skin from free radicals. The Oriental Rose Beauty Therapy includes an aromatic footbath, foot scrub, Oriental Rose Aromatic massage, and a Tichaa herbal tisane and fruits. Baan Thai Spa’s holistic treatments include the Chi Nei Tsang, a 60-minute Chinese treatment that focuses on your internal chi or energy transformation. Nei Tsang translates freely as working your internal organs. This massage is performed on your abdomen to help you improve your digestion and energy level. It also helps release toxins in your organs and tensions that show up in other parts of your body. The Indian Head massage, a 60-minute Ayurvedic treatment designed to reduce tension and stress, works on your neck, shoulder, upper arms and pressure points to help your muscles relax. Gentle massage techniques are used on the scalp to stimulate and revive your scalp to encourage circulation, raise oxygen levels and provide nutrients. The massage also increases the oxygen supply to your brain and helps stimulate hair growth.
Baan Thai spa’s most popular facial is the HARNN Heritage Hydrating, a replenishing treatment for normal and dry skin and uses a holistic approach that leaves your skin hydrated and soft. Each facial begins with a pre-treatment consultation, an Aromatic Footbath and scrub, a formal deep cleansing and skin toning. Each treatment ends with a herbal tisane and refreshments. Other facials include the Honey and Cucumber, the HARNN Heritage Clarifying, a 60-minute treatment that features a deep cleansing, facial steam with Ozone exfoliation and a Balancing Facial Mask. HARNN Heritage Uplifting uses a hydrating facial mask to combat dry skin and improve dry skin and blood circulation – one of the factors that cause deep wrinkles. The HARNN Heritage Hydrating employs a detoxifying facial mask, a Revitalizing Lymphatic Drainage massage, a relaxing facial mask and a Deep Nutrition facial mask to leave your skin supple and radiant. Baan Thai spa also offers a special package – the Traveling Weary Away Therapy – a two-hour treatment designed to fight off fatigue from long flights and jet lag, combat tiredness, and relieve body aches. The treatment includes a warm bath soak with sea salt to ease body aches and release muscle tension and a Siamese Aromatic Oil massage to improve blood circulation and restore agility.
It’s all about knowing your body's needs to help you create your personal haven.
“By combining the nourishing benefits of a body exfoliation with a healing massage, you give your skin a chance to discover a tranquil recovery,” she said. The HARNN Lifestyle Design starts with an Aromatic Footbath and scrub and ends with a choice between the HARNN Facial Ritual and the HARNN Body Pampering. Baan Thai Spa also offers a wide range of massages, ranging from the Eurasian Energizing Body and Himalayan Ayurvedic Head massage to the Eurasian De-Stress, the Eurasian Energizing Body massage. The big favourite is the 90-minute Siamese Aromatic Body massage – a combination of Traditional Thai and Aromatic Oil massages. The treatment uses a warm herbal compress to release contracted muscle and absorb active botanical ingredients into the skin to maximize therapeutic effects. Palm pressure and stretching help ease muscle tension and restore agility. The Oriental Element Jade Body is also popular and based on the Traditional Chinese concept of elements. Each meridian point is anointed with HARNN’s signature blend of essential oils, followed by soothing massage movements. Jade is used to restore your mental equilibrium. The Traditional Thai Massage is always popular. It uses stretching techniques after Buddhist meditation. It ends with a warm herbal compress to release contracted muscles and maximize therapeutic effects. The spa’s most popular body wrap is the Sun Soothing Body Mask, which uses Aloe Vera to relieve sunburns, reduce redness and irritation while soothing your skin. Its Balneo Experiences offer three baths – Romance, Inspire and Renew – that leave you feeling hydrated, stimulated and hydrated.
Exfoliation is a critical step in achieving great skin. Dead skin cells do not make your skin look dead but prevent your skin from absorbing active ingredients from skincare products. The big favourite at Baan Thai is the Oriental Rose Skin Purifying and Siamese Jasmine body exfoliation for dry and sensitive, along with the Eurasian Purifier, an Oriental Deep Cleansing and three masks – Firming Body, Detoxifying Thai Herbal Compress.
Other scrubs include the Oriental Rose Skin Purifying Body Exfoliation with Coenzyme Q10, which uses a skin purifying body scrub containing essential natural botanical extracts, while organic rose water enriches your skin and apricot seed exfoliates it. Shea butter and Coenzyme Q10 are then added to replenish moisture, improve your skin condition and promote a natural glow. The Sun Soothing Body Mask is the spa’s favourite wrap. Other wraps include the Firming Body Mask, Thai Herbal Compress and Thai Herbal Ritual. “It’s specifically designed for skin with visible signs of fatigue and to bring life back to your face,” added Apinum. The treatment includes a facial massage and a facial mask. The mask absorbs the impurities and toxins in your epidermis, leaving it feeling refreshed and revitalized. Its most popular massages focus on holistic and pampering. The traditional Thai Yoga massage, used for centuries in Thai royal palaces, incorporates yoga-style stretches; Thai massages that send energy along your sen or energy meridians, aligning, balancing and allowing the free flow of energy throughout your body. It also helps to stimulate your blood and lymphatic systems and, when incorporated with yoga, improves body immunity for anti-aging and longevity.
