Business Traveller (Asia-Pacific)
Gorgeous new resorts to boost your wellness
Get ready to rest and recharge at these wellness resorts in Asia-Pacific
Email, Slack, Zoom and Google Drive may have filled in for business trips during the Covid-19 era, but no online technology can replicate the experience of a holistic wellness retreat. And with all the additional stress of the past two years, the need for a mental, physical and spiritual breather is greater than ever. In preparation for when borders open, we’ve rounded up a selection of new and noteworthy luxury resorts across Asia-Pacific, with everything from biohacking to fermentation workshops, plus dreamy villas, gorgeous spas and nutritious cuisine.
ONE&ONLY DESARU COAST, MALAYSIA
The hotly anticipated Southeast Asia debut from luxury resort group One&Only (scheduled to open in September) is situated along Malaysia’s southeastern tip, just two hours’ drive from Singapore. The 128-acre property was designed by Kerry Hill Architects and is modelled after a traditional Malaysian village, with 42 selfcontained suites, two two-bedroom suites and a four-bedroom villa. It houses the brand’s first Chenot Spa, created in partnership with Swiss science-based health and beauty experts, and offers a range of tailored treatments and programmes, covering sport and physical activities, emotional wellbeing, nutrition and aesthetics. oneandonlyresorts.com/desarucoast
ALAMAYAH, INDONESIA
For those times when you just need to get away from it all, Alamayah offers a sense of true privacy, set in the wilds of a beachside jungle on Indonesia’s Sumba Island. The six-suite sustainable retreat, which opened in April 2020, combines ancient traditions and innovative technology with a focus on rest, nourishment and discovery. Wellness is woven
throughout the Alamayah experience, from plant-based cuisine and daily medicinal teas to sunrise yoga and an onsite Ayurvedic spa. Retreats can be customised to each guest’s individual needs by a team of specialists. alamayah.com
ARO HA, NEW ZEALAND
As its tagline “adventures in wellbeing” suggests, Aro Ha specialises in transformative retreat experiences in New Zealand’s spectacular Southern Alps. Each all-inclusive programme is designed to regenerate body and mind, whether your goal is weight loss, stress relief, improved mood or better sleep. Tailored to life in a pandemic, there are practices to build the immune system as well as calm the nervous system with breathwork and mindfulness training. There’s also plenty of time to explore the surrounding subalpine trails and scenic Lake Wakatipu. aro-ha.com
COMO UMA PUNAKHA, BHUTAN
Nestled in the rolling Punakha Valley, Como’s second property in Bhutan is a peaceful rural retreat with nine hillside Valley View rooms and two free-standing luxury private villas. The standalone Como Shambhala Retreat offers a range of traditional holistic therapies, from a Bhutanese hot stone bath and massage, to reflexology, Indian head massage and gender-specific treatments. Guests can also enjoy yoga, meditation and tailormade experiences, such as white-water rafting, hiking to remote monasteries and receiving traditional blessings at a Buddhist temple. comohotels.com/en/umapunakha
RAKXA, THAILAND
Conveniently located on a protected island across from Bangkok in the Chao Phraya River, this newly opened integrated wellness destination focuses on personalised programmes to enhance physical, emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing. The variety of services on offer include VitalLife’s diagnostics-based treatment packages, Rakxa Jai’s ancient wisdom-based practices and a Medical Gym with functional medicine and state-of-the-art fitness equipment. Accommodation options include plush garden and pool villas as well as private residences with onsite treatment rooms and
gyms, where the health and wellness advisors come to you. rakxawellness.com
KAPUHALA KOH SAMUI, THAILAND
Well known, and much loved for its plant-based Halapua restaurant, Kapuhala in Koh Samui is the brainchild of Hong Kong-based entrepreneur, triathlete and selfproclaimed biohacker Stefano Passarello. It caters to healthconscious fitness enthusiasts and corporate high achievers with its 25m infinity pool, 100sqm fitness and yoga studio, and guided island running. Passarello has incorporated biohacking with programmes tailored around circadian rhythms, hot and cold exposure, nootropics and more. Accommodation options include
tented villas with private terraces and fully detached farmhouses that can sleep up to three people. kapuhalasamui.com
SANTANI, SRI LANKA
Built on the belief that sustainable wellness can only be achieved by bringing ourselves into balance with nature, and by allowing ourselves to be nurtured from within as well as from others, this Sri Lankan hideaway set on a former tea estate has won countless hospitality awards since its opening in 2016. Its innovative “Wellness 2.0” philosophy combines the latest developments in health science and Sri Lankan Ayurveda with a range of packages focusing on detox, recovery, weight loss, boosting immunity and stress reduction. Meals are tailored to guests’ individual health goals and quietly minimal accommodation invites rest, healing and relaxation. santani.lk
SANGHA RETREAT, CHINA
Billed as “China’s first serious wellness retreat”, this innovative facility at Suzhou’s Octave Institute offers immersive programmes that combine Eastern wisdom with Western science. Guests can choose an individualised three-to-six-night programme, or a group retreat led by resident specialists and internationally renowned thought leaders. The 6,000sqm At One Healing Spa provides massages, treatments, traditional therapies and hydrothermal facilities while At One Clinic offers a holistic approach to physical and mental wellbeing through non-invasive technology and a focus on preventative and therapeutic treatments. Choose to stay in one of 68 Lakeview Suites, a Penthouse Lakeview Suite or eight luxurious villas, each providing stunning views over Yangcheng Lake. sangharetreat.com
SIX SENSES FORT BARWARA, INDIA
Six Senses has built its stellar reputation on out-of-the-ordinary wellness offerings and experiences, and its newest location in Rajasthan is no different. Due to open in October, the 48-suite property is housed in a converted 14th-century fort originally owned by the Rajasthani royal family. In addition to two swimming pools and a fitness centre, it’s home to the 2,800sqm Six Senses spa, which offers extensive Ayurvedic programmes alongside traditional therapeutic treatments. Highlights include an immunity-boosting programme with a wellness screening, signature massage and fermentation or microgreen workshop, and a Mind Your Brain retreat incorporating yoga, meditation, massage and sleep tracking. sixsenses.com/en/resorts/ fort-barwara
SONG SAA PRIVATE ISLAND, CAMBODIA
Offering complete detachment from the rest of the world, this private island retreat comprises 24 pool villas, two restaurants and bars, and extensive spa and wellness facilities in Cambodia’s picturesque Koh Rong archipelago. Sustainability, community and eco-consciousness are at the core of Song Saa’s mission, with structures built by local hands and materials, and nutritious cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. Wellness offerings extend far beyond yoga and massage to include bespoke outdoor activities, traditional Khmer therapies and a “spa with no walls” concept that features healing sanctuaries dotted across the island to provide bespoke treatments in the surrounds of nature. songsaa-privateisland.com BT