There is a magic about Kamalaya that is best understood by describing how you feel once you have left. The nurturing you receive at this idyllic wellness sanctuary and holistic spa resort in Koh Samui, Thailand, has an uplifting and lasting effect on your mind, body and soul. Here Robyn Foyster explains how.
Draped in burnt orange robes, the Buddhist monks from Kunaram Temple chanted as they lit candles and paid respect to Buddha on Visakha Bucha Day. Sitting cross-legged in the Yantra Hall of Kamalaya, I watched intently at the peaceful faces of eight holy men.
Behind them, the Spanish moss adorning the lights hanging from the tree branches in the distance flowed gently to and fro set against a spectacular backdrop of palm-fringed islands dotting the calm tropical waters of the Andaman Sea.
It was our final day at the award-winning spa and its motto ‘feeling life’s potential’ summed up the positivity for life that you feel emboldened by after a week of nourishing yourself and focusing on nothing other than a healthier you.
There’s no doubt about the restorative effects of recharging your batteries, enjoying food bursting with goodness, powerful holistic treatments, yoga and meditation.
This is particularly so when combined with days interspersed with the pure relaxation of reading books by the lap pool as you are served a choice of ginger tea, iced lime water and frozen red grapes.
Time out from busy lives
Everyone comes to Kamalaya for a reason and whatever that is you can’t fail to leave feeling more enriched, both physically and spiritually.
From my poolside lounge, there’s the Scottish business woman sitting alongside me clicking her knitting needles together. There’s the former boss of a beauty brand between jobs planning a 12-month adventure of self-discovery and global travel. And there’s the Danish rock star and his girlfriend enjoying anonymity and quietude away from adoring crowds.
And there’s us. My husband Jonathan and myself on our 20th wedding anniversary year open to trying new experiences and enjoying quality time together away from our busy lives.
Like so many holidays, our days were wrapped around meal times. The menu at Kamalaya is designed by the co-founder Karina Stewart – a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The fusion of Eastern and Western food is truly healing and made often with organic and always seasonal produce with a focus on low inflammatory and low allergenic dishes.
Breakfast begins with a choice of herbal elixirs including wheat grass and freshly squeezed juices followed by a smorgasbord of exotic fruits and for every meal there is a wider a la carte selection.
Lunch is held at the Amrita restaurant where you can feast on a variety of antioxidant rich salads, detox tonics, vegetarian and barbequed dishes overlooking a heavenly mint-coloured pool with bas relief sculptures and water lily ponds one way and the beach to the other.
Wherever you look there is a profusion of rich green hues of ferns, hibiscus, reeds and tamarind trees and the sounds of cascading water from numerous little rock pools.
During our stay, we enjoyed the mellifluent sounds of a bearded man playing the Hang drum, a Swiss steel instrument developed in 2001 which has an ancient chiming sound.
Lobster slippers and black cod cooked with lemon grass and poached in banana leaves is among the fare served at the Soma restaurant. Here, you can join others at the community table as many do, bonding over shared experiences of their day and often forming true friendships.
Customise your pampering
There is much to compare from the huge variety of treatments including the blissful Sodashi facial, Lotus scrub, to Sirodhana – an Ayurvedic massage where oils are poured on your forehead known as your third eye.
Famous for its wellness programs, there is something for everyone from the Healthy Lifestyle, Detox, Emotional Balance, Yoga or the Stress And Burnout options. While I chose the latter, Jo simply enjoyed the daily schedule of yoga, meditation and fitness classes plus the talks by the visiting health practitioners. He also took part in a healthy Thai cooking class where he learned to make juices, soups, and Thai salads.
In all, there are four Stress And Burnout programs and I chose the Asian Bliss program, which combines Ayuervedic, Chinese Medicine and Thai Therapies. From experiencing, 90-minute Thai massages to Asian food and hand massages, a Lotus Scrub and personal Pranayama and Reiki sessions. I emerged from each treatment as if I was walking on a cloud.
You can also change your treatments from the set program so they are personally tailored to you which is what I did.
After each treatment, I would leisurely retreat back to our beautifully appointed Hillside Room, the most recently built accommodation at the spa. The rooms overlook stunning sea views and are minutes away from the lap pool, Yoga Pavilion and Yantra Hall.
A personal highlight of the trip was experiencing a day on a magnificent traditional wooden Turkish sloop which takes you to surrounding islands, where we went snorkeling on the reef, and had a Thai massage before tucking into a spread of fresh fruit, prawns and salads.
You’ll leave wanting more
As we watched the breathtaking sunset on our return back to Koh Samui, there was more than one pinch yourself moment where I promised myself to make a return trip to this idyllic haven.
The experience of removing yourself from the frenetic day-to-day and immersing yourself in a world where the focus is solely on improving your health and wellness is both unforgettable and rewarding.
And it’s only when you force yourself to stop and relax you actually realise the benefits of taking time out for yourself.
Maybe it’s the fact that Kamalaya is centred around a centuries old Buddhist cave. Maybe it’s the warmth of the friendly staff and fellow guests or the purity of the surroundings so caringly created by its wonderful founders John and Karina Stewart. Whatever it is, you leave feeling transformed, which explains why, like me, so many guests leave planning to return again.
Robyn Foyster was a guest of Kamalaya Health and Wellness Spa.
Try one of Kamalaya’s healthy recipes. Watch Australia’s Healthy Chef Teresa Cutter demonstrate how to make delicious gluten free and quinoa chia bread here.
Read co-founder John Stewart’s personal story here and discover the incredible story behind Kamalaya.
