The Spa at the Four Seasons Resort, Chiang Mai - Spa Review
The
Nec-Plus-Ultra of Thai Spas
by Evelyn Chen
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Twenty acres of landscaped gardens |
Nestled
deep in the heart of the Mae Rim Valley is the
Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, one of Thailand's—and
possibly the world's—most luxurious and
outstanding resorts. Set on twenty acres of landscaped
gardens, the eighty-room property (comprising
64 pavilions and sixteen residences) impresses
with its plush villas, stunning view of working
rice fields, highly professional staff and phenomenal
spa.
When
the old "Lanna Spa" opened in late 1999,
it was quickly recognized as one of the world's
best. In the year 2002, the old “Regent
Chiang Mai” was re-branded to its current
star-studded Four Seasons name, and the “Lanna
Spa” was renamed The Spa. Though its new
name lacks the character associated with the Lanna
era, The Spa retains the aura and glory that have
won it multiple awards and accolades globally.
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| Treatment
room |
The
Spa is a Lanna-style, triple-story, 900-square-meter
palatial building located within walking distance
from the Four Seasons Residences. Inspired by
the architecture of a temple in Northern Thailand,
it evokes the rich cultural heritage