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 Mairie de Montrouge, 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 Mairie de Montrouge, and get off at Porte d´Orléans station

 

Coming by Shuttle from Paris

The shuttle from Laroche-Migennes to Dhamma Mahi is definitively cancelled.

From January 2020, each starting day of the course, 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
  • Price : 20 € - 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:

. Join the shuttle from the Porte d'Orléans Metro station
. Get to Porte d'Orléans Metro from all Paris train stations:

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.
  • At the end of the children's / teenagers' classes, between 12.30 and 1.30 p.m.
  • At the end of the work periods, between 11:30 and 12:30 a.m.

 

Coming by rideshare

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

The GPS coordinates of Dhamma Mahi are: 47° 46 minutes 45 seconds N and 3° 10 minutes 3 seconds E (N 47.77719°, E 3.16980°).

Attention:
- There are two "Louesme" towns in Bourgogne, the Vipassana centre is located in the Yonne department (not in Côte d'Or).
- We recommend that you select on your GPS, Villiers-Saint-Benoit  as your initial destination, and then only use the indications given above. Otherwise you may risk, with some GPS models, to be taken along routes that are not really fit for cars.

Coming from Paris

  • From the A6, take the exit n°18 Joigny-Toucy, then go towards Toucy on the D 3.
  • After 18 kms, take a right in the direction of (or towards) Villiers-St-Benoît D 99.
  • In Villiers-St-Benoît, go towards Mézilles.
  • Then, on leaving of Villiers-St-Benoît, before passing the old railroad tracks, take the road lined with young trees on the right.
  • Keep going straight on this road for about 1.5 km, then turn left following the "Centre Vipassana" sign.

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".
  • Then, on leaving of Villiers-St-Benoît, before passing the old railroad tracks, take the road lined with young trees on the right.
  • Keep going straight on this road for about 1.5 km, then turn left following the "Centre Vipassana" sign.

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, lined with young trees.
  • Keep going straight on this road for about 1.5 km, then turn left following the "Centre Vipassana" sign.

 

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

 

Coming by bus

  DEPARTURE from ParisARRIVAL in Saint Fargeau
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 16h00 19h00
Saturday 10h15 12h30

Please note:  The arrival time of the Wednesday bus is too late for the beginning of the course.

The bus leaves from Paris at Place d'Italie, opposite n°12, near "Café de France" to Saint-Fargeau, place de la mairie (25 Euros).

Check the schedule as it may change without notice and tell us when you arrive so that you can fetch you.

Bus company : Voyages 2000 - phone : 03.86.74.07.51

 

Leaving by bus

  DEPARTURE from Saint FargeauARRIVAL in Paris
Thursday and Friday 08h30 11h10
Wednesday 13h20 15h30
Saturday 07h05 09h30
Sunday 17h20 20h00

Departure from Saint Fargeau, place de la mairie, to Paris Place d'Italie, opposite n°12 Café de France (25 Euros).