Only 300€ per week!
Thai Buddhism
Wang Nam Khiao and Buddhist Monastery - Thailand
Thai Buddhism
Wang Nam Khiao and Buddhist Monastery - Thailand
Experience Thai Buddhism guided by local monks. You will sleep in an authentic monastery, practice meditation and learn Buddhism in its purest form.
During this week, you will get the opportunity to live and breathe Thai Buddhism firsthand. You will learn to meditate and chant in quiet and spiritual surrounding guided by monks. Moreover, you will get to overnight in a monastery and get to know how the day-to-day of living in one is all about.
Program
Living
Surroundings
Thailand
Program Description
Buddhism began in Northern India around the year 500 BCE. The Buddhist tradition gets its name from a man known by his followers as “the Buddha”, or “the awakened one”. Our program will show you the teaching of Buddhism in Thailand by means of practicing it instead of seeing or reading about it. Guided by local monks, you will learn techniques for meditation and chanting.
During this program you will have the unique chance to stay overnight in a Thai Buddhist monastery.
Note: Any room upgrades booked for this program only apply to your stay in our center, not to the nights in the monastery.
Aims & Objectives
The aim of this program is to give you an authentic insight into Thai Buddhism. You will learn about the history, customs and practices of this philosophy and get the chance to put them into practice yourself!
Schedule
Monday (Wang Nam Khiao)
- Breakfast
- Depart from Singburi to Wang Nam Khiao
- Lunch
- Stop at a set of waterfalls en route to Wang Nam Khiao
- Arrive at the resort in Wang Nam Khiao in the afternoon
- Walk around the village
- Dinner
- Meditation and Buddhism ethics (how to pray and kneel, how to act around monks, etc)
Tuesday (Wang Nam Khiao)
- Early morning giving alms to the Monks
- Introduction to the monastery
- Breakfast
- Q&A with a monk at Pha Rattanawan temple
- Lunch
- Watch a documentary about Buddha & Buddhism
- Explore a big local market, opportunity to buy black/white clothing for the monastery.
- Dinner
- Karaoke at the resort
Wednesday (Buddhist Monastery)
- Depart for stay at Suptawee Monastery
- Early morning giving alms to the Monks
- Breakfast at the temple with monks and the community
- Free time or, depending on the needs at the monastery, we may be asked by the monks to help with chores
- Meditation & chanting
Thursday (Buddhist Monastery)
- Early morning meditation & chanting session (3:30 am)
- Short time for rest (meditation, shower, etc)
- Give alms to the monks
- Praying
- Breakfast at the temple with monks and the community
- Free time or, depending on the needs at the monastery, we may be asked by the monks to help with chores
- Meditation & chanting
Friday (Wang Nam Khiao)
- Early morning meditation & chanting session (3:30 am)
- Short time for rest (meditation, shower, etc)
- Give alms to the monks
- Breakfast at the temple with monks and the community
- A visit to the old temple Ban Rai 2
- Lunch
- Explore a mushroom farm
- Head to Pa Keep Tawan viewpoint
- BBQ Dinner
Saturday (Wang Nam Khiao)
- Breakfast at the resort
- Transfer back to Singburi for further programs or taken to the Wang Nam Khiao bus station if this is the end of your program.
Note: This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Participant Criteria & Requirements
Standard Requirements
Minimum age: –
Maximum age: –
Minimum English level: Basic
CRB required: On Signup
Passport copy required: No
Resume copy required: No
Required qualification: None
Additional Requirements
Please note the following points:
- Women are not allowed to stay close to monks or touch the monks, so please be cautious.
- Do not point your feet to the monks or the Buddha as this is considered disrespectful
- Men and women cannot sleep together during temple stay and passionate contact is not tolerated
- Please be calm/quiet during and following meditation and chanting
- Monks only eat one meal per day (breakfast). This means we probably won’t have lunch and dinner on Wednesday and Thursday (when we will sleep in the temple’s grounds)
Additional Equipment
- Please bring enough white clothes that are not tight fitting or see-through. This can also be purchased at the local market
Location
Your new home will be in the Nakhon Ratchasima province. Set amidst rolling hills, the views here are spectacular and the location is tranquil to match. Our resort is situated about 100km from the city of Nakhon Ratchasima and about 15 km from Wang Nam Khiao, the nearest town. It takes 30 minutes from the resort to get to Wang Nam Khiao, where you will find all the amenities you could need.
About the Accommodation
During your time here, you will be staying in one of our eco cottages in single gender rooms.
The resort has a communal area where you can eat, relax, meet with other participants or just enjoy the impressive view. There is also WiFi available which covers most of the resort.
There is even a karaoke system in the resort’s communal area for those craving some self-styled entertainment noise!
Food Arrangements
All food is included during your stay and the meals will be typically Thai, including plenty of rice dishes (suitable for vegetarians).
Facilities
Due to its rural location, the nearest ATM is in Wang Nam Khiao (30 minutes by car), so please make sure you have enough money with you before arriving for your stay. However, since all food is provided you will probably not need much money here!
There is a small local store within walking distance. All other amenities can be found in Wang Nam Khiao (30 minutes by car).
