Wellness tourism is booming in Thailand – here is where to book

Thailand has long been a go-to for health and fitness retreats, offering a raft of opportunities to switch off and recharge amongst its white-sand beaches and lush forests. The country has fallen under the global spotlight in what has been dubbed The White Lotus effect, as travellers seek to experience the show’s luxe wellness experience.

In series three, set at a fictional wellness resort – filmed at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui – guests are encouraged to detach from their digital devices in favour of flotation tanks, biometric testing and stress management meditation.

The focus on high-end wellness reflects the mood of the zeitgeist, mirroring a global desire for travel opportunities that go beyond classic exercise and relaxation to provide long-term healing and health-boosting benefits, often in far-flung locations. Thailand’s wellness tourism generated 22.8 billion USD in 2024 and the country is the fastest growing wellness market.

“The show has ignited a frenzy of excitement about Thailand. There is a surge of interest from guests seeking bespoke, high-end itineraries, from lavish villas to exclusive mystical experiences,” says Deidre McGuinness, group director of spa and wellness for Asia, Minor Hotels, which owns the Anantara group. There are 11 Anantara resorts across Thailand, including Layan Life, a leading ‘medi-wellness concept’ on Phuket’s golden-white coastline that marries medical technology with meditation and mindfulness. Hands-on therapies employ traditional Thai medicine such as herbal remedies and bathing rituals. Guests can segue from the yoga studio to a hyperbaric oxygen chamber or IV drip, or take to the 400-meter zipline for something more adrenaline-fuelled. William Heinecke, the American-born Thai businessman who owns Anantara, frequents one of the 15 pool residences overlooking the shimmering Andaman Sea.

“We are witnessing a seismic shift, where the focus is no longer just on pampering but science-backed, hyper-tailored regimes. We’re talking personalised supplements, predictive analytics and AI-powered programmes.”

“Fitness is being approached more holistically. It’s no longer just about performance or aesthetics, it’s about longevity, mobility and overall wellbeing,” agrees Tal Friedman, operations director at RAKxa Integrative Wellness, a medical retreat near Bangkok. “Travellers coming to Thailand are far more intentional, actively weaving health and fitness into their plans, not as an afterthought but as a core intention. They’re looking for transformational experiences.”

At Rakxa, outdoor tai chi sessions overlook the private lagoon, while traditional Thai massages also incorporate herbal steam inhalation, using turmeric, galangal, kaffir lime and lemongrass.

“Thai wellness is not something you do, it’s something you feel. Wellness here is intuitive and heartfelt. There’s a natural sense of care, kindness, and service that’s embedded in our culture.”

“Convenience is key, but so is authenticity,” agrees Neil Li, general manager of Centara Reserve on Koh Samui’s Chaweng beach. The plastic-free resort draws a diverse mix of digital nomads, solo travellers, couples and families for its palm-shaded pools and Thai therapies, which utilise aromatic herbs grown in the spa’s garden. “Travellers want more than a beautiful backdrop, they want wellness rooted in nature, culture and purpose.”

Rebranding Bangkok

Bangkok, noted for its nightlife and traffic jams, has also expanded its wellness credentials. The newly opened Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is a high-end haven of peace in a frenetic city, with two floors dedicated to health and fitness. Airy movement studios and a 265 sq m gym are met by hydrotherapy facilities including saunas, hot tubs, icy plunge pools and Tyrolean bucket showers. The expansive Aman Spa also houses the Medical Wellness by Hertitude Clinic, encompassing private clinic rooms, an IV Lounge and a cryotherapy chamber. Guests can submerge in the outdoor pool and breathe in the city before ordering a refreshing tonic infused with medicinal herbs.

Also in Bangkok, the newly opened Grande Centre Point Lumphini follows the hospitality group’s commitment to fitness and wellbeing. The five-star hotel lays claim to one of the city’s most impressive gyms, alongside an authentic Japanese onsen hot spring bath, bubbling with minerals imported directly from Japan.

From restorative resorts to riverside stays in the heart of Bangkok, these luxury hotels offer world-leading wellness facilities – whether you’re craving a moment of calm or seeking a total transformative retreat.

Leading Thailand hotels for a wellness break

Aman Nai Lert Bangkok

Best for: Complete and quiet luxury
Address: 1 Soi Somkid, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Price: 36,223 THB (1,100 USD) per night 

Unveiled in 2025, Aman’s Bangkok opening is a temple of calm in the thronging Thai capital. Designed by Belgian architect and longstanding Aman collaborator Jean-Michel Gathy, the hotel pays homage to Nai Lert Park and reflects the hospitality group’s unmatched commitment to discreet, quiet luxury and attention to detail. Set across two floors, the Aman Spa sets a gold standard for wellness in the city, with an expansive fitness centre, movement studios, holistic spa menus and hydrotherapy facilities. Therapies draw on purifying Buddhist principles, while a 25-metre outdoor pool hovers above Nai Lert Park.

Layan Life by Anantara, Phuket

Best for: A world-leading wellness retreat
Address: 168 Moo 6, Layan Beach Soi 4 Cherngtalay, Thalang District, Phuket 83110
Price: From 13,272 THB (407 USD) per night

Opened in late 2024, this world-class wellness retreat – located in the grounds of Anantara Layan Phuket Resort – offers hyper-personalised health journeys. Medical diagnostics are met by traditional Thai medicine, including herbal remedies, meditation and massage. It lays claim to one of the largest gyms in Phuket, offering one-to-one training and physiotherapy. Meditative arts, longevity treatments and therapeutic bathing facilities encourage visitors to pause and reset, while outdoor pursuits include ziplining, water sports and Muay Thai boxing.

