The land of sun, smiles and spas, Thailand is the perfect place for a luxurious spa break. Visit city spas in Bangkok's five-star hotels or wellness retreats on Thailand's paradise islands; either way, you're in for a VIP experience you'll never forget.
Chiva-Som, Hua Hin
Chiva-Som is located in the ancient city of Hua Hin, a favoured seaside retreat of kings and queens for centuries. Voted “The World's Best Destination Spa” by Condé Nast Traveller three times (from 2014-16,) this wellness retreat favours a holistic approach to physical and mental relaxation. Every attendee has a personal Health and Wellness Advisor to help them on their journey, and treatments and guidance offered range from physiotherapy to nutrition. The spa offers treatments designed to transform you, including Detoxifying Balneotherapy (where massage is applied using underwater jets and specially blended essential oils) and the Siam Ritual Cocoon (after the application of a sea salt scrub and herbal oils, your body is wrapped with aloe vera and nourishing body butter.)
The Oriental Spa at Mandarin Oriental Bangkok (photo)
Looking over the Chao Phraya river, the Oriental Spa is considered one of the best in the world and offers cutting edge therapies in a restored teakwood house. A short boat ride across the river from the 140 year old
Mandarin Oriental Bangkok
, guests are welcomed with herbal tea while an individual therapist creates a unique treatment plan. The standout treatment is the Lanna Ceremony, inspired by Chiang Mai's wellness rituals. Ingredients are sourced from Northern Thailand, including miang, a healing herb which is infused into a foot bath and fang, which is used in a refreshing body wrap. Then, enjoy a Lanna massage, which relaxes the muscles with fragrant bark from the tamarind tree.
Banyan Tree Spa Sanctuary, Phuket
Banyan Tree Phuket is uniquely located on a plot of land that was declared to be beyond repair in 1977. Today, the land has been restored into a tropical paradise, with a beautiful garden which is host to diverse wildlife. Accommodation is in villas, and each guest is provided with unlimited in-room massages. For VIP treatment, stay in the Spa Sanctuary Pool Villa, with its private steam room and outdoor sunken bath. The treatments here are based on ancient Thai rituals, with standouts including Tropical Rainmist (where you are treated to a steam bath, rain shower and honey milk nourisher) and Royal Banyan (with a jade face massage and coriander cucumber cleanser.) Enjoy the view of their lush gardens and let yourself rejuvenate.
SoSPA at SO Sofitel Bangkok
Towering above peaceful Lumpini Park, SO Sofitel is an oasis in vibrant and busy Bangkok. SoSPA spreads over the eleventh floor and is designed to evoke the mythical Himmapan forest from Thai folklore. Around you, floor to ceiling windows reveal the Bangkok city skyline and the greenery far below. Enjoy ancient Thai techniques carried out with contemporary French skincare brands like Cinq Mondes and Ytsara. To start your path to bliss, try their Hom Mali Jasmine Body Scrub, enriched with jasmine rice and jojoba oil, or their signature SO exhilarating body massage - a legendary Thai treatment that will rescue you from jet lag.
Kamalaya, Koh Samui
Located on heavenly island Koh Samui, Kamalaya is a wellness resort which focuses on relieving stress and burnout. At the centre of the spa is a cave that was once treasured by Buddhist monks as a spiritual retreat, and this legacy is still lived up to in the spa today. Book into their remedies that promote emotional balance, such as the Lotus Scrub and Wrap or Traditional Thai Massage (using a herbal compress,) then unwind in their plunge pools, steam caverns and try out their yoga facilities.