Its Aromatherapy massage consists mainly of long strokes over your oiled skin and kneading the outer layers of your muscle tissue to reduce stress and soothe sore
joints and muscles. The Aromatherapy massage uses oils from aromatic flowers, herbs, spices, woods and fibres. At Baan Thai, you can choose from five unique spa blends. Samui is known for its coconut trees and uses them in the spa’s Samui Coconut Body Exfoliation. It mixes coconut husks, fresh coconut milk and sun-dried Andaman Sea salt to exfoliate and soften your skin. The treatment also uses a blend of virgin coconut and jojoba oils that leave your skin moisturized with the scent of coconut. Great for all skin types, especially after a day in the sun. The spa’s Touch of Celestial Beauty four-hour package is “the ultimate pampering experience,” says Denny, “in which you rediscover your celestial beauty.” It starts with an Aromatic Foor Ritual and a warm steam shower with exotic herbs to hydrate and cleanse your pores. Next, total body exfoliation with a Rose Milk bath, an Aromatic body massage, and ends with a HARNN Signature facial with its unique massage techniques to restore and create an instant glow and a younger-looking appeareance. The resort is built on a gently sloping hillside that ends at the edge of a 120-metre high cliff overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. InterContinental Samui makes the most of its 22-acre cliffside setting by developing its large, Thai-inspired rooms, suites and villas. There are seven types of accommodation: Ocean View and Premier Ocean View rooms, each 67 sqm in size, have panelled doors leading to a large balcony with day beds and a dining area. The Premier Ocean View rooms are located on the top floor with views of Taling Ngam Bay. Tropical Pavilion suites, 70 sqm in size, are located on the ground level and feature a private bar, adjoining private dressing room, private terrace and access to the resort’s five coloured pools. Ocean View suites, ranging from 120 to 215 sqm, provide dark wood Thai furnishings, four-poster beds, vaulted ceilings, louvred doors, wooden latticework and a private dressing room.
Panoramic View villas, 210 to 240 sqm in size, are cliffside villas that offer secluded luxury, phenomenal views of the gulf and greenery, a large minibar and
cocktail-making facilities, and two en suite bedrooms, large sundecks and are close to pools. Beachfront Pool Villas, 82 to 89 sqm, are located on Taling Ngam Bay, with private a sundeck. The Three-Bedroom Napa Reserve villa, 320 sqm in size and located in the middle of the resort’s rainforest, offer panoramic views and residential-style accommodation; Thai-style bedrooms; separate dining and living areas; and outside, a lounge and show kitchen, a large sundeck and private pool, and access to exclusive use of the spa suite. When it comes to dining, you have the option of two unusual dining experiences, starting with Amber, its top restaurant, which offers all-day dining, and features dishes with a Thai influence and other Asian tastes. Popular dishes include Boston lobster steamed over hot rocks at your table, with soy sake mirin broth and soba Deerdles; pan-fried gnocchi, preserved lemon and caper butter, tomato salsa and grilled tiger prawns. There is also braised Wagyu beef in red wine jus, potato purée, soft boiled egg vinaigrette and caramelized shallots. Stained glass wall murals and contemporary artwork and seeing the restaurant’s chefs prepare dishes at a live cooking station in the middle of the restaurant combine to create a very special ambience. Or you can dine al fresco outside, where you can dawdle over your meal while taking in the great views of the gulf. Amber’s in-room wine cellar stocks more than 1,000 labels. Its other main restaurant, Flames, is spectacular on several levels, starting with the dazzling performances of its fire performers on Saturday evenings. Flames is located beachside in a high-gabled roof building with an arched entrance. Guests also have the option of dining outside. The menu is themed around the fire concept. Here, you can have fresh seafood or meat cooked by flame, grilled, baked or on the BBQ. Special dishes include cannoli risotto cooked with chicken bouillon, local seafood and crustacean foam; mud crab claw, avocado guacamole, coconut and lemongrass foam; and oven-roasted duck breast on a spicy mango and cashew nut salad. Lighter fare, including tapas and sushi, is available at the Air Bar, situated on the cliff. The location creates the sensation of floating above the gulf and offers 360-degree views. Serene, the lobby café, is the place for afterDeern teas and coffees from Thailand and around the world. It also serves up light lunches and homemade pastries. The Fireside – a unique Continental concept – draws on our instincts to sit around the fire in the evening. It’s located in front of Flames, where guests gather around a central fireplace. You can nibble away on various Thai and Asian dishes and desserts at the Pool and Beach, including its signature ice cream and sorbets.
Melia Samui A Resort Within A Resort It’s called The Level, which consists of 55 luxurious rooms and suites as well as a private lounge along with a number of bespoke privileges. There are 30 elegant two-storey The Level Boat suites that are more than 100 years old. Six of the suites offer vistas of the resort’s two-level infinity pool with sunken seating areas and in-water lounges, while seven other suites have access to the lagoon pool. Twenty-four Level Pool Access rooms have private terraces that segue 700 metrelong lagoon pool that meanders through the resort’s lush grounds like a river. Melia Samui overlooks secluded Choeng Mon beach on the northeastern tip of Koh Samui and has a 256 sqm presidential suite with its own exclusive floor for privacy. It offers a vast living area with a ten-seat dining table and a private balcony overlooking the lagoon pool. It’s also part of The Level.
The Level also offers an upgraded level of service and benefits, including access to an executive lounge shaped like a boat’s hull with all-day snacks and beverages and boasts a vast open terrace surrounded by a water feature with panoramic views of Choeng Mon Beach.
