ROSE QUARTZ ISLAND SOLSTICE RETREAT
The Sanctuary, Koh Phangan Island, Thailand
17-22 June 2024
WELCOME TO THE SANCTUARY
Hello beautiful souls...do you want to go on an adventure? Like a real one?
Let's set the scene....20 years ago, I found myself in the beautiful archipelago of Southern Thailand on a magical island named Koh Phangan, that some call The Magic Island...for good reason. This island is quite literally built on a bed of rose quartz and if you walk some of the beaches you can find rough chunks of it washed up on the shore
Can you imagine how this amplifies energy?
This trip for me was before yoga, before I fell in love with retreats and even before I had done much travel at all. This was one of my first ever trips ever away alone and I was completely enchanted by what I found. On a small beach, only accessible from the main areas by longtail boat or a crazy 4wheel drive journey, is a place so mysterious and enchanted it found its way into popular culture via the book and movie ‘The Beach’ written by Alex Garland and starred in by Leonardo Decaprio. Nestled amongst the jungle on the side of a hill is a legendary healing space called The Sanctuary...and it is exactly that.
Are you ready to embark on an odyssey akin to the allure of Leo’s captivating journey in "The Beach”?
Dive into this curated experience led by me that will present you with the mystique and adventure of discovering an unparalleled paradise! 20 years after first exploring this wonderous island, and having visited numerous times since then, it's my huge honour to have created this wild yet deeply nurturing yoga retreat for my community. An experience and place that is so close to my own heart and such a huge part of my own healing and evolution. Holding my very own retreat here for my super special community is truly a full circle moment for me.
The Sanctuary attracts those who dare to seek the extraordinary. A hidden cove, embraced by the whispering palms and the symphony of the sea, this place offers an ethereal backdrop to your soul's exploration. Nestled away in the pristine landscapes of Southern Thailand, this heavenly healing sanctuary is built for the intrepid traveler seeking an escape from the ordinary. There is no pool as the beach in front of the resort is just perfect for swimming. Deep blue, clean water is your ultimate infinity pool.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Yoga & Meditation
I will be guiding twice daily yoga and meditation masterclasses (other than on Solstice Day 21st where we will be off the island most of the day on a boat trip) that align your spirit with the rhythm of the tides. These classes will be at 7.30 am and 4pm. We have exclusive use of one of the yoga shalas in The Sanctury ‘Prana House’ that is on the beach level...no stairs for you!
We will entrain our energy with that of the jungle...trust me when I say this place is both beautiful AND powerful. Amplified crystalline energy makes for a wild and magnified experience. Morning practice is more of an energizing, dynamic flow practice and afternoon is slow flow into yin.
NOTE: All levels of yoga experience are catered for in my classes. I have been teaching and guiding yoga classes now for almost a decade and truly feel like I teach well to ALL LEVELS and abilities in a group setting. Don’t let your doubts about your practice stop you coming on this retreat, you will be surprised at what your body can do.
Incredible Food
Two abundant and delicious meals a day, brunch and dinner are included for you. The heat of the tropics means three large meals a day is generally too much. After morning yoga practice, we have brunch, and this will finish at around 10.30. You then have free time to explore the Tri-bay area (I'll give you an orientation tour on day 2!) until our afternoon practice at 4pm. This gives you ample time to explore the beaches, get a massage in the Sanctuary Spa or read a good book on your balcony or in your air-conditioned room. You might like to buy a juice, smoothie or small snack at our restaurant or a nearby beach shack...see how you feel and where the day takes you.
We will join as a group for brunch and dinner + dessert and enjoy family style sharing meals to connect as a group. The kitchen at The Sanctuary has the most INCREDIBLE vegetarian and seafood dishes that we will be delighting in over our 5 days and nights. Relish the freshest local produce and savor sumptuous meals that nourish both body and soul. Trust me when I say the food here is SOUL FOOD made with love!
