Jihan EstrellaIt’s hard to find your centre in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. If this is a struggle that just sounds too familiar to you, perhaps it’s time to consider a healing holiday. Thailand is known to offer the best yoga, detox, and overall wellness retreats for the body, mind, and soul. Here are some of the must-visit retreat centres that will help you regain that much–needed rejuvenation.
1. The Yogarden
Image credit: The Yogarden
Described as “full of soul” by many yoga enthusiasts and travellers, the Yogarden is deemed as a “nice Oasis” in the middle of Koh Samui. A great find for authentic yoga experience, the Yogarden offers a wide variety of classes for beginners and the experienced. The yoga classes are done in an open-air space inside a beautiful garden, providing a very soothing and calming atmosphere. The cafe is always stocked with healthy juices and snacks.
2. Samahita Yoga and Fitness
Image credit: The Retreat Company
This slice of heaven serenely settled on a beach in Bang Kao has raving reviews from a number of travellers because of its peaceful location, quality of yoga classes and sumptuous healthy buffet. Samahita has been hosting fasting and yoga retreats since 2003 and continues to offer standard detox and de-stress programmes. Known to be the venue for serious yogis, those still experimenting with yoga poses will also enjoy this wellness retreat.
3. Soneva Kiri Discover Yoga
Image credit: Soneva
One cannot begin to describe how insanely amazing it is to stay in the luxurious Soneva Kiri. From the private plane to the secluded and pristine island of Koh Kood to the jovial personal assistant throughout your stay—what else could you ask for in a luxury holiday? Aside from dining on treetops, stargazing at an observatory, and indulging in an outdoor movie theatre, the hotel is also home to the much raved about Six Senses Spa. Prepare to leave your shoes at the door when you get to this barefoot–only island.
4. Chiva Som Yoga For Life
Image credit: Luxe Health Retreats
This five-star wellness resort has been offering exceptional services for health and detox for the past 22 years. Armed with its team of experts—yoga practitioners, physiotherapists, naturopaths, and many others—they provide individual consultation to every guest so that each will be treated according to his/her specific needs. It was reported that 80% of Chiva Som’s guests are repeat clients and it’s not difficult to wonder why. The resort is equipped with a yoga pavilion that offers a wide range of classes (pilates, tai chi, boot camp, etc) and an overwhelming choice of massages and treatments.
5. The Sanctuary Thailand, Koh Phangan
Image credit: The Sanctuary Thailand
The Sanctuary is a hippie resort made famous as the original inspiration for Alex Garland’s bestseller book turned movie “The Beach”. The venue does have this “secret island” vibe to it as the means of getting there will differ depending on the weather—there’s a treacherous inland jungle route when the weather is bad and a calm seaborn route when the skies are good. Nestled in the remote jungle of Haad Tien Bay, this backpacker’s paradise is a quite a paradox: it offers yoga and meditations, as well as a detox centre but it also hosts parties and live music. How’d you like to try this unconventional healing mix?
6. Jungleyoga
Image credit: Jungleyoga
This remote retreat paradise will definitely make you focus on your centre as there are absolutely no modern world distractions: there is no electricity, no phone lines, and no mobile phone reception. You will be living and breathing daily yoga classes, jungle trekking, lake bathing and stargazing, and you’ll experience living in a floating camp amid a dramatic landscape and a harmony of forest animals.
7. Vikasa Yoga Retreat
Image credit: Vikasa Yoga
This cliffside resort is situated between Lamai and Chaweng in the island of Koh Samui. With the extraordinary amount of positive reviews online, it is fast becoming the go-to wellness resort for yoga retreat hunters worldwide. Vikasa Yoga Retreat prides itself as a “boutique yoga resort [with an] organic restaurant offering an inspiring yoga environment.” Vikasa offers an all-inclusive yoga retreat so guests only have to purchase an accommodation to access all the yoga classes, facilities, and buffet meals. Serious yogis may want to consider this centre as it offers a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certification for those planning to become yoga teachers.
