Rejuvenate in style at these luxurious wellness resorts in Southeast Asia

Self-care takes centre stage at these 12 best luxury wellness resorts in Southeast Asia, from specially curated programmes to holistic treatments.

Nothing eases the mind, body, and soul more than a getaway far from the hustle and bustle of the city life we’re so used to. Needless to say, it’s hard to beat staying at a luxury wellness retreat when it comes to getting in tune with your physical and mental wellbeing. 

With professional wellness coaches and bespoke programmes paired with perfectly tranquil backdrops, we can’t imagine a better way to truly rest and relax. 

What can you expect at a wellness retreat?

You could say that wellness retreats are a step above your regular resort spas. Its ethos is often centred around a mix of pampering and wellbeing of their distinguished guests. And so, wellness retreats are perfect for those who seek true rest and relaxation. Often, these retreats are amplified by immersing its guests in the natural beauty of nature.

Many retreats offer specially tailored programmes to suit your every need, while some offer bespoke wellness services – from spa treatments and detox plans, to local cleansing sessions and experiences that ease your mind, body, and soul. You’ll find a vast array of options out there, including yoga retreats, vegan programmes, and full rejuvenation packages. 

Here, we have curated a selection of the finest wellness retreats in Southeast Asia, where you can take your pick of paradises:

1. Onsen at Moncham – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Soak in natural hot springs & wind down in a traditional Japanese ryokan

Nestled within Chiang Mai’s mountains lies this Japanese-style onsen retreat, an idyllic destination for those seeking well-deserved solitude. It might have all the famed hospitality of the ever-affable Land of Smiles but five-star resort Onsen at Moncham clearly takes inspiration from traditional Japanese ryokans. 

The onsen uses mineral water from a hundred metres below ground, a natural combination of copper, magnesium, zinc, and sulphur. It’s nature’s magical concoction to soothe and soften any body aches. Not only are there both indoor and outdoor pools, but there is also a karesansui garden – a Japanese dry garden filled with artfully placed rocks. 

Room of choice: Stay in the Imperial Tatami Onsen Suite that comes with a private Japanese garden and living area with tatami mats – there’s also a private indoor-outdoor onsen.

Price: From S$258 per night 

Book a stay at Onsen at Moncham.

2. Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam

Pamper yourself with traditional Vietnamese therapies

With Six Senses Ninh Van Bay located on a private stretch of beach and surrounded by picturesque mountains, life doesn’t get any better than this. After your convenient meet-and-greet at the airport, you’ll be ushered into a wellness haven. The spa is bound to be your first stop, where you’ll ease yourself into a multitude of traditional Vietnamese therapies.

Some unique treatments include the green coffee body treatment for skin tightening and the marine flora immersion for a deep cleanse. All herbs used come from their on-site medicinal herbal garden. Once your body’s soothed and relaxed, gear up for a holistic cleanse with a session of tai chi or pranayama yoga. 

Room of choice: While you can choose beachfront or over-water villas, it’s the Rock Pool Villa that’s most breathtaking. Embedded within rock formations, this villa has its own hillside staircase and private plunge pool.Price: From $1,254 per night 

Book a stay at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay.

3. The Farm at San Benito – Lipa City, Philippines

Get medically-supervised programmes & farm-to-table dining

Although just a two-hour drive from the bustling city of Manila, The Farm at San Benito is a true oasis. At this wellness resort, lush greenery becomes a natural canopy. It’s a shield from the Phillipines’ warm weather, but take a breath of fresh air, and you’ll realise that it’s also a hideaway from life’s stressors. 

Here, you’ll want to fully embrace the resort’s wellness programmes which includes a detox cleanse, weight management, raw food retreat, and even holistic cancer care. But medically supervised programmes aside, slot some time in at their award-winning spa where you can enjoy one-of-a-kind treatments like a cacao body wrap or a milk chocolate bath.

Room of choice: You wouldn’t want to leave the Sulu Terrace, which resembles a modern-day tree house. It pays tribute to the Philippines’ traditional rice barns, complete with thatched roofs.

Price: From $299 per night 

Book a stay at The Farm At San Benito.

