Giving is Living Yoga Retreat
Giving is Living Yoga Retreat: January 6 to 12, 2025
Join us in Luang Prabang – Laos, the UNESCO world heritage site for an intimate “Karma yoga” retreat that will transform your life of the life of an orphan child in Laos. Spend 7 days at the Hillside Eco Retreat located in tropical bushland and immersed in the deep cultural history of Laos. Soaking up the sights, sounds and taste of this magical country guest will have a transformative yoga experience of daily yoga, meditation, sound spa’s and offsite cultural execution and activities. Giving is Living is a not-for-profit yoga retreat with a difference in that 45% of the retreat fee will go directly to funding the Luang Prabang Orphanage Nursery School.
About the Orphanage
Western Wellness has partnered to support the Luang Prabang Orphanage nursery school since 2023. The Orphanage was opened by Australian Andrew Brown in 2019 as an NGO to the government run Luang Prabang Orphanage. The Orphanage currently support 32 children and 12 staff with plans to increase capacity to 60 children. The mortality rate for childbirth is as high as 20% in remote areas. With no doctors or midwives, complications often lead to the death of the child, the mother or both. Children also face risks such as being trafficked into child sexy slavery to surrounding nations such as Thailand, Vietnam and China. The outreach work of the orphanage is critical to ensure that vulnerable children have a safe pathway to the orphanage so that they can be given the best chance at life. The cost of supporting a child at the orphanage is $2000 AUD per year, your retreat donation of $1650 will go a long way to support the children as well giving the orphanage the funds to increase their intake.
Find out more about our partnership with the orphanage
Retreat Itinerary 7 Days
Day 1 - Arrive 12-5pm
6pm (diner)
730-900pm evening welcome ceremony & yoga nidra
Day 2 – Full day onsite yoga program with complimentary massage treatment
Day 3 – Half day onsite yoga program & visit local village (cultural excursion)
Day 4 – Half day onsite Yoga program & Visit to the Kuang Si Falls
Day 5 – Half day onsite yoga program & Visit to the Children's Orphanage
Day 6 – Half day onsite yoga program & afternoon evening city tour
Temple tour and Buddhist lectures & guided meditations with local Monks
Visit the national museum and royal palace.
Visit the night market.
Day 7 – Morning yoga & meditation and farewell Baci (Blessing ceremony) check out after breakfast – check out by 12pm.
Retreat package (Inclusions)
Accommodation/food/yoga
7 days accommodation, meals (breakfast/lunch/diner) & Wi-Fi
14 yoga & meditation classes
Reflection workshop
Sound spa’s
(2) events/trips
Kuang Si - Falls
Buddhist cultural excursion & monk meditation/lecture
1 complimentary 60 min massage treatment
Orphanage donation. $1650
Package fee $3740 Incl GST (single - queen room)
$3425 Incl GST (twin share) Single sex only
Please contact us for special pricing for (2) guests in a queen room
The retreat is limited to 11 guests, 5 (single queen rooms) and 6 guests in twin share accommodation.
A non-refundable deposit of $990 is payable upon register with the balance payable by 1/9/24.
A (5) instalment payment plans is available for additional fee of $220
Do you have any queries, or want to register? Contact Stu today to book your place!
To find out more about this amazing locations please check Stuarts YouTube channel for his fun around Laos and also Travel vlogger Paddy Doyle – 24 hours in Luang Prabang
Terms and Conditions
Purchase Policy: All sales are final. Western Wellness does not issue refunds, credits, purchase transfers or purchase extensions. Deposits paid will be forfeited if a customer does not pay in full any unpaid balance within the required timeframe. Payment plans will incur an additional administration fee of $220
limitation of liability: Students accept that Western Wellness is limited in its liability for all personal risks to the value of the service provided. The student acknowledges that they will practice safely and to all follow instructions provided by western wellness and its agents and will, disclose any known medical conditions prior to attendance at the retreat.
Associated costs: Western Wellness accepts no liability for recourse on any associated costs of attending the retreat, this includes but is not limited to the cost for flights, transfers, insurance, and or medical expenses.
Retreat inclusions: Student acknowledges the list of inclusions and accepts liability for the cost associated with items not included in the retreat. Students will be responsible for any expenses included at the retreat site or associated venue location not included in the list of inclusions.
Orphanage donation: Students acknowledge that their attendance at the retreat is conditional to their payment of the full retreat fee inclusive of a provision made for the donation made to the Laung Prabang Orphanage School. Students acknowledge that this amount will be circa $1450-1650 AUD once final transfer & retreat fees have been accounted for. The donation fee is inclusive of the retreat fee. The donation fee is not tax deductable.
Non-inclusions
Cost of getting to Luang Prabang
Travel visa for Laos (including cost of airfares)
Medical insurance
Airport transfers (own cost $77 each way)
(1 night market diner)
Drinks and any associated meals/snacks not included above
Travel Advice / Getting to Luang Prabang
Travel via Hanoi (Vietnam on Vietnam airlines) 5-hour transit (no visa required)
Travel Bangkok (Thai airway, Jetstar/qanats) with an overnight layover then fly Bangkok airways to Luan Prabang)
A visa is required for Loas, this can be obtained prior online or on arrival for a fee of $40USD (cash)
Travel insurance is required – Laos is a safe travel destination however it is a developing country with more limited medical services than Thailand or Vietnam. We recommend that you purchase travel insurance cover for the cost of airfares if for any reason the retreat were unable to proceed.
Local currency can be obtained at ATM’S all over Luang Prabang.
Climate in December – Jan is warm sunny days 25 degrees and cooler evenings 12-15 degrees. Mosquito repellent & sunscreen required, as well as your bathers! Yoga will be practiced outside and thus will be cool in the morning and evening.
Bring your own yoga mat. All other props will be provided
Rooms do not include fridges any medications that are required can be stored in the retreat centre (2 mins walk from room)