly Lake
Your Itinerary * Day 1: Arrive in Bangkok & board overnight train Day 2-6: Settle in, sightseeing, appointments Day 7-13: 7 Day Yoga Course Day 14-15: Sightseeing, appointments, Thai cooking demo, Day 16-19: Reiki 1 Course Day 20-22: Sightseeing, massages, markets Day 23-28: Barn Suan Retreat Day 29-30: Depart Bangkok - overnight flight home * order of events may vary, retreat content won't. |
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Accommodation - all included
Overnight in Sydney The first night of our Adventure together is in at the beautiful Meriton Suites in Mascot with a welcome aboard dinner at a local Indian restaurant. This allows for a more relaxed start to a big day of travelling that begins with a 7.00am shuttle transfer to the airport. Overnight train to Nong Khai This is an unforgettable part of our Adventure. Bedding down in these AC sleeper compartments feel just like being a sleepover and sleep comes easily after all day in the air. There is nothing quite like being gently rocked to sleep and then waking to the sun rising thru the window as the train pulls into the Nong Khai. Mut Mee Guesthouse (21 nights) Mut Mee is an oasis of small huts and rooms set in a tropical garden literally on the banks of the Mekong River. You can watch the river go by as you eat, laze on a hammock with a book, play on the swing, strike up a conversation with a fellow traveler, from all nationalities and walks of life, or just snooze in your chair. Our private building amidst the garden and directly overlooking the Mekong River offers three accommodations options across seven rooms. Each room is beautifully appointed with a private bathroom, AC and fan, cable TV, refrigerator and kettle. Individual characteristics to help you choose your home for 3 weeks are outlined below. The earlier you book the better your choice. A word to the wise - the stairs to the 1st floor are great exercise and better suited if you don't have any mobility issues. Option 1: $6450 Arun - 1st Floor/Front This extra large room has a Double and Single Bed, plus a spectacular balcony overlooking the promenade and Mekong River. It's the pick of the bunch if you are looking to treat yourself with the best. Option 2: $5850 Dharuni - Ground Floor/Front This spacious ground floor room has a Double Bed and a lovely large verandah directly facing the Mekong River. It's the second best room. Option 3: $5,550 Benjawan - 1st Floor/Back This room has Twin Beds and is located towards the back of the building with a private rear facing balcony. Chaba - 1st Floor/Back This room has a Double Bed and is located toward the back of the building with a balcony looking towards the Mekong River. Esarn - Ground Floor/Side This room has a Double Bed and a balcony looking towards the garden and the Mekong River. Farang - Ground Floor/Back This room has Twin beds and a delightful private balcony overlooking a pretty garden. Garuda - Ground Floor/Back This room has a Double Bed and although set back toward the rear of the building has a verandah looking towards the Mekong River. Choose your room when you register. "Mut Mee was my home away from home. The accommodation was outstanding, location to facilities fantastic, but most importantly the community of people we mixed with daily – from the ladies in the kitchen to the regular visitors – it was just like home and was hard to leave." Barn Suan Sanctuary (6 nights) Our own private retreat space in a secluded landscaped garden on the outskirts of Nong Khai with a communal space for cooking and activities, and accommodation in simple traditional huts - some a little more rustic than others. Each hut has it's own bathroom, two have AC and the others have ceiling or bedside fans. |
Mutmee Guesthouse
Barn Suan house
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Food and Meal Budget Suggestions
Meals included in retreat cost are:
Top of the ‘where to eat’ list is the Mut Mee Guesthouse kitchen. Open from 7am to 9pm, it has an extensive menu featuring both Thai and Western dishes. Just outside the kitchen is a book for each guest room. Each time you order a meal you record it in the book and at the end of your stay you pay the bill, and yes, they do accept credit cards. To give you an idea, the more expensive meals (usually something non-Thai) are around $10 and a basic Pad Thai is around $3.00. Mary’s favourite vegetarian restaurants are just a short bike-ride away. Affiliated with local Buddhist temples, there is a wide range of dishes to choose from and they have a genuine smile for everyone! You can eat a huge lunch and also get a takeaway for dinner for $5 -$7. Five mins away is an organic Green Market where you can pick up some staples for your room - limes, ginger, bananas, papaya, pineapple, watermelon, avocadoes etc. MSG is used fairly extensively in the local restaurants and street vendors so the above recommendations are the best options if you want to avoid MSG. And if you want to be more adventurous we can teach you how to ask for no MSG in Thai. Hopefully this will help you work out a food budget. It takes effort to spend more than $15 a day on food and you can certainly spend less, particularly if you patronise the Buddhist vegetarian restaurant mentioned above. |
Favourite vegetarian restaurant
Sprouted Mung Dhal
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Airfares, Transfers & Insurance
The retreat price does not include air travel to and from Bangkok, Thailand.
The programme is based around a Qantas flight arriving in Bangkok in time to catch the overnight express train to Nong Khai.
International Flight details (not included):
Sydney to Bangkok: Thursday 21/1/2027 Qantas QF295 departing 10.20 to arrive 16.10**
Bangkok to Sydney: Thursday 18/2/2027 Qantas QF296 departing 18.00 (Thursday 18th) to arrive 07.35 (Friday 19th)
If you have Qantas FF points return flights are generally available
**Times may vary slightly.
Domestic Transfers (Included):
On arrival in Bangkok we transfer to the main train station for an overnight train ride to Nong Khai.
The homeward bound transfer includes a one hour taxi ride to Udon Thani airport and one hour flight to Bangkok airport before boarding an overnight flight home to arrive in Sydney in time for breakfast.
Please ensure you organise adequate Travel Insurance as soon as you book your fares. This is a requirement for registering.
The retreat price does not include air travel to and from Bangkok, Thailand.
The programme is based around a Qantas flight arriving in Bangkok in time to catch the overnight express train to Nong Khai.
International Flight details (not included):
Sydney to Bangkok: Thursday 21/1/2027 Qantas QF295 departing 10.20 to arrive 16.10**
Bangkok to Sydney: Thursday 18/2/2027 Qantas QF296 departing 18.00 (Thursday 18th) to arrive 07.35 (Friday 19th)
If you have Qantas FF points return flights are generally available
**Times may vary slightly.
Domestic Transfers (Included):
On arrival in Bangkok we transfer to the main train station for an overnight train ride to Nong Khai.
The homeward bound transfer includes a one hour taxi ride to Udon Thani airport and one hour flight to Bangkok airport before boarding an overnight flight home to arrive in Sydney in time for breakfast.
Please ensure you organise adequate Travel Insurance as soon as you book your fares. This is a requirement for registering.