When was the last time you didn’t have your phone while waiting for someone in public? I asked myself this over and over again in my head as I sat at Chiva-Som Hua Hin upon my arrival, waiting for my Health and Wellness Advisor. I stared at the “No Phones” sign on the table, battling the urge to grab my phone and pretend to scroll, just to avoid sideways glances from strangers. For a split second, I felt anxious, lost, and lonely at the same time — but also relieved. Oh, so relieved. It was as if Chiva-Som’s no-phones policy finally granted me the permission to free myself from what society deems the norm: that your phone is a signifier of social adequacy, a tool for camouflage, a natural extension of its owner. I took a deep breath, and for the first time in a long time, I took in everything around me: the soft murmur of the reception staff, glasses of fresh lemongrass tea being poured, the fragrance of jasmine blossoms and fresh roses from my welcome garland, and…
“Ching? Kaitlyn?” My Health and Wellness Advisor, Lin, called out my name with a warm smile, gently pulling me out of my thoughts.
Before arriving at Chiva-Som, every guest is asked to complete a detailed health form, thoughtfully tucked inside a folder in the resort’s chauffeured limousine. The journey to Chiva-Som itself feels like a preview of the care to come: the car is stocked with water, healthy snacks, pillows, blankets, and free Wi-Fi, ensuring every comfort is met. Upon arrival, each guest is paired with a dedicated advisor who works closely with them to understand their health goals. Together, they create a personalised treatment plan and curate a daily activity schedule tailored to individual needs, setting the tone for a truly transformative wellness experience.
For those who don’t know, Chiva-Som translates to the “Haven of Life”. Its story began almost three decades ago with Thai businessman and politician Boonchu Rojanastien, who tore down his family’s beach house to build his personal sanctuary away from the bustle of Bangkok. Now, it has become what is regarded as Asia’s first wellness resort.
Overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, Chiva-Som Hua Hin is – as its name suggests – a tranquil haven in the form of seven acres of landscaped gardens. Its retreat stays are based on six wellness modalities: Spa, Holistic Health, Fitness, Physiotherapy, Aesthetic Beauty, and Nutrition, spanning hundreds of treatments and activities. Outside of their chosen retreat plan, guests can enjoy a complimentary daily treatment featuring various body massages and therapies or join up to nine complimentary classes per day, from low-impact yoga and better-sleep sessions to HIIT and TRX training. And if that’s not convincing enough, Chiva-Som has received the stamp of approval from the likes of Kate Moss, Madonna, and Naomi Campbell.
The Health and Wellness Centre is the heart of Chiva-Som’s offerings, featuring serene treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge with daybeds, and hydrotherapy facilities like flotation tubs, jet blitzes, and a tranquil Watsu pool. Nearby, the Bathing Pavilion boasts amenities such as a Jacuzzi, steam and sauna rooms, an indoor pool for aqua-aerobics, and a Kneipp reflexology walk. For those seeking fitness or rehabilitation, the gymnasium offers state-of-the-art equipment, personal training areas, and specialised physiotherapy studios catering to posture correction and recovery.
After a 30-minute chat with my advisor, Lin, we narrowed it down to three main goals: to let go, relax, and heal my gut as best as I could through the retreat stay plan titled “Taste of Chiva-Som”. So, like a student on my first day of school, I clutched my newly printed timetable for the next four days with a newfound purpose: this is where my healing begins.
The average guest would have probably enjoyed a buggy ride back to their room to rest. I, however, was a determined Chiva-Som initiate, so I went straight for my Chiva-Som Signature Massage and strode right on to dinner. Just a short walk away from the Health and Wellness Centre was Taste of Siam, a beautiful Thai-style glass pavilion where guests can enjoy their meals while gazing out at the Gulf of Thailand. The restaurant epitomises mindful dining, offering a menu focused on nutritionally balanced dishes, crafted using fresh, seasonal produce grown in its IFOAM-certified organic gardens. That night, I indulged in a bowl of hearty emerald mixed-vegetable soup, and my favourite Thai classics: chicken phad thai and nuea phad krapao — which I later learned in my private cooking class with Sous Chef Touch had been prepared with freshly boiled vegetable stock instead of oil.
With a contented heart, I made my way to my Thai Pavilion suite for the first time. Nestled deep within the resort’s lush, leafy gardens, the Thai Pavillion suites are designed to bring guests closer to nature. My bedroom opened onto a screened terrace surrounded by the gentle hum of crickets and rustling leaves — sounds of nature that seemed almost orchestrated to soothe my urbanite soul.
The room featured clean lines and natural wood tones, adorned with thoughtful touches like a handwritten welcome note and a complimentary leather journal. I turned off the light and sank into my plush bed. As if on cue, the first droplets of rain began to fall: first, a tentative tapping on the roof, before its rhythm deepened into a soothing pitter-patter. As my eyelids grew heavy, I drifted off to the rain, which washed away not just the dust of the day but the noises in my head I had carried with me for so long.
And just like Dora the Explorer with her trusty map, I embarked on my Chiva-Som adventure the next day with only my printed timetable in hand, dressed head-to-toe in what was essentially the Chiva-Som uniform: a set of complimentary cotton top and bottom garments that felt like second skin. For the next three days, I channelled my inner Bruce Lee at Aqua Boxing (because “be water, my friend”), let my creativity run wild in a meditative flower-arranging class, and grounded myself — quite literally — during my many attempts at lizard pose in Hip-Opening Yoga. I also felt the hands of a seasoned masseuse melt away layers of tension during an Oriental Scalp Massage and experienced a Mien-Acupressure treatment for the first time. It was a revelation. Using a specialised acupressure tool, the therapist stimulated my facial meridian channels, releasing nervous tension and negative energy — a kind of emotional detox I hadn’t known was possible.
No two days at Chiva-Som are the same, and perhaps that is where real luxury lies: in the gift of time. Time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with oneself. Here, time becomes the ultimate indulgence — not in fleeting moments of extravagance, but in the steady rhythm of a thoughtfully curated routine. At Chiva-Som, routine is far from mundane; it is profoundly transformative. It keeps you engaged, grounded, and gently moves you forward, nourishing both body and mind. True luxury is not found in opulence but in the freedom to slow down, to embrace stillness, and to dedicate time to your well-being — a freedom that Chiva-Som offers in abundance.
As the car pulled away toward the airport, a familiar vibration stirred in my pocket — an email from work. For a second, I felt the tendrils of stress reach for me, a sensation so distant after the past four days that it felt almost foreign. Yet, as I turned to glance back at the retreat, its lush grounds bathed in the soft glow of the afternoon sun, I was reminded of what I had gained: the ability to carry this newfound calm with me, no matter where I went. I waved goodbye to the staff, their warm smiles a testament to the sanctuary they guard so lovingly. There, nestled in Hua Hin, lies a haven called Chiva-Som. A place where time stretches gently, where the world grows quiet, and where healing softly begins. And though I was leaving, I carried a sense of solace, knowing I could always return.
Editor
Kaitlyn LaiCredit
Images Courtesy of Chiva-Som Hua HIn
