JUNGLEYOGA, PRAIWAN RAFTHOUSE, KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK, THAILAND
2-10 March 2024 I will be holding another very special Jungleyoga lake retreat at Praiwan Rafthouse within Khao Sok National Park, Surat Thani, Thailand.
This unique event has been designed to offer you the most exhilarating and effective retreat, bringing you close to the natural world of this unique primary rainforest environment while you explore and nourish your own ‘true nature.'
Khao Sok Lake is one of the most spectacular destinations in Thailand, if not the world. This yoga holiday not only gives you the opportunity to practice yoga and reconnect with your 'inner being' & the natural world of this stunning national park, but allows you to disconnect from all the usual distractions & offerings of modern day living that we so often take for granted. I regard it as a great privilege to be able to experience this situation while enjoying such a beautiful environment, wonderful local food, daily yoga & like-minded company.
Following many requests to stay longer at Praiwan Rafthouse, this year we will spend 8 nights in this paradise, as always with organisation and care by Jungleyoga www.jungleyoga.com
You will receive a detailed travel, arrival, departure and transfer information letter 3 months prior to the retreat date. See further details below.
Group transfers recommended as they are included in the price. Other airport or island transfers can be arranged on your behalf by Jungleyoga.
PRICE:
58,500 Thai Baht (approximately equivalent to £1,300 / 1,525 euros)
Deposit: 750 euros
Balance in Thai Baht cash on arrival: 30,000 Thai Baht (unless otherwise agreed)
PRICE INCLUDES: 8 NIGHTS SINGLE, DOUBLE OR TWIN ACCOMMODATION (en-suite subject to availability & with total 3,000 TB supplement per en-suite room), two yoga classes a day (one morning and one afternoon off for jungle and lake exploration or rest), all meals, morning arrival and departure group airport and boat transfers to and from the lake retreat venue from & to Suratthani airport. Group arrival transfers to meet Viet Jet or other morning flight Bangkok-Surathani. Group departure transfers in time for Viet Jet or other morning flight departures Surathani-Bangkok. Kayaks, bottles water, unlimited tea and coffee.
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE: Flights; travel insurance; airport transfers from airports other than Suratthani Airport on group transfer, boat transfers if not part of the group; airport transfers on departure from Khao Sok lake if not part of the group transfer to Suratthani Airport; nor, on principal, does it include the National Park entrance fee of 300 baht, or official park ranger payments for our group’s organised raft or boat excursions that you might choose to join while at Khao Sok National Park.
LOCAL CURRENCY
Cash, Thai Baht – Please ensure you have Thai currency before the journey to the lake. There are no cash machines in the national park. Each student will need to carry Thai baht for massages, non-group transfer bus / boat transfer charges, beverages, and personal expenditure and shopping. There is also wonderful craft and clothing shop at Praiwan Rafthouse.
When you have confirmed your booking you will receive, by return, a detailed information letter documenting all travel, transfer and retreat information.
"I'm going to miss hearing all the rich sounds of the rainforest (though I have the CD of it!); the forest is so alive. I will especially miss hearing the gibbons calling every day. It was a fantastic experience with a great bunch of people. Simon, Dick, Beth and all the Thai staff make you feel so welcome that leaving is a bit like leaving home."
Steve Whittam
Other Info +
Local area
LOCAL AREA –The lake offers sensational lake and cliff vistas, snorkelling, kayaking, primary rainforest, extraordinary wildlife including endangered species such as hornbills and gibbons. The pristine moist evergreen forest abounds with wildlife and fascinating plants. The park provides an adventure for botanists, environmentalists, naturalists and anyone interested in exploring plant and wildlife in a rainforest. The mountains in the park are intersected by a range of limestone karsts (tall cliff-like formations, some nearly 1000 metres), leftovers of a coral reef system that stretched across the seas of South-East Asia millions of years ago.
Accommodation
Each hut is simply furnished and contains high quality new mattresses, bed linen and mosquito net. All rooms offer amazing cliff and lake views. En-suite huts available on request, first come first served.
Classes
The yoga classes will take place in the beautiful covered yoga sala, also on the water, but firmly set so that the sala is very stable indeed. You will not find a more stunning place to practice your yoga.
Catering
You will enjoy amazing Thai food featuring freshwater lake fish and rainforest grown vegetables.
Electricity
This is provided by a small generator for certain times of the evening. There is limited phone signal at the lake, although if you are desperate to make a phone call, a boat or kayak ride would take you to an area of the lake where you would find a signal (boat costs incurred). There is no wifi access ... fortunately.
