Souchitra Riverside Retreat began in February 2023. After falling in love with this place and with Champasak, we (two friends) decided to reach out to the owners of this somewhat abandoned guesthouse. With their agreement we began restoring it so we could share this special spot with others.

Historically, the place where you're sleeping tonight was once home to the King of Champasak province (part of the Three Kingdoms of Laos in the early 1900s). You can still see his red pedestal in the yard. His statue once stood there but it has since been moved to the temple at the end of the street for safekeeping.

The current building was constructed in 2000 and originally served as a kindergarten. However it never really took off as many locals regard the site as sacred. It was later transformed into a guesthouse.

Now in 2025 most of the renovations are complete and we do our best to maintain Souchitra as a calm, welcoming space for people looking to slow down and reconnect. The concept of a retreat came to us through the realization that deep happiness often arises when we pause and appreciate the present moment as it is. We’ve seen many travelers rushing from one destination to the next—and we hope that Souchitra can offer a space for rest, reflection, and a return to what truly matters.

Our longing for peace resonates with the quiet spirit and heritage of this place. As much as we’ve helped Souchitra come back to life, it has also been a beautiful source of spiritual support for us. We don’t know how long Souchitra will last, but our purpose will remain the same.

Warmly, Gilbert and Michi.