4. The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat – Ipoh, Malaysia

Meditate in natural caves & enjoy a backdrop of limestone cliffs

The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat makes for a fantastical sight: shimmering limestone caves, a lush 22-acre valley, and a picture-perfect backdrop of mountain peaks. All the better when it’s just an easy 15-minute drive from Ipoh. Make sure to book yourself in for one of their exquisite wellness treatments – they’re held in age-old limestone caves, spanning from a thermal steam cave to a crystal cave.

The resort also has a restaurant that’s carved within a limestone hill. It’s a 260-million-year-old cave that’s lit by candles, a grand setting to savour a selection of organic and rare wines. Since no kids under the age of 12 years are allowed at the resort, you can be sure that your getaway is filled with complete tranquillity. 

Room of choice: You’ll want to hole yourself up in the Grand Garden Villa for your entire visit – that’s how plush this 250 square metre abode is. Throw in mountain views and a private pool, and you’ve got a clear winner.

Price: From $423 per night

Book a stay at The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat.

5. Amansara – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Explore temples on monk-led walks

The famed ruins of Cambodia’s Angkor temples are just minutes away from Amansara – you can explore by foot, bicycle, or a remork-motor, a motorcycle with a small trailer attached. While the ruins might be the main draw, this luxury resort is perfectly tranquil with grand suites and a reflection pond.

Fill your days here with excursions to the temples and various other wellness activities, such as ritual water blessings and forest therapy. One that promises mental clarity is the monk-led forest walk, where you’ll be following one of the Angkor Wat’s master monks on his favourite trail. 

Ladies, you’ll also want to book yourself in for the Apsara spa ritual that’s only for women. It includes a herbal full-body scrub, aromatic clay wrap, traditional Khmer mask, a stomach-tightening rice compress, and a mini facial.

Room of choice: Live it up in the Pool Suite, where you’ll have your own personal plunge pool and private garden courtyard. 

Price: From $2,446 per night

Book a stay at Amansara.

6. Jumeirah Bali – Bali, Indonesia

Cleanse yourself with a water purification ritual

Bali might be the unofficial mecca of all wellness resorts, but beach resort Jumeirah Bali is in a league of its own. Inspired by Javanese-Hindu water palaces, it’s a space where you can seek utter peace and happiness – a nirvana of sorts.

While unwinding by your own private pool is already beyond satisfying, the resort also offers a bevy of wellness activities. Join in a Melukat water purification ritual that’s led by a local priest, or enjoy a waterfall massage that’ll ease all aches. You can also take part in sound therapy, a sunrise or sunset meditation, and recharge with a master yogi. 

Room of choice: It’s the Panoramic Ocean Villa that has our stamp of approval. Inspired by ancient Hindu sea temples, the villa has its own private pool overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Price: From $944

Book a stay at Jumeirah Bali.

7. Alba Wellness Resort by Fusion – Hue, Vietnam

Heal your chakras at a natural hot spring

Many flock over to the natural hot springs at Vietnam’s Hue, but few enjoy the experience while lodging at a top-tier wellness resort. At Alba Wellness Resort, soak your worries away in the onsen spas – the water comes straight from the ground and reaches a steamy 70 degrees Celsius.

Practise daily meditation with the Truong Son mountains as your stunning backdrop – here, you have wellness classes centred around forest meditation or chakra healing meditation. Save some time to spend at the spa, too, since they have unique treatments such as foot mapping, Siamese healing, and bamboo on the rock: a massage that uses a mix of warm bamboo and hot basalt stone.

Room: A stay at the Zen Master Two-bedroom Bungalow will do wonders. As the chosen lodging by one of the locally renowned zen masters, the bungalow has its own private outdoor terrace and views of the zen garden. 

Price: From $203 per night

Book a stay at Alba Wellness Resort by Fusion.

8. The Namkhan – Luang Prabang, Laos

Book private breathwork sessions in your villa

The Namkhan is aptly named after the picturesque Nam Khan river it overlooks. At this eco-lodge, you’re surrounded by both nature and sacred sites – after all, Luang Prabang has over 34 temples that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. There’s also an organic farm, readily supplying the farm-to-table restaurant with fresh produce. 

The resort has an outdoor yoga pavilion with daily yoga and qi gong classes. You can also book breathwork sessions at the pavilion or at your own villa, where you’ll consciously focus on taking deep breaths to reach a state of peace. Interestingly, there’s also a Finnish-style sauna that uses dry heat that might help with skin diseases and chronic pain.

