Spas and retreats: Best holistic spas in Asia

​Dedicated spa junkie Ariadna Bakhmatova goes on a quest to find the best holistic spas in Asia
With the hectic lives we live today, regular escaping for me is essential. Whilst the sun and the beach might be enough for some, I personally also require a holistic dimension to my holiday. In fact, discovering beautiful healthy escapes and indulging into body, mind and soul treatments is becoming my guilty pleasure. Here are some of the great places I have recently tried and tested.

The power of ayurveda

The ancient system of Indian healing ayurveda is fast becoming a household name for alternative medicine. Yet it has been around for a while – over 5000 years to be precise. Ayurveda treats the symptoms of a disease as well as aims to prevent them in the first place. It heals your body, mind and spirit by bringing your unique combination of the three doshas (energies) – vata, pitta and kapha – back into its original balance.

Nestling on the golden south-west coast of Sri Lanka, the Barberyn Resorts are a pioneer of ayurveda on the island. In line with true ayurvedic principles, they take each guest through a structured healing process. It all starts with an initial consultation and diagnosis by an in-house ayurvedic doctor who designs your individual treatment plan, taking into account physical, mental and spiritual aspects. The plan is a mix of a special diet, massages, oil treatments, herbal and steam baths, herbal inhalations, external application of herbal pastes, herbal elixirs and other blissful experiences. All the way through you are being looked after by a 50-strong team of ayurvedic doctors and therapists.

The ayurvedic cuisine deserves its own special endorsement: it’s a fine dining type experience three times a day, mindblowingly healthy and delicious.

Pampering and dining aside, one of the resorts’ memorable aspects is their location: picture-perfect stretch of palm-fringed coral reef and beach, ideal for swimming, sunbathing or just doing nothing it all. To be honest, I can’t imagine a more perfect place to get away from it all to cleanse and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul.

THE DETAILS:

Two weeks stay is recommended to get the full benefit of the ayurvedic programme. Accommodation costs from £60 per night for single occupancy. The ayurvedic treatment plan costs £60 per day. For more info visit barberynresorts.com

“A picture perfect stretch of palm-fringed coral reef”

A slice of paradise

Bali is no longer a peaceful and quiet place it used to be. Yet there are some tranquil spots on the island of Gods. One of them, Desa Seni, is a real slice of heaven on earth. The moment I arrived, I wanted to cry – so beautiful it was.

Nestled in the middle of a rice field plantation, Desa Seni is a short stroll from the beach, and 10 minutes drive from the bustling hub of Seminyak.

Lush gardens with signs showing the names of plants and vegetables growing here, cute little paths and tiny wooden bridges, pieces of traditional Balinese art here and there, lovingly restored traditional houses, a beautiful yoga pavilion, coloured lanterns that come alight at night to guide you around… the attention to detail is pretty incredible.

A small oasis of calm, Desa Seni labels itself as an eco-village, where each member of staff calls you by name. But it’s so much more than that; it’s a fusion of Indonesian culture, art, yoga, organic farming and complete wellness.

Original antique wooden homes, Balinese style, are like a fairy-tale. Imported from the many islands of Indonesia, each has its own history. You live amidst original artifacts and antiques reflecting true Indonesian and heritage. I particularly enjoyed my open-roof bathroom, bigger than my living room back home. Eat healthily, experience Indonesian culture, do yoga, dance, indulge in traditional Balinese treatments at the spa or simply relax by the pool. Pure heaven!

“When I arrived I wanted to cry – it was so beautiful”

The details:

Costs from from £85 per night for single occupancy; for special packages visit desaseni.com

East meets west

Tao Garden Health Spa and Resort is located in the lush environment of northern Thailand. The resort was created by the legendary master Mantak Chia, nown around the world for his teaching of taoist practices. At Tao Garden, traditional Eastern health system meets western medicine. What you get here is an impressive blend of Chinese taoism, the ancient five element Chinese healing system, ayurveda, holistic Thai massages, acupuncture and treatments such as liver and kidney cleansing, colon hydrotherapy and weight loss programmes.

Expect your day to be pretty packed. It will probably include tai chi in the morning, a series of treatments prescribed by an in-house doctor throughout the day, a gentle yoga and ‘inner smile’ practice in the evening, with yummy healthy meals in between. A special burnout detox package has been designed for busy and stressed westerners. The 10-day programme, amongst other things, will include, amongst other thing, colon hydrotherapy, kidney and liver cleansing, blood ozone, reflexology, infrared saunas, ayurvedic oil treatments and massages. By the end of it you are basically reborn again. Worth a try is Tao Garden’s signature treatment chi nei tsang healing harmony, a combination of chi nei tsang and tok sen massages. It goes to the origin of health problems, including psychosomatic responses. The practitioner starts off with a deep massage on your abdomen to open up and release blockages in the internal organs. Frankly, this part can be uncomfortable, but this is just an indication of the toxins being released, so just try to relax! The second part of the treatment, tok sen, involves the use of a special wooden hammer, made from the bark of the tamarind tree, to relax muscles in a rhythmically tapping motion. Don’t be frightened about the hammer – the therapist is working on the muscles very gently, so again just embrace the experience.

THE DETAILS:

Accommodation costs from £75 per night for single occupancy. The Detox Burnout package costs £580 for five days and £980 for 10 days. For more info visit tao-garden.com