Insight Vipassana Silent Meditation Retreat is a golden opportunity to meet your true nature, cultivate inner peace, conscious action and mindful thought.

Vipassana is a profound meditative practice that develops ’clear-seeing insight’ into the nature of intentions and conditioning, and leads to letting go of selfish attachments, negative habits, harmful views and results in freedom.

Dive into an ancient method of meditation - pristinely simple in principle and profoundly transformative in application.

Live in silence for a few days in a picturesque natural location with clean, fresh air amidst the tropical scenery. Give yourself a digital detox: turn off the phone and take a break from the information flow and endless affairs and tasks. Establish a healthy daily routine and diet in harmony with nature and the sun's cycles. Get better: nourish your body with a healthy, nutritious plant-based diet, prepared with love, with many vegetables, herbs and fruits grown organically on the island. Slow down: immerse yourself into plenty of quality, distraction-free time to listen to your inner voice and reflect on your life.

The program of the retreat will include sitting mindfulness meditation as well as dynamic walking meditation practice. Silence is observed for 5 full days. Daily Hatha yoga asana supports the body in its mental and emotional endeavours, unlocking bodily blocks and releasing tension.

Use this time of solitude, supported by your conscious community and expert facilitators, to devote yourself to intense practice, deep learning, and a profound reset.

Carefully curated ancient practices, held within the dedicated retreat centre at the spiritual heart of Koh Phangan, will enable you to shed outer layers of stress and strife, revealing your pure nature within.

This retreat offers a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in transformative practice, surrounded by the rolling beauty of one of the world’s most stunning natural settings. Held in a purpose-built, high-end meditation centre and supported by experienced teachers and a dedicated team, it provides the perfect environment for deep inner work and renewal.

The Vipassana technique is a meditation of observation, awareness and wisdom. It is an ancient form of meditation which has been passed on through monastery lineages for thousands of years. It is one of the most simple, but most profound methods of meditation to be found.

There are a few different ways of teaching this technique.  On this retreat, we will be following the teaching style practiced in some of the oldest monasteries in the world, by including dynamic walking meditation in addition to seated postures, to help inform the Vipassana practice. We will also be incorporating daily yoga sessions, specifically designed to prepare the body for sitting in meditation - building flexibility and strength so you can focus on your meditation without being distracted by too much physical discomfort.

The Vipassana method comes directly from the Satipatthana Sutta - The Foundations of Mindfulness -  a discourse attributed directly to the Buddha. It is a universal technique which does not come with any pre-requisite requirement of any religious or spiritual allegiance. On the retreat there are no rituals, ceremonies or required reading of religious literature. It is a beautiful and transformative technique which can be practiced by those of any religion, without confliction, and practiced by those with no religion at all. Whatever form your spirituality takes and to whatever degree, there is room to apply this technique and feel the benefit.

All levels of practitioner are welcome - if you have never meditated or done yoga before you will be introduced to the fundamental technique which underlies all others. Experienced meditators will find sincere practice in gorgeous surroundings, enabling states of deep consciousness.

Essentially, Vipassana mindfulness meditation is a system of exercises designed to train the mind, just as the gym is designed to train the body. We learn to see clearly - reality as it is without delusions that fog the mind. 

The practice of mindfulness calms the mind, improves concentration, develops memory and attention, and develops the skill of awareness and presence in the moment of now. 

Coming on a retreat like this can facilitate:

• Helping to let go of the burden of regrets about the past, worries, negative emotions

• The cultivation of an equal, objective and impartial attitude to what is happening

• Developed emotional intelligence, empathy and compassion for oneself and others

• Reduced stress and anxiety levels

• Fewer fears and obsessive or compulsive thoughts

• A clear and calm mind

• Improved awareness and consciousness of the body

• Developed presence in the moment and attentiveness to everyday activities

• Lessening of identifying with emotional states

• Less habitual and mindless reactivity to your environment

• Cultivation of patience and thoughtfulness of action

• Greater acceptance of life in its entirety and acceptance of one’s own life

The cost of participation in the retreat consists of two parts:

1 - organisational fee of THB ฿10,000 (≈£235) - to cover the basic price of accommodation and food for the participant.