Spa Manager Kantima Choimpoolad
Other The Level privileges include complimentary afternoon tea, cocktails, and canapes at The Level Lounge from 2.30-4.30 p.m. and 5.30-7.30 p.m. During the latter, guests also can learn how to make cocktails at the lounge’s cocktail counter. A superior level of personalized service encompasses private check-in and checkout at The Level Lounge, welcome amenities including chocolate and fruit, a dedicated concierge service, and preferential reservations in the resort’s restaurants and bars by the concierge. “With The Level, we have introduced a resort within a resort that prides itself on both exclusivity and privacy,” says Ernesto Osuna, the resort’s general manager. “Drawing upon our warm and sunny Spanish hospitality, The Level lifts the getaway experience on Koh Samui island to a whole new level.” In-room services include Nespresso coffee machines and coffee capsules and late check-out until 2 p.m., subject to availability. Other benefits include a 10% discount at YHI Spa. The Level guests have access to all of Meliá Koh Samui’s facilities, including two restaurants, a swim-up bar, a fitness centre, a ballroom, and for families, a kid’s club, an outdoor playground, and a mini water park. Many activities include Muay Thai boxing, yoga and water sports such as kayaking, and a packed “Edutainment” program at the Kid’s Club Kidsdom. Meliá Koh Samui’s YHI Spa is a serene health and well-being sanctuary. Its therapists provide an array of reinvigorating treatments, including massages, scrubs, wraps and facials that blend ancient Asian wisdom with modern wellness techniques. The spa is located on the second floor above the beachfront resort’s main lobby. It offers private facilities, including two double spa suites featuring a shower and bath, two single spa suites, an infrared sauna, a Thai herbal steam room and a hydrotherapy shower. https://youtu.be/E_40DrDLnXE Touring Melia Samui https://youtu.be/yFwd1juH4tQ More Melia Samui Pix YHI Spa’s treatments are based on organic Thai wellness brand HARNN’s products, made with natural ingredients via methods handed down by generations of Thai artisans. The spa focuses on invigorating your senses and promoting purification and relaxation. YHI Spa, as it is called, is the place where the soul, spirit and body meet. We aim to balance the five senses and foster complete well-being. YHI Spa offers numerous paths that lead to harmony. All you have to do is go with the flow. These include the aroma of essential oils, gentle music, expert techniques and the perfect temperature.
“These include a healthy external appearance that reflects your interior, says Kantima Choimpoolad, spa manager, with therapists who are experts in your relaxation and well-being and water as an essential element of therapy, using carefully selected natural, ecological products. YHI Spa has an array of essential oils in its treatments. “We like to use our intuition and choose an aroma that feels just right for that day. For example, if it’s a sunny day, we may choose a combination of peace lavender, ylang ylang and peppermint that’s refreshing, energizing, and complements the golden rays outside. We may select HARNN’s signature essential oil blend of “Sensual Tangerine and Patchouli” or “Passion Rose and Geranium” if it's rainy. They relax and encourage our spa-goers to rest as they hear the raindrops outside,” said Pum. Its most popular signature treatment/package is the Power Relief, a 60-minute and 90-minute treatment. It’s a delicate massage developed for the deep layer of muscles, using slow but firm strokes to increase blood flow and promote muscle recovery. This
treatment addresses chronic back and shoulder tension, reducing stiffness and improving circulation. Most popular massages, facials and body treatments include the 60-minute Healing Beachside Thai massage that uses pressure on the body’s energy meridians to ease built-up tension, improve blood circulation, and free your body of toxins that gather in tired or overworked muscles. “Guests enjoy this massage amid our stunning natural setting of Choeng Mon Beach's pristine sands and aquamarine waters.” Local coconuts are a key ingredient in the spa’s 150-minute “Samui Paradise Experience” that begins with 15 minutes in the steam room and/or sauna to open the skin’s pores, followed by a fresh coconut body scrub, a fresh coconut body scrub and a virgin coconut oil massage. This package ends with a relaxing aromatic bath with natural essential oil to release stress and restore energy. It also includes a scented bath with refreshments and a blended YHI herbal tea experience. Among facials, YHI Spa’s most sought-after facial is the 60-minute “Soothing ‘His or Her’ After Sun Herbal Facial,” which results in super-soft and radiant skin. This multi-sensory experience uses a combination of the finest virgin honey, milk, natural yogurt, ‘golden plai’ (from the ginger family), organic cucumber and hydrating botanicals to calm the redness of sensitive or sunburnt skin. Relaxing aromatherapy facials are individually tailored to suit your skin’s requirements. Our trained facial therapists help guests select a treatment that will best purify and balance their skin. This facial deeply cleanses, hydrates and nourishes the skin, soothing and reviving even the most sensitive complexions. After a personalized consultation with our therapist, the guest’s skin is treated to a complete facial using our customized blend of plant-based products and aromatic essential oils selected to address specific needs. It works for normal to dry skin, combination oily skin, sensitive skin, and age-defying results.
“Not-to-be-missed Thai Herbal Blended Steam is one of the most efficient methods of eliminating the body of toxins through the skin and lungs. Highly aromatic medicinal herbs, including lemongrass, turmeric, plai, pandan and camphor grown in our own garden, are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and circulate in the body’s tissue, delivering their therapeutic powers to each cell.”
At the same time, the hot steam opens the pores and allows the herbal vapours to enter the skin to draw out toxins as you sweat. The herbal steam simultaneously cleanses the body from the inside and outside, providing a doubly detoxifying effect and a very relaxing, soothing experience. “YHI Spa therapists offer treatments by Choeng Mon Beach's pristine sands and aquamarine waters for guests who prefer the outdoors, such as the Healing Beachside Thai Massage. You can’t get a better “sense of place” treatment,” said Kantima.
Six Senses Koh Samui Where The View Is Never The Same All your senses come alive as you make your way down the wood steps to spa reception at Six Senses Hideaway Samui – the smell of the lemongrass, the touch of the faint breeze from the Gulf of Thailand, the sound of waves breaking on the sandy beach below and a view that changes from day to day.
