For Australians, Thailand has long been a reliably happy destination for a holiday, and rightly so. A deeply cultural, warm and welcoming place with a vibrant food culture that varies in deliciously discernible ways as you travel through the country; and all just a short flight away. From Bangkok bustle and tropical jungles to idyllic beachside calm along the Gulf of Thailand, it’s easy to see why travellers from around the world have made this Southeast Asian jewel their destination for transportive respite.

Unless you were lucky enough to ride out Covid living with a massage therapist, years of social distancing have likely made you forget what it’s like to enjoy the expertise of wellness professionals. So now that we can, where to go to refresh body and mind? 

A couple of hours’ drive south of Bangkok, the once sleepy fishing village of Hua Hin is now the weekend playground of the capital’s elite, and it’s where you’ll find Chiva-Som. 

Regarded for decades as a go-to destination for well-heeled travellers of all kinds to achieve comprehensive R&R, the resort remains a fixture at the top of the global wellness destination tree. 

As Asia’s original destination wellbeing retreat, Chiva-Som has attracted the rich, famous and depleted since opening its doors in the mid ’90s. And in a post-pandemic world, it’s possible demand for their brand of restorative magic is on the up. From Kate Moss to Poppy Delevingne and their glowing skin, relaxed demeanour and fitter physique – maybe they’re born with it, maybe it’s Chiva-Som? 

Chiva-Som offers guests an opportunity to escape from the distractions of modern life, while still enjoying all the good things it provides.

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Nestled into seven acres of tropical beachside perfection, Chiva-Som’s brand of wellbeing involves more than just massages and fruit platters. A veritable trove of holistic modalities that encompass diet, exercise, internal and mental wellbeing, the idea is a sustainably realistic reset. It starts with an assessment, but think of it as a wish-list of what you want to achieve on your trip. Over-schedulers and anxiety doyennes, chill: it’s not wall-to-wall activities unless you want it to be, and given the plush digs, you’ll want to leave some time for poolside zen. 

From a gut reset (handy for food lovers and MasterChef judges alike), to weight management, sports conditioning, addressing a high-stress life, recovering from illness or just putting more pep in your step, days might include massage, acupuncture, personal training in world-class facilities, colonics, meditation, flotation therapy and even customised dining.

Speaking of which, is it even a holiday if the food isn’t delicious? It’s not all green juices and supplements here, rest assured. Driven by the resort’s own organic farms and local organic producers, the menu is inspired by Thai cuisine, as well as influences from its global guest roster. Featuring South Asian, North African and European accents, it’s vibrant and varied, encouraging good digestion.

Executive chef Sinchai Svripa’s philosophy is to help guests feel like they’re not missing out, while striking a balance of nutrition and taste. A cooking class to seal in the virtue is recommended, but so are a few trips out of the resort for a hit of local cuisine and a little immersion in this tiny, historic town. For brunch, hit up Jek Piek Coffee Shop, a legit institution at 70 years, offering plates of chicken rice, blushing pink yen ta fo noodle soup and other local favourites. At night, suffused in the smoky scent of meat and seafood grilling over coal, and the heady perfume of tropical fruit, Tamarind and Cicada Night Markets make a great place to shop, sip and snack the night away. Because wellbeing means many things, right?

WHERE
73/4-6 Petchkasem Rd, Hua Hin, Amphoe Hua Hin, Chang Wat Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand chivasom.com

MUST-ORDER
Chiva-Som’s Pad Thai (plus one of everything at Jek Piek Coffee Shop in Hua Hin)

MUST-VISIT
Hua Hin’s historic train station, built during the reign of King Rama VI (1910−1925)

MUST-DO
Cicada Night Market, held every Friday to Sunday, with plenty of stalls, hot food, theatre and live entertainment. At Tamarind Night Market, also held every Friday to Sunday and close to the Cicada Market, you’ll fifind still more food, drink and entertainment.

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