Private 1 to 1 Deep Jhana 3 Day Meditation Retreat in 2026

(Updated Mar 10, 2026)

Please note, we also offer on-site 3-Day High Focus Intensives for Executives in High Stress/Noise situations. If you cannot come to Thailand, it may be possible to have an on-site program. Read more here.

3 Days of 1-on-1 Jhana Training for Serious Meditators

This is a private 3-day Deep Jhana meditation retreat in Krabi, Thailand for people who are serious about (committed to) concentration, meditation, and going deeper than the usual relaxation-level practice.

If you’ve been searching specifically for a Jhana retreat in Thailand or anywhere in the world, this is not a group tour, not a wellness vacation, and not a generic meditation package.

This is direct 1-on-1 training focused on developing the kind of access concentration required for Deep Jhana.

You’ll spend 3 days and 2 nights in a quiet natural setting in Krabi with personal guidance, repeated meditation sessions, direct feedback, and a retreat structure built around your current level, your obstacles, and your potential. The aim is simple – cut the fluff, strengthen concentration, and train in the direction of real absorption.

This Retreat Is For

• meditators who specifically want to train toward deeper concentration and Deep Jhana
• people tired of vague meditation advice and surface-level practice
• practitioners who want direct feedback instead of guessing
• serious students who are willing to be challenged
• people open to a religion-free, practical approach to concentration training

This Retreat Is Not For

• people looking for a casual yoga-style holiday
• people who want a large social retreat
• people who want chanting, ritual, dogma, or temple-style religious instruction
• people who do not actually want to be pushed beyond their current meditation habits

What You Get

• Private 1-on-1 retreat (we do accept couples if relatively same level)
• 3 days and 2 nights in Krabi
• personal instruction focused on Perfect Concentration and Deep Jhana
• Morning and evening sessions – talks, Q/A, meditation sessions, and direct guidance
• quiet, beautiful natural locations for practice
• lodging, meals, transportation, and instruction included
• all transportation included – including airport pickup and drop-off
• a PDF copy of my book DEEP JHANA – Total Ego Annihilation + 3 other books
• a 2.5 hour Deep Jhana training video
• WhatsApp or Email contact after the retreat

Retreat Fee

Typical fee for the private 3-day retreat – $3,400 USD per person. This includes instruction, transportation, accommodations, and meals. There is a discount for couples. We don’t accept more than 2 people who must know each other for privacy reasons and so we can give full attention to each during the retreat.

A $600 deposit reserves your dates. Pay the rest in person on the first day.

Apply or Reserve Your Spot

If you want a real Deep Jhana retreat in Thailand with direct personal guidance, this is where to start.

Book your private Deep Jhana retreat in Krabi:

More Info

This retreat is for 3 days (2 nights) and is held at a wilderness resort at the base of the Khao Phanom Mountain range in Southern Thailand. Participants should be over 18 years old and in good health. We have a range of locations available and may spend time walking (hiking), sitting in freshwater streams or at viewpoints. It will be custom created for you, so all within your abilities and preferences.

What Is Deep Jhana Meditation?

Deep Jhana is differentiated from ‘Light Jhana” or the “Sutta Jhanas” in the depth of absorption that is reached in the meditation session. In Deep Jhana, all sensory input from the body’s senses is muted after the first/second Jhana. One isn’t affected by sound or anything else in these states. Jhana is a tool for being able to do insight meditation… to ask yourself questions to see what insight is reached. You learn the truth about life through direct experience. Deep Jhana facilitates very quiet states where the mind is ready for insight.

Insight

Vern doesn’t teach specific insights, though you are free to follow that path if you choose. Insights also arise naturally without following traditional Buddhist suggestions.

Meditation System

This is a natural and religion-free meditation experience where the main focus is to learn what is required to reach 100% concentration on the feeling of the breath leading to Deep Jhana in a natural way consisting of letting go rather than adding anything to the process.

These Deep Jhana states are described in the Visuddhimagga by Buddhaghosa in Sri Lanka in the 5th Century. To learn more about Lovic’s experience you can read some of the writings here at Jhana8.com or his books at Amazon. Please don’t buy them, if you join a retreat, we can send you a PDF copy for free by email. Just ask.

Please note, this Deep Jhana Meditation Retreat will not contain any required knowledge of Pali, Sanskrit, Hindi, or other languages.

Entering the Deep Jhanas need not have anything to do with any sort of religion or religious or superstitious belief.

There is nothing taught about the Buddhist 8-Fold Path, precepts, or any other requirements or prequalifications in attaining concentration or Jhana. There is nothing spoken of regarding karma, past lives, or dharma/dhamma.

Participants are asked to drop all of their previous learning and belief about what is possible in meditation and to try this new direction in meditation.