From the observation deck, built from old railway ties and close to the main lobby, you can see the thatched roofs of the treatment huts, almost hidden in the thickly growing trees and undergrowth. And beyond that, the blue-green waters of the gulf, where speedboats leave trails of foam in their wake as they head back and forth near a small island in the bay. Spa reception is located beneath the resort’s main lobby, where we meet Keerana Sripongtunkul, wellness and spa director, who notes that all the spa’s treatment rooms face the sea. “It’s rare that you find a spa where all the treatment rooms have such an incredible view. Our guests love it.” When Six Senses first viewed the site, it was full of rocks. But Six Senses saw a million-dollar view, an exclusive hideaway for world-weary travellers and a place of rich experiences – and set about transforming it into one of the island’s premier destinations. “You’d never recognize it today,” said Keerana, whose Thai nickname is Kae. “The view is never the same. Sometimes, the bay is turquoise. Other times, different shades of blue. The colour changes every day.” You’ll be invited to rest on a large day bed or swing or lounger at spa reception and take in the view while being advised on your spa program, selected from a wide range of spa treatments and therapies. “We go that extra mile to make your experience the absolute best,” said Kae. Spa reception overlooks seven indoor treatment villas that can accommodate couples, each with a fabulous view of the sea. Its outdoor treatment salas, positioned between the indoor treatment villas, are far enough apart to ensure complete privacy. They are equipped with rain protection, mosquito nets, and ceiling fans and create a very definite feeling of being close to nature. joWflNqyoe8 Keerana Sripongtunkul, wellness and spa manager, Six Senses Koh Samui RL9o49TGLMw Dining on the Hill at Six Senses Samui https://youtu.be/q37Qv5wiFlA More Six Senses Samui Pix The cabins are not just used for treatments. The straw-thatched open huts are very popular with guests, who like to have their treatments where they can hear the sound of the sea. Some guests also like to do yoga, tai chi and holistic exercises there. The emphasis is also on spirituality and well-being, healthy food rather than diet food, authenticity and individualized treatments. “Our therapists provide high touch, not high tech, and we help you select the most suitable treatments and packages that can be finetuned to suit your needs,” says Kae.
“We work with a team of high-skilled therapists and another team of selected holistic practitioners worldwide and have put together our deep understanding and passion for physical, emotional and spiritual health, resulting in great well-being. “We care not only about ourselves but also about others and our environment…and support many charity projects and environmental initiatives. “In the spa, she adds, “the focus is to offer de-stress treatments that bring out your inner beauty by pampering to your body’s needs.” Herbal steam, sauna, showers, changing rooms and relaxation areas are available in the spa. The resort also has a fitness centre and a yoga pavilion, complete with mats, surrounded by great views of the Gulf of Thailand. The spa uses Dermalogica products in its treatments. The scent of peppermint and lavender, which have strong antibacterial properties, is used in the treatment villas. After each treatment, you’re invited to relax with a chilled Roselle drink or, if you prefer, hot ginger tea. If you’re seeking relaxation, Kae will probably recommend an Aromatherapy massage. “In one of our foot rituals, you’ll have a great view of the sea while you soak your feet.” The spa also tries to refresh and create new treatments regularly, including a number of SLOW LIFE treatments that make you feel not so rushed. She says the spa uses herbs in its Thai massage, noting that the resort also grows its organic herbs.
SLOW LIFE treatments include the Secret La Stone Four Hands, a hot-stone massage using unique massage techniques, and ending with a Reiki session. Amazing Senses Four Hands, performed by two therapists working in unison, and Hideaway Retreat combines Thai and Western massage techniques to reduce accumulated stress and restore balance. Hideaway Fusion, a customized body treatment, uses different massage styles to soothe and rejuvenate your body.
A second Four Hands Massage, called The Amazing Senses Four Hands, uses a combination of massage techniques, Reiki, Chakra balancing and hormonal healing techniques to remove old blockages stagnant energy. The spa also offers several massages, including the Thai Healing, which works on the body’s major energy lines, called Sen. The traditional Thai massage uses a similar system of pressure points as Chinese acupuncture to promote healing and release stress to allow your Prana or life force to circulate freely. Several massages are based on ancient Thai wisdom, starting with the Thai Boran or Nuad Thai, which relieves stress, provides deep relaxation for stretched muscles, and increases energy levels and greater flexibility while providing relief from sore, aching muscles and joints.
The Oriental Fusion, described as “the ultimate treatment for your body,” uses a variety of massages to soothe, relax and rejuvenate your body. The Four Element, designed to balance your four elements; and Sense of Element, a soothing massage over your entire body to achieve an over-all sense of well-being. Other massages include the 90-minute Hideaway Retreat.
Other Thai wisdom-based treatments include Thai Healing Therapy and Holy Thread therapy for your hands and feet. In this treatment, your hands and feet are soaked in a traditional Thai herbal bowl, and a holy thread is wound around your hands and feet. It’s designed to balance your lymph and blood flow and is recommended for individuals who suffer from cramps, muscular contractions and lethargy. The Energy Detox is helpful for people who have stomach problems or feel sick, uncomfortable, stressed, and not sleeping well. The Cleansing Ritual, designed to rejuvenate your body inside and out, is “a pampering solution for today’s stressful living. “Oriental philosophy regards beauty and health as a holistic concept that embraces both your inner and outer self, and the ritual supports the belief by applying natural elements that specifically suit your body’s needs, release tension, improve circulation and create perfect harmony.” The spa has two popular facials – The Hydrating, designed for tired, dry skin, using firming Botanicals and vitamins to provide maximum nourishment and hydration: and the Sensitive skin facial. The Skin Brightening/Pigment Relief, described as a revolutionarytreatment to even out pigmentation and dark spots caused by sun exposure, age spots, harmonal imbalance or pregnancy. Other facials include the 60-minute Soothing, which helps reduce skin irritation and damage caused by environmental problems by promoting healthy tissue regeneration. The Anti-Ageing uses natural silk cocoons to hydrate your skin. The cocoons contain 12 amino acids that improve your skin’s elasticity, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and repair sun-damaged skin. Great for all skin types. Anti-Ageing treatments include the Lift and Glow, which use the latest generation of repairing peptides and lightning actives with a collection of the latest high-tech cosmetic ingredients. The Anti-Wrinkle Eye Mask is designed to repair the skin, relax wrinkles, increase hydration and relax skin suppleness to leave our skin looking visibly youthful. To revitalize premature damaged skin, Kae suggests the Multi-Vitamin Power Skin treatment that features a vitamin power exfoliation, followed by a vitamin recovery mask to improve the texture of your skin.
