Self-discovery and personal development are trends I can get on board with. Doing things to help you manage your mental health and life are always cool! Add in a stunning destination with a whole load of experts around you – SIGN ME UP!
Chiang Mai is a dreamy setting to spend a retreat learning something new and developing new skills. Not only is it a tropical paradise, it has loads of things to see and do!
Joining a yoga retreat in Chiang Mai will allow you to better yourself and explore new landscapes. You might not be a pro-yogi yet, but once you’re finished with your retreat, you’ll definitely have the yoga bug 😉
Get ready for some serious inspo, here are all the best yoga retreats in Chiang Mai!
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
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Why Should You Consider a Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai?
Retreats can be seriously life-changing experiences. Be it for a few days or full weeks, yoga retreats in Chiang Mai will get you out of your day-to-day life and allow you to focus totally on yourself.
You can disconnect from hustle culture and let go of the stress you might not even realise you are holding onto. Admittedly, letting go can appear a little daunting, but retreat hosts are right there to support you and ensure you have everything you need to feel comfortable in your vulnerability. Exploring Thailand and delving into a world of wellness will be a seriously unforgettable time.
Photo: Roaming Ralph
It is likely your retreat will include some trips and adventures around the city. Filled with history and incredible culture, enjoying the sights of Chiang Mai will add a special touch to your visit.
I’ve been on many retreats myself and every experience is completely different from the last. Yoga retreats are the perfect balance of mind, body, and soul work.
Enjoy stretching your body to its limits, working through mind blocks in meditation sessions, and making amazing friendships with others in the group. Retreats are also an amazing way to dive into the world of slow travel, spending an extended period in one spot.
What Can You Expect From a Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai?
If you are heading off on a yoga retreat, you likely have some kind of yoga experience, but even if you don’t you can still join in! All of the yoga retreats in Chiang Mai below welcome beginners.
As soon as you step foot on a retreat you will have supportive retreat hosts on hand to ensure you have the most beneficial and worthwhile experience. Your days will be spent in yoga sessions and deep in meditation, taking part in healing ceremonies, and visiting the must-see sights of Chiang Mai on excursions.
When you arrive the other guests will be strangers, but once you’re finished they will be lifelong friends. After adventures and supporting each other through difficult classes, they will quickly feel like family.
Now for my favourite part, the food. It’s not uncommon for yoga retreats to have a fully vegan menu. Not only are you working your body, you will be taking care of it from the inside out. Think of it as a detox, but still delicious!
How to Choose the Right Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai for You?
Once you’ve been on a retreat or two you will have an idea of what to look for. You might already have an idea in mind of the kind of place you want to stay, the experience you want to have, and the types of yoga you want to learn. That’s a fantastic way to start your search for a Thai yoga retreat!
However, if you need a little helping hand with what to keep an eye out for, that’s why I’m here.
Photo: @amandaadraper
On some of the retreats, the sole focus will be yoga and teaching all the history, dynamics, and benefits of each pose, while other retreats focus on wellness as a whole including many other different kinds of practices and activities.
Some retreats may have a jam-packed itinerary to enjoy your Chiang Mai trip, but others may just offer up some free time for you to head out and explore as you wish. It all depends on the kind of experience and retreat you are after.
Location
The location can be the make-or-break factor for a retreat.
If you’re seeking solitude and nature, you don’t want to end up at a retreat in the middle of the city, and vice versa. Explorers might want to spend their free time visiting temples and restaurants, not hidden away in the hillsides.
Enjoy a jam-packed Chiang Mai itinerary featuring waterfall hikes, tourist hotspots, and all the magic the city has to offer.
Practices
There are a lot of different aspects that go into a yoga retreat. Each different one has its own style, focus, and intention. The practices taught will also vary from option to option.
Let’s start off with yoga styles such as Vinyasa yoga, Power yoga, and general yoga. Each yoga guru has their own style and preference to teach, and their own way of teaching. You will learn valuable lessons from the talented, experienced yogis who run these sought-after retreats.
You may also come across some more wellness-inspired practices on these retreats. This will usually include meditation, cacaos ceremonies, and breathwork.
While spending lots of time in nature, you will take part in grounding practices, swimming in open lakes, and ceremonies that will open your mind.
Photo: Sasha Savinov
All of these retreats focus on improving your physical, emotional, and spiritual energy. While at first, they may seem completely out of your comfort zone, you may be impressed by how quickly they can have an impact on your well-being.
