My Pop once said: ‘Anticipation is the forerunner of excitement and without that life would be boring.’ It’s a phrase I appreciate more the older I get.
I now know who I am, what I like and what’s good for me – and the tea leaves were pointing me in one direction – Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand. It would be my 5th trip in ten years and like so many return visitors to this sanctuary, I am drawn to this magical destination because it’s a place of healing, a place where you can stop, rest and reset your health.
Kamalaya has helped me restore balance in my life when I’ve felt that dreaded sense of overwhelm. It’s enabled me to blissfully focus entirely on myself, meet incredible people who have since become lifelong friends and I’ve always returned feeling rejuvenated.
Understandably, my excitement about returning was palpable, especially knowing what to expect, although there are more treatments now with the Longevity House and the introduction in July of the Radiant Bliss Women’s Health programme. It is the 18th programme on offer and focuses on women’s specific health needs through personalised treatments and therapies.
I’m picked up and driven in one of Kamalaya’s luxury air-conditioned vehicles. There’s water and a chilled hand towel with the familiar lemon grass-scent at the ready for the 45-minute journey from the airport.
The staff’s friendly faces greet me with beaming smiles, and I sit down in the huge open foyer and sip on a refreshing Hibiscus Lemonade Cooler before I’m taken to my room.
The Sea View Suite is 65sqm with expansive views of the Andaman Sea beyond the fringe of Palm Trees and tropical vegetation. I rest my hand on my Kamalaya journal, which features a water lily and entitled ‘Discover the Essence Within’. I commit myself to doing just that and to making a diary of my stay. Along with the diary is a complimentary water bottle and tote bag. Back home, they become a welcome reminder of my trip and the importance of staying hydrated.
The room has a king size bed, a three-seater sofa and writing desk with a huge bathroom and a giant-sized stone bath, shower and day bed outside on the balcony. There’s even a pillow menu option for enhanced sleep. It’s not long before I’m trying out my alfresco bath, surveying the glorious view and feeling re-energised and excited about the promise of the week ahead.
The room is perfectly appointed and the Asian artwork adorning the walls are bright and blend beautifully with the rich hard wood floors.
Every day, there’s a selection of seasonal fruits and Kamalaya’s Signature teas filled with natural healing properties. There’s always a few limes and cutting board so you can start each day with hot water and lime. It’s one of the many simple health hacks I bring back home with me to improve my digestion and gut health.
Prior to arriving, I’ve chosen my wellness program for the week. It’s the Introduction To Detox, one of Kamalaya’s signature programmes and it’s ideal for boosting your physical and mental vitality.
Kamalaya Koh Samui’s Founder Karina Stewart recommends the Detox programmes because they are based on the latest scientific research and ancient practices and, over the years, have proven to be so effective with Kamalaya’s guests. So often, I have met people at Kamalaya who faithfully return every year to do one of the Detox programmes because of the incredible health benefits.
The benefits of a detox programme are profound. You feel the positive effects immediately as the healthy food and series of treatments such as the Far Infrared Sauna, and Chi Nei Tsang massage combine to help you rid your body of chemical toxicity.
For some, going on a detox programme can cause headaches particularly for coffee lovers as they suffer withdrawals. I overcame this by swapping my normal coffee for a Dandelion Tea, which is high in vitamin A, C and K and boosts the immune system. It was another healthy hack I returned home with.
The detox cuisine is designed to taste delicious and is made with low-inflammatory plant-based ingredients that help cleanse the body so you can enjoy more energy.
To kickstart every day, I indulge in the retreat’s signature green and sun-kissed elixirs – kale, ginger and turmeric come in glass shots, each of which are filled with goodness. For breakfast, the detox dishes are marked clearly and the smorgasbord of fruit, nuts, nut milks, gluten free breads are so bountiful you never feel like you are missing out on anything.
Breakfast and lunch are held at the Soma Restaurant, situated at the top of the retreat on two levels. The panoramic views here are breathtaking, and you feel immersed in nature wherever your eyes take you.
Guests at Kamalaya always enthuse about the delicious food, and the chef’s ability to use herbs and spices and gentle cooking methods including baking, steaming, and grilling to make such delicious, high-quality meals.
One of the benefits of being on a wellness programme is you can choose whatever you want from the menu but there is also an a la carte option available as well.
Those on the Detox programme, like me, have plenty of choices. Lunch is held at the Amrita Café, which overlooks the sandy beach and is adjacent to a green lagoon-like swimming pool. At the top of the pool, there’s a cascading water fall and the pool is framed with lily ponds where you’ll often spot blue dragonflies nesting on their petals. The Amrita pool is surrounded by Buddhist motifs and elephant sculptures and incorporate the natural rocks of the area for you to swim around.