Room of choice: With the resort overlooking the river banks, it’s the River Suite that’s our top choice – especially since it has its own private garden.

Price: From $145 per night

Book a stay at The Namkhan.

9. The Datai Langkawi – Langkawi, Malaysia

Get in touch with nature with the Malay Wellness Journey

Malaysia’s Datai Beach is heralded as one of the world’s top 10 beaches by National Geographic, so it’s little wonder that The Datai Langkawi is one of the best retreats near Singapore. It’s essentially a beach resort within a rainforest, with nature right at your doorstep. 

The spa adopts traditions of Malay culture, while also using the plants and herbs that’ve been foraged from the rainforest. You can also join a Malay Wellness Journey that starts at the break of dawn, that involves bathing in a forest creek, tucking into a wellness lunch, and enjoying a traditional massage. 

Room of choice: For a memorable stay, book the Rainforest Pool Villa that’s raised on stilts. It’s just one of eight villas, with its own private pool. Price: From $930 per night

Book a stay at The Datai Langkawi.

10. Gdas Bali – Bali, Indonesia

Customise your own programme, surrounded by paddy fields

Think of Gdas Bali as not merely a five-star hotel, but rather, a holistic wellness programme – the plush king-size beds and sweeping paddy views are just the cherry on top. You can customise your own programme, or choose from a thoughtfully planned three, five, or nine-day itinerary. 

Take the Balance Mind programme, which comes with everything fully prepared from plant-based meals to sunrise meditation. They’ll even lead you through a bedtime routine for optimal sleep. Pay The Bali Eden a visit too, a holistic trifecta of a spa, gym, and health suite. There are also various wellness facilities including a steam room, traditional bathhouse, and plunge pool. You’re sure to leave with a clear mind.

Room of choice: Spend your time at the Prestige Pool Villa with panoramic views of rice paddy fields.

Price: From $306 per night

Book a stay at Gdas Bali.

11. Kamalaya – Koh Samui, Thailand

Indulge in an array of holistic wellness treatments

An enchanting resort set against the backdrop of a private beach in Thailand – it’s almost like something out of a fairytale. You’ll find more than 50 wellness professionals at Kamalaya, so you can be sure that you’re in good hands. To add to the otherworldly aura surrounding the entire resort, there’s also a centuries-old cave right in the middle, once used by Buddhist monks for rituals and ceremonies. 

With TCM doctors, master yogis, and wellness consultants, the resort combines holistic medical practices from both the East and West. You can design your own wellness programmes, from sleep enhancement to holistic well-being. For instance, a nine-night stay comes packed with 25 wellness treatments. 

Room of choice: The creme de la creme is the Rocktop Villa that’s at the very top of the hill. You’ll be tempted to spend the entire day lounging at your private outdoor terrace, but the room comes with a wellness consult, the use of steam caverns, and daily holistic classes.

Price: from $2,100 for three nights. A minimum stay of three nights is required.

Book a stay at Kamalaya.

12. Dusit Thani Laguna – Singapore 

Wind down with a relaxing game of golf 

In an urban city like Singapore, you don’t expect sprawling greens. However, luxury golfing resort Dusit Thani Laguna is a gem among sky-high buildings, with an endless stretch of greenery. The star of the show is the immaculate golf course – two 18-hole golf courses, at that.

After a round of golf, unwind at the award-winning spa. Opt for the milk and roses bath: you’ll not only smell divine, but it’s also a way to soothe any aches and pains. If you’re there for a weekend retreat, they have Holistic Sundays that are dedicated to restorative therapies, as guided by wellness coaches. 

Room of choice: It doesn’t get any better than the Champion Suite, which has its own private wine cellar. You’re also entitled to a two-way transfer in a swanky Rolls Royce, and a private butler who can draw you a bath.

Price: From $307 per night

Book a stay at Dusit Thani Laguna.

Wellness getaways in Southeast Asia

No need to venture to far-flung destinations when we’ve got these luxury wellness retreats in Southeast Asia. Choose to commit to a curated wellness itinerary, or take it easy with body massages and spa treatments. Whichever it is, luxury is now at your doorstep with these nearby wellness retreats.

If you’re after more exclusive experiences, see if a private island getaway or a luxury cruise setting sail from Singapore might be on your travel bucket list too. 

Cover image: The Farm at San Benito