The Dhamma Mahi Vipassana Centre (Le Bois Planté, 89350 Louesme) is located in the territory of Champignelles in the department of Yonne (89). The nearest village is Villiers-Saint-Benoît (3 kms). The centre is 12 kms away from Toucy, 36 kms away from Auxerre, and about 170 kms away from Paris.

Students are responsible for organizing their own transportation to the centre, allowing sufficient time for bus, train and air travel so as to arrive at the centre on time.

If you have any problems on the way, don't hesitate to contact us – for contact details click here.

Coming by plane

Map of the Paris Metro and RER

To reach the Dhamma Mahi shuttle:

If your are coming from Roissy Charles-de-Gaulle Airport:

  • Take the RER B towards Paris (southbound)
  • Change at Denfert Rochereau station, to take line 4 towards Bagneux Lucie Aubrac, and get off at Porte d'Orléans station

If you are coming from Orly Airport:

  • Take the RER B towards Paris (northbound)
  • Change at Denfert Rochereau station, to take line 4 towards Bagneux Lucie Aubrac, and get off at Porte d´Orléans station

 

Coming by Shuttle from Paris

ROUND TRIP = 50 €

SINGLE FARE = 30 €

No reservation

Each starting day of the course (except Teen / Child Classes and Work Periods), a shuttle is set up from Paris to Dhamma Mahi.

  • Location: Paris, Porte d'Orléans, near the Statue of General Leclerc
  • Access: 3mn walk from the Porte d'Orléans Station, line 4 of the metro
  • Departure time: 1:15 pm
  • payment in cash or cheques only, to the driver
  • No reservation necessary

For more information on how to reach the shuttle, you can print detailed sheets for each journey in A4 color format:

Shuttle also set up for returns at the end of the course (see below).

Return by shuttle to Paris

The journey takes between 2 to 3 hours, depending on traffic conditions.

  • At the end of the 10-day course, Satipatthana, and the 20-day course, you should be back in Paris between 10:45 and 11:45 am.
  • At the end of the 3-day course, between 6.45 and 7.45 pm.

 

Teen / Child Classes and Work Periods Shuttle

Regarding the Work Periods and the Teen / Child Classes, there will be no Shuttle from Paris.

We invite you to favor carpooling.

A Laroche Migennes - Le Center shuttle can however be organized on Day 0, on request (by email, in your registration). Mandatory booking. Ditto for the return, to see on site with the Management of the Center.

Meeting at 3.30 p.m., station car park, exit on the Cheny side.

Wearing a mask is compulsory.

If there are more than 7 people, we will call on our usual service provider, and you will be asked for a contribution of 10 € per person, to be given to the Center Management on your arrival.

Thank you for coming with the extra.

Coming by rideshare

For the conditions of carpooling, please refer to government measures.

There are Ride Share Boards on our website.

Regarding journeys to, or from Dhamma Mahi, there are two distinct parts:

  • Requested trips (for people looking for a ride)
  • Routes offered (for people offering a ride)

This rideshare board is hosted and maintained by volunteers solely for the purpose of facilitating rides to Vipassana courses.
It is available as a service to students who wish to participate.
We cannot guarantee a ride, and we assume no responsibility whatsoever for the safety of participants, or for any problems resulting from participation.

 

Coming by car

Itinerary from Paris by car
Recommended itinerary from Villiers St Benoit

Attention:
- There are 2 "Louesme" towns in Bourgogne. The Vipassana centre is located in the Yonne / 89 350department (not in Côte d'Or).
- We recommend that you select on your GPS Villiers-Saint-Benoit (89 130) as your initial destination. Then in the center of Villiers, follow the signs "Centre Vipassana".

Coming from Paris

  • From the A6, take the exit n°18 - Joigny, then go towards Toucy on the D 3.
  • After 18 kms, take a right in the direction of Villiers-St-Benoît D 99.
  • In Villiers-St-Benoît, go towards Mézilles (on the left).
  • Then take the first right following the sign "Centre Vipassana".
  • Follow this road, then after about 1.5 km take the first road on the left following the sign "Centre Vipassana".

Coming from the South

  • From the A6, take the exit n°20 - Auxerre Sud.
  • Follow "Orléans".
  • In Toucy, turn right towards Charny on the D 950.
  • In Villiers-St-Benoît, follow "Mézilles" (on the left).
  • Then take the first right following the sign "Centre Vipassana".
  • Follow this road, then after about 1.5 km take the first road on the left following the sign "Centre Vipassana".

Coming from South-West

  • On the N 7, at Bonny-Sur-Loire take the D 965 in the direction of St Fargeau and Toucy.
  • In Mézilles, at the exit of the village take a left direction Villiers-St-Benoit.
  • Then, upon arriving in Villiers-St-Benoît, just after passing the old railroad tracks, take the first road on the left, following the sign "Centre Vipassana".
  • Follow this road, then after about 1.5 km take the first road on the left following the sign "Centre Vipassana".

 

Coming by taxi

Taxi numbers that know the area can be obtained by contacting the centre at [email protected].

Please note that for the moment we have no agreement with these taxis, and therefore no preferential rates.

If several people are obliged to take a taxi from the same place, we will do our best to put them in touch, so that they can share the costs...

Here are some examples of taxi trips:

  • From the car-sharing car park at Exit N°18 (Joigny) of the A6 motorway: 30 € minimum
  • From Auxerre Bus Station: 50 € minimum
  • From Joigny SNCF train station: 60 € minimum
  • From Laroche-Migennes SNCF Station: €70 minimum

To come by train to the region, visit the SNCF website: here