Located on a secluded estate amidst butterflies, chirping birds, cicadas and manicured jungle, Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa is a place to decompress after stressful situations have left your spirit drained and your body battered. Kamalaya is a lush resort secluded from all the noise and nightlife on the island. It’s a peaceful retreat for yoga, fitness, contemplation, relaxation and detoxification. At Kamalaya you can realign yourself with nature, get back in touch with your soul, shed that excess weight and rid your body of its ailments.

Kamalaya is the brainchild of John and Karina Stewart, two spiritual visionaries who wanted to create a holistic atmosphere conducive to peace, healing and happiness. Everything from the setting of the resort, to the spa treatments, to the food, and amenities (there are nut and seed snacks in the mini-bar instead of candy and there are CD players instead of televisions) adds to this ambience. They even advise you to not use your cell phones and computers in the public areas so as to not disturb the peaceful surroundings- however don’t worry the rooms have wifi and there’s also a library with three computers for free Internet access.

At Kamalaya, all the programs/packages are holistic- meaning the overall state of your mental, spiritual and physical health is taken into account. The wellness journey begins with an initial health consultation. There’s a health questionnaire to fill out about your medical history and health goals. A nurse will do a simple Body Bioimpedance Analysis which outlines your body composition (ratio of fat, lean muscle mass and water). The BIA outlines your basal metabolic rate (how many calories your body burns a day in a resting state) as well as your general state of health for your age. You can also consult with four resident naturopaths, one of whom is also a counselor, to address certain issues. From here you can pick which program is right for you.

Some opt to de-stress with relaxation packages such as ‘Asian Bliss’ or ‘Relax & Renew’ while some will choose a 7 day Detox & Rejuvenation program which includes supplements and colonics. Colonics are administered by nurses in comfortable rooms using filtered water. You can even watch what is coming out in the glass evacuation tube- Who needs television with all this entertainment! Many detox programs encourage people to do a liquid fast. However at Kamalaya, there's a recommended detox menu and people on a program can choose from this selection. The philosophy at Kamalaya is your body tells you what it needs and you shouldn’t be forced to do something that will mess up insulin levels and starve the body or the soul.

Kamalaya has many types of alternative healers. Its two Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine are excellent acupuncturists who also perform moxibustion (the burning of mugwort into acupuncture needles which warm up the body and treats ailments like female problems) and cupping (the drawing of blood to the skin surface to helps increase blood circulation in certain areas). There are also hypnotherapists, sound therapists and ayurvedic treatments that can help address issues like quitting smoking, depression and emotional eating.

Some guests come to Kamayala to lose weight and raise their fitness level on the ‘Ideal Weight’, the ‘Optimal Fitness’ or the ‘Personal Yoga Synergy’ programs. There’s a fully equipped fitness center at the resort with personal trainers and there are fitball, pilates, yoga, meditation, tai chi and beach bootcamp.

The spa, also known as The Wellness Sanctuary, offers treatments which range from hand massages, ayurvedic massages, Chi Nei Tsang (a stomach massage which aids in the toxin evacuation process), and various facials. Fans of soft, relaxing treatments will love it! The spa has more than 30 treatment rooms- some of which are outdoor salas with stunning views. The spa has a FAR infrared sauna which penetrates deep into the layers of skin to aid in the detoxification process. There’s also a cavernous steam room with glass panes to allow divine rays of light to shine in. The steam room can be used anytime without an appointment.

The resort, located on the southeastern section of Koh Samui, sprawls over an entire hillside and down to the beach. There are nine room categories to choose from starting from the basic hillside rooms with views of the surrounding garden and jungle. There are comfortable and well-appointed sea view rooms which are either suites or villas. There are also pool villas, beachfront villas and beachfront pool villas. The accommodation varies widely according to what room you get so it would behoove you to choose a category you will be happy with- especially if you will be there for a week or more. The rooms are equipped with CD players but notably absent is the presence of a noisy television. At Kamalaya nature is your TV show. However, if you must have a TV, you can get one sent to your room.

The décor of the rooms is simple and natural with wood or rattan framed seating, neutral upholstery and soft furnishing and ethnic accents adorning the walls. There’s even a pillow menu from which to choose, depending on the amount of support you would like.

One of the special rooms is Rock Top villa. It has ultra-high wood-beamed ceilings, a large living room lit by atmospheric Chinese lanterns, a separate kitchen with views of the sea, two bedrooms and two semi-outdoor bathrooms all in wood. There are statues, sculptures and wall hangings from various regions throughout the East and large boulders are incorporated into the design of the room. There’s also a terrace with antique-inspired fans, lounge chairs and a stunning sea and jungle view. The room feels like a mystical Asian safari lodge.

There are two restaurants at Kamalaya. The Soma Restaurant is a natural yet modern venue that serves breakfast and dinner. The breakfast buffet is an elaborate affair with various fresh fruits, salads, buckwheat pancakes, a selection of nuts and grainy breads, ginger tea and honey which you scrape directly from the honeycomb! Dinner has healthy choices like avocado salad, sweet potato rosti or the veloute of fresh herbs soup. If you are not on a detox, you can indulge in scrumptious dishes like lamb with mushroom risotto or chocolate mousse. The Amrita Café, which is poolside, has sunken tables under thatched roofs. Amrita has a whole host of healthy choices like tofu in green curry, refreshing salads and grilled chicken breast with veggies.

Kamalaya, which translates from Sanskrit to ‘Lotus Realm’- a symbol of the unfolding of the human spirit, has won recent accolades in a collection of publications and spa competitions. Not surprisingly, luminaries and celebrities looking for seclusion, detox and relaxation have come to stay. This place is a perfect retreat for professionals, many of whom come alone to get away from stressful jobs, bad habits, painful break-ups or unhealthy environments. The resort’s vision is unique amongst the other harsher detox spas on the island. At Kamalaya you’ll find peace and well-being in a natural yet luxurious setting.

Kamalaya Koh Samui
102/9 Moo 3, Laem Set Road, Na Muang, Ko Samui, Suratthani 84140 Thailand

TEL +66 (0) 77 429 800
FAX +66 (0) 77 429 899
www.kamalaya.com