Set in the quiet hills of Chiang Mai, Iboga Soma offers a rare space to root, soften, and see clearly. We work with the sacred Iboga plant in a traditional, slow, and somatically attuned way—welcoming those ready for real change, not quick fixes.
What Is Iboga—and Why Does It Matter?
Iboga is a sacred plant medicine from Central West Africa, used traditionally for rites of passage, healing, and soul return. Its effects are not psychedelic in the conventional sense—they are clarifying, grounding, and mythic.
Iboga is a revered plant medicine from the forests of Central West Africa, where it has been used for centuries in spiritual initiation, physical healing, and personal alignment. It is most closely associated with the Bwiti tradition of Gabon, which regards Iboga as both a teacher and a gateway.
Unlike other plant medicines that may open vision ortranscendence, Iboga has a different pace—it slows things down. Ithelps people see their lives clearly and directly, often exposingroot patterns, emotional imprints, or misalignments in identity.
At Iboga Soma, we work with the whole root bark, not syntheticibogaine. The experience is ceremonial, guided, and supported—notrecreational, therapeutic, or visual in the way many people expect.
We’re not a psychedelic tourism stop. This is not a “detox.” This is a ceremonial path home to truth.
Iboga Soma is built for people seeking realignment,not recreation.
What sets us apart
We welcome guests from all walks of life—founders, therapists, seekers, mothers, sons, artists, and engineers.
If you feel the pull, trust it. Apply. We’ll help you discern fit.
The reasons people feel called to Iboga are diverse, but the core pull is often the same: something in life feels out of step—and the usual tools aren’t working.
Some guests come to heal trauma stored in the body.
Some come to address cycles of addiction or burnout.
Some come to reconnect with lost clarity, purpose, or inner knowing.
Potential outcomes reported by past participants include:
We do not promise that Iboga will “fix” you. But we’ve seen, again and again, that it will return you to yourself—if you’re ready.
At Iboga Soma, your transformation is not rushed—it’s rhythmically guided through five elemental stages:
Ground. Drop in. Reconnect with your roots.
Let go. Surrender control. Feel what’s ready to leave.
See what’s true. Burn through illusion.
Clarity. Breathe in new truth. Witness your life.
Integration. Stillness. Soul-wide coherence.
Ibogais often compared to more commonly known plant medicines like Ayahuasca or Psilocybin. While all three have value, their energies and outcomes are very different.
Where Ayahuasca may open up visionary space and emotional release, Iboga tends to work more directly on the nervous system, the root of the psyche, and one’s personal narrative. The experience can feel spacious, timeless, and intensely grounded.
Iboga doesn’t generate hallucinations—it creates clarity.
It doesn’t overwhelm the senses—it quiets the mind.
It doesn’t move through you—you move through it.
This is not a peak experience—it’s a descent into essence.
The word “Iboga” is often used interchangeably with “Ibogaine,” but the two are not the same.
Iboga refers to the whole root of the Tabernanthe iboga shrub, used in its natural, full-spectrum form in traditional ceremonies. Ibogaine is a lab-extracted alkaloid derived from Iboga, often used in clinical detox protocols—particularly for opioid addiction.
While ibogaine may offer biochemical intervention, it is only one piece of the full Iboga experience. At Iboga Soma, we work exclusively with the whole root bark in ceremonial context—not isolated compounds—because we believe in the spiritual and energetic integrity of the complete plant.
Working with Iboga is not something we take lightly. Safety is central to every decision we make—from pre-screening to post-retreat integration.
Every guest is thoroughly screened for medical contraindications, including heart conditions and medication conflicts. Ceremonies are supported by trained facilitators with emergency protocols and 24/7care throughout your stay.
We do not accept every applicant. If we believe you are not a fit for this medicine or this format, we will tell you with clarity and respect.
We also source our Iboga ethically, working only with small suppliers who harvest with sustainability, tradition, and reverence. We hold this plant—and its origin cultures—in the highest regard.
Scientific interest in Iboga is rising, especially in the areas of addiction interruption, neuroplasticity, and trauma release. Early studies suggest that Ibogaine may reset opioid tolerance, stimulate new neural growth, and allow for revisiting suppressed memory with clarity and detachment.
While Iboga Soma is not a clinical treatment center, we respect the role of science in confirming what traditional wisdom has long known: this plant works deeply, precisely, and powerfully—when approached with respect.
We welcome a small group of guests per retreat. Every application includes a short clarity call—because deep work deserves deep alignment.
Apply nowIboga Soma is a place for the ready. If that’s you, we’ll meet you there.
