Nestled in the dense forests of Ubon Ratchathani, Wat Pah Pong shines as the flagship monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition. Founded by Ajahn Chah in the 1960s, its rustic huts and rigorous daily routine drew seekers from around the globe—and still do. Just a stone’s throw away, Wat Pah Nanachat (the International Forest Monastery) was set up especially for English-speaking monks, a true pilgrimage spot where cultures mesh over dawn chanting.

Further afield in Isan, the serene slopes of Wat Thamma Karaman echo with the clear instruction of Ajahn Maha Bua—his emphasis on “bare insight” practice made headlines in the 1990s and continues to ripple through modern mindfulness circles. Even deeper into the jungle lie smaller hermitages linked to Ajahn Mun and Ajahn Sao, such as Huay Kha Kaeng, where solitary retreatants live in simple leaf-roof huts, following time-honored traditions of wandering and silent meditation.

Overseas, the tradition has taken root like wild bamboo. Amaravati Monastery in England and Tisarana Monastery in New Zealand bring that unmistakable forest-style discipline to Western Europe and the South Pacific. On the US West Coast, Abhayagiri Monastery offers sprawling redwood grounds for group retreats, while Bodhinyana in Western Australia sings the same ancient tune beneath eucalypt skies. Not to be overlooked, Santacittarama in Italy has become Europe’s go-to for Theravāda forest teachings in recent years.

As global interest in immersive retreats surges—especially after the recent mindfulness boom sparked by pandemic-era self-care trends—these monasteries and hermitages stand out as living bridges between age-old forest wisdom and today’s fast-paced world.