Wat Pah Nanachat

I wouldn't recommend it. I was not given any advice on what was expected of me upon my arrival and the monks as a whole kept to their side of the forest and left the lay guests to theirs. Monsateries do not always attract the most sincere people and some people come and visit to achieve their own ends. It could be to find a partner or as a way of simply telling other people what to do. This way of doing things led to a certain lay person manipulating and bullying other people, saying that he was given a special role as supervisor by the monks, justifying his behavior. I was told by the lay guest that I could not access my phone or leave the monastery grounds without his permission. I later found out his claims were false upon leaving, but there was no one that I was told I approach with questions or to seek advice from. The monastery should not allow lay guests to stay if they are just left to it in this manner. There was little chance to practice meditation as after lunch time and waking up at 3am to do chores, you are already exhausted. Often I could not sleep on the hard wooden floor until 1am and would only have 2 or 3 hours sleep but was still made to do chores and put down by the other lay guest if I woke up late. The room I was staying in had a nest of mosquitos and I left with hundreds of bites, which is dangerous, by the way. Some of the monks were not friendly at all and seemed just to want to be left alone, looking down on the lay people.

Visiting Wat Pah Nanachat was one of the most grounding experiences I have ever had. I stayed 6 days and this was my first experience at a Buddhist monastery. As a laywoman, with very little knowledge of the “rules”, i just tried to watch and learn. I found the monks and other laypeople welcoming but I wished for more instruction. The forest setting itself is breathtaking — the quiet beauty of the trees, the sound of birds, and the peaceful pathways create an atmosphere of deep reflection and calm. My stay was short, but the community’s dedication to practice and sincerity left a lasting impression. The daily schedule, with early morning chanting and meditation, allowed me to find a sense of stillness I hadn’t experienced before. There were a few teachings also… these were clear and accessible to all levels of practice. I particularly appreciated how Wat Pah Nanachat supports both Thai and international visitors. Theravada Buddhism has only male practitioners however I hope to see this monastery cultivate greater inclusivity by providing more opportunities for women to engage deeply with the practice. This would respect the diversity of those seeking spiritual growth and promote a more balanced, supportive environment for everyone. Expanding these opportunities for female practitioners could further the monastery’s mission and inspire a broader community to benefit from its teachings. Overall though, for any layperson — female or male — seeking a space to pause, reflect, and deepen their understanding of mindfulness and Buddhist practice, Wat Pah Nanachat is a great place. I left with a quieter mind, and a desire to incorporate meditation into everyday activities.

I stayed here for about a week, though I'd intended to stay for two weeks. It was a beautiful environment. I learned so much more about the dharma, was able to experience different facets of Thai culture, and learned much more about myself in this quiet, austere environment. I learned that the things I expected would be hardest, like one meal a day, no tech, or long meditation sessions, weren't as hard as my mind assumed. I met other women who I'd consider to be new lifelong friends. I loved being disconnected from technology, entering into a more balanced relationship with food, letting go of hustle culture, and immersed into nature and learning about Buddhism and culture. I ended up cutting my trip short solely due to the actions of one of the laywomen (not a guest, but someone staying for months at a time). That person, though initially kind, continued to practice behaviors that I found to be overbearing: constantly and relentlessly finding fault with my clothes, chores, sitting postures, and more. Unfortunately, I learned that several other visitors left feeling the same. It was increasingly hard to focus on deepening my practice because a part of my brain felt surveilled at all times. I chose to leave early and use the extra days exploring Laos before returning to Bangkok, and am glad I did. All in all, my experience was overwhelmingly positive. The support of the villagers was incredible to witness. The dedication of the monks was impressive. Some rituals, chants, and dharma talks were so beautiful and penetrating that they moved my emotionally reserved soul to tears. I'll always look upon this time with joy. I sincerely hope that the person who caused unneeded suffering for myself and others adopts another way of engaging with guests, and practices focusing more on their own practice and less on enforcing / ensuring perfect rule compliance for others. Thank you, Wat Pah Nanachat, for the immense offerings you give to both international and local visitors, to the surrounding villages, and to the world. Deep bows.

Very peaceful and blissful place. Suitable for either who Strictly Dheravadh school or other belief. Forrest Shady and calm atmosphere from foreign Monk and layman way would be impressive at first look and question able what they are doing for. Why did they come across abroad here.

Firstly this is a sanctuary for meditation so respect their privacy and rules. Please do not photograph areas, or people, without permission. It is a rather special beautiful place and people. If you sit quietly in some areas the local Squirrel will slowly come close to you. I hope to go back for a second visit soon and spend more time there.

I have stayed here for 1.5 months. The environment is very austere. Other monks and laypeople who stay there were not bad at first, but after a certain period, they were starting to gradually become more unkind. They will incessantly pressurize you by doing more and more chores and will force you to be an ascetic, plus they are extremely greedy as there are a lot of storerooms to store myriad almsfood and drink. These totally contradict with what our Buddha practiced on the true dhamma of staying away from greed, anger and ignorance.

I spent a week at Wat Pah Nanachat for a meditation retreat in the middle of the forest, and it was a unique and meaningful experience. The environment is serene, deeply rooted in simplicity, and offers the perfect space for introspection and quiet practice. However, it’s important to note that this is not a structured meditation course or a place where you’ll be directly taught meditation techniques or Buddhist philosophy. Teachings are not given in a formal classroom style. To truly benefit from the experience, you need to be proactive—ask questions to the monks and laypeople around you, engage in conversations when appropriate, and make use of the many books available at the library. Come with an open mind, humility, and curiosity, and you’ll leave with valuable insights about yourself and the way you relate to the world

Many acres of dense jungle thats neatly kept, with spread out bungalows where those willing can experience the monk life for the cost of a donation towards their cause