Departures Switzerland Autumn 2022

Pure Indulgence A little

KIATTIPONG PANCHEE The country’s wellness scene is kicking into overdrive with an indulgent cache of new offerings. by Lee Cobaj An idyllic lakefront scene at Chiva-Som Hua Hin Temptation in Thailand com) has introduced a range of cannabis-based treatments, including THE THAIS MIGHT have been perfecting self-care for the last couple of millennia but over the past year, the country’s spa scene has taken wellness to a whole new level, with a raft of new retreats, deepreaching programmes and uplifting experiences. In the frangipani-scented Bangkok suburbs, glamorous new medical spa Rakxa (rakxawellness.com) has fast become one of the hottest new wellness havens in the world. The biophilic architecture and lush tropical greenery will soothe overwrought minds from the moment of arrival. The philosophy merges ancient healing practices (Thai, Chinese, Ayurvedic) with the latest advances in Western medicine, backed up by the country's renowned Bumrungrad Hospital. In-depth health screenings and consultations with counsellors plot personalised programmes to help with everything from office syndrome to weight management, to long Covid recovery and anti-ageing. The gym is stocked with athlete-worthy equipment and the aesthetics clinic features the kind of up-to-the-minute injectables, laser resurfacing, body sculpting and nonsurgical facelifts you might find in Hollywood. Not to be outdone, the mother ship of Thai wellness retreats, Chiva-Som (chivasom.com), located in the royal enclave of Hua Hin, has given its gym facilities a serious upgrade and introduced four new wellness retreats: Immune Resilience, with a focus on mindful exercise and nutrient-rich cuisine; Gut Health, which features probiotic colonics, detoxifying chi nei tsang stomach massage and hyper-personalised meals; Nature's Embrace, a more restorative retreat packed with outdoor activities and healing therapies; and Senior Wellness, helping silver surfers glide through their golden years. Meanwhile, back in the capital, the Mandarin Oriental ( mandarinoriental. decadent two-hour massages with CBD-infused oils and hemp-laced cuisine. On the other side of the Chao Phraya River, The Peninsula ( peninsula.com) has launched its Life Lived Best initiative, offering guests complimentary in-room fitness equipment, free exercise and mindfulness videos to stream, aromatherapy bath rituals and Naturally Peninsula plant-based cuisine available in every restaurant, as well as a range of daily complimentary classes (yoga, aqua fit, Muay Thai boxing). While in town, the St Regis ( marriott.com) has installed the first Clinique La Prairie clinic outside Europe. And then there are the newcomers: the Sindhorn Kempinski (kempinski. com) has dedicated the entire ninth floor to its spa, with a half-moon infinity pool, extensive hydrotherapy facilities, a pilates reformer studio and deep-reaching rituals that go on for hours and hours. The Four Seasons (fourseasons.com) is soon to unveil a whole wing of wellness, featuring a separate swimming pool, a Muay Thai boxing ring, an enormous gym filled with cutting-edge equipment and a decadent subterranean spa. “The wellness industry has experienced tremendous growth in the last decade, but this growth has become even more pronounced in the last two years. Interestingly, the fastest growing segment comes from those close to the halfway point of life, many already on a healthy path, increasingly interested in combining the enjoyment of life with the care of their health and well-being.” Alejandro Bataller Pineda, vice-president of SHA Wellness Clinic, which is working on new properties in Mexico and Emirates, shawellnessclinic.com PURE INDULGENCE 17 DEPARTURES PLEASE CHECK THE LATEST GOVERNMENT ADVICE BEFORE BOOKING TRAVEL OR DEPARTING ON ANY TRIP