Other options include Revitalizing Eye Rescue; Purifying Perfection for oily skin; Gentle Glow for sensitive skin; Anti-Ageing that breathes life into your skin; Revitalizing Boost facial; and Whitening Inspiration, based on Clarins’ exclusive HighPerformance Lack-Around System. When it comes to exfoliation, Six Senses has a number of wraps and scrubs, including the Detoxifying Seaweed body wrap, which draws out impurities from your skin while improving your complexion and protecting it from harmful UV rays. If
you’re looking for a scrub, there’s the popular Thai Coconut Butter and Aromatic Marine Salt. There’s also an After Sun Soothing scrub and a wrap of the same name. More body treatments include the highly popular Senses of Element – a full-body massage – to help you achieve an over-all sense of well-being. For best results, it should be combined with Chakra Balancing, where Reiki is applied to the seven major chakras individually. In the hands of an experienced professional, the universal life energy is transmitted to you. It supports your body’s ability to heal itself by removing old blockages and stagnant energy. Favourite scrubs and wraps include the Coconut scrub and the Aromatic Marine Salt scrub, rich in minerals and licorice to heal and remineralize your skin. The After Sun Soothing wrap uses Aloe Vera to treat sunburn and reduce skin irritation; and the Coconut Bady Mask to draw o9ut impurities, improve complexion, and protect your skin from UV rays. Zen Na Tai is an ancient therapeutic medical massage that focuses on your abdominal area – the centre of your energy flow in your body and chest area to relieve mental tension in your chest area. It improves digestion and breathing. Its 60-minute Energy Enhancing or The Tibetian Seven Full Moon Singing Bowl awakens your chakra energy with healing oils to activate your body’s energy flow. The sound vibration from the singing bowls resonates with your body fluid to cleanse and rejuvenate. Six Senses also offers several packages, ranging from two hours to 3.5 hours in duration, starting with Sweet Honeymoon, which features a private Honey Milk bath, a Honey and Sesame scrub, Aromatherapy massage, Honey Delight facial, and ends with a relaxing Thai herbal tea.
Other spa packages include Royal Thai Healer, Romance, Harmony and Serenity. The spa’s holistic treatments include several choices: Massages designed for pregnant women to reduce peripheral swelling, prevent insomnia, reduce cramps and back pain; and the Indian Head massage that produces a deep sense of calm by improving blood flow to nourish your scalp.
The Harmonic Healing uses energy chimes on or near your body to produce sound pulsations to shift energy blockages, balance chakras and realign your body. Reiki and chakra balancing are also used to deal with energy flow problems. The spa’s healing rituals include the Thai Ancient, which combines the ancient Thai Boran massage with a Thai herbal compress ball to stimulate blood circulation and relieve muscle strain and tension. The Samui Ritual is a tropical oasis of fresh hydration and pampering that infuses your skin with healing coconut to remove dead skin cells, strengthen new skin tissue enzymes, and address sun damage and pigmentation. Its most interesting ritual is the two-hour Sleeping Enhancement – “a journey to recharge your body, rest your mind and enhance your soul.” It works on your mind, your heart feeling and gut awareness to help you relax and become one through guided breathing. The process is enchanced by the healing sound of the Tibetan Chakra Singing Bowls that cleanse your body’s energy and slow down brain wave frequencies. The package includes Reiki energy, Senses of Element and ends with a Ful Moon Singing Bowl. Six Senses also offers a number of exercise regimens that provide holistic benefits, starting with yoga, ideal for beginners and advanced students; Pilates, a fun physical activity on a large blown-up ball; meditation, with an instructor who will walk you through sitting and meditation techniques; Tai Chi, as a graceful form of exercise originally developed in China 4,000 years ago as a form of selfdefence; Medical Qi Cong, which uses slow movements for therapeutic purposes to strengthen your internal energy and boost your immune system.
The yoga sessions are led by Dr. Serge Landrieu, a visiting consultant who conducts the spa’s myotherapy program and a Realignment Package designed to realign and tone your body structure. There’s also an astrology and palmistry session led by Omesh Langmann, a freelance astrology/palmistry expert and meditation healer. If you happen to be around the pool in the afterDeern or by the deck in the evening during the free bar, you can take advantage of an initial treatment provided
by the spa’s therapists. It can take the form of a shoulder or foot massage and lasts for about five minutes. Many guests follow up with a full massage later. What do people like most about their stay at Six Senses Samui? Watching the sunset at Dining on the Hills has to top everything. Other turn-ons: The resort’s butler service and its eco-friendly style – in keeping with Six Senses’ SLOW LIFE philosophy. “All the water we use here is recycled. Even the water from our laundry is used for our plants and trees. Conservation is especially important on an island like Samui. We don’t use cut flowers, for example. Instead, we pick up flowers that have fallen on the ground. We use them in the spa and for decoration around the resort.” Six Senses Hideaway is located on a sloping headland on the northern tip of Koh Samui and set among 20 acres of indigenous vegetation. Its design echoes the look and feel of a Thai fishing village, with its accommodations in the midst of greenery.
The resort’s facilities include a large central Infinity swimming pool with poolside service, gymnasium, gift shop, herbal garden, and laundry and butler service. When it comes to dining, there are two main options – Dining on the Hill and Dining on the Rocks – each with unforgettable sunset views of the Gulf of Thailand. So bring your camera.
