THE HEALING TOUCH

#WELLNESS #SPA #MASSAGE

The healingtouch

From luxe yoga retreats to medical tourism, Thailand is arguably the premier health and wellness destination in the world. By Julie Miller

A HOLIDAY IN THAILAND IS NOT ONLY the perfect way to lift your spirits, it’s also good for your body and general wellbeing. From limbstretching Thai massages to gentle facials or meditations focusing on breathing, Thailand has become synonymous with wellness, with luxury retreats, therapies and even medical services helping you find rejuvenation, inner strength and physical and mental health. A visit to one of these retreats in Thailand is more than just an escape for body and soul – it’s also an investment in a long and healthy future.

OPENING SPREAD: The Sun Shala is ideal for morning yoga at Absolute Sanctuary ABOVE: Morning yoga at Amatara

OPPOSITE, TOP TO BOTTOM: Chiva Som hydro-therapy © Kittipong Panchee; tonics and tinctures at RAKxa; meditation at Absolute Sanctuary; traditional massage at Kamalaya © Ralf Tooten KAMALAYA, KOH SAMUI Built around a cave that once served as a place of meditation for Buddhist monks, Kamalaya capitalises on its beautiful environment to create a sanctuary guaranteed to inspire, heal and reconnect to your inner self. It offers 20 holistic wellness programs ranging from relaxation to detoxification and stress management, combining traditional Eastern healing therapies with Western medical research. Rooms, suites and villas feature jungle or ocean views, some complete with their own plunge pools. RAKXA, BANGKOK Set on an island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River, RAKxa is Thailand’s newest fully-integrated medical destination combining advanced medical remedies with holistic therapies. Treatments cover physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing, with modern technologies provided by Bumrungrad Hospital designed to optimise health. The facility offers a series of retreat packages, from weight management to gut health, with accommodation in private villas capping off the experience.

CHIVA-SOM, HUA HIN This luxury health resort in Hua Hin has long raised the bar for wellness in Thailand, transforming lives since 1995. It offers a series of wellness escapes, with each program curated to promote healing and improve lifestyles back in the ‘real world’. Each retreat includes pre-selected activities and treatments, with your path to self-discovery guided by a Health and Wellness Advisor. With facilities including a dance studio, yoga pavilion, a Watsu pool and restaurants helmed by leading chefs, Chiva-Som really lives up to its name, meaning ‘haven of life’. ABSOLUTE SANCTUARY, KOH SAMUI This intimate destination spa hotel is regarded as one of the best yoga retreats in Thailand, with leading instructors, therapists and chefs providing a worldclass wellness program. Programs are designed around individual needs, with 22 different offerings across 15 categories nurturing mind, body and spirit. Facilities include a spa, yoga studio, steam room and a beautiful infinity pool; while nutritious, organic meals created in the Love Kitchen provide a special gourmet experience.

AMATARA, PHUKET Located on Cape Panwa on the southern tip of Phuket, this five-star spa resort offers nine all-inclusive wellness retreats, all while staying in some of the island’s lushest suites, pool villas and pavilions. Programs include detox, yoga, weight management and family wellness, with holistic treatments, fitness activities and spa treatments integral to the healing journey.