2 — donation — for the retreat program itself.

It is important for Vipassana to be offered for donation, and not provided to generate private financial gain. This is the purest and most karmically beneficial path. The donation aspect allows both the organisers and the participants to show pure and sublime intentions.

As organisers and teachers of the retreat, we offer the teaching in the spirit of selfless service. Giving the gift of this meditation is a beautiful thing, and one we are honoured to have the opportunity to facilitate. There is great bliss in bringing this knowledge to others, purely for the benefit of each individual and for humanity as a whole.

As participants in the retreat, there is the opportunity to touch knowledge without a consumerist expectation. As only the basic costs have been covered, going into the retreat the expectation of input from the organisers is only to provide this basic service, and then the exchange is equalised. Whatever occurs above that is at the discretion of the participant. It means that you yourself, based on the results of the retreat, have the right to evaluate how valuable the experience was for you and show adequate generosity for yourself so as not to devalue your experience.

There will be opportunity for you to make whatever donation you feel moved to give at the end of the retreat.

We will be eating fresh, locally grown plant based meals lovingly prepared according to Thai cuisine.

We will mainly use a palette of sattvic ingredients to ensure that your food supports your yoga, mediation and cleansing practices, leaving you feeling nourished, balanced and strong.

One of the precepts laid down in the sutras for this style of retreat is to eat lightly and refrain from eating after midday.

Therefore on the retreat, we will be serving breakfast and lunch, with fruits and a wholesome warming drink served in the evening.

Accommodation is offered in cosy and cool wooden huts, each featuring two fully equipped sleeping spaces with comfortable mattresses, high-quality bed linen, duvets, pillows, and fresh towels. Each hut is set up with two beds, and is available to book as shared accommodation, or for your private occupation. Any shared cabins will be allocated according to the same gender.

Please note that on this retreat in particular, sharing accommodation between partners or friends is not permitted. We do this in effort to give every participant the best chance of succeeding with the precept of noble silence, and to reduce the risk of disturbance to others.

This retreat is free from drugs, alcohol or intoxicants which cloud the purity of mind.

Our retreat takes place in a secluded and serene Indriya Retreat, a new Dhamma and Meditation Centre established to take the opportunities of practicing Vipassana meditation to international travellers.

We are located in the jungle off ‘Coconut Lane’, near the village of Srithanu on the island of Koh Phangan. Situated along a small stream and nestled amongst established fruit trees and tropical plants, the 2.5-acre (one hectare) site is secluded and peaceful. The meditation centre serves spiritual seekers arriving on the island in search of the authentic insight Vipassana silent retreat and Buddha’s Teaching.

This residential retreat is conducted in English. Everyone is welcome to experience the profound Buddhist meditation techniques and inspiring teachings preserved in the monasteries of S.E. Asia in this 7-day meditation retreat. The Indriya Vipassana centre is built to high standards aesthetically and functionally, providing elegant, comfortable and modern accommodation huts to serve lay meditators from around the world.

Surrounded by lush green jungles with coconut trees in the heart of the tropical paradise of Koh Phangan with astounding biodiversity and the glistening waters, this unique location is easy to get to, yet feels deeply held in wild nature.

Indriya Retreat Centre is nestled on the serene shores of Koh Phangan near Sri Thanu village, surrounded by lush tropical jungle and overlooking the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Just a short ferry ride from Koh Samui or Surat Thani, it is easily accessible while still feeling like a world away. Set amidst coconut groves and gentle sea breezes, Indriya offers the perfect balance of seclusion and connection an island sanctuary where peace, nature, and wellbeing flow together effortlessly.

Surround yourself with a perfect set up for the deep spiritual work, stunning scenery, magical atmosphere, wonderful wildlife & your community.