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
The area is very rural and offers beautiful views of the Thai countryside. You are welcome to take advantage of the surroundings and go for a hike in the hills during your free time.
Transportation
From this location we provide free transport to your next program at the following location(s):
- Akha Village Chiang Rai
- All around Thailand
- Around Thailand
- Buddhist Monastery
- Hua Hin
- Kaeng Krachan
- Kanchanaburi
- Mae Sot
- Singburi
- Suphan Buri
- Train Track Northern Thailand
- Trunk to the South
- Udon Thani
- Umphang
Location
A 20 minute drive away from the town of Wang Nam Khiao stands a forest monastery where you will spend two nights sleeping, in order to immerse yourself fully into the everyday life inside an authentic monastery.
About the Accommodation
You will be staying in simple single gender rooms inside the monastery. Thin blankets are provided upon request.
Food Arrangements
After almsgiving, the community brings in food for breakfast and a gigantic buffet filled with food of all kinds is served. Breakfast will be the only meal we will have, as monks and those living permanently inside monasteries only eat one meal a day.
Facilities
Due to its rural location, the nearest ATM and amenities are in Wang Nam Khiao (30 minutes by car), so please make sure you have enough money with you before arriving for your stay. There are small local shops nearby where you can buy basic things.
Activities & Events
No scheduled activities outside the program.
Sights & Surroundings
The area is very rural and offers beautiful views and Thai countryside to explore by foot or bike.
Transportation
From this location we provide free transport to your next program at the following location(s):
- Wang Nam Khiao
Quick Facts
Name: Kingdom of Thailand
Population: 67 million
Capital: Bangkok
Language: Thai
Currency: Baht (THB)
Time zone: ICT (UTC +7)
Country Information
From trekking in the beautiful mountains of the north to enjoying the glorious beaches in the south and experiencing the hustle and bustle of the metropolis that is Bangkok, Thailand is certainly not a country that lacks variety.
Whilst it really is at the heart of Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, its cultural identity remains very unique. As the only country in Southeast Asia to avoid European powers, the Thai are proud to refer to themselves as ‘The Land of the Free’ and many tourists might also know it as ‘The Land of Smiles’ due to its friendly people.
Climate
The majority of the country is home to a tropical savanna climate which consists of wet and dry seasons of a roughly equal length. The climate can be divided into three distinct seasons:
- Dry season: November – end of February. During this period, precipitation is at its lowest but so are the temperatures. This said, ‘low temperatures’ are of course relative and the difference is not in fact very different at all in the South. It is only if you will be visiting the northern mountains that you might need to bring some warmer clothes as temperatures can fall as low as 5°C. This period is, not surprisingly, the most popular time to visit Thailand and tourism peaks around Christmas and New Year as well as Chinese New year. Flights and accommodation at this time can be more expensive.
- Hot: March to June. During this time Thailand reaches its hottest temperatures (as high as 50°C).
- Rainy: July – October. This is when the tropical monsoons begin to arrive, peaking in September. Although this is indeed rainy season, it doesn’t mean that it rains non-stop. Storms can clear up very quickly, but when it does rain, heavy flooding is not rare.
Culture
A significant feature of Thai culture is its primary religion: Buddhism. Theravada Buddhism is supported by the government and practiced by an estimated 95% of its population. Thailand not only boasts tens of thousands of beautiful temples, but you will notice that a lot of Thai people have miniature Spirit Houses on their front yards because they believe that the household spirits live in them and they make offerings to them to keep the spirits happy.
Another feature of Thai culture is the wai greeting, which is essentially a slight bow with palms pressed together in a prayer-like manner to show respect. This can be compared to the Indian namasté. Things to know about this:
- The higher the hands in relation to the face and the deeper the bow, the more respect is shown.
- It is made before formally entering/leaving a house
- It can also be made as a sign of gratitude or apology
- You do not make the greeting to those who are younger than you unless you are returning the wai.
- The gesture is normally accompanied with the phrase “sawadee (krap/ka)” (“krap” if you are male and “ka” if you are female)
- A corporate wai (made by cashiers etc) can be returned with a smile or a nod
The major festival in Thailand is Thai New Year, known as Songkran. It is celebrated on the 13th-14th April of every year. It is a festival that concludes the dry season and involves a lot of water throwing!
Gastronomy
Thai cuisine is very nutritious and alongside its plentiful use of rice, it generally contains fresh vegetables and white meats like chicken and fish. Thai people love spicy food but do not fear if you do not, just say ‘mai pet’ when you order. However, the flavors are not only about the spice, as many people believe. Thai food can be slightly salty, sour and/or sweet, so there really is something to suit everyone’s palate.
Transportation
Transport in Thailand is very varied and there isn’t one ‘main way’ to travel. Buses dominate long distance journeys. Travel in thailand is cheap and even domestic flights are a worthwhile consideration for long distance journeys, especially with the expansion of low-cost airlines.
Taxis, tuk-tuks and vans are also common modes of transport, but tourists must be wary about being overcharged. If in doubt, always ask that the taximeter be switched on to avoid overcharging.