Price
Chiang Mai yoga retreats are fairly affordable. Look at it as an investment into your well-being.
Its worth having a budget in mind, but if you find your dream retreat that’s a little over, I say take the risk – you won’t regret spending the extra money in the long run.
If you are on a tight budget, cheap retreats won’t mean you need to miss out. The affordable options are just as intensive and impactful, but perhaps with fewer excursions and lush luxurious digs.
Perks
Perks are those little extras that will draw you to one retreat over the other – depending on your style of course.
These perks can look like extra excursions around the best places in Chiang Mai or additional services like massages and meals.
While you don’t have to add these perks to your retreat package, indulging in a massage while on a yoga retreat is a great way to detox and relax your muscles.
Duration
Yoga retreats in Chiang Mai can range from two days up to ten days!
It goes without saying that the longer the retreats are, the more time that you have for your spiritual enlightening. Plus, the longer you’re in Chiang Mai, the more of it you’ll get to see.
That being said, if you only have the time or budget for a shorter retreat, you will still get to have an unforgettable time. I’ve been on some life-changing three-day retreats and met some of my best, life-long friends on five-day retreats.
The Top 10 Yoga Retreats in Chiang Mai
That’s all the details out of the way, now it’s time to show you the actual yoga retreats in Chiang Mai!
6 Day Meditation and Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai – Best Overall Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai
For people who want to revitalize and recharge, this retreat is the full package.
It promises a journey to create a sense of inner calm. You will be introduced to Buddhist meditations that are thought to increase happiness, and yoga flows that diminish stress. When you aren’t twisting and stretching, there will be time to relax and enjoy the magnificent setting of where you are staying in Chiang Mai.
Join a traditional Thai dessert cooking class, and explore on a TukTuk ride to some of the nearby ancient temples where you can pray for good luck.
You’ll be able to re-energise every day on the feasts of vegan food.
4-Day Yoga & Meditation Retreat – Affordable Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai
A good yoga retreat in Chiang Mai doesn’t need to be expensive. On this affordable option, you will have four days of being taught all different kinds of yoga, be guided through meditations, and take part in group activities.
There is a lot to enjoy around the nearby area like bathing in hot springs and exploring the stunning, rural countryside. For those who are on a budget backpacking adventure and want something special, this is a great spot!
26 Day 200 Hour Hatha Vinyasa TTC & Transformation – Long Stay Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai
At this yoga and fitness retreat in Thailand, you will get the chance to totally focus on you and your development. Forget your daily worries and spend your time emmersing in learning and wellness practices in a beautiful setting.
Your mornings will be filled with yoga and fitness classes, while in the evening you can head to Chiang Mai’s night bazaar market for souvenirs and local delicacies. The afternoons are where you learn and develop into a yoga teacher yourself, going much deeper into the practice then you have ever before.
Fuelled by fresh local fruits and the stunning surroundings, you can spend your downtime basking in the magic of the retreat. And with those sleepy teas at night, you’ll be knocked right out.
7 Day “Journey to Freedom” Women Embodiment Retreat – Women’s Retreat in Chiang Mai
How would you like to spend seven days disconnecting from the world, relaxing, and rejuvenating yourself in a peaceful Thai yoga retreat with a small group of like-minded women?
Spend time crafting a more purposeful, and confident you through authenticity and empowerment on this women’s retreat.
Available to women of all yoga levels, this unique program includes Ayurveda, Ashtanga, General Yoga, Hatha, Tantra, Vipassana, Yin, Vinyasa and Restorative Yoga. The retreat aims to restore your inner peace and discover freedom from burnouts.
Treat your eyes to stunning sights of unspoiled mountains and rice fields while reconnecting with your femininity and doing your asanas. Additionally, you can go on a hiking trip, take a dip in the saltwater swimming pool, and pamper yourself with Thai and reflexology massages.
Welcome in the year surrounded by a group of like-minded female solo travelers, taking part in yoga classes, spiritual ceremonies, and lots of cool activities.
4 Days Yoga & Meditation Retreat – Best Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai for Friends
Set in a traditional Northern Thai village, Suan Sati is in one of the few places still untouched by tourism with a vibe that beckons you to let your hair down and relax.
Take a little time off to find your balance and reset with daily morning yoga sessions and meditation. Build strength and flexibility and practice mindfulness.
