Ready for a wellness trip? In March 2020, I attended a yoga retreat near Siem Reap and had such a great experience that I feel compelled to share all of the wonderful retreats that Cambodia has to offer.

Cambodia is a beautiful wellness destination that offers authentic, all-inclusive yoga retreats that don’t break the bank. Seriously though — the best yoga retreats in Cambodia will only set you back about $400 for a five-night stay! Some of them have even received a Certificate of Excellence on TripAdvisor. (Psst, this is the secret to accessible wellness travel: choose high-quality experiences in offbeat destinations.)

If you like hot weather, lots of sunshine, singing cicadas, ancient temples, and delicious vegan food, then Cambodia just might be the perfect yoga retreat destination for you. And hey, you might even have the chance to be blessed by a monk. 

Cambodia’s Best Yoga and Meditation Retreats

Hariharalaya

Best for: those who want a digital detox

• Location: Siem Reap’s countryside
• Duration: 5 nights
• Price: from $340 
• Experience level: best suited for beginners
• What makes it unique: there's a full day of silence where you have the time and space to truly relax and look inward

Hariharalaya is located on the sacred land of Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap. The retreat center is set up like a traditional Cambodian village, spread out over two acres of lush jungle gardens. There’s so much to experience at Hariharalaya — whether you’re taking a dip in the lounge pool, napping in the silent garden, or jammin’ out in the music room — there’s truly something for everyone.

When you arrive at Hariharalaya, your only “job” is to enjoy Hariharalaya, and they make this easy by eliminating outside distractions. The retreat has a strict digital detox policy where you actually turn in your phone, laptop, tablet, and other devices on day one. This gives you the opportunity to truly disconnect to reconnect with yourself, nature, and the community. There’s no official day trips and they recommend seeing the Angkor Wat temples before or after the retreat. 

Hariharalaya wants you to walk away from your retreat course with the tools and experience to continue a daily practice of yoga, mediation, and breathing on your own. Thus, they focus on the foundations of each practice and don’t really go beyond that. Hariharalaya welcomes all levels, but I feel that their program is best suited for beginners.

Tavoos Garden

Best for: those who crave variety

• Location: Siem Reap
• Duration: 2-7 nights 
• Price: from $599 for 5 nights 
• Experience level: beginner, intermediate & advanced
• What makes it unique: your attendance at Tavoos provides clean drinking water for Cambodian families in Siem Reap

Tavoos Garden is a center for yoga, meditation, dance, and martial arts. Tavoos is a non-profit venture, and 100% of the proceeds from their retreats benefit their humanitarian programs which provide education and clean water wells to the local community. It’s a flexible retreat, meaning you can choose a package of 2-7 nights, and all activities on the program are included, but optional.

When it comes to movement, Tavoos offers a variety of yoga styles, including hatha, vinyasa flow, ashtanga, restortative, yoga nidra, and yin yang. They also offer Bokator martial arts classes and a unique style of dance called Nia. I wasn’t able to try Nia when I was in Siem Reap, but I heard nothing but rave reviews about the class and the instructor, Debbie.

Vagabond Temple

Best for: those who want to stay awhile

• Location: Kep
• Duration: 5+ nights
• Price: from $225
• Experience level: beginner, intermediate & advanced
• What makes it unique: option to stay long term (47 nights) with their Community Member Program

Flexible schedule? Vagabond Temple offers ongoing yoga and meditation retreats in Kep, Cambodia where you can book a minimum of five nights with the option to extend your stay for up to seven weeks depending on availability. This is a great option for long-term travelers, nomads, and those on a gap year. 

Vagabond Temple is off the beaten tourist path and offers ultimate tranquility. Kep is a small town on the Cambodian coast that’s known for its mountain landscapes and ocean views. There’s no major airport nearby, so guests usually fly into one of Cambodia’s larger cities and take a 3+ hour taxi to the retreat center.

Yoga Barn

Best for: those who desire flexibility (and wifi)

• Location: Kampot
• Duration: 1-14 nights
• Price: from $50 per night
• Experience level: beginner & intermediate
• What makes it unique: free consultation with a Reiki master

Yoga Barn is located in Kampot, which is a beautiful little town on Cambodia’s southern coast that’s well known for its relaxing riverside setting. Compared to other retreats in Cambodia, Yoga Barn is much more flexible in their policies. There’s no minimum stay, it’s vegetarian rather than vegan, and wifi is available throughout the center (although, they do encourage guests to participate in a digital detox). Depending on your length of stay, you might also get to go on a trip to a pepper farm and to the Kampot Town center.

What to Pack for a Yoga Retreat in Cambodia

You really don't need to bring much with you — each of these retreat centers cover the basics (meals, accommodation, yoga mats). However, this is what I recommend packing based on my personal experience in Cambodia:

• Journal and pen
• Water bottle
• Loose-fitting clothes that allow airflow 
• An outfit that covers your knees and shoulders for temples and monk blessings
• Bug repellant (this is a MUST)
• Sunscreen
• Book (optional — some retreat centers have libraries)

I hope you enjoyed these recommendations. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you have about Cambodia!