From private island spas to hillside wellness retreats, these are the best spas in Southeast Asia for massages, facials, body scrubs and more.
Confession: One of the best things we love about living in Southeast Asia, aside from the amazing food, scenic spots and cool diving sites, is the convenience of jetting off to a neighbouring country for a cheap but ache-relieving massage. But despite the abundance of these no-frill spas, make no mistake: the Southeast Asia region is home to some of the world’s best spa sanctuaries. We’re talking five-star, isolated resorts located above stunning beaches, forests and on private islands – so expect nothing but serious ah-and-ah here. Get booking – we pick the best spas in Southeast Asia.
Song Saa Private Islands in Cambodia
Don’t expect your average spa at the stunning Song Saa Private Islands resort in Cambodia – here, wellness follows a “spa with no walls” approach; all around the island, you’ll find mini sanctuaries nestled among nature. Choose from three themes – these include stillness, healing, blessings – to guide your retreat, with treatments like facials, scrubs, massages and even yoga. It won’t be difficult to find peace of mind here – the sustainable eco haven offers unobstructed views of the sea and lush rainforests.
Song Saa Private Islands, Koh Ouen Private Island, Koh Rong Archipelago, Near Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Espa at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore
Trust us, even the best reviews won’t come close to the real deal. Immaculately designed for total relaxation, Asia’s first flagship Espa group scores high marks in our spa guide with a bevy of signature facilities including authentic Turkish hammam, forest onsen-style pools (pictured above), rock saunas, ice fountains and crystal steam rooms. Receive the full spa experience from the moment you enter till you leave (reluctantly of course). Enjoy manicures at the finishing studio, a healthy lunch at Tangerine cafe, yoga at the Zen studio and a quick workout at the gym, along the way. You’ll know where to find us and if you do, do not engage.
Espa at Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
Avani Quy Nhon Resort Spa in Quy Nhon in Vietnam
If you’re travelling to Hoi An, make a well-worth pitstop to the Avani Quy Nhon Resort and Spa located just off Quy Nhon city. The seaside town in Vietnam’s south-central coast might be unfamiliar at first, but rest assured you’ll be rewarded with untouched beach views and tunes of tranquility (no screaming kids here). Walk along the lush greenery behind the resort (or get a buggy ride if you can’t wait any longer) and you’ll find the treehouse-inspired spa, well hidden in the forest.
The spa comes equipped with treatment rooms and steam baths along with a unique way of detoxing in the Japanese dry sand and salt sauna. You’ll also get full freedom to customise your massage or facial according to your needs from four categories designed to boost, balance, calm and purify.
Avani Quy Nhon Resort Spa, Bai Dai Area, Ghenh Rang Ward, Quy Nhon City, Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam
Yunomori Onsen & Spa in Bangkok
It’s a marriage of traditional Thai massage and ancient Japanese Onsen at the Yunomori Onsen and Spa and you’re the VIP. The specialty jet baths, onsen mineral water baths (with healing water sourced from the thermal springs of Wat Wangkanai) and soda onsens are perfect for a quick boost. Or loosen those tight knots with a Thai or aroma massage, along with herbal compress therapy. We’ll see you on the other side.
Yunomori Onsen & Spa, A-Square 120/5 Soi Sukhumvit 26, Klongtoey, Klongtoey, Bangkok, Thailand
Five Senses in Jakarta
A salon-spa hybrid is exactly the kind of pampering we desire. The Five Senses spa offers traditional Javanese, Indonesian jamu, coastal hot stone and deep tissue massages and refreshing facials for you to choose from but if you’re in the mood for something more, go for one of their rituals for an all-in-one massage, body scrub, body mask and milk bath. Your skin will be as smooth as a baby’s bottom. Don’t forget to get a blowout at the salon before you leave.
Five Senses, Greenville blok AY no 11, Jakarta Barat 11510, Indonesia
Ayana Resort and Spa in Bali
Picture getting massaged to the sound of crashing waves beneath you as the sea breeze gently caresses your hair. Tempted yet? Check into Ayana Resort and Spa Bali – here, spa villas blend seamlessly into the surrounds. Designed in Indonesian ‘merbau’ wood and decked out with Balinese ‘alang alang’ roofs, these mini havens are sculpted according to the natural structure of the rocks below. Treat yourself to a two-hour treatment in the Aquatonic Sea Water Jet Pool: it’s the only one of its kind in the Island of the Gods.
Ayana Resort and Spa Bali, Jalan Karang Mas Sejahtera, Jimbaran, Kuta Sel., Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80364, Indonesia
Pangkor Laut Resort in Perak
Paradise is found at Pangkor Laut Resort’s ultra luxe Spa Village. Treatments take inspiration from healing cultures of the region, with age-old Malay, Chinese and Indian practices and local ingredients incorporated into the spa menu. Eight treatment pavilions, a deluxe Belian Treatment pavilion as well as Healing Huts make up the Spa Village. Pampering begins even before you start your therapy – the pre-treatment rituals include an invigorating footbath and Chinese Foot Pounding, a Japanese-style cleansing and an exfoliating wash.
Pangkor Laut Resort, Pangkor Laut Island, Pangkor Laut, 32200 Lumut, Perak, Malaysia
Kamalaya in Koh Samui
If you’re looking to truly escape reality, you’ll love Kamalaya Koh Samui. This wellness retreat is all about life enrichment, with programs for detoxing, stress and better health. It’s hard not to feel relaxed here; at its center is a former monk’s cave used for meditation, while its vicinity includes lush vegetation, lagoons and even white, sandy beaches. If you’re here for the short haul, check into the spa for a rejuvenating massage, then take a dip in the plunge pools before finishing with a toxin-clearing session at the herbal steam cavern.
Kamalaya Koh Samui,102/9 Moo 3, Laem Set Road, Na-Muang, Koh Samui, Surat Thani 84140, Thailand
Naka Island in Phuket
Rejuvenate in seclusion at Naka Island: A boutique resort located on the private island of Naka Yai Island, situated 25 minutes off Phuket International Airport. Be sure to leave your phone behind when you check into Spa Naka; you’ll want to be free of all distractions as you immerse yourself in the mind-melting treatments at the four treatment rooms. On the menu are a host of botanical therapies, including the ache-relieving Watsu Treatment, Naka Indigenous Massage to relax tired muscles, as well as the anti-stress Tranquility Aromatic Ritual.
Naka Island Phuket, 32 Moo 5, Tambol Paklok, Naka Yai Island, Paklok, Phuket, 83110, Thailand
Amanpulo in Palawan
Amanpulo ticks all the right boxes when it comes to luxury resorts: breathtaking surrounds, massive gorgeous villas as well as a tip-top spa designed to zap away your stress. Perched on a hillside, the spa sits high above the treetops, rewarding its visitors with jaw-dropping views of the turquoise waters. Let experienced therapists knead your knots away at the scenic spa, then head to the gym or yoga studio to further detox.
Amanpulo, Pamalican Island, Sulu Archipelago, Palawan, Philippines