All participants will receive the PDF version of the following book:

New Book – DEEP JHANA – Total Ego Annihilation

Advanced Topics

While the main focus of this retreat is giving participants a very clear set of instructions to reach 100% concentration (Perfect Concentration) on the breath and Jhana, the topics of Abhinna and Non-Duality can also be touched upon for anyone interested.

Teaching Method

One on one instruction and advice are given during daily talks and individual interviews. Meditation schedule is somewhat dynamic, with participants and teacher choosing when and where to meditate. A morning and evening question/answer session and multiple short meditation sessions will be held daily.

Typical Daily Schedule

Here’s an overview of what a typical day of retreat will look like.

Arrive day/evening before.

0500 Wake up – Shower
0530 Walk/Ride to location
0600-0800 1:1 Talk, Q/A, and short 10-30 minute meditation session(s)
0800-0830 Breakfast, on-site
0830-1000 1:1 Talk, Q/A, and short 10-30 minute meditation session(s)

1030 Back to bungalow or hotel to digest info and self-practice.

Free Time – the following at no extra cost.
* Can visit Tiger Cave Temple (Wat Tham Seua) and climb the steps or see the foothills cave area.
* Visit Huay Toh Waterfall at National Park on the other side of the mountain.
* Enjoy a jungle hike/climb up to a viewpoint at the resort.

1630 Walk/Ride to location
1700 1:1 Talk, Q/A, and short 10-30 minute meditation session(s)
1830 Dinner at on-site restaurant
1930-2130 1:1 Talk, Q/A, and short 10-30 minute meditation session(s)

Options – There are options for where sessions and talks take place. Viewpoints, Buddhist temple locations, Thailand National Parks, Caves, and other quiet locations conducive to study and practice. During afternoons, students may choose to visit some local attraction, swim, hike, or sit in a freshwater stream. Krabi has many different options and things to see.

Silence? This is not a silent retreat. Our short time together naturally calls for you to ask questions as they arise. While silence is necessary during meditation sessions, outside of sessions there are no silent periods that we require. During your afternoons you can choose to be silent if you wish.

Keep in mind, you can wake up at 4 am. to meditate. Up to you. You can skip a meal if you want. We’d like you to make all of the 1 to 1 talks and meditation sessions, but what else you do is up to you.

Meditation Teacher

Author and Meditation Coach Vern Lovic from the United States will host the retreat and be available for questions at any time during the retreat.

ABOUT > Here is the About page for this site which has a lot of information about Vern, his books, his coaching, and his experiences.

Language

USA English.

Participants

Background of Participants? Beginners to ordained (or disrobed) monks are accepted. Focus of teaching changes spefically to address where you are on your meditation path and where you want to go.

However, there is something to be said for those of you who have meditated for years and can already reach a near thoughtless state during your meditation sessions.

For those of you with a lot of experience over the years, you’ll be asked to drop everything you know about meditation and approach it in a new way. It won’t be too foreign to you, but this new approach insists that you remove all the fluff (extra) from your current practice.

Some people hold on dearly to what they’ve already learned. It has brought you to this point, which is a good thing, however, you’ll need to begin dropping many things you’ve learned in order to move foreward.

If you would rather not be challenged in this way, another retreat may be more suitable for you. 🙂

Group Size

• 1 participant
• 1 teacher

Food

Vegetarian food is available as is pork, eggs, chicken, and seafood.

Food options – Meals to order are the usual. We schedule for three meals per day. Because, well, we’re not monks. 🙂 Feel free to eat or skip meals.

Accommodations

Usual accommodations are individual bungalow-style at the base of a stunning limestone cliff. Units have electricity and Thai-style bathrooms (warm shower), Western-style toilets, and running water. There is no air conditioning in most rooms. Occasionally one bungalow may be available with it.

There is a fan in every room. In December to February the weather is not as hot and humid as during other times of the year. Large mosquito nets are over each bed for comfort as you sleep.

Accommodation Option

You can choose to stay at a hotel in Krabi Town or near to the nature resort. Your rides will be longer staying in Krabi Town.

Clothing

No requirements for clothing other than wear something comfortable. You’ll want to wear loose clothing. Shorts are OK. T-shirts, sleeveless shirts are fine.

Mosquito Nets

We have small mosquito net tents that we use when needed. They are lightweight and you can just carry them to the location of the session. They allow even the slightest breeze to pass through. There is a floor net as well, so when sitting on a towel or cushion, these are ideal to keep all bugs out.

Electronic Devices

You can bring a mobile phone, computer, camera, whatever you like. Feel free to use your phone’s camera anytime as you will likely want to document some of your experinence. On the other hand, this is an ideal opportunity to give up your electronic gadgets and spend a few days without them. Up to you. Internet functionality at the wilderness bungalows is not always perfect, but you’ll be able to send and read email.