This pool is in complete contrast to the big 25 metre lap pool at the top of the retreat near the yoga pavilion, Shakti fitness centre and the Longevity House.
The Longevity House is a welcome new addition to Kamalaya since my last trip prior to Covid. It is dedicated to offering rejuvenation and healthy ageing support in the form of an IV therapy, ozone therapy, hyperbaric oxygen chamber therapy and High Sensitivity Preventive Cancer Screening.
The Longevity House treatments wasn’t on my programme, but it was hard to resist trying a few of the treatments. I opted for the ozone therapy and the Revitalising Wellness IV Therapy which may not be for everyone. They both require an IV transfusion so if that makes you squeamish you are best to stay with the more traditional therapies. However, I felt like the treatments gave me extra energy and made my skin glow.
Since its inception the Longevity House has been hugely popular with the guests, and it offers a new level of service where science and technology supports your health.
One of the highlights was discovering the Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio by Bastien Gonzalez, where I enjoyed the most outstanding manicure I’ve ever experienced. The mani and pedi were designed by Bastien himself from his time as a podiatrist to the stars. Ideal for foot and nail health because rather than leave with a coloured polish, it’s all about buffing, moisturising and massaging your hands and feet. You come away with soft, silky and shiny nails that transform with Bastien’s products such as his Nail Brightness Eclat de Pearl and Black Diamond Scrub.
During the dreamy pedicure, I learned about how to better care for my poor too often forgotten feet. Another health hack I took away was to resist wearing nail polish and allow my nails to breathe.
Kamalaya also offers a range of outside trips and my favourite is an afternoon cruising the neighbouring islands on a magnificent wooden Turkish Ketch. It’s an unforgettable experience as you sail around the Islands of Koh Mudsum and Koh Tan. You also get to swim, snorkel and enjoy a massage on the boat. On our trip, all of the guests bonded so well, we started singing and dancing to Tina Turner songs as the sun set.
One of the wonderful things about my Kamalaya love affair is that when I return, there’s a record of my previous visit so I’m able to compare how my health journey is faring. At the beginning of your wellness programme you are booked into a session with a naturopath to discuss your goals. I noticed that I had much more time with my naturopath this time around and that was helpful because it’s here that you can go into much more detail about your health issues and benefit from the advice. My focus was liver and gut health and losing weight, which I achieved as I’d lost 3kilos in my final weigh in after six days.
I not only came away feeling lighter and healthier, but also committed to returning for my sixth trip. My Pop was right. The anticipation of returning again is a thrill in itself and I’d definitely recommend anyone wanting to get their health back on track to make a visit to Kamalaya Koh Samui. I promise it won’t be your last.
Special Offer
Multi-award-winning wellness sanctuary, Kamalaya Koh Samui has three special offers for travellers, rewarding first-time visitors, return guests and those seeking an extended stay with special benefits.
Australian residents planning to visit Kamalaya for the first time can enjoy the Wellcation Offer when they book a 9 or 14-night stay by 20 October 2023, for stays from now to 31 October 2023. The Wellcation Offer includes a choice of add-on benefits including a Kamalaya Cooking Class, a Kamalaya Sunset Cruise, a Samui Island Cultural Tour, a Thai Temple Tour, or a wellness credit of 5000 THB (approx. AUD220) to use at Kamalaya’s wellness sanctuary.
Returning Kamalaya guests who book a minimum 7-night stay will receive one complimentary night’s accommodation with a ‘stay 7, pay 6’ Repeat Guests Offer for bookings made by 31 March 2024 to stay until 22 December 2023 and 1-31 March 2024.
And those seeking an extended wellbeing retreat can enjoy Kamalaya’s Long Stay Offer with a 15% saving on accommodation for bookings of 21 nights or more made by 10 October 2023 for stays from now to 31 October 2023.
About Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa is located on the southern coast of Koh Samui, Thailand. Founded by John and Karina Stewart in 2005, Kamalaya offers a synergistic wellness experience that helps people to embody their life’s potential and achieve optimal lifelong wellbeing while integrating healing therapies from East and West. Including personalised programs that address Detoxification, Stress & Burnout, Gut Health, Sleep Enhancement, Movement & Mobility, Resilience & Immunity, Mental & Emotional Wellbeing and Longevity & Regeneration.
In 2023, Kamalaya received the prestigious title of Worldwide Health & Wellness Destination of the Year at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in the UK, making it the second consecutive year of this achievement and the fifth time ever. The Embracing Change wellness program was also named the Wellness Program of the Year at the Destination Deluxe Awards in November 2022.
Watch the video below with Karina Stewart talking about The Longevity House.
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