Review: A holistic retreat at Thai hotel Chiva-Som

Location: You’ll find Asia’s first health and wellness resort, and one of the world’s premier destination spas, hidden away off an urban street in the coastal city of Hua Hin in southern Thailand. A three-hour drive from the capital Bangkok, Hua Hin is where the Thai royal family heads for the holidays, with three miles of beautiful sandy beaches, street food stalls and night markets, plus forests and waterfalls beyond.

First impressions: Leaving the tooting taxis and tuk-tuks of Hua Hin behind, we enter Chiva-Som’s soul-soothing reception, where we’re greeted with a traditional Thai wai – a slight bow with hands pressed together – and presented with garlands of roses and jasmine. A welcome tea surrounded by fragrant orchids in the tropical lakeside lounge follows, offering views of the lush, three-hectare oasis, before we’re whisked through the resort in a golf buggy to our room.

The facts: This multi-award-winning hotel offers exceptional tailored wellness programmes and 16 transformative retreats, encompassing six signature themes – spa, holistic health, nutrition, physiotherapy, fitness and aesthetic beauty. Guests can take part in up to 12 daily classes, such as tai chi, meditation and yoga. The resort’s poolside restaurant Taste of Siam serves Thai wellness cuisine, while The Emerald Room offers elevated dining, with a new pescatarian menu.