What is it? Launched in April at The Andaman, in Malaysia's Langkawi archipelago, V Integrated Wellness runs programmes featuring holistic therapies, beauty treatments, fitness classes, healthy cuisine and lifestyle workshops, all against the lush rainforest backdrop of the resort's Datai Bay Beach property. V guests are invited to tailor-make their own spa and wellness experiences, by making use of the V Botanical Spa, with its Chi Nei Tsang healing massage; the V Fitness studios, for yoga, spin and weight training classes; the V Beach Club cabanas and outdoor yoga platforms; and the V Healthy Cuisine menu, available at the resort's main restaurant as well as through room service. V offers themed retreats several times a year, each focused on a different aspect of wellness.
When's the next retreat and what is it about? From January 16 to 22, integrated medicine practitioner John Rogerson will offer health and energy assessments at V using a technology he developed called energy field imaging (EFi). Recommendations towards treatment and lifestyle adjustments are made based on a guest's EFi results. A record of the hour-long session, with images and voice analysis, will be given to the guest in CD format.
What else is there to do? Roam the rainforest surrounding the resort on a morning or evening nature walk guided by the archipelago's leading naturalist, Irshad Mobarak, a walking encyclopaedia on indigenous wildlife. The tree-hugging Colugo lemur is a local point of pride. For the more energetic, the resort can arrange biking, trekking and kayaking excursions, as well as boat rides through the mangroves.
What about the rooms? The 186 rooms of the 15- year-old resort have recently seen a round of gentle renovations; the elegant dark-wood flooring and window treatments in the deluxe rooms have been left alone, but the bathrooms have been revamped to levels of modern luxury with natural stone floors, mosaic tiling, large rain showers and oversized oval bathtubs. The south wing features mostly rainforest views while the third and fourth floors of the north wing have sea views - breathtaking at sunset. (The 16 86-square-metre executive suites and the 171-square-metre presidential suite have gone through more extensive transformations and now have carpeted flooring and plush furniture.)
And the food? Fear not, detox or otherwise, V Healthy Cuisine will not bore the taste buds. The menu, designed according to macrobiotic principles, boasts plenty of meat, such as the char-grilled tenderloin with saut?ed spinach and polenta chips, and grilled salmon with pomelo herb quinoa and avocado soymilk sauce: all in balanced portions. There is a long list of juices, smoothies and 'elixir shots' for guests who want to try juice fasting, or to supplement their meals with fresh fruit and vegetables in a glass.
What's the bottom line? V Integrated Wellness packages start from 3,000 ringgit (HK$7,300) per person.