Thailand Yoga Retreat: Chiang Mai Culture & Adventure Tour 2025

Only 4 spots left — next Thailand yoga retreat won’t happen again until 2027!

If you’re looking for a transformational experience in 2025, our Thailand yoga retreat near Chiang Mai is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. This is not just a vacation—it’s a journey into the healing traditions of yoga, Thai culture, nature, and personal growth. Hosted at the beautiful Mala Dhara Eco Resort just outside of Chiang Mai, this retreat blends daily yoga, cultural immersion, and unforgettable adventures. This is all in a container that is completely sober, plant-based, and trauma informed.s.

Whether you’re on a healing path, expanding your yoga practice, or simply ready for a change of scenery, this Chiang Mai yoga retreat in 2025 offers something special. And with just four spots remaining, now is the time to commit to a week that could shift the course of your life.

Why Join a Thailand Retreat in 2025?

Thailand, known as the “Land of Smiles,” is famous for its warm hospitality, deep spiritual roots, and stunning natural beauty. Northern Thailand in particular offers a quieter, more culturally rich experience. The city of Chiang Mai is surrounded by mountains, rice paddies, and sacred temples—it’s the perfect backdrop for both reflection and adventure.

We’ve carefully designed this Thailand retreat to give you a genuine experience of this beautiful region while supporting your physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

This retreat is lucky enough to be in Chiang Mai during Loy Krathong and Yi Peng, This annual lantern release festival, typically held in November, is one of the most beautiful and spiritual events in all of Thailand. During Yi Peng, thousands of paper lanterns (called khom loi) are released into the night sky, symbolizing the letting go of negativity, worry, and past mistakes. The sky fills with glowing orbs, creating an unforgettable, dreamlike scene. At the same time, during Loy Krathong, locals float candlelit offerings on rivers and lakes to honor the water goddess and release emotional burdens. If your Thailand retreat happens to line up with this time, participating in the Chiang Mai lantern festival is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that embodies the themes of renewal and inner peace we explore throughout the retreat.

Where You’ll Stay on this Chiang Mai Yoga Retreat: Mala Dhara Eco Resort

Located just 30 minutes outside of Chiang Mai, Mala Dhara Eco Resort is a peaceful sanctuary surrounded by rice fields and greenery. This eco-conscious retreat center is built with natural materials and features sustainable, creatively designed villas—including one charming space called the Hobbit Villa (yes, really!).

Mala Dhara Eco Resort offers:

Two yoga shalas (one outdoor with mountain views, one indoor with AC)

Organic farm-to-table Thai food (plant-based)

A saltwater pool and herbal steam bath

Onsite permaculture gardens and sustainability initiatives

Plant-based Thai cuisine prepared by local staff. It’s sometimes hard to find vegan food in Thailand, but they prepare the best food options at Mala Dhara. You can feel free to eat normal Thai food when we are out on adventure days.

This will be our third time returning to Mala Dhara, and we can’t wait to share its magic with you.

Trauma-informed yoga retreat with Carrie Hoffman

You’ll begin each day with morning meditation and a dynamic yoga practice led by Carrie, an experienced and trauma-informed yoga teacher. The yoga is suitable for all levels, from total beginners to longtime practitioners, and offers a supportive, nonjudgmental space for growth.

We use both the open-air shala and the indoor space, depending on the weather. After a full day of exploring, there are often gentle evening classes like yin or restorative yoga to help you wind down.

This retreat is about inner and outer exploration. You’ll have time to reflect, integrate, and reconnect with what really matters to you.

Culture & Connection on a Yoga Retreat in Chiang Mai

We’ve lived in Thailand and have spent years exploring the country. That means we’re not just offering the tourist version of a Thailand yoga retreat—we’ve handpicked activities and excursions that reflect the deeper soul of the region.

Here’s a taste of what’s included:

✦ Buddhist Monk Chat
We’ll visit a local temple in Chiang Mai to sit down with a Thai Buddhist monk. This is your chance to learn about Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and mindfulness directly from someone who lives it daily. You can ask questions and explore how these teachings might relate to your own life.

