Rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit at these luxurious health and wellness spas, guaranteed to deliver a holistic experience.
Words: Keeta Brennan
KUSATSU ONSEN
GUNMA PREFECTURE, JAPAN
Photo from Getty Images
An onsen (hot spring) experience is a must-try when you visit Japan. It begins with a Japanese bath, where you sit on a small wooden stool and wash yourself thoroughly before stepping into the onsen. The resort town of Kusatsu has the largest volume of flowing hot spring water in the country, and the hot springs here are also Japan’s most acidic, giving them antibacterial and antifungal properties. Kusatsu has both public and private onsens located in hotels and inns. One of the best public onsen is the Otaki no Yu, which has a large outdoor hot spring pool complemented with a waterfall. It also boasts a sauna and restaurant. Another favourite is the rustic Sai no Kawara, which is the largest outdoor onsen in Kusatsu. More than 100 people are able to fit comfortably in the pool at one time. It is good to note that one must enter the onsen completely naked, and onsens are usually shared with other people, though in most cases there are separate areas for men and women. kusatsuonsen-international.jp
CHIVA-SOM SPA
HUA HIN, THAILAND
Photo from Corbis
Housed on seven acres of verdant tropical beachfront property, the spa at the Chiva-Som resort offers healing treatments such as hydrotherapy, which helps detox the body and aid weight loss; crystal therapy, which balances the body’s chakras using natural crystals, as well as the usual plethora of spa treatments. Holistic health consultations are also available, where medical experts analyse your emotional, spiritual and physical well-being and prescribe a selection of remedial treatments such as detoxification and homeopathy. In addition, on-site blood tests are conducted to monitor overall health. What truly sets the Chiva-Som apart is its professional physiotherapy services and dedicated Sports Injury Centre, which conducts physical assessment and testing, chronic pain management and acute injury treatment, among others. The resort also has a plastic surgery clinic called the Niranlada Medi-Spa that offers Botox injections, as well as skin laser and lipolysis treatments. Another plus point is its award-winning, low-calorie, nutritious spa cuisine, which uses organically grown produce from the Chiva-Som garden. www.chivasom.com
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ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS
NARENDRANAGAR, INDIA
Photo from Corbis
If you’re looking for a complete wellness experience overlooking the vast Himalayan mountain range, then Ananda Spa is perfect for you. Here, you can relax in the 24,000-square-foot spa with its wide range of Eastern and Western body and beauty treatments. At the same time, you can realign your body and mind with Ayurvedic treatments such as massages, detoxification and specialised diet programmes with trained therapists. The resort also provides yoga and meditation classes, healing treatments using natural crystals and Reiki techniques, personal training and fitness programmes, and Vedanta classes, in which meditation is used to help one attain physical dynamism, mental equilibrium and intellectual clarity. www.anandaspa.com
LIME SPA
NORTH MALE ATOLL, MALDIVES
Built on the North Male Atoll with breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean, and decorated to mirror the charms of the sea with blue hues, soft lighting, luxurious drapes and furnishings, Lime Spa at Huvafen Fushi Resort offers a one-of-a-kind experience. The highlight of this spa is its two underwater treatment rooms, the first of their kind in the world. These underwater rooms allow you to enjoy a day of pampering while gazing at schools of clownfish and stingrays through glass windows. The spa offers serious relaxation with an extensive spa menu as well as three-, five- and seven-day spa packages with an assortment of body and face treatments that promise absolute bliss. The spa also houses a relaxation lounge, gym, sauna, steam room and outdoor shower facilities, as well as a saltwater floatation pool, which allows you to soak up healing minerals from the ocean. huvafenfushi.peraquum.com
THE SPA
MARRAKECH, MOROCCO