Price includes
Bus & boat transfers from Surathani airport (URT) to the Wildlife Sanctuary (only if you are able to fit in with group timings); group boat transfer across the lake; seven nights single accommodation (double/twin is available if preferred); yoga classes; breakfast/lunch/dinner, kayaks, jungle hikes, cave explorations and raft rides. Return boat and bus transfers to Surathani airport. (All other chosen destinations on departure day can be arranged with request in advance of arrivals day. Supplements will be payable for bus transfers to locations other than Surathani airport).
Price does not include
Flights; travel insurance; airport transfers from airports other than Suratthani Airport on group transfer, boat transfers if not part of the group; airport transfers on departure from Khao Sok lake if not part of the group transfer to Suratthani Airport; nor, on principal, does it include the National Park entrance fee of 400 baht.
Travel +
Most international flights to Thailand come into Bangkok or Phuket, and you would need to take an internal flight to Surat Thani Airport from Bangkok, or road transfer from Phuket (about 2.5 - 3 hours).
Viet Jet are now the only airline who fly direct Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Suratthani (URT) (Thai Smile no longer service this route).
The inclusive ‘group’ transfers are based around the morning arrival and departure times of the VietJet BKK-URT flights. Currently 11:15am arrival 2 March / 11:45am departure 10 March
Here is a link:
Air Asia, Nok Air, & Lion Air offer flights from Bangkok Don Muang Airport (DMK) to Surat Thani (URT)
We recommend the morning Viet Jet flights flights BKK-URT to meet with the group transfer.
Your transfers are included to work with the timings for the morning arrival and departure VietJet flight times. If you travel on other airlines please arrive in time to join the group transfers.
Details of all flights can be found on the airline websites.
All transfers are included in the price if you are there for the group transfer buses at Surat Thani Airport and or PTT meeting point.
You can of course make your own way to the lake for the transfer boats, or complete the entire journey on your own from the pier at Ratchaprapha Dam.
From Surat Thani, Krabi or Phuket you head for the nearest town called Baan Takun on Highway 401, where you can find the turnoff to the the Ratchaprapha Dam. Find your way to the pier at the Ratchaprapha Dam (spellings vary and it's also known as Chiew Laan by locals) from where you can get a boat to Praiwan Rafthouse.
Important +
Information for your Yoga holiday
Personal & Travel Insurance – Simon does not accept responsibility for your personal property or for personal injury on this yoga retreat. It is a condition of attendance that each student has full & up-to-date travel / health and activity holiday insurance for the period of the yoga holiday & related travel.
Vaccinations – It is each student's personal decision as to whether you undertake vaccination for your visit to Thailand
Although many people choose not to have vaccinations, there are certain recommendations that have been advertised by some travel companies / relevant authorities, which include:
Hepatitis A / malaria / diphtheria, tetanus & polio (usually one vaccination)
Some authorities also suggest typhoid, tuberculosis, rabies, hepatitis B and Japanese B encephalitis.
- Hepatitis A / malaria / diphtheria, tetanus & polio (usually one vaccination)
- Some authorities also suggest typhoid, tuberculosis, rabies, hepatitis B and Japanese B encephalitis.
- These are all vaccinations that some people take as homeopathic remedies.
Local currency
Cash, Thai Baht – Please ensure you have Thai currency before the journey to the lake. There are no cash machines in the national park. Each student will need to carry Thai baht for massages, non-group transfer bus / boat transfer charges, beverages, and personal expenditure and shopping. There is also wonderful craft and clothing shop at Praiwan Rafthouse.
Weather
March weather is gorgeously hot, while this is also usually a dry period ... my favourite time of year at the lake. Expect warm weather throughout your holiday, with hot periods in the middle of the day, all tempered by lake breezes and the inviting water that surrounds us. There is a possibility of an occasional tropical rain shower. We are in primary rainforest after all.
What to bring
Pack light. You will need very little....so no excess baggage charges!
Important items to bring
- personal yoga mat (used mats are available at the lake)
- yoga strap
- yoga towel
- bathing towel (a thai style towel is provided)
- biodegradable hair & body wash products (no chemical products to be brought into the lake)
- sun hat
- torch & spare batteries
- sunblock
- small backpack for expeditions
- suitable shoes for jungle walking and bamboo walkways
Please note: While we are in Thailand, please respect the local customs regarding clothing. Absolutely no nudity or topless bathing until you are appropriately distanced from the venue, or any other building where there are Thai nationals. Think long sleeves for extended periods in the sun & lengthy kayaking around the lake.
For more information, images and sounds of the jungle visit: www.jungleyoga.com