Dining on the Hill, located on the sunset side of the resort, is open for breakfast, lunch and supper. Breakfast is spread over several dining stations. Lunch features balanced cuisine emphasizing taste, while dinner offers Thai favourites and weekly themed evenings with a traditional Thai dancing show. Also popular are its BBQ seafood night, with local Samui seafood, cooked either Thai style or BBQ grilled. It also offers three different seating styles – either at a table or daybed or Thai style on cushions, set on the decking at the restaurant’s pond. Dining on the Rocks, Six Senses’ signature restaurant, offers new Asian cuisine – tried, tested, and original recipes with a new slant in a style called Modern Interpretative Cuisine. The emphasis is on taste and fresh ingredients. The restaurant’s design and architecture are unique, featuring ten terraced decks of weathered teak and bamboo. Other options: Chill by the pool, which serves up burgers, pizzas and Mediterranean favourites cooked in an open kitchen; Chill by the Beach, where you can eat at your daybed or regular beach tables; and In-Villa Dining, where the restaurant comes to you.
There are two bars: Drinks on the Hill, where you can watch the sunset while listening to music, and Drinks on the Rocks, located within Dining in the Rocks. The resort’s wine cellar stocks more than 300 labels from 19 countries and has regular wine tastings and wine dinners in the wine cellar with the resort’s sommelier. Interesting things to see and do nearby:
Boat trips to some of the most beautiful areas on the island; snorkelling trips to Anythong National Marine Park as well as to Kho Tao and Koh Pha Ngan; visiting the island’s morning market; mountain hiking; sea kayaking excursions; catamaran sailing; windsurfing; diving in nearby sites; shopping in Chaweng, the island’s hot spot; taking in the sights on Walking Street at Fisherman’s Village; or visiting tourist sites like Big Buddha, a short distance from the resort. Tongsai Bay Koh Samui Immerse Yourself In Nature The soft, sloping green hillside rolls down to the beach, past the butterflies fluttering over the bushes and past lizards, a few metres long, that scurry among the thick undergrowth as you approach.
There are two ways to reach the beach at Tongsai Bay on Koh Samui – down the walkway on your right or the paved road on the left. I took the pathway, hoping to encounter one of the lizards, but they were probably hiding in the shadows of the bushes along the path. “We have a lot of wildlife here, including the lizards and 60 different bird species that visit here throughout the year,” said Julathmart Tongpuek, the resort’s Green Project manager, on our walk to the beach. Once you reach the beach and stick your toes in the soft, white sand, you know why the beach is such an attraction, not to mention the resort’s Pro Lad Bistro and Bar with its wide views of the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Then, to the left of the bistro and past the pool, over a small bridge, you suddenly come across the spa, almost hidden in the thick growth of a tropical forest. The spa, called Prana, meaning life force, is reached through an entranceway with round, concrete stepping stones placed at intervals in a long shallow pool. Overhead, a dark-stained timber ceiling provides shade against the early afterburn sun.
“Prana is also a green spa. We use natural ingredients products,” says Bassy, Prana’s spa manager. “Green spa treatments are considered more effective because your body absorbs natural products more easily.” The spa has three special treatment cottages, each designed to accommodate two persons at a time and featuring open-air bathtubs, beds for either Thai or oil massages, a herbal steam room and chairs for foot treatments. The cottage treatment rooms are bright and extra-large, with arched roofs and wide, floor-to-ceiling windows. Lighted candles flicker on a stand on the opposite wall. But what takes your eye is the large golden metal floral sculpture against a pink background framed on the wall at the head of the treatment beds. The beds have white coverings with patterned, light brown runners. White and red blossoms decorate white
towels at the head and again in the centre of the treatment beds. A blended essential oil of lemongrass is used throughout the spa to help you relax. A footbath ritual, using sea salts to draw out toxins, is included in a number of the spa’s treatments. In the case of massages, you can also opt to have them done in your room or at a beachside sala. “People like getting massages close to the sea,” says Bassy, spa manager. Your spa journey starts when you enter reception, where you’re welcomed with a cool towel and a cool drink and invited to relax as your therapist discusses any health concerns you may have and treatment options. The glass-enclosed spa reception is surrounded by thick green tropical growth, which shields it from outside noises and distractions. In the background, a woman is singing Good Night Irene in a soft voice. Treatments usually end with a massage, using special oil that does not need to be removed in a shower. After the treatment, you’ll be invited to relax with tea before resuming your activities. Prana Spa has an interesting approach, a fascinating concept and story and imaginative names for its treatments. Its name is rooted in Ayurvedic medicine as the essence of Vata, the principle of wind, which serves prana as the life force and the attraction between Purusha, the lover, and Prakrit, the beloved. This force is vital to your life energy. Without prana, life cannot exist. It specializes in a relaxing technique that helps your mind and body move in sync to control and decrease your response to stress. It does this by first helping you relax, which, in turn, enables your blood to circulate freely. This helps cleanse your body of toxins and impurities and bring your body back into balance.
The spa is located near the beach, almost hidden in the thick green growth. Its spa cottages have two massage beds, two treatment beds for Thai and another massage style, two easy chairs for foot treatments, a herbal steam room and an open-air bathtub for floral or milk baths. Treatments range from pure relaxation to specifically designed to decrease stress and stress-related problems. Signature treatments include The Samui Dream, a traditional Thai remedy that uses coconut oil and local herbs to repair sunburned skin. Its most popular treatment, The Return to Prana, Tongsai’s signature package, was created for couples who want to go through a series of relaxing experiences together – the lover and beloved – starting with herbal steam and a Sangtong scrub for the lover and a Rojana scrub for the beloved. Then, you and your partner smooth the spa’s
homemade honey cream on each other’s bodies before taking an Aromatic Milk bath. The Return to Prana ends with a massage with the spa’s blended oil. Princess Rejana, the youngest, was the most beautiful of seven princesses of the Siamese Kingdom. She is pure of heart and dismisses criticism about Santong’s appearance. She presented him with a garland of jasmine flowers to show her deep attraction to her. The Sangtong for men and Rojana for women help bring their souls closer together. The one-hour Aromatic Oil Relaxation massage helps the essential oil penetrate your skin, resulting in full-body revitalization and stress relief. The Rojana scrub uses a blend of jasmine scent and cashew nuts, honey and sesame oil to exfoliate dead skin cells and impurities to leave your skin healthy and balanced. There is also a couples Aromatic Milk bath in your private open-air bathroom. It uses honey, lemongrass and ginger cream, which is applied by each other before being immersed in a milk bath and rose petals. Bassy also recommends The Return to Prana for experienced spa-goers. Her choice is the Prana Thai massage for first-time visitors, which uses acupressure to bring your four elements – Earth, Water, Air and Fire – back into balance and increase your energy flow. This massage is very popular with Western women, who find it relaxing, balancing and stimulating.
