Matt and I recently spent a week at Kamalaya in the paradise that is Koh Samui, Thailand. After having been travelling for 1 month non-stop, we were looking forward to immersing ourselves in wellness and focusing on our health.
Kamalaya is a stunning wellness sanctuary. It believes that everyone should feel life’s potential, and it really is a place for people to connect with their body, mind, and spirit. It’s meant to be a life-enriching holiday to help you feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and connected, and it really does do all that!
They have a variety of wellness programs to choose from, ranging from detox, stress and burnout, to healthy lifestyle and yoga. It has got something for everyone, and if you don’t want to follow a program, you absolutely don’t have to, but the option is there should you want it. It’s an easy, do-what-feels-best-for-you approach that really sets this place apart.
The whole place is built on the hills and leads to their beach, all while being surrounded by gorgeous palm trees and lush greenery. Just being so integrated into nature is already so soothing, and it doesn’t get much better than sipping on tea, waiting for your massage, and watching the sunset. It’s pure magic.
Anyone who books a stay with them gets a complimentary wellness consultation with the naturopath and a Body Bio-impedance Analysis (BIA). It’s the perfect way to gain some insight into not only your health but what you hope to gain from your holistic holiday.
Massage wise, this place is winner. They follow Ayurvedic, Chinese, Thai, Indian, and Western philosophies, so you can pick whichever one you feel will best suit your needs. Every single massage we had was spot on, and we always felt so revitalised and refreshed! My favourite would have to be the Indian Head Massage, which is perfect for someone who spends a lot of time at a computer (hello!).
The food at Kamalaya blew us away. Honestly, I knew it was going to be good, but it was just absolutely incredible.
It’s great to be able to order anything on the menu knowing that it was thought out with your best health and interest in mind. The best part was that there were two separate menus – one detox and one regular. The detox was a vegan menu free of grains, gluten, dairy, and soy, with the option to add a side of protein if you wanted to. The regular had everything but was still health-focused, of course. I often ate from the detox and Matt from the regular, so we both got what we wanted and no one had to compromise.
Breakfast was mind-blowing. It was the most impressive spread I’ve ever seen. They had everything from homemade gluten free breads, to sourdough, soaked oats, bircher muesli, steamed green dumplings, hummus, buckwheat pancakes, sweet potato pancakes, chia jams, nut butters, eggs, and so on. For drinks they had a wheatgrass shot station, juices, smoothies, tonics, teas, and the biggest variety of dairy free milks – they had so many, ranging from the average almond to even black rice and sesame!
Lunch and dinner also never failed to impress. The two menus are different, so you’ve got so much variety it’s actually near impossible to choose something! My favourites were the buckwheat quesadilla, the carrot and buckwheat wrap, the hibiscus and mung bean rolls, sweet potato gnocchi, and the sunflower seed dumplings with green sauce. Everything tasted fresh and was beautifully presented.
Desserts! Kamalaya absolutely nails the whole healthified dessert category, it really knocks it out of the park. Think things like dairy-free chocolate mousse, mango coconut sticky rice (our fave), detox sorbets, and coconut milk creme brûlée. Whatever your sweet tooth desires, they’ve got it covered.
As a wellness retreat, Kamalaya does not disappoint when it comes to helping you take care of your body, mind, and soul. All holistic activities are geared towards helping you achieve your life’s potential. Yoga is held at their yoga pavillion overlooking the ocean, it’s impossible to not feel present and zen with such a view!
Besides yoga they also offer personal training, matt pilates, body combat, circuits and TRX classes, so there is something for everybody, whether you’re looking to find your zen or sweat it out.
If classes are not your thing, then they’ve got an incredible gym also overlooking the sea! I did a mix of gym sessions and classes, so I found a way to move my body every day and it never felt repetitive.
Hi, I'm Teffy, a qualified Nutritionist and avid foodie. This blog is all about inspiring a balanced life through delicious and wholesome foods, with not a diet in sight. Healthy eating shouldn't be hard and stressful, it should be easy and fun - Working with my clients they are constantly amazed that yes, food can taste great AND be good for you!
