Bangkok & Chiang Mai · February 24 – March 8, 2026
In February we took a small group to Thailand for ten nights. The idea behind the trip was simple: inner work and travel belong together.
So we practised Tai Chi before sunrise, we studied theory and meditated in the afternoon, and in between we visited temples and markets, bought a lot of clothes and souvenirs, and ate a lot of local food. Nobody came home rested. Everybody came home changed.
Here is what we did.
Bangkok: the first days
We started in Bangkok, at the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn.
On the first evening we went out to see the city at night. We had an excellent Chinese dinner, and then we went up to the hotel’s famous bar with a swimming pool, high above the streets, with the lights of Bangkok below us. Bangkok is loud, bright and full of energy. It is a good place to begin, because the quiet of the north feels even deeper afterwards.
The next morning we visited Wat Pho, the large temple complex of the Reclining Buddha. Wat Pho is also the traditional home of Thai massage — a good first stop for a group that came to Thailand to work with the body.
In the afternoon we went to the Ancient City, a big open-air park with models of Thailand’s most important temples and monuments. We drove around it in golf carts, which was extra fun.
We also travelled by songthaew. This is a pickup truck used as a shared bus: eight to ten people sit on two benches, facing each other, with the street open on both sides. Simple, noisy and great fun.
Chiang Mai: the shape of our day
Then we flew north to Chiang Mai and stayed at At Pingnakorn Riverside. This is where the retreat really began. Every day had two classes.
Early in the morning, before breakfast and before sunrise, we practised Korean Tai Chi in the hotel garden by the river, surrounded by green. Form, breath, balance and coordination, in the cool air, with the city just waking up.
And we had one more student. A dog from the neighbourhood came to the meeting point every single day and joined the class. Nobody invited him. He simply decided that he belonged with us, accompanied the group and stayed until the end.
In the afternoon we had a theory class about the chakras. What each chakra is responsible for. What happens when one of them is out of balance. What causes the problem in the first place. Then we did smile meditation sessions based on what we had just learned. Everyone experienced it differently.
This was the part people talked about most. By the end of the retreat, everyone in the group could say which of their own chakras needed attention, and what to do about it. That is knowledge you take home and put into practice.
Thai massage, in the country of Thai massage
We tried several kinds of Thai massage during the trip. The one we loved most was Tok Sen.
Tok Sen comes from the old Lanna culture of northern Thailand. The therapist uses a small wooden hammer and a wooden wedge to tap the body in a steady rhythm. The tapping follows the body’s energy lines, called sen.
The sound is a big part of the treatment:
- Deep and resonant. You feel it under the skin, in the muscles, even in the bones.
- Hypnotic and meditative. The repeating rhythm carries you into deep relaxation.
- Diagnostic. The therapist hears and feels the difference: tight, blocked places sound different from relaxed tissue. So they know exactly where to work.
In the Lanna tradition, this rhythm was more than a technique. It was seen as a cleansing vibration — something that breaks up negative energy and opens the flow along the sen lines.
Between the classes
The rest of the day was busy. This was not a week by the pool.
- Temples all around Chiang Mai, and the trip up to Doi Suthep, the golden temple on the mountain above the city
- A full day north to Chiang Rai and to the Long Neck Karen village
- The umbrella-making village, where the painting is done by hand, fast and without a single mistake
- The markets — day markets and night markets — and the local food we came back for again and again
We travelled in the red cars — the shared songthaews of Chiang Mai. Those rides were half the fun of the days out.
And the hotels: ten nights in two places chosen with care, the Eastin Grand Hotel Sathorn in Bangkok and At Pingnakorn Riverside in Chiang Mai. The breakfast buffet was excellent — we really loved it, and we still talk about it.
Two countries, one group
One thing happened on this trip that we will definitely repeat.
Our group came from two countries: Greece and Poland. For the Polish participants who are learning Greek, this was ten days of speaking with native speakers — at breakfast, in the red cars, walking between temples, over dinner at the night market. No exercises and no stress: just real conversations with people who wanted to talk to you.
Our two group leaders speak Greek, English and Polish, so nobody was ever left outside the conversation. Tai Chi, meditation and a living language, all in one trip.
What participants said
We prefer to let the people who came speak for the trip.
My trip to Thailand, combined with Tai Chi classes, was a fantastic experience — a perfect combination of daily Tai Chi training and deep relaxation in a wonderful atmosphere. The instructor creates a space conducive to calm while ensuring a high level of technical skill. From the very beginning, I was captivated by the instructor’s professionalism and immense patience, and the great care with which every participant was treated. The atmosphere during the classes is exceptionally friendly and conducive to learning without unnecessary pressure. Thanks to regular practice, I have not only noticed improvements in my fitness and coordination, but above all, I have found an effective way to manage daily stress and calm down.
Bringing together a group of participants from two countries gave the trip an incredible international character — a great opportunity for practical learning and conversation in Greek in natural settings. This combination of Tai Chi training with cultural and linguistic integration makes the programme absolutely unique. I returned with renewed energy and enthusiasm for further training. I recommend it to anyone seeking development on many levels!
— Beata B.
We had the pleasure of taking part in the Tai Chi classes during our stay in Thailand, and it was a truly exceptional experience. The instructor created a calm, welcoming atmosphere that made it easy to relax and focus fully on the practice.
The classes were well organised and adapted to different levels of experience. We particularly appreciated the patience, the positive energy, and the ability to explain techniques simply and clearly. Every session left us feeling more peaceful, more balanced and full of energy. It wasn’t just a great form of activity — it was a genuinely valuable part of our trip.
We wholeheartedly recommend these classes to anyone who wants to look after their wellbeing, reduce stress, and try authentic Tai Chi in a friendly atmosphere.
— Michał & Elżbieta
Do you want to join the next one?
We are already planning the next (Self-) Exploration Journey. The first trip taught us one thing above all: the group makes the retreat. Places are limited, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
The journey is for all levels. Whether you are taking your first steps on this path or you have been practising for years, you will find a community, a guide and space for yourself here.
Contact us here — arcadianliving.gr/contact — and you will be the first to hear the dates, the price and the details of the next trip.