Food served throughout the retreat is 100% plant-based and features mostly Thai food with sprinkles of Western favorites. Vegetables used are locally grown and the day starts with a nourishing breakfast that includes pancakes, porridge, DIY smoothie bowls, and waffles.
Walk away from this Chiang Mai yoga retreat refreshed, relaxed, and feeling like a completely new person.
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View on Booking.com7-Day Immersive Meditation & Yoga Retreat – Best Yoga Retreat for Solo Travelers
Joining a retreat while solo traveling is a great way to blow off some of the stress of travel and meet some like-minded travel buddies.
I think it’s okay to admit that solo traveling isn’t always sunshine and roses, sometimes the sense of community is lost when traveling alone.
This yoga retreat in Chiang Mai is a wonderful opportunity to meet new people, get to know more about Thai culture and heal your body through both yoga and meditation.
You can learn Power yoga, Vinyasa yoga, and Therapeutic yoga – which can help you to build emotional strength. As you know, mental resilience is very much needed as a solo traveler!
5 Day Revitalizing Yoga & Massage Retreat – Luxury Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai
Taking place in beautiful Away Chiang Mai Thapae Resort in the foothills of Chang Mai, this retreat is located within an amazing villa making a tranquil setting for a yoga deep dive.
Promising to be a ‘transformative odyssey‘ not just your regular vacation, you can nourish your soul through community, nature, yoga, and luxury massage treatments in the spa.
The highlight of this retreat is the ability to revitalize your body and recharge your energy on this escape from the daily grind. From spa treatments to creative tasks, this retreat is designed to overcome “office syndrome”.
4-Day Yoga Sound Healing Retreat – Most Beautiful Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai
If you’re looking to stay in a beautiful place to connect with your true self and deepen your yoga practice, this is the retreat for you.
The place you stay is super luxe and beautiful, a perfect place to unwind and relax after a day of classes and exploring the city.
Nourish your body each day with a fresh vegan diet, stretch your muscles in yoga sessions, and clear your mind in sound healing ceremonies.
4-Day Mindfulness Meditation & Yoga – Best Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai for Couples
Heading to a yoga retreat in Chiang Mai with your loved one is a great way to reconnect, try something new together, and explore a new place. This quaint and homey retreat is perfect for joining together, developing your meditation skills, and taking part in yoga classes.
The rooms are comfortable and cozy, with all the amenities you need to relax. The days are filled with nature, mindfulness, and calming yoga practices.
If you’re a traveling couple, take a chance, and try out this retreat. You’ll have a blast!
5 Day Forest Bathing Retreat – Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai in the Mountains
Have you heard of forest bathing? This doesn’t mean that you take a bath in the woods, instead, it means that you learn to use all of your senses to experience and enjoy a natural space.
This is a fairly new idea with a long history and has been shown to have a number of different benefits for your mind and your body. It’s also a great way to connect with the spirituality of the natural world.
At this retreat, you’ll have five days to bathe in the forest around you. The practices are simple but profound. You’ll learn to be mindful of the natural world and your place in it, which can help to reduce stress, connect you to the world, improve your sleep, and start to understand the pivotal role that the natural world plays in your health.
Don’t forget travel insurance
You’re treating yourself to a great retreat, so why not treat yourself to some solid Thailand insurance? Although it’s often as chill as it gets, there’s always a chance that stuff goes wrong. Protect yourself, buddy!
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Final Thoughts on Yoga Retreats in Chiang Mai
One of my FAVE pastimes is to look around at my dream retreats, and these yoga retreats in Chiang Mai are totally dreamy.
The 5-Day Recharging Retreat is my favorite of the bunch, it’s great value for money and the perfect amount of time to be able to enjoy the area while you take part in classes. From traditional Buddhist meditations, expert yoga classes, and visiting local temples, this retreat experience will be one to remember.
Image: Nic Hilditch-Short
- If you are a chill goddess, check out these EPIC yoga retreats in Thailand.
- Or, experience serenity in one of these Thai meditation retreats.
- Fit crew, we’ve got the scoop! Uncover Thailand’s top fitness retreats with our guide.
- Don’t forget to pack your favorite travel yoga mat!
- And bring your travel camera to capture the breathtaking views Thailand has to offer!
- Let’s get you ready for your next destination with our Southeast Asia backpacking guide.
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