Indriya Vipassana Centre is located on the island of Koh Phangan, an island in the Gulf of Thailand in the south east of the country. The retreat centre is on Coconut Lane in Sri Thanu village. Address: 50/8-9 Moo 1, Koh Phangan, Koh Phangan, Suratthani, 84280 Thailand

Tourist routes across the country are well established in Thailand. Booking can be done online, with etickets, and is straightforward, well managed and good value for money. We recommend flying into Bangkok, and then getting either an internal flight, overnight train or coach down to the south, then bus transfer + ferry to Koh Phangan. Combined bus and ferry tickets are easily purchased online or at transit terminals where your transfers between trains/coaches/internal aiports are managed from one transport to another to get you to your destination.

The best websites to search for internal Thailand travel and book your tickets are www.12go.aisa or www.baolau.com.

By Air: Bangkok - Surat Thani or Koh Samui - Koh Phangan

Travelling from the UK requires you to fly into Bangkok, and then take an internal flight from there to either Koh Samui or Surat Thani. The closest airport is on the neighbouring island Koh Samui (USM), which is a 30 minute ferry ride from Koh Phangan. You can also fly into Surat Thani airport (URT) which is a 2.5hr bus ride then a 2-4hr ferry ride to Koh Phangan, depending on the service. From either airport you can purchase a combined bus transfer + ferry ticket to Koh Phangan. These tickets can also be bought online on the above websites.

By Train/Coach: Bangkok - Surat Thani - Koh Phangan

One you are in Bangkok, you can catch a train from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal down to Surat Thani. Alternatively, coaches from Bangkok to Surat Thani run from Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai), Mochit (Northern Bus Terminal), and Khao San Road area.

Both trains and coaches take around 10-12 hours, and the most popular and direct way to do this journey is overnight. The trains, and the higher grade coaches are comfortably equipped with beds. Make sure you buy your train or coach tickets for the Bangkok to Surat Thani journey at least a month in advance, as places fill up quickly. These can be purchased from 12go or baulou.

Once at Surat Thani, you can get combined bus transfer + ferry tickets to Koh Phangan from your arrival terminal. You can also purchase these tickets online on the above given websites.

By Car

When you arrive on Koh Phangan there will be taxis waiting as you get off the ferry to take you to wherever you need to go. Give the drivers the address given above. If you would like to contact a taxi service directly, We recommend: Large car taxi: @taxi_pangan | Taxi from Thong Sala Pier directly to Indriya Retreat Centre: +66 99 885 1171 (Win – speaks Thai & English).

Is this retreat suitable for those with limited mobility/ongoing physical health issues?

The retreat centre is set in grounds with unpaved, sandy paths. The meditation hall is up a flight of 15 stone steps.

The seated meditation sessions require sitting for at least 45 minutes. If you are not able to do this, then this retreat is not suitable for you. Participants are usually required to sit on the floor. Basic cushion pads are provided. You are welcome to bring with you a meditation cushion or stool if you need additional support to be comfortable. We are able to provide a chair if needed for medical reasons.

The walking meditation sessions require slow, continuous steps for 45 minutes. If you are not able to do this, sitting for these sessions as in the manner given above is acceptable.

Participants are required to attend all meditation sessions and follow the timetable. Please see the booking page for an example itinerary. If you feel you will not have the stamina to follow the timetable as it is given, then it is better to wait until a time when your health will allow it.

Can I miss sessions if I want to or follow a timetable which I feel better suits my requirements?

Participants on this retreat are required to attend all the sessions and follow the timetable as it is given. The scheduling we follow is in line with Vipassana retreats all over the world and is designed to replicate monastic living. This extended continuity of practice is essential for success in the technique.

There is plenty of time allocated for rest within the timetable. Sometimes people can find the wake up time on the timetable daunting as it is earlier than most people usually rise. However, being in meditation for the whole day expends very few calories and gives great rest to the brain. Bedtimes are equally early, so eight hours of night time rest is given and there is a long afternoon break during which participants may sleep they need to.

