6 destinations in Thailand that prove it’s the ultimate self-care vacation spot

There are only so many stalled commutes, late-night meetings (that run into slotted gym time), and flagged emails you can mentally handle before burnout happens. 

If that sentence hits close to home, you are definitely overdue for a vacation. So step away from your standing desk, take a deep breath, and consider the latest wellness hotspot for the overworked: Thailand.

True, you’ve likely already added the gorgeous, verdant locale to your travel bucket list—but turns out, it offers more than green-peaked islands and delicious cuisine (as if those weren’t enough). The Southeast Asian country is gaining a rep for its wide-ranging wellness spas and resorts, making it the destination for globe-trotting wellness travelers and retreat-goers—and a spot you need to check out ASAP.

Scroll down for the top 6 resorts and regions in Thailand that are gaining buzz on the wellness travel scene.

For a whole-body detox in the mountains: Tao Garden in Chiang Mai

Trade in your subway ride or traffic-clogged commute for a seat in the meditation hall at the Tao Garden Health Spa & Resort. The stressed-out flock to this blissfully calm hideout located less than an hour outside the Chiang Mai’s Old City to refocus with massages, infrared sauna seshes, and more.

Once settled into the lush resort at the foothills of the Southeastern Himalayas, you can reset with organic meals (with produce grown on-site), a dip in the salt-water pool, or an herbal steam bath. Wellness obsessives are known to travel thousands of miles to experience the site’s signature Chi Nei Tsang Healing Harmony treatment (which uses vibration to ease tension), so you’ll be amongst a group of serious wanderlusters.

For a tranquil spa experience near a city hub: Anantara in Chiang Mai

For another stop in the gorgeous Chiang Mai province, Anantara Chiang Mai Resort will satisfy your craving for holistic remedies and city exploration. Start your day with a skin-rejuvenating facial followed by a Muay Thai boxing workout along the Mae Ping River—then head off campus to hit up some of Chiang Mai’s serene cafes, boutiques, and art galleries. After checking out the city’s centuries-old temples or ancient ruins, head back for a cooking class or traditional Khmer massage. (Cue head-to-toe relaxation now.)

For an active getaway with ocean views: Amatara Wellness in Phuket

Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is known for its white-sand beaches, robust nightlife, and stunning views (you’ve probably double-tapped a few images yourself). But the luxe Amatara Wellness Resort wants to put Phuket on the map for another reason: its one-of-a-kind wellness program (that you’ll want to take advantage after fawning over the architecture). 

From the resort’s idyllic locale on the island’s Cape Panwa, you can reboot with daily workouts (yoga, Muay Thai, Pilates) and customizable detoxes (hydrotherapy, juice cleanses, and more). To decompress, head to the  Thai hammam on site (inspired by Moroccan baths) with mineral pools, steam rooms, and saunas—then sip fresh juice as you drink in a private view of the Andaman Sea.

For all-inclusive rejuvenation: Chivitr in Phuket

Get you back on track with a weekend (or week) away at The Chivitr in Southern Phuket, a wellness wonderland steps away from the island’s pristine Nai Harn beach.

After a power nap in your private suite, head down to the on-site restaurant and tea shop for a nourishing meal and cold-pressed mango-pineapple-coconut juice. Feel like moving? Recharge with a few laps in the salt-water pool, work out the kinks with a one-on-one Watsu treatment (in which a practitioner gently stretches you in warm water), or detox in a germanium bath.

For peace and quiet, seaside: Phulay Bay in Krabi

The private villas and pavilions at the Phulay Bay, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve offer the opportunity to hunker down with guests of your choosing—or, just you, your beach read, and the sea.

In each super luxe villa, you’ll have ahh-inducing baths (both indoors and outdoors), lounge beds made for curling up with a novel, and private lunge pools. Take advantage of candlelit yoga, Pilates, and stretch sessions, and squeeze in excursions to the lush jungles and waterfalls of Naga Mountain or the white-sand beaches of nearby Hong Island. Restorative and adventure-fueled—because it’s all about balance.

For healing, restorative spa treatments: 137 Pillars in Bangkok

Booking a suite at 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok  guarantees you’ll leave well-rested. Complete with luxurious bedding, 24-hour butler service, and private balcony, you’ll have a next-level home base to return to after spa treatments and sightseeing.

For a deeply restorative experience, sign up for the in-house Nitra Spa & Wellness Center’s 150-minute-long Nitra Raya Signature Treatment, a blend of aromatherapy massage with stress-relieving reiki techniques. Drop in during the spa’s Season of Wellness, and receive one-on-one treatments from international gurus who specialize in deep-tissue healing, vibration therapy, and more. It’s basically a one-stop destination for a total reset—complete with the sky-gazing views to match.

In partnership with Tourism Authority of Thailand

Top photo: Stocksy/Felix Hug