✦ Sacred Sak Yant Tattoos (Optional)
For those who feel called, we’ve arranged an optional experience with a sak yant master (Ajarn). These ancient tattoos are not just body art—they are blessings, designed specifically for you based on your energy and intentions. They’re applied using a traditional bamboo method with natural ink. While the process can be intense, many people describe it as one of the most meaningful parts of the retreat. Check out our YouTube video about our first Sak Yant experience in Thailand.

✦ Night Markets, Temples & Vegan Northern Thai Cuisine
We’ll explore Chiang Mai’s vibrant night markets and taste authentic Northern Thai dishes. Our excursions also include visits to lesser-known temples and spiritual landmarks that reflect the local culture. A vegan cooking class with a local Thai farmer is an optional add-on as well!

This unique, cultural excursion can provide you a little bit of insight as to what you can expect on our adventures together in Thailand. Not everyone offering a Thailand yoga retreat has actually spent time living in Thailand and learning the culture deeply! Your leaders Zach and Carrie will make sure you are traveling in a way that uplifts and respects local traditions and Thai culture.

This retreat offers opportunities for hiking adventures and lots of exploring!

Zach getting his first Sak Yant tattoo in 2018.

Nature Adventures around Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand

This isn’t a retreat where you’ll stay cooped up inside. Northern Thailand is filled with waterfalls, caves, and lush hiking trails, and we plan to experience as much of it as we can together.

✦ Elephant Nature Park
A highlight of this retreat is a full-day visit to Elephant Nature Park, one of the most respected ethical elephant sanctuaries in Asia. This sanctuary was founded by animal rights activist Lek Chailert, who has spent decades rescuing elephants from abusive situations like trekking camps and circuses.

At the park, you’ll get the rare opportunity to walk alongside these gentle giants and learn their stories. No riding, no tricks—just respectful connection. It’s a powerful, eye-opening experience and often one of the most memorable parts of our Thailand retreat.

Enjoy this documentary about the creation of Elephant Nature Park called Love & Bananas.

✦ Hikes, Waterfalls, and Caves
We’ll also spend time in nature exploring caves, swimming in waterfalls, and hiking through jungle landscapes. One day is dedicated to the Boa Thong waterfalls, known as the Sticky Waterfalls. You climb up through the waterfalls from the bottom, with the minerals allowing your feet to stick right to the waterfall as you walk up it. It’s truly a unique and once-in-a-lifetime outdoor adventure! Here is a video we made about the Bua Thong Sticky Waterfalls.

A Sober Thailand Yoga Retreat

This is a 100% alcohol-free Thailand retreat, designed to support clarity, connection, and healing. You don’t have to be in recovery to join us, but we do ask that all participants commit to staying substance-free for the entire retreat.

We believe that everyone is recovering from something—whether it’s addiction, stress, burnout, trauma, or the general disconnection of modern life. Our Thailand sober retreat provides a supportive, open space where people can show up exactly as they are, without pressure or judgment. Carrie’s trauma-informed yoga classes are designed to create spaces that are safe for many types of healing.

You’ll be part of a group of like-minded humans who are committed to growth, compassion, and living life more intentionally. While there are no formal recovery meetings, many guests find the connections and conversations on our retreats to be deeply healing.

What Makes This Retreat Different?

There are a lot of yoga retreats out there, but not all are created equal. Here’s what sets this one apart:

We’ve actually lived in Thailand and have deep relationships with the people and places we visit.

Our Chiang Mai yoga retreat is grounded in authentic yoga philosophy and local Thai Buddhist tradition, not just fitness or Instagram moments.

It’s a trauma-informed and sober retreat, offering a clear, safe space for healing and growth.

We keep the group small to ensure a personal, connected experience.

This is not a cookie-cutter package but a heartfelt offering built from years of experience, passion, and purpose. We take you to OUR FAVORITE PLACES that many tourists don’t even know about.

Join Us in 2025

This Thailand yoga retreat is happening in November 2025, and it will be our last retreat in Thailand until at least 2027. If you’re feeling the pull, don’t wait. With only 4 spots remaining, this experience is almost full.

Let 2025 be the year you say yes to adventure, healing, and meaningful connection. Come to Thailand, breathe deeply, move your body, connect with a new community, and walk away with memories that will stay with you forever.

Ready to reserve your spot? This retreat will sell out. There are spots available now because of cancellations. Not sure if you can afford this retreat? Check out our scholarships page to see if you qualify!