I cannot stay for the full seven days. Can I arrive later/leave earlier?

On this retreat we are only able to accept participants who are able to commit to attending for the full seven days.

There is a lot of important information communicated on the first day of the retreat which participants need to receive in order to successfully and smoothly engage with the experience. As it is a silent retreat, there is not an opportunity to go over this again at a later point.

The meditation technique is also introduced progressively, so participants need to be there for the full week to gain a developed understanding of what is being taught.

Vipassana meditation retreats can be an intense experience. For this reason it is important that participants are guided slowly in and slowly out of the retreat, and our program is specifically designed to ensure there is space for assimilation and integration. We request that you only book the retreat if you have the willingness and determination to stay for the full week.

Will my friends/family be able to reach me during the retreat if there is an emergency?

We recommend that participants hand in their phones at the beginning of the retreat for safe keeping. We will give participants a mobile phone number from the organising team, which can be passed on to friends or family for them to contact if need be. Any messages from family or friends which need to reach participants will be communicated directly by a member of the organising team.

If you are at a point in your life where it is likely a friend or family member will need to reach you during the retreat, we ask that you wait until a more peaceful time to undertake your Vipassana retreat.

Can I share my accommodation with my friend/partner?

On this retreat in particular, sharing accommodation between partners or friends is not permitted. All accommodation available to book will be allocated on a random, gendered basis. We do this in effort to give every participant the best chance of succeeding with the precept of noble silence and minimise any risk of distraction or disturbance to serious, focused practice.

I see you only provide breakfast and lunch. Can I bring my own food for dinner/snacks?

When undertaking a Vipassana retreat, participants make a commitment to adhere to a certain number of precepts which are laid down in the Buddhist sutras that describe the practice of Vipassana meditation. One of those precepts is to refrain from eating after midday. Therefore we serve a wholesome and filling meal at breakfast time and at lunch time, but not in the evening. We serve a warming, milky drink in the evening break such as spiced chai or cacao instead. While this may be less food than you are used to, most participants do not find that this is problematic for them whilst on the retreat, as being in meditation for the whole day expends very few calories.

If you have a medical condition such as diabetes which requires you to eat more regularly, or you are pregnant, please do get in touch and we will be happy to make arrangements for you.

The food we serve is vegetarian, and as locally sourced and organic as possible. If you have any other dietary requirements or allergies which are medically necessary, please do get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

This is a silent retreat. What happens if I have an issue I need to communicate?

Noble silence on the retreat begins on the evening of the first day, after all the orientation and induction talks have been given, and after participants have been given opportunity to ask any questions that have arisen since their arrival. Silence continues until the evening of the sixth day. There will be opportunity to share and discuss your experience with your fellow meditators on the final, seventh day.

During the retreat there will be daily opportunities for you to meet with the meditation teacher and discuss any questions you may have about the technique or your practice. There will also be daily opportunities for you to meet with a representative of the organising team to communicate any issues you may be having which relate to your accommodation, food or other domestic arrangements. The organising team and teachers are here to help you, but at the same time it is expected that communication with them is kept to its absolute minimum, and that during the retreat you do your best to move through any issues you are having by yourself, without unnecessarily involving others.

Talking between participants is strictly prohibited. Please be aware that you will be asked to leave if we learn of this precept being broken, for the sake of the peace of the other meditators.

I have ongoing mental health issues. Is this retreat suitable for me?

Vipassana retreats can be a very intense experience - physically, mentally and emotionally. The technique requires you to deeply observe your mind as it truly is, without any distraction or delusion. This can be unsettling for people - and can potentially be traumatising for those with ongoing mental health issues or a history of severe mental suffering or anguish.

