Chiang Mai Meditation courses
Meditation retreats and courses in Chiang Mai, from temple stays to structured vipassana programmes.
Chiang Mai and its surrounding forest temples are among the finest places in Thailand to learn meditation, offering everything from drop-in sessions and monk chats to intensive multi-day vipassana retreats. Many are run by working monasteries in serene hillside settings.
Courses suit complete beginners as well as experienced practitioners, and most ask only for a modest donation. It is a profound way to slow down and experience the region’s living Buddhist culture.
Where to Learn to Meditate#
Many Western travellers are curious about Buddhism, and there is no better place to explore Buddhist meditation than at a Thai temple. Before signing up, however, consider carefully whether you are ready to commit, as there is inevitably a sense of disappointment if you find you cannot see a course through to the end.
Fortunately there is a wide range of options, from a day or two of practice to a full month of intensive vipassana (insight) meditation. On the longer courses you will observe the basic precepts of Buddhist practice, which include no killing, no stealing, no lying, no sex, no intoxicants, no entertainment, no soft beds and no food after midday.
There is no charge for these courses, as the Dhamma is always given freely, but you are expected to make a donation to the temple to cover the cost of your food and lodging.
The most demanding course in Chiang Mai is at Wat Ram Poeng, a forest monastery where the introductory programme for beginners lasts around 26 days of silent, disciplined practice. Shorter retreats, including overnight stays on the slopes of Doi Suthep, are organised by the Buddhist university at Wat Suan Dok and suit those with less time.
If you are interested but unsure which course is right for you, drop in on one of the relaxed ‘monk chat’ sessions held at Wat Suan Dok and Wat Chedi Luang. These informal conversations are a friendly way to ask the monks what to expect and to learn more about the region’s living Buddhist culture before you begin.