3 wellness spots for the conscious digital nomad
With Thailand reopening its borders, it might be time you plan a visit (or, if you’re already living here, it might be time for a little getaway!).
Not quite sure where to head? We have a few suggestions. This beautiful country we call home has tons of great travel options and dreamy accommodations, but our personal favourites are places that mix beach vibes with wellness, and lush, serene surroundings with a holistic approach to hospitality.
So take note, and get ready to book your next break.
Kamalaya Samui
Describing itself as a “wellness sanctuary and holistic spa retreat, Kamalaya Samui is one of Asia's top wellness retreats, offering yoga, meditation and healing. For us, it’s a slice of paradise in pretty Koh Samui, and the perfect spot to spend a few days, a weekend, or, why not, a whole week to rest and recharge.
Its surroundings are partly to thank for that: the property is built into a steep verdant hillside, amid a tropical landscape on the southern coastline of the island – a place so beautifully pristine you’ll keep dreaming of it long after you leave. But Kamalaya’s draw is also its extensive healing program. Blending Eastern and Western philosophies, science and spirituality, nature and nurture, the resort offers solutions for detox, stress and burnout, but also fitness, healthy lifestyle, weight control, sleep enhancement, emotional balance, and yoga. You’ll do all of the above in tailored facilities, of course – from a yoga pavilion to a state-of-the-art fitness centre, a holistic spa, and a herbal steam cavern.
Looking for a personalized wellness experience? The Resort’s team of international naturopaths can help you create your very own health program from the extensive range of holistic medicine, spa and healing therapies available.
Chiva-Som
Since opening in 1995, Chiva-Som has gone on to become one of the world's leading luxury wellness destinations. Being so close to Bangkok (it’s in Hua Hin, a three-hour drive from the capital), it’s somewhere we often go to when we’re craving a little bit of inner peace but can’t get away for too long.
The things we love about it are too many to count: there’s the beachside location, of course, but also its air of exclusivity, which makes it feel a world away from the hustle and bustle of big city life. The decor, a sophisticated mix of contemporary and old-world Thailand (think peaked roofs and cool whites, plenty of palm trees and traditional stone sculptures of elephants) is another big plus for the Insta-enthusiasts – though once you’re here chances are you’ll end up leaving your phone behind to concentrate fully on yourself.
That is indeed the focus of Chiva-Som. From weight-management to physiotherapy, spa pampering and soul-searching, this is a place where personal improvement comes first, and guests take wellness seriously. The variety of programmes on offer help on that front, as do the facilities, from yoga studios and tennis courts to physiotherapy suites. There’s also a sport injury clinic, plus separate male and female spas and the Niranlanda Medi-spa, which offers Botox, laser face peel and skin tightening treatments, administered by U.S. certified doctors.
Six Senses Yao Noi
Designed using natural materials to harmonise with the surrounding landscape, Six Senses Yao Noi is one of the loveliest places to stay in Thailand – and the epitome of barefoot luxury. The property is perched on a jungle-covered cliffside on Koh Yao Noi, a tranquil island located halfway between Phuket and Krabi and, from this vantage point, it grants jaw-dropping views over Phang Nga Bay's fantastical limestone pinnacles.
But it’s the remoteness of Six Senses that we cherish the most: the private white beach offering great snorkelling opportunities, the hushed atmosphere, the emphasis on space, privacy and nature that runs through each of the 56 thatched-roof villas, one prettier than the other. Coming here make us forget the outside world – and sometimes, that’s what all of us need, at least for a few days.
Not that you’ll risk the chance of getting bored. With daily complimentary activities like qi gong, yoga, mini-massages and reflexology workshops, as well as a fantastic watersports centre stacked with free-to-use stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and windsurfing boards, your time here is likely to fly. Want to explore the area? Yacht trips, island-hopping tours and diving can be arranged – as can cooking classes and Muay Thai boxing training for those looking to stay put.
Oh, and then there’s the spa. One of the best in the region, it offers a curated selection of wellness programmes, as well as Asian and Ayurvedic treatments.