The technique provides an effective toolkit for dealing with the vicissitudes of life, for managing life's ups and downs with appropriate perspective and calmness, and for finding emotional stability. It provides a golden opportunity to learn how to experience life with balance, peace, compassion and equanimity. It is not however, a replacement for therapy or medically necessary assistance in dealing with serious mental or emotional upset. We recommend that you consult your doctor or medical professional before attending, and let us know before you book, if you have experienced these sorts of issues in the past.

If you are at a point in your life where you are very much entrenched in destructive habits or suffering from serious mental or emotional distress, we ask that you wait until a more stable time to undertake your Vipassana retreat.

How much am I supposed to give as a donation at the end?

The donation amount at the end is entirely up to each participant. We recommend participants reflect on what they have received over the seven day retreat, and value they have experienced in the teachings, then give accordingly. Dāna, the giving of donation, is considered an important part of the practice, as an opportunity to consciously cultivate generosity.

The donation is an opportunity to support the conditions that allowed the course to happen, and to help make it possible for others in the future. It is a gift to future meditators, allowing them to have the chance experience the technique, and feel the benefit it brings. We use the donation funds to compensate the teachers and retreat staff, who otherwise give their time freely, in service. We also use it to maintain and improve our facilities and equipment, making it possible for us to continue to offer these courses.

There is no set amount for this. It is up to each meditator to reflect on these points and then donate as they feel moved. All is received with gratitude.

Day One:  Arrivals and start of the retreat.

Days Two-Six : Five full days of intensive silent meditation practice.

Day Seven: End of the retreat and departures.

At the retreat we will stick to a simple schedule, you don’t even need to look at the clock - the ringing of the bell will let you know where you need to be at a certain point in time. 

We ask you to follow the schedule in full and participate in all meditations and lectures. You will have an opportunity for a personal interview with a teacher to help you with questions related to the meditation practice. You will have enough free time to rest, wash your clothes etc. and reflect on your experience during specially provided breaks. For more information on the schedule, please see our FAQ section.

A sample daily retreat schedule is below:

4:30 – 5.00 Wake up

5:00 – 5:45 Sitting meditation

5:45 – 6:45 Meditative yoga

6:45 – 7:30 Sitting meditation

07:30 – 09:00 Breakfast / Shower / Work

9:00 – 10:00 Meditation Instructions

10:00 – 10:45 Walking Meditation

10:45 – 11:30 Sitting meditation

11:30 – 13:30 Lunch / Rest

13:30 – 14:15 Sitting meditation

14:15 – 15:00 Walking Meditation

15:00 – 15:45 Meditation Instructions

15:45 – 16:30 Walking Meditation / Interviews with a teacher

16:30 – 17:15 Sitting meditation  / Interviews with a teacher

17:15 – 19:00 Drinks / Relaxation / Shower

19:00 – 20:00 Conversation, Q&A and shared practice

20:00 – 20:30 Walking Meditation

20:30 – 21:00 Sitting meditation

21:00 – 21:30 Going to bed

Dmitry Glazkov

Dmitry has been teaching yoga, meditation and breathwork for more than ten years. In his classes he shares a deep and powerful toolkit of techniques, drawing from Yogic traditions, as well as concepts of meditation and mindfulness taught by Buddhas. Dmitry has undergone teacher training in Hatha and Kundalini and as an Ayurvedic practitioner and Pancha Karma facilitator. 

He has dedicated himself to studying and practising Satipatthana Vipassana. He honed his skills and deepened his understanding of this ancient meditation practice by being Immersed in long, insightful retreats. He also helped his teacher, who was a Buddhist monk at the Vipassana Centre where Dmitry taught yoga at the retreats. 

He is passionate about studying the original texts to get to the ultimate and authentic sources of knowledge. By highlighting the fundamental and infinite number of characteristics which make each one of us unique, practices taught by Dmitry are tailored, bespoke and deeply transformative for each individual, as they connect with their nature and wholeness.

Dmitry is a co-founder of Sadhama, running wellbeing retreats throughout the year and teaching online courses and classes.