TRADITIONAL TOUCH
Rebalance and recalibrate with these natural treatments, featuring age-old healing techniques that are sure to renew spirits.
BEST TRADITIONAL DETOX TREATMENT
SPA VILLAGE KUALA LUMPUR, THE RITZ-CARLTON, KUALA LUMPUR Awet Permaisuri, RM420 for 90 minutes “This is a great treatment to detox, de-stress, loosen up tense muscles, and enhance blood flow, particularly around the chest and stomach area. Using a traditionally concocted firming cream made from fenugreek, nutmeg, and aloe, parts particularly near the armpit and bust felt lifted, and the warm treatment for the stomach really helped with indigestion, cramps, and bloating issues. Definitely worth trying!”—SM 168, Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2782 9090.
MOST CALMING FULL-BODY TREATMENT
SPA VILLAGE GAYA ISLAND, GAYA ISLAND RESORT Unduk Ngadau, RM940 for three hours “A tribute to Pesta Kaamatan, the harvest festival of the Kadazandusun tribe, this treatment had me covered from head to toe with natural and delicious ingredients such as red rice, corn, avocado, cinnamon, and honey. Coupled with views of Mount Kinabalu and cicadas playing in the background, I felt like I was in a world of my own.”—ML Malohom Bay, Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Tel: 03-2783 1000.
BEST MALAY FULL-BODY TREATMENT
SPA VILLAGE TANJONG JARA, TANJONG JARA RESORT Dandan Puteri Tujuh, RM830 for three hours “I can’t thank my therapist, Fatin, enough for the personal touch and ensuring I was comfortable every step of the way. Staying true to the resort’s “Unmistakably Malay” tagline, my hair was bathed in coconut milk and pandan, leaving it super soft, while her intuitive traditional Malay massage was a great touch for my tight muscles.”—AV Batu 8, Off Jalan Dungun, Dungun, Terengganu. Tel: 09-845 1100.
BEST MALAYSIAN MASSAGE
ST. GREGORY SPA, PARKROYAL KUALA LUMPUR Urutan Malaysia, RM450 for 90 minutes Featuring calming Qigong breathing techniques and herb blends that helped me calm my racing thoughts, followed by a cathartic Indian head massage and a Malay massage, this massage really soothed my lower-back pain—super beneficial for someone like me, who sits in front of the computer all day.”—ML Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2782 8356.
BEST HAMMAM SPA
SO SPA, SOFITEL KUALA LUMPUR DAMANSARA Hammam Ritual, RM550 for two hours “The Hammam Ritual at Sofitel Kuala Lumpur is a modernised version of the famous Turkish steam bath experience that also delivers a luxurious detox experience. Get down on the marble bed for some serious scrubbing magic using a Kassa Glove—dead skin, begone!—after a pore-opening steam bath, followed by a quick round of mud masking and more hot steam. The session ends with a gentle face massage that purifies and nourishes, a reminder that the face is the mirror of the soul.”—EY 6 Jalan Damanlela, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2720 6688.