Located on peaceful Koh Yao Noi, a picturesque island in Thailand's Phang Nga Bay, midway between Phuket and Krabi, the Six Senses Yao Noi resort is like a haven within a haven. And a visit to the spa is not to be missed.
The feeling of holistic wellness springs from treatments that incorporate only natural products allied with locally sourced materials.
A small path leads from guest villa to spa, surrounded by lush tropical forest and rubber trees. The waft of lemon grass is calming, and it's hard not to drift in and out of consciousness during treatment.
The turquoise and aqua accented treatment rooms dotted through the forest are accessed on raised wooden walkways. There's an outdoor Thai massage bed for treatment, with nature's wonder for its soundtrack.
Ask for rooms five or six, which feature open-air showers, and face a small waterfall. The cascading sound pours into the easy ambience. To up the Zen factor, Six Senses places crystals in treatment rooms along with jugs of drinking water distilled on site from rainwater.
The spa's Oriental Massage is recommended, combining Thai massage with oil, thumb and elbow work to reach pressure points. Highly relaxing, it's less vigorous than Chinese acupressure.