If you require being on-call and there is just no way around it, we’ll accommodate your needs.

Ordination

None available. This is not a Buddhist retreat and most of your talks and sessions will not be at a Buddhist temple.

Write in Advance?

Please send us a note to let us know if you are able to join us – or that you are considering it. Our dates are extremely flexible. You can choose. We will pre-book the rooms with your deposit, so you don’t need to think about whether there will be space at our nature resort. Or, you may choose to book a hotel in Krabi Town. The choice is yours. It’s probably more convenient to book a bungalow room at the wilderness resort. The atmosphere is peaceful and you’re surrounded by nature.

Address

The retreat will usually be held primarily at Phanom Bencha Mountain Resort in Krabi Noi subdistrict of Ampur Muang Krabi just outside of Krabi Town. The airport code is KBV and is about 17 km from the retreat location.

Address: 42/2 Krabi noi Moo.7, Krabi 81000.

Transportation and Directions

Fly into KBV – Krabi International Airport from a Bangkok Airport. We’ll pick you up and take you 17 km to the retreat destination. We will also drop you off at the airport when you leave. Flying is the best option by far. The train does not come close by.

Visas into Thailand

Thailand gives 30-60 day visa on arrival passes for students from the USA and most of Europe. No need to arrange an online visa or send your passport to an embassy to get a stamp. You just receive it upon arrival.

Deposit and Fees

Typical Fees for one person One on One 3-Day Intensive Jhana Retreat:

$3400 USD. This price is the same whether staying on-site at the nature resort or booking a hotel in Krabi Town. Cost is the same because transportation costs increase when you stay in town.

Each person attending the 3-day retreat will complete a deposit (Stripe payment link sent through email) of $600. This is refundable up to 2 weeks before the starting date (minus processing fee at Stripe).

The retreat fee covers one bungalow for two nights, 9 meals, transportation to and from the airport and other locations, and all meditation instruction.

Fees are subject to change over the course of the year, we’ll update this page first. If you have already placed a deposit, you already know your fees and they won’t change.

Discounts

Prior students and direct family members of any on-site retreat will enjoy a $600 discount on new retreats booked in 2026.

There will be a total discount for couples coming together of $1400, assuming staying in same bungalow. Total for 2 people – $6,800 $5,400.

FAQ – Other Information

What Is This Retreat About?

It is about you. You should come with all the questions you want answered. You should come with an open mind. You may be asked to drop certain beliefs and practices from the past.

The retreat can help you achieve consistency in your practice and to maintain a sustainable practice.

This practice is focused primarily on increasing the ability to concentrate and reach Access Concentration, and even further, to Perfect Concentration, and in time Deep Jhana levels.

What Is It Not?

It isn’t counseling or psychotherapy.

It is not a luxury holiday. Accommodations are basic. Food is exceptional! Essentials are ensured. Food is provided and always good. We sit on mats on the ground, and chairs when available.

Individual preferences may be expressed and efforts made to accommodate; their fulfillment is not guaranteed.

The retreat is not held at a Buddhist temple or retreat center.

Is This a Luxury Retreat?

• Sessions are conducted in natural surroundings with the flora and fauna as expected for this region.
• Previous conditioning may make for variable perception of comfort.

What To Expect?

• A strong reset and very specific instructions. A rethink of beliefs, customs, and practices.
• A safe environment that is mostly quiet, but the air is sometimes filled with the sound of cicadas, birds, water, and other natural sounds as well as unnatural sounds.
• A two-way respectful interaction with your teacher.
• Morning and late afternoon/early evening meetings with instruction, Q/A, and meditation.
• Short meditation sessions of 10-30 minutes at a time and up to 8 per day.

What Should I Bring?

• Bring loose fitting, cool clothes.
• Running/sports shoes you can walk on a dirt path with or climb steps through the forest. Bring socks.
• A wide-brim hat to keep the sun off head, neck, and face.
• Raincoat – we get showers that usually go quickly by.
• Medicines you need. Pharmacies here have most everything, but bring it if essential.
• A notebook. You’ll want to take notes. We can also record the session, but wind sometimes sabatoges that effort.
• Your favorite meditation cushion if you need it.

Post-retreat Access to Your Teacher- Online?

WhatsApp and Email as needed.

Hospital in the Area?

There is a large public hospital within 20 km (12 miles) of the usual retreat location.

Shopping for Essentials?

Stores are not too far if you need to pick something up in the afternoon between sessions. The resort has transportation you can use for any personal shopping or other. You may want to rent a car or motorbike to explore the area during off hours.

Bonus – You’ll get digital copies of any of Vern’s 4 meditation books you want, including his new Jhana book – “DEEP JHANA – Total Ego Annihilation“

Book your private Deep Jhana retreat in Krabi: