Health awareness has never been higher in recent years as the Covid-19 pandemic re-ignites the importance of health, both physical and mental. It has led to an increasing focus on wellness in the travel and hospitality industry with the emergence of one-stop destinations that serve as both hotel and wellness centre (with more emphasis laid on the latter).
An example of this is Rakxa in Bangkok, a fully integrative wellness and medical retreat co-launched by local residential developer MK Real Estate Development, Minor Hotels, and VitalLife Scientific Wellness Centre, a subsidiary of Bangkok’s renowned Bumrungrad International Hospital.
Nestled within Bang Krachao—a jungle-clad island on the Chao Phraya river that is known as Bangkok’s “Green Lung”—the wellness destination stays away from the city’s hustle and bustle, despite being only a river apart. As the first of its kind in Thailand, Rakxa Bangkok offers tailored programmes that last from three to 14 days, where guests receive advanced medical treatments and holistic therapies while enjoying the authentic hospitality that Thailand is known for.
Traditions and technology meet at Rakxa. A wide array of wellness programmes that combine both are curated for the visitor experience, including weight control and detox, rebalance of body and mind, well-being and recovery, as well as advanced facial and body aesthetics. If you are new to Rakxa and not sure which to choose, just go for the three-night Discover Rakxa package, which allows you to select from a variety of treatment options, from traditional Thai or Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and energy healing to physical movement sessions.
Rakxa is also home to a VitalLife Scientific Wellness Clinic managed by Bumrungrad International Hospital, providing services from consultations and tests to therapies and treatments. A dedicated health specialist will work with guests throughout their stay at Rakxa to identify unique areas of concern using modern technologies and then come up with personalised treatment plans to help them achieve their various wellness goals.
The wellness experience at Rakxa is further complemented by a well-equipped medical gym where a physical movement assessment can be done for bespoke training plans afterwards, and a holistic wellness centre—the go-to place for spas and signature treatments such as singing bowl healing sessions, initial acupuncture and moxibustion, Ayurvedic treatments like Shirodhara and Navarakizhi, and the latest Thai deep sleep and skin radiant therapy.
Hospitality is another pillar of the wellness retreat as deep rest and relaxation contribute to good health. Rakxa’s 60 private villas and two residences all feature soothing earth-toned spaces to encourage a calm atmosphere. Each of the two special residences come with its private swimming pool as well as an in-residence gym and treatment room with both sauna and steam rooms.
Of course, the health consciousness is also reflected in the wellness cuisine at Rakxa, where the approach to food is guided by an anti-inflammatory philosophy with emphasis placed on nutrition, nature, seasonality, and sustainability. At the all-day dining eatery Unam, Mediterranean-inspired dishes are complemented by sustainable meat and seafood, while in the Rakxa Cha teahouse, you would find both rare, ancient brews and modern blends from across Asia with tea sommeliers explaining their origins and health benefits. Meanwhile, some of the herbs, spices, and edible flowers used in the dishes are grown in the retreat’s organic farm—a real farm-to-table approach.
All images courtesy of Rakxa Bangkok.
RELATED STORIES
