Paradise Yoga Retreat | 1-2 Weeks | KOH PHANGAN, THAILAND

FAQ

How to get to Pure Flow Yoga?

We are located on the beautiful island of Koh Phangan. Your nearest airports are either Koh Samui (serviced only by Bangkok Air) or Surat Thani, serviced by Air Asia, Nok Air and 12Go Asia. It can be a little more expensive to fly to Koh Samui (due to it being Bangkok Airways’s private airport), however, once here, you are only a 30-minute ferry ride to Koh Samui. The cheaper airlines fly to Surat Thani, which is around 4 hours bus and boat to the island. There is a counter at the airport selling tickets all the way to the island, buses usually depart every hour. Or, you can get an overnight train or bus from Bangkok.

Once here, you’ll need to make your way to Haad Yuan Bay on the Southeast corner of Koh Phangan where we are based. The easiest way to get here is by taxi boat or truck from Haad Rin, a major ferry port on Koh Phangan. Once you have arrived at Haad Yuan (or neighbouring Haad Thien) ask for “Bamboo Huts” bungalows & restaurant. Pure Flow Yoga is a 2-minute walk up the hill from the restaurant. 

Is this retreat appropriate for beginners?

All of the classes that we offer are very beginner-friendly, specifically and creatively designed to provide safe and balanced instruction for all levels of experience, with an emphasis on bringing each student to their own personal edge – the place where they can physically, mentally and spiritually open and expand the most. We encourage students to listen to their bodies as much as possible and take resting poses whenever necessary. The classes are light-hearted and intelligently structured, allowing for a beautiful interplay of alignment principles, breath awareness, and conscious theme explorations. Of course, intermediate and advanced practitioners are also happily welcome.

Do many people come alone to the retreat?

Actually, most of our retreat students are travelling alone and find it very easy to connect with interesting people in this very social atmosphere. There are many opportunities to meet and connect with other travellers and locals at the community events and parties.

What’s the accommodation like?

We have a small number of individual bungalows with private bathrooms that we can book through Bamboo Huts, a beautiful and rustic budget option very near to the studio.  There are several other budget accommodation options in the area, all within 5-10 minute walking distance to the yoga shala. Most of the budget accommodations, including Bamboo Huts, have 24-hour electricity, bucket flush toilets and cold showers, which is much nicer than it sounds! When you arrive here and realize that you are on tropical paradise island, footsteps to the beach and living the simple lifestyle that yogis recommend, you will likely begin to realize that zen-like simplicity offers so much more than you could ever imagine :). If you are interested in booking your own accommodation or upgrading to a luxury accommodation option that’s fine too.

When is check-in / check-out time?

Check-in is any time on Sunday. We will begin the retreat at 9 am Monday morning at the Lotus Yoga studio. The retreat closes after the final yoga session on Friday afternoon, just after 6:30 PM. Friday night accommodation is included in the price of your retreat. Check-out for all retreats is Saturday morning at 11 am. 

Can I start the retreat on a different day?

All participants are asked to arrive on the Sunday before the retreat begins on Monday to acclimatize to the surroundings and be ready for the orientation on Monday morning, where we share important information about the retreat week and area information. Because our retreats are in such high demand and we have very specific accommodation dates, we give preference to students who can be with us and the group for the duration of the course.

What’s the food like? Is it included in the price?

There are several excellent dining options in the area which offer delicious and healthy food, satisfying all sorts of different tastes and dietary needs and can range from $3-4 USD/meal for delicious Thai/western meals, to $10-15 USD if you want a fine dining experience. Food is not included in the price of the retreat, but you are welcome to add a “Meal Plan” for $15 extra/ day when you book your package.  If you have spent beyond your daily budget you will be expected to pay the difference.  

What’s a typical day like?

Generally, we spend about 5 hours/day, meditating, doing yoga asana and learning the philosophy and practicalities of a yoga practice. Two times a week we begin our days at 8:15 with Pranayama and Meditation, after which we have our first yoga asana class. Within the retreat we offer 2 daily 90- minutes classes, which are generally quite dynamic and physical, allowing for a beautiful interplay of alignment principles, breath awareness, and conscious theme exploration. The morning class is a flow and in the afternoons, we explore a few different styles included Yin, Vinyasa Flow, Yin Yang, and Bhakti Bliss. Most mornings after the yoga asana class we will have a 90-minute workshop on some aspect of yoga, including alignment, developing a home practice and an introduction to Ayurveda and Holistic Lifestyle. 

When is rainy season in Koh Phangan? Can I still come to the island?

Generally, the rainy season in the south of Thailand is between October and November, although as the weather conditions are determined by the monsoons this can change and December can end up being rainy as well. We do have scattered rains throughout the year but more often than not we have lots of beautiful sunshine. There is some rain year-round, but you’ll find the rain may only last a couple of hours a day and be followed by beautiful sunshine. The dry season tends to be from February to April.  

Is there internet connection?

There is WIFI available for purchase in Haad Yuan at Bamboo Huts, Big Blue, & Pariya Resorts, and in Haad Thien at the Sanctuary Resort. The nearest post office is in Haad Rin (the internet is also readily available there). As an alternative option, Thai SIM Cards are available at 7-Eleven, airport kiosks, and telcom company outlets in Thong Sala & Haad Rin. You can purchase a 7/10/30 day plan and set up your smartphone to use the cellular data network. Carriers include True Move, AIS, and DTAC. You will need photo ID & an unlocked mobile phone to register a Thai SIM.

Important note: There will be times when the WIFI or cellular signal is weak or irregular, but just as the saying goes, we promise you’ll find a better connection!

How much money should I bring?

If you budget $20- $25/  day for food including coconuts and sweet treats then you will be beyond abundant! You may also like to treat yourself to some delightful extras, like a private session with a wellness specialist (1 – 2500 baht), a bit of gift shopping, an extra massage or two, or perhaps a spa treatment. Because there are no ATMs on our part of the island, we recommend bringing more than you think you might need, just to be safe and flexible.  Living in Thailand is super affordable and we encourage you to treat yo’self!

Can I get laundry done?

You can get your laundry done on the island for approx. 40 Baht per pound or you can hand wash it yourself and hang them to dry on your balcony.

What to pack?

• It is best to bring your own yoga mat for energetic & sanitary purposes, but we also have public yoga mats if you don’t have your own.
• A notebook & pens to write in for your own notes.
• Alarm Clock/Watch
• Ear Plugs: especially for the Tuesday/Saturday night parties nearby.
• WATER BOTTLE: for filtered water refills and to help us reduce plastic waste
• Sarong or Towel: for the beach and yoga practice. You can buy great inexpensive sarongs here.
• Sunscreen, Sunglasses, Hat, Swim suit, Flip-flops Camera Flashlight with battery
• Insect repellent: if you choose, also available here.
• Medical prescriptions
• Toiletries
• Long Sleeve Light Sweater for cooler evenings
• BACKPACKS: for traveling as opposed to suitcases for ease of carrying luggage up and down the beach.
• The bungalows all have mosquito nets, so there is no need to bring one.
• Outlet Adapter: There are outlets in the bungalows, so you will be able to charge any electronic devices, with an adapter for Thailand. This is available at most outdoor/travel stores. Keep in mind that the outlets in Thailand are 220 V, so be sure that your devices can handle that voltage by checking the indication on the charger or device. However, you should be able to charge most simple devices; ie: mp3 player, cell phone, camera etc. with an adaptor.