Dusit Thani Bangkok

Best for: Luxury gym; outdoor infinity pool with park views
Address: 98 Rama IV Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
Price: From 17,655 THB (541 USD) per night

Recognisable by its gleaming golden spire, Dusit Thani towers above Lumphini Park – Bangkok’s green lung – and the vibrant Silom district. The hotel reopened in 2024 following an extensive refurbishment, and the fifth-floor health and wellness facilities are exemplary for a high density urban location. Complimentary classes include yoga and sound healing, while a 25-metre outdoor infinity pool seamlessly blends into the trees. Workouts are well rewarded by drinks at the split-level rooftop bar.

Capella Bangkok

Best for: Waterside workouts; garden spa sanctuary
Address: 300/2 Charoenkrung Road, Yannawa, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Price: 23,907 THB (726 USD) per night

Capella Bangkok’s floor-to-ceiling windows look out across the Chao Phraya River. The low-slung building has just 101 rooms, making it one of the city’s more boutique five-star offerings. The gorgeous glass-walled Auriga Wellness spa is set in a lush tropical garden, where therapists draw on ancient Asian rituals, such as Tok Sen (using rhythmic tapping), alongside modern therapies. Treatments incorporate locally grown medical herbs and spices and are also inspired by the diverse communities of Charoenkrung Road. Dip in the thermal bathing area or take a tai chi class before a cup of warming lemongrass tea in the lounge. Accommodation includes seven villas on the water’s edge (a Bangkok first), the most coveted of which have a jacuzzi plunge pool on a private veranda.

Four Seasons Bangkok at Chao Phraya River

Best for: Spiritual practices; outdoor infinity pool
Address: 300/1 Charoen Krung Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Price: 14,720 THB (447 USD) per night

This riverside hotel is close to the city’s leading galleries, restaurants and cafes, but retains an air of serene calm. There are meditative leafy courtyards, water features and a supreme Urban Wellness Centre, where guests and local members partake in fitness classes, Muay Thai boxing and one-to-one training. Strength training and HIIT classes are met by singing bowl meditation, followed by a protein powder-infused shake. Finish with a swim in the outdoor infinity pool, flanked by clouds of greenery.

Grande Centre Point Lumphini Bangkok

Best for: One of the best hotel gyms in Bangkok
Address: 300/1 Charoen Krung Road, Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Price: 5,950 THB (179 USD) per night

This luxury hotel takes its name from neighbouring Lumphini Park, the city’s famous central green space. Supreme workouts in the Gravity Fit Club gym can be followed by a mineral-rich Onsen hot spring experience, a Thai massage or reflexology. A show-stopping 50m rooftop infinity pool completes the offering, flanked by bubbling jacuzzi baths and skyline views.

Centara Reserve Samui, Koh Samui

Best for: A five-star beach resort in Koh Samui
Address: 8, Chaweng Beach, 2 Borpud, Tambon Bo Put, Amphoe Ko Samui, Surat Thani 84320
Price: 9,879 THB (300 USD) per night 

Wafting palm trees, icing sugar sand beaches and infinity pools define this five-star resort, enviably positioned on Chaweng beach in Koh Samui. The shoreline is home to a slew of luxury stays, but Centara Reserve has the edge for its award-winning fitness centre, yoga pavilion, Reserve Spa and personalised itineraries. Treatments begin with a zesty apple, ginger, and lime jelly juice served in a martini glass. Massages use herbs handpicked from the herb garden, such as ginger, aloe vera and galangal, thoughtfully blended into oils, clays and scrubs.

La Green Hotel & Residence

Best for: Scenic running; longer stays
Address: 147 Moo 6 Cherngtalay Sub-District, Thalang District, Phuket 83110
Price: 2,000-8,000 THB (61-245 USD) per night

La Green Hotel and Residence is part of the Layan Green Park project, also comprising luxury residences. It is the first eco-conscious aparthotel in Phuket, and draws families and solo travellers alike for its chemical-free swimming pool, outdoor play areas and fitness facilities. With an active stay central to the hotel’s philosophy, guests can break a sweat in the gym, jog along the scenic running track or enjoy outdoor yoga. The hotel runs a free shuttle service to nearby Bang Tao Beach, where you’ll find beach clubs, restaurants and water sports.

RAKxa Integrative Wellness

Best for: Holistic healing rooted in Thai medicine
Address: 28/8 Moo 9, Bangnamphung Sub-District, Phra Pradaeng District, Samutprakarn Province, 1013
Price: 44,147 THB (1,354 USD) per night

RAKxa tempers the typical medi-spa experience with warm Thai hospitality in a peaceful tropical setting in the south of greater Bangkok on the protected island of Bang Krachao. Therapeutic massages, Thai chi, reformer pilates, IV treatments, acupuncture and aesthetics are all on the menu, which is perfectly personalised for every guest following a health consultation.

V Villas Phuket – MGallery Collection

Best for: Luxury villas for a wellness break in Ao Yon Bay
Address: Vichit, Moo 8 Ao, Soi Ruam Jai Ao Yon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000
Price: 28,000 THB (850 USD) per night

Twenty six contemporary villas stand above Southern Phuket’s Ao Yon Bay, with panoramic sea views as far as the eye can see. Reflecting indoor-outdoor living, villas are designed using natural local materials such as bamboo, teak and walnut and feature private infinity pools and generous social areas. Guests can request personal training for a tailored workout in the state-of-the-art gym, alongside yoga, sound healing and Thai boxing. At beach level, find watersports, kayaking and coastal cuisine, while vibrant Phuket Old Town is a 15-minute drive away.

Price: 28,000 THB (850 USD) per night

Twenty-six luxury private pool villas