Set in a sun-filled glass pavilion surrounded by a moat, The Spa at the Royal Mansour Hotel has 13 modern treatment rooms – three of which are luxurious private spa suites. The main feature of The Spa is a hammam (Turkish bath), built in traditional Moorish style with exquisite tiling work and marbled interiors. Here, you can experience the Turkish bathing ritual that starts with a hot sauna followed by a steam bath perfumed with essential oils, and finally, a dip in a cold plunge pool. If traditional treatments are not to your taste, The Spa also offers the latest in anti-ageing treatments from international brands like Chanel and Sisley. Exercise classes such as aerobics and Pilates are also available. You can also opt for a manicure and pedicure, or have your hair primped and pampered at the integrated salon. www.royalmansour.com
BLUE LAGOON GEOTHERMAL SPA
BLUE LAGOON, ICELAND
Photo from Inmagine
The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa fed by water that comes from 2,000 metres below the surface and has three active ingredients: silica, algae and minerals. Although the water looks blue, it is actually milky. A soak in the lagoon is a must, as the minerals in the water are said to help detoxify the body and improve health. There are canisters filled with silica mud around the lagoon. Simply dip your hands in the mud and apply the mud to your face or arms. Once you wash it off, your skin will immediately feel softer and firmer. You can also opt for an in-water massage where trained therapists ease your tense muscles while you enjoy a warm soak. www.bluelagoon.com
SPA VILLAGE
PANGKOR ISLAND, MALAYSIA
Photo from Corbis
This spa within the luxurious Pangkor Laut Resort is located just off the west coast of Malaysia. The design of Spa Village features traditional Malay influences with wooden pavilions, huts and Southeast Asian design elements. The treatments offered here are a mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Thai practices and fall under four main categories – rejuvenation and longevity; relaxation and stress reduction; detoxification; and romance. Specialists in holistic Chinese, Ayurvedic and Malay treatments provide consultation and recommend the best remedies. Each treatment begins with a signature bath house ritual, where guests can experience different bathing traditions from around Asia, such as the soothing Chinese footbath, a Malay circulating bath to improve circulation, and a Japanese cleansing bath. Each treatment is carried out in a private spa pavilion, guaranteeing utmost privacy and relaxation. www.pangkorlautresort.com
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AQUA DOME SPA
LANGENFELD, AUSTRIA
Photo from Inmagine
Nestled in the alpine valley of Otztal, Aqua Dome Spa within Aqua Dome Wellness Hotel offers a stunning view of the Alps all-year round. The spa receives a constant supply of geothermal water from the Langenfeld spring at a depth of 1,865 metres. The spa’s crystalline thermal dome houses two large swimming pools filled with thermal water and rows of deckchairs for lounging. Outside, three bowl-shaped pools known as ‘levitating bowls’ sit in mid-air, supported by glass cones. Each pool has a special feature; the sulphur bowl has fresh injections of sulphurous water every 15 minutes, believed to promote healing; the brine bowl has underwater music and lights and a five per cent saltwater content to promote relaxation; and the whirl bowl has an automated whirlpool that rejuvenates the body. To cap it all off, while adults are being pampered, kids have free reign at Noah’s Alpine Arc, a water world for kids with a huge waterslide and two swimming pools! www.aqua-dome.at
SPA ON THE ROCKS, AYANA RESORT & SPA
Bali, Indonesia
Located on rocks amidst the Indian Ocean, this luxurious spa is built with Balinese influences. Listen to the waves crashing against the rocks below as you immerse yourself in signature treatments like the Lava Me Tender, a two-hour treatment that uses volcanic lava to restore skin elasticity and youthfulness. ayanaresort.com
BOTANICAL SPA, THE ANDAMAN
Langkawi, Malaysia
Overlooking the tranquil Datai Bay, the V Botanical Spa offers a diverse range of treatments such as the V Malay Rainforest Ritual, which uses traditional village remedies and local ingredients such as lime and aloe vera to purify, balance and rejuvenate the body. The spa is also the first in Southeast Asia to offer 100 per cent certified organic food grade products. www.theandaman.com
THE SPA, BUSHMANS KLOOF WILDERNESS RESERVE & WELLNESS RETREAT
Clanwilliam, South Africa
This eco-friendly resort – a sanctuary for some 150 types of birds and 35 wildlife species, some of which are endangered – offers an opportunity to be one with nature. Treatments such as relaxing hot stone massages using traditional African blends of Rooiboos and Fynbos oils are offered at outdoor gazebos, allowing guests to take in the beautiful natural surroundings. www.bushmanskloof.co.za
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