Retreats
The retreats are meant to give people a deep look into Cambodia’s indigenous cultures and customs. There, they can connect with the spiritual energy of the land and the elephants, who are considered to be the most spiritual animals in Cambodia.
Terres Rouges Lodge
Terres Rouges Lodge is the only boutique hotel in the whole province of Ratanakiri.
Ideally situated on the edge of the Banlung lake, the Lodge is the combination of a Cambodian villa and luxurious bungalows in the middle of an exotic garden. It provides a unique opportunity to discover the history and the culture of the hill tribes, while taking advantage of the best services available in this remote part of Cambodia.
Ratanakiri
Ratanakiri is a mountainous province situated at the north-east of Cambodia, the population is sparse, mainly composed of tribes such as the Tampoun, the Kroeung, the Jaraï and the Katcha whose cultures and ways of life have remained practically the same since prehistory. Yet Ratanakiri did evolve a lot during the last decade, tens of thousands of lowland Cambodians have settled there converting much of the province to agriculture.
On these plateaus alternate bamboo forests, timber forests, clearings and scrubland. The region has a lot of waterfalls, caves, lakes, gold and precious stone mines. It is also home to the Virakchey National Park where wildlife is plentiful, the intrepid traveller might spot bears, wild boars, gaurs, eagles, hornbills and all sorts of birds…
Exploring Ratanakiri is almost as if you were going back to the origins of mankind. Nature is superb, landscapes impressive, culture authentic but the trails are broken up, the red dust adheres to your skin and the conditions of life are harder than elsewhere in Cambodia.
The practice of Bokator is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. Despite the challenges faced during the Khmer Rouge regime, Grand Master San Kim Sean has worked tirelessly to revive this ancient art form and its teachings in Cambodia. Through his efforts, Bokator continues to inspire individuals to cultivate spiritual and mental courage.
Somaya Retreat
At Somaya retreats, guests have the opportunity to experience the transformative power of Plant medicine ceremonies, which are conducted over a period of 9 days, with a total of 3 ceremonies. What makes Somaya truly unique is the incorporation of the ancient Cambodian martial art of Bokator into the healing process. Bokator is a highly spiritual practice that has been derived from a spiritual source. It was designed to awaken the warrior spirit and energy of the people of the Kingdom.
Somaya Community not only preserves and revives traditional Cambodian practices, but also supports the promising field of psychedelic assisted therapy. We are excited to offer workshops throughout the retreat that will help us set positive intentions for each plant medicine ceremony. In the long term, we are optimistic about expanding towards mental health research.
Experience the transformative and unique healing journey at Somaya Community, where you’ll be surrounded by the ancient wisdom of plant medicines, the spiritual energy of Bokator, and the presence of sacred elephants, all set against the beautiful backdrop of Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage. Join us for an unforgettable experience! Experience the rich spirituality of the Khmer Empire and join the movement to revive the ancient wisdom and healing traditions of Cambodia.
Even if you can’t make it to our 9 day retreats, you can still enjoy a wonderful 3 day rustic jungle experience with us! The location is flexible and adapts to the changing rainy season. We are thrilled to offer the services of our highly skilled practitioners who are available for sessions in Phnom Penh. Please email us to learn more about how we can help you.
Somaya Approach
This is the system we use for the retreats
PREPARATION
We provide curated pre ceremony workshops or sessions to help guide and direct your attention to what you would like to get out of the ceremony. This is the time we will help you answer questions and help you to know what to expect during your shamanic tea ceremony.
CEREMONY
Ceremony phase is done in a safe environment where plant medicines practitioners are there to help navigate your blocks and empower you to access the space where solutions and healing already exist within you.
INTERGRATION
Integration is where you and the plant medicine practitioners give meaning to the insights you’ve gained and put into action the breakthroughs you’ve uncovered during your discovery and exploration sessions.
TAKE A HEALING RETREAT!
book for a plant medicine ceremony retreat
AIRAVATA ELEPHANT FOUNDATION
Somaya believes in reciprocity which is why we carefully selected the right collaborative partners to give the most to you and nature. In the old days every Ratanakiri tribe had its own elephants and the forests were so full of them that Vietnamese, Lao and Thai people came to capture them in Cambodia!
Elephants were on the verge of immediate extinction, as a result so was the knowledge and wisdom passed on from generation to generation by families of elephant hunters and mahouts.
AIRAVATA Foundation decided to buy the very last remaining animals, Ratanakiri could not be stripped of one of its most prestigious symbols.
Part of our packing price goes directly towards the elephants, the lodge that donates to the causes and indigenous and local people. We are committed to financial transparency, all our profits after expenditures goes back towards community projects in Cambodia, partial or full scholarships for local participants, and continue education and self-development for our team.