The spa’s two most popular facial treatments are the Samui Sundal Honey mask, used to treat skin complaints in the East. Its Collagen treatment is described as a direct way to restore your skin's natural collagen support layer. It helps to smooth facial lines and diminish wrinkles while improving the hydration and elasticity of your skin. Other facial treatments include Lifting and Firming and Linden Mask. The Prana oil and Prana Thai massage are the two most popular massages. The Prana Thai massage focuses on acupressure, which is effective in helping your body develop natural pathways for your energy flow. It also harmonizes your body’s four elements. The Aromatherapy, another wellness massage, focuses on your nervous system to energize and relax your mind and body. It uses romantic oil and techniques
that stimulate your breathing and help you synchronize your mind and body. It’s also great for headaches, insomnia, stress and increased blood circulation. Other massages include the Traditional Thai Herbal Compress – an ancient aromatic treatment in which a warmed herbal compress to ease suffering sore muscles and The Head and Neck, Anti-Stress, Pregnancy, Hot Stone, Swedish and The Lifting and Firming. https://youtu.be/k_--X05t99s More Tongsai Bay Samui Pix Favourite scrubs include the Coffee and Honey scrub that balances your moods and removes dead skin cells, making your skin smooth and soft and minimizing the appearance of cellulite and varicose veins. The Tamarind scrub contains AHA, which helps nourish and soften your skin as it eliminates dead skin cells, while the Samui Dream, another big favourite, helps repair sunburnt skin, using coconut oil and local herbs in a body mask, together with an Aromatherapy massage and facial. There’s the 2.5-hour Samui Secret, which features a herbal steam, Coffee and Honey scrub, Prana Oil massage, and a Samui Sundal Honey mask among the spa's packages. Other packages include the Thai Way, Trim Off and Firm Up, Tongsai for Ladies and Touch of Nature. There’s also the Sun Soothe mask, The Turmeric and Thai White Clay mask, Herbal Body wrap and the Floral Yogurt scrub. The Mind and Body Relaxation also helps you achieve better breathing, stronger blood circulation, release tension, cleanse yourself of toxins and impurities, and achieve inner balance and an overall feeling of well-being. The history of the resort goes back to 1985, when Akorn Hoontrakul, chairman of the Imperial Family of Hotels, saw Tongsai Bay for the first time from the sea. Seven days later, he purchased the land and, for the next three weeks, slept on the beach, dreaming of his ideal resort and deciding on the best location for its cottage suites in a way that would avoid cutting down a single tree and result in minimal damage to the area. Tongsai Bay opened in July 1987 as the first five-star luxury hotel on Koh Samui under the Imperial Family banner. In 1993, Akorn sold the hotel group to a Thai businessman – but kept Tongsai Bay, where he wanted to live out the rest of his life. He died in 2000, and his son, Thanakorn Hoontrakul, and his daughter-in-law, Saisiri, who shared his passion for the environment, became owners and managed the resort.
Since then, Tongsai Bay has launched its own Green Project, working with other resorts and hotels to preserve the island’s natural environment, according to Julatamart Tongpuek. Its Green Project includes several critical initiatives: Taking care not to contaminate the water and soil is one. Others include: Decreasing the amount of rubbish it creates; avoiding plastic products on site; supporting animal and tree conservation; using water-saving faucets to reduce toilet flush capabilities; and recycling the hotel’s wastewater to water its gardens. Minimizing waste production: waste sorting and recycling; composting organic waste for use in its gardens, where Tongsai Bay grows organic herbs and vegetables; using recycled napkins and ceramic bottles for toiletries and glass instead of plastic bottles; using biological pesticides, compost as fertilizer and biological detergents; and
supporting and funding local projects such as planting trees, litter clearing and beach cleaning. Energy conservation is also extensive – using energy-saving light bulbs, electric buggies, installing solar cells and using hot water generated by air conditioning and ozone system in its laundry. The Tongsai is located in a secluded setting overlooking Tongsai Bay. Its 83 suites and villas are built on a hillside, with terraces or balconies and open-air baths and a sitting area. These include Tongsai Villas, offering clear views of the Gulf of Thailand, an 81 sqm terrace, a gazebo where you can sleep under a mosquito net; a bathtub, and a pantry-bar dining table sun loungers. The Tongsai Pool Villas, located in the same Tongsai Grand Villas, offer a partial sea view between a palm-fringed garden, an extended terrace, and a plunge pool. Akorn Villa, the resort’s largest, features two-bedroom accommodation, sharing 140 sqm of open-air terraces and a panoramic sea view. The Nang Gong Villa, perched on the edge of a small hill, offers 360-degree views of the resort and the sea, a private plunge pool on its terrace, and its private garden. The Guvnor Villa and Guvnor Pool Villa – two adjoining villas with an extra bedroom in the middle. There are 12 seafront cottages. Most are semi-detached and include 29 cottage suites – McGuigan, named after Gordon McGuigan, who visited the resort every year from 1990 until his death, staying five months each time. It has a large terrace and is located close to the beach. The Hideaway was built in isolation some distance from the resort but with an unlimited view of the sea. Viewpoint Family Cottage offers large 160 sqm suites with two bedrooms, two bathtubs and an L-shaped terrace. These suites feature a large, open-air terrace, a bathtub and a gazebo. Tongsai Bay has two main dining options – Chef Chom’s Thai, located on a hill leading down to the beach, with indoor and outdoor dining on its terrace. It offers an international buffet breakfast and traditional Thai cuisine at dinner, with an à la carte menu and occasional theme nights and fresh seafood cooked in an open kitchen. The Pro-Lad Bistro & Bar is the go-to place for Thai, Chinese and Western food during the day. At night, it turns into a gourmet restaurant with a different menu and an emphasis on a “fusion” of fresh seafood and meats. You can dine in an open sala or on a canopied terrace. On Wednesday and Thursday nights, there’s a third option – Butler’s Grill, located near the half-moon pool, which serves up steaks, seafood, and lamb with fresh salads and memorable desserts. PHUKET
