As with all of Thailand, massage on Koh Chang is hugely popular and for many visitors, an integral and essential part of the whole holiday experience.
Separate to that world of pampering, you can also fine-tune your body and mind at the detox centre, Spa Koh Chang. Yoga classes too take place up and down the island but it is a relatively low key scene in comparison to other areas of the country like Chiang Mai and Koh Samui.
Massage | Spas | Yoga and Detox
Massage on the Island
Across the island, there are literally dozens of different shops, beach beds and larger spas, offering the usual menu of head, body and feet in some or other combination with or without oil.
Massage is, naturally, highly subjective and what one person raves about, another may not rate at all and for sure, there are some very poor masseurs on the island. Finding the Koh Chang massage that best suits you is normally down to word of mouth and recommendations from others but above all, knowing what you yourself enjoy.
It may be a soft gentle massage or the harder, more physical version, but most of all, it should be enjoyable, relaxing, sleep inducing even. If it hurts, there is no harm in telling the masseuse, as the old maxim of it must be doing some good may not always apply.
Massage Treatments
Variations include the application of aloe vera or coconut oil, gentle pummeling with a Thai hot herbal compress (Pakop) or using another style all together, such as a sports massage or even the Swedish method.
Treatments may use tamarind (makham) with milk and honey as a moisturising and replenishing body rub, sea salt as an exfoliator and the traditional white mud, (din saw pon), as a deep, cleansing facial. Manicures, pedicures, waxing and even hair braiding are yet more options.
Prices
Prices range from 250bt to 350bt an hour, with perhaps double that in the hotel spas, which themselves have the full complement of jacuzzis, dry saunas, steam rooms and plunge pools.
Recommended Koh Chang Massage House
Sima Massage
Klong Prao
Located just after Kati Culinary by the road, great down to earth massage house with a full menu of Thai style for neck, head, body and feet. Treatments including after sun, 2 hours for 600bt. Popular and recommended across the island.
Koh Chang Spas and Sauna
On White Sand Beach, there are large spas with full facilities at KC Grande and Chang Buri Resort (Apsara), in Chai Chet at Paradise Resort (The Royal Spa), in Klong Prao Beach at Ramayana (Sita), Aana Resort (Aar’), Centara Tropicana Resort (Spa Cenvaree) and Emerald Cove (Breezes), in Kai Bae Beach at Gajapuri Resort (GajaPinn) and Seaview Resort (Rainforest) and finally in Bailan Beach at The Mercure Hideaway.
Several of these are country wide chains and there is a great luxury element to all of them, with prices to match, but they do have packages and special deals.
There are also saunas at different resorts on the island but for the Finnish variety, try Sofia Garden Resort in Klong Prao Beach. The Bailan Herbal Sauna, with its unique adobe mud buildings, has now been demolished.
Koh Chang Yoga and Detox
Yoga, meditation, Reiki, fasting and detox programmes are also available at on the island but on a much reduced scale. From time to time, residential yoga schools do also spring up at the big holidays, normally 10 day courses.
In addition to the two featured spots below, you may also find yoga courses and daily sessions running at:-
- Blue Lagoon in Klong Prao Beach
- Emerald Cove, also in Klong Prao
- Beach Jungle in Lonely Beach
- Indie Beach in Hat Sai Noi (Bang Bao Beach)
- Marina Sands in the Blue Haven Bay development (marina end) in Klong Son.
During most tourist seasons, Koh Chang or one of the other islands also play host to intensive yoga courses – look out on the web for specific listings.
The addiction treatment centre, Dara Rehab, is curently closed but likely to re-open from 1/1/22 (in line with current Thailand government estimates for fully open borders).
Spa Koh Chang
Salak Khok, east coast
Located in among the mangroves, lovely boutique resort offering a host of different wellness, fasting and detox programmes over 3 to 10 days or more. In conjunction with the courses, spa treatments of massage, herbal steam, facials and body scrubs. Yoga, reiki and meditation subject to availability. Gym and pool. Radiance Restaurant offers vegan, vegetarian, chicken/fish dishes in Thai and western styles – no pork or red meat. Non residents welcome for massage and spa. Pick up from the piers arranged.
Prices dependent on progamme but as a guide 7 days full fast is 14,000bt excluding accommodation..
Yoga Koh Chang @ BB Gym
Lonely Beach
Upstairs at the the gym in BB Lonely Beach, morning and evening sessions every day except Sundays. Beginners welcome. Starts at 10.00 and 18.30.
Per Person: Drop-in 300bt, 800bt 3 sessions, 5 sessions 1,200bt, 10 sessions 2,000bt.
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