Solstice Day Boat Trip
I have planned this entire retreat experience around the Northern Hemisphere Summer Solstice, a time of light and energy and celebration. On this day, Friday June 21st, our group will be taking a speedboat out into the Ang Thong National Marene Park for a full day adventure. We will explore different islands, swim and snorkel in pristine waters and if you're up for stairs, walk up to an incredible viewpoint to look out over the stunning array of islands dotted in this ocean.
We end this day with a Solstice Day Ritual + Practice on a palm fringed white sand beach where we celebrate and let go of all that we have created in the last 12 months and set powerful intentions for the year ahead. Upon our return to The Sanctuary that night we shall celebrate around a bonfire on the beach and toast our final night together as the sun slips below the horizon.
Sunrise Walk
On our final morning together (before breakfast and final practice + closing circle) we will wake up earlier than normal and hike up to the viewpoint to watch the sunrise. This is optional of course but a SUPER special way to close our time together and it's always been a highlight for me.
YOUR ODYSSEY AWAITS
The Sanctuary is more than just a retreat; it's an immersive journey into an incredible, soulful community and other worldly place. While I have booked all the best rooms at the resort for my group (only the best for you guys!) There will also be others staying in the resort and in nearby accommodation that will come to the restaurant at night as it’s a bit of a community hub. There are movie nights, open mic nights and other cool events that happen and I want to leave the evenings free for you to get involved in this and have a true ‘Sanctuary experience’. On the nights where there are no community events, we will be in our Prana House Shala for a sweet Yoga Nidra meditation led by me that will set you up for an incredible sleep.
Retreat Gift Bag + Journal
I'm all about treating my guests to some curated gifts that I source from my incredible female small business owning friends. I love to support them; you all get some amazing self-care tools, and everyone wins. You will also get a special retreat journal and pen to write down all your insights that will no doubt channel though you during our time together.
Community
Find your tribe among other adventurers seeking humans. Bring your partner, best friend or come alone and make a new soul family. By the end of our time together you will likely feel like you have known each other for a lifetime.
Strictly limited spaces are available for this exclusive retreat. If after reading all this your intuition gives you a full body YES, then please don't delay in securing your place by sending me an email here and begin your own journey of discovery and transformation on this magical rose quartz infused paradise island! I cannot wait to see you there. It's an experience like no other.
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Investment for 5 days/nights – all prices in AUD
$1950 per person twin or couple share in an a/c garden view suite room. King bed can be split into two singles.
$2450 per person single in an a/c garden view king room
$2550 per person single in a sea view ‘angel house’ bungalow with king bed
Payment plans available – email Lou for details
What's Not Included
Getting there- Travel to and from your country and travel to The Sanctuary on Haad Tien Beach.
You will need to fly into Ko Samui and catch a ferry to Koh Phangan and then a longtail boat to The Sanctuary from Haad Rin. It’s a bit of an adventure to get there but that’s what makes this place just so special! It's easy once you know how and I'll explain all once you are booked in.
PLEASE NOTE: I recommend spending at least one night before on Koh Samui so you can arrive fresh and in good time for our opening circle and practice. All guests should aim to arrive at The Sanctuary between 2-4pm on Monday 17th June.
Visas- Check your country's policy for visas for Thailand. Currently Australian passport holders can get a one month visa on arrival.
Travel Insurance– All retreat guests must take out a travel insurance policy and be able to share this with Lou alongside emergency contact details. Safety is sexy, don’t forget it.
MEET YOUR RETREAT HOST LOU
Lou has 9 years experience teaching yoga full time in Melbourne, Australia. She has co-facilitated international yoga teacher training programs in Thailand where she taught students from all over the world. As a certified life coach, her passion is combining her two loves - yoga and self development - by creating and hosting transformational retreats for participants to go deep into a healing space where they are able to shift limiting beliefs and create a life they are inspired by
Retreat booking T's and C's
A deposit of $500 is non refundable, however a credit may be offered for a future product or service.
100% refund of balance will be given for cancellation 60+ days from event start date. 50% refund of balance for cancellation 30-59 days from event start date. No refund for cancellation 0-29 days before the event start date.
Contact Form
Hay love, fill out this form to be sent an application or simply get in touch through my email below with any questions about this experience.