Required documents for the meditation retreat
Your valid passport with a valid visa.
(Hand in your passport to the reception, and retrieve it after you return your room key.)
What do I have to bring for the meditation retreat?
A working alarm clock or timer. You must be able to set it to increments of five minutes.
You may use your mobile phone as a timer, have discipline and remember your purpose of visiting. Mobile phones can become a distraction that may prevent you from progressing in the meditation practice. You may keep it at the reception
At least one set of white clothing (The reservation office lends out 1-2 set white clothes. Please wash and return the white clothes before leaving. If you failed to wash them before leaving, contribute 10 baht per piece to give to the staff for their extra work. Also avaialble for purchase from the local stores next to the restroom near the parking lot. The clothes are also available for sale in Chaing Mai City (Warorot Market ).
For women: Loose, modest, non-transparent white sarong or trousers, a loose white shirt with sleeves and a white ‘sa-bai’ (a white scarf, which is worn over the breast wrapping around the left shoulder). You may borrow a white sabai from the monastery laundry room under the office.
For men: Loose, modest, non-transparent white trousers and a shirt.
Personal items: (toiletries, a towel, mosquitoe repellent and a water bottle for refilling, tea bag, cocoa powder, supplements, peanut/seeds to complete your meal before noon).
Reservation procedure:
1. Fill out the application form with a specific arrival and departure date.
2. Rename the file with your name and submit them through e-mail info@watchomtong.com
3. The applicants will get a response as soon as possible.
Submitting your application form through e-mail to confirm your reservation will help save time and guarantee you a spot on arrival.
If you have not received the confirmation email, please check your spam or junk mail folder.
*Please do not hesitate to notify us if you decide to cancel, so we can provide the room for others.
Arrival procedure
1. Let the staff know that you made a reservation online by email or web-form.
2. Please arrive by 13:00 to check in with a reception monk staff (Phra).
3. Fill out the application form, take a photo, and hand in your passport.
4. The passport will be returned on the last day after you complete your stay with the room keys returned.
5. Receive your room key.
6. Receive the “Meditator Identification Card” indicated the monk meditation instructor
(Phra Ajahn)’s name.
7. Walk to your room, unpack and change into white shirt and trouser.
8. + 14:50; Meet in front of the International Vipassana Office.
+ 15:30; Opening ceremony at Kuthi Hatainares (Ajahn Tong's residence).
+ 16:40; Demonstration on practice methods at Wat Chomtong.
*The mindful prostration
*The walking meditation
*The sitting meditation
9. Next day at 7:00 am; The meditation report begins. Be mindful while you wait patiently as the practice of mindfulness can be anytime, anywhere even in your everyday life.
Contribution to our meditation program
Dana (Donation) System
Our monastery follows the Theravāda Buddhist tradition, where all teachings and activities are freely offered. There is no fixed fee.
We kindly invite those who are able to contribute from the heart, helping support the monastery, its programs, and daily needs such as utilities. In Thai culture, this is known as “clearing sangha debt or Chamra Nee Song”—a voluntary way of giving back after benefiting from the monastery’s support.
Your generosity helps sustain the monastery and keeps this tradition of free teaching alive for future generations.
If you want a dana receipt (Anumodanabat), please request.
If any officials/staff coerced you to make a contribution (other than the optional accommodation AC room) or make you feel uneasy about making donations, please file a complaint to the managing director by email at
(Phra Srisilapajarn Dr.)
Vice-Abbot of Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong Worawihan
Traveling to Wat Chom Tong
(Wat Phradhatu Sri Chomtong Woravihara, Chomthong (Amphoe), 50160, Chiang Mai):
The monastery is precisely 64.5 km or 40.1 miles away from Tha Phae Gate, if you choose public transportation please leave by 11:00 to arrive by 13:00.
From Chiang Mai city (gate market/Tha Phae gate)
Yellow song-taew from Chiang Mai- Chomthong fee 40 baht
Leaves approximately every 15 to 30 minutes (More Reliable than the Blue Bus)
Duration: 2 hours or more
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/pbJmmiN6FJGHkQH38
Blue bus from Chiangmai -Chomthong- Hod - Doi tao route
TERMINATED. No longer available.
Commuter bus from Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai Bus Terminal 3) - Hod fee 140 baht
Schedule: 06.00, 10.00 Booking only (limited seat)
Duration: 2 hours or more
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/n7kLuyWK5cWZHPVeA
Airport taxi fee: 1,000- 1,200 baht.
Anytime (avoid city traffic between 3:30-5:00pm.)
Duration: 1 hour
Location: CNX International airport or call for pick-up
Travelling from Bangkok, Mochit Bus Station (north bound)
Tour bus fee 600-700 baht.
Schedule: 19:30
Duration: 11 hours and 30 minutes (Parks in front to Wat Chomtong or notify the driver)
Your check-in point at Mochit is on the first floor or third floor (either of them). Please look for the counter of 999 Transport Co. Bus Company or ask at the information desk on the first floor.
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/XAswUEmajB1EhCMV8 Mochit 2 Bus Terminal (north bound)
Bus from Wat Chomthong to Bangkok (Mochit bus station)
Borkorsor 999 Bus fee 572 baht.
Schedule: 18:00 ( Arrive before 17:30) They leave before time.
Duration: 11 hours and 30 minutes
Buy your ticket at the mobile phone store (ticket vendor) ---->
200 meters from Wat Chomtong
Location: https://goo.gl/maps/4AoJTQ2SmWbAEQSG9
Taxi contact for our trusted driver
Pichet (male) Toyota Innova Mobile: 0623045321
Lertsak (male) Toyota Yaris Mobile: 0934436547 (only Grab/Bolt driver in Chom Thong)
Ying (female) Mazda 2 Mobile: 0962319108
Fee: 900 - 1,200 baht.
Duration: 1 hour and 15 minutes (without traffic)
Bookings
Office Hours:
Every day between
08:00 to 10:20.
13:00 to 16:30.
Email: info@watchomtong.com
Telephone: 05 334-2184 Ext. 11