Hua Hin · Thailand
Chiva-Som
Thailand's original destination health resort, rebuilt over five years and back in full
6 photographs · select any to enlarge. Credits are shown with each image.
Opened in 1995, Chiva-Som effectively invented the Asian destination health resort and remains the reference point for the category. It occupies seven acres of gardens on the beach at Hua Hin, three hours south of Bangkok, with pavilions and ocean-facing rooms arranged around lakes and lawns.
Stays are sold as multi-night retreats rather than room nights, beginning with a health consultation that shapes a personalised schedule of treatments, classes and meals. Programmes span detox, fitness, sleep, stress, longevity and post-illness recovery, supported by physiotherapy, holistic therapies and a medical team on site.
The resort completed a phased five-year refurbishment that touched accommodation, the health and wellness building, the spa and physiotherapy rooms, the hydrotherapy suite and the flotation chamber. Materials stay traditional — teak, Thai silk, bamboo — against a lighter, more contemporary palette.
At a glance
What to expect
- Multi-night wellness retreats
- On-site medical team
- Physiotherapy and hydrotherapy
- Flotation chamber
- Private beach
- Fitness and movement studios
- Nutrition-led dining
- Holistic therapies
Keep exploring
More in Thailand
Six Senses Yao Noi
Fifty-six elevated pool villas on a quiet island between Phuket and Krabi in Phang Nga Bay.
The Siam
Thirty-eight suites and pool villas on three acres of Chao Phraya riverfront in Dusit, Bangkok.
Rayavadee
Boat-access resort of round thatched pavilions between three beaches on Krabi's Railay peninsula.
Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
Fifteen luxury tents above the Ruak River where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet in Chiang Rai.