Anantara Phuket A Torchlight Welcome Every night, just as dusk falls, oil lamps are lit throughout Anantara Phuket Villas, just as they were in Thai villages long ago, as a sign that “people of significance” were visiting. This is followed by a procession of resort staff and guests that starts at the entrance to the spa and winds its way through the resort to the beat of three drums to welcome new guests to the retreat. Traditions are important at Anantara. Its logo looks like a water jar, and beside the jar is a triangle. It symbolizes an old Thai custom, going back a couple of hundred years when Thai people left a jar of water in front of their homes for passers-by to help themselves. “It’s giving without expecting anything in return,” said Sirirat Kampongsun. “Because we’re in the hospitality business. Kindness and giving are rooted in our culture and many areas of our business.” Every Anantara resort is represented by an icon that reflects its location. At Phuket, it’s the turtle. The Chao Lay people believe that a woman of the sea gypsies changed into a turtle – but with a human face. Since then, they’ve treated turtles as sisters of humans. Anantara’s beach, Mai Khao, is a well-known nesting area, and Anantara supports their conservation through the Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation because “the turtle is very important to the people of Phuket”. Every year, between November and February, giant Leather Back Turtles leave the sea to lay eggs in the soft sand. The turtle theme is repeated all around the resort, even at the side of your personal pool. Anantara Phuket Villas is located on Mai Khao Beach, a 15-minute drive from the airport, on the island's quiet, unspoiled part. Each of its 83 villas has its own pool set either within gardens, offering meandering paths down to the sea, or by a lagoon, with its bamboo water fountains and flaming touches at night. Some villas have private dining salas, accessed over a wooden walkway across the lagoon. rXYAOv9GrE Lighting the lamps at Anantara Phuket https://youtu.be/DzdFZGZKHxs More Anantara Phuket Pix https://youtu.be/Y-Au12185Z4 Relaxing at Anantara Phuket Anantara has a great line about its spas – that “the greatest journeys are felt, not told”, and it does its best to live up to it.
It’s all about feeling good on holiday and, above all, finding balance, says Sukansee, whose Thai nickname is Joy. “Whether you want to focus on weight loss and body toning, detoxing and antiageing, de-stressing or holistic healing, or just the satisfaction of returning from holiday, looking and feeling great, Balance invites you to choose the ideal elements for you – from individual experiences to tailored programs, with total freedom in between.” The spa is known for its bespoke recommendations and programs that fit your ideals and times. When was the last time you stepped away from your work to recharge? She answers the question by referring to the spa’s Balance Wellness three-tiered program, which is also the spa’s overriding theme. You’ll also hear a lot about lotus flowers when you visit the spa. Growing in muddy waters and rising above the water with remarkable beauty, the lotus symbolizes the spa's philosophy and underlies many of its treatments, including its yoga program.
“Anantara offers a haven of serenity where you can leave behind the stresses of everyday life and help you get in touch with your inner self – a place where hearts, minds, and actions are as pure as the lotus symbolism,” said Joy.
Spa reception is located behind the main lobby. It is southern and central Thai in style and decorated with pottery, clay and brass, with a thatched roof, typical of the local area. The aroma of lavender essential oil follows you from reception to the spa’s six treatment rooms – one couples suite with an inside bathtub and steam room and an outdoor massage bed; four couples rooms with an outdoor bathtub; and one Ayurvedic room decorated in Indian style and featuring an inside steam room. The spa has a staff of 17. There’s also a lifestyle swimming pool – eye-catching even before you reach it – with its series of water terraces of various depths, fountain effects, built-in loungers, three tennis courts and a fitness centre and health club. The spa offers three Spa Journeys, ranging from 120 to 210 minutes in duration, “each crafted to help you escape the limits of time and space”. The Journey of Siam starts with an Exotic scrub to remove dead skin cells while strengthening and smoothing your “new” skin. A headed traditional compress filled with remedial herbs and healing Thai Massage techniques are used to soothe muscle tension all over your body. This is followed by a Floral Foot Ritual, an Essence of White Coconut Mint Scrub and a Traditional Thai Herbal Compress. The East to West Bliss draws on Phuket’s Chinese Merchant Heritage and Anantara’s expertise to create a unique experience. Ancient Oriental Massage techniques and a special oil blend combine to relieve muscle tension by focusing on your body’s meridian lines. The treatment also includes an Elemis Sensitive Skin Soother to reduce the appearance of redness and to protect your skin against daily stresses; a Floral Foot Ritual; and a Traditional Chinese Back massage. The Couple’s Exotic Romance Retreat focuses on pampering – revitalizing your skin with a refreshing lime and Stimulating Ginger polish, a luxuriant Milky bath that softens and moisturizes. Like other spas journeys, it begins with a Floral Foot Ritual, and includes an Elemis Intensely Cleansing Salt Scrub, Lime and Ginger scrub, Milky bath, a Bespoke massage and the Elemis Sensitive Skin Soother.