Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary
Resort hotel · Ko Samui ·
Holistic wellness retreat with Ayurvedic healing & meditation
Information
102 9 Laem-Set Rd, Tambon Na Mueang, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84140, Thailand Get directions
Holistic wellness retreat with Ayurvedic healing & meditation
102 9 Laem-Set Rd, Tambon Na Mueang, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84140, Thailand Get directions
"A group of American hippies-turned-real-estate entrepreneurs opened this 76-room resort on the palm-covered slopes of Koh Samui. American architect Robert Powell sneaks references to Nepali pagodas into teak-clad buildings and bungalows set between the soaring trees, and strategic design maximizes tropical sea views from every angle. Those who can spare a week or more should sample off the menu of medicinal options at the Wellness Center, where flower remedies to full annual check-ups are available, while travelers on a tighter time schedule might prefer diving straight onto the massage table. The resort takes some simple steps to innovate, like eliminating fixed check-in or out times, promising instead to welcome guests whenever they turn up. There's a full roster of aerobic and meditative exercises on offer, but peace seekers don't need to break a sweat as they spend time with the rich diversity of butterflies fluttering among the gargantuan pink lotus blossoms." - Chris Schalkx, Lee Cobaj
"A renowned wellness retreat set on a vertiginous hillside with roughly 50 scattered treatment huts, dark steam chambers, and small round soaking pools that “glow like moonstones.” The property includes Arjan Cave, a sacred hollow once inhabited by monks, where guests meditate by candlelight amid incense and granite; the author notes having violated the retreat’s sanctity by taking a photo despite a broader no-phones-in-the-restaurants rule. Treatments include an abdominal brûlée known by its Thai name, Lanna samunphrai ron, described in detail: rolled washcloths smeared with “a golden paste of turmeric, galangal, and other pungent rhizomes,” a wet protective layer doused with 70 percent alcohol, and then set aflame — the therapist Thitivorada “Pop” Terananont asked, “Are you ready?” before striking the lighter. Communal dining and social rituals are emphasized (a fellow guest told the author, “You just missed us at the communal dinner table”), and a chance encounter at the host stand produced the exchange that ended with Parker Posey echoing, “That’s what I’m here for.”" - Adam Erace Adam Erace Adam Erace is an award-winning food and travel writer, restaurant critic, and cookbook author. He lives in Philadelphia with his wife and three maniacal rescue dogs. His favorite country is Mexico and his favorite airline is whichever offers an upgrade. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
"A group of American hippies turned–real estate entrepreneurs opened this 76-room resort on the palm-covered slopes of Koh Samui. American architect Robert Powell sneaks references to Nepali pagodas into teak-clad buildings and bungalows set between the soaring trees, and strategic design maximizes tropical sea views from every angle. Those who can spare a week or more should sample off the menu of medicinal options at the Wellness Center, where flower remedies to full annual check-ups are available, while travelers on a tighter time schedule might prefer diving straight onto the massage table. The resort takes some simple steps to innovate, like eliminating fixed check in or out times, promising instead to welcome guests whenever they turn up. There's a full roster of aerobic and meditative exercises on offer, but peace seekers don't need to break a sweat as they spend time with the rich diversity of butterflies fluttering among the gargantuan pink lotus blossoms."
"Tucked away on a stretch of secluded white sand beach on the southern coast of Koh Samui, Kamalaya is so much more than a spa hotel; their wellness programs are utterly comprehensive and, dare I say it, life-changing. You choose from a wide range of treatment programs that last a minimum of five days, most with an ayurvedic influence, but you can focus on anything from mental health and meditation to specific health issues, gut cleanses, and general fitness and diet. The practitioners are some of the best I have experienced anywhere in the world and really make a difference. The food is health focused but this does not come at the expense of flavour, everything is utterly delicious. The setting is calming and simplistic, nothing is over the top or in your face, there is no ego at Kamalaya, it is the ultimate in quiet, confident luxury. A place I will return to again and again for complete rest and rejuvenation." - Lilah Ramzi
"To call Kamalaya a hotel wouldn’t be doing it justice: yes, there are hotel rooms and villas dotted across this bougainvillea-draped hillside on the island’s quieter south coast, but at the heart of this sanctuary is a focus on wellness, both physical and mental. Most guests here book in on dedicated programs, whether it’s detoxes and cleanses or programs such as Embracing Change, in which you’ll spend time with Life Enhancement Mentors, unravelling past trauma with talk therapy and meditation. Treatments—many of them Ayurvedic—are all tailored to your specific issues, with acupuncture and heavenly massages. The site is built around a 300-year-old mediation cave, which you can still use today, plus there’s walking meditation, yoga, and a peaceful stretch of sand for late-afternoon siestas. Solo travelers here may like the communal dining, where everyone from opera singers to burnt out CEOs gather to knock back green juices at breakfast and feast on sugar-free curries in the evening, but you’d also feel entirely comfortable dining solo, reading a book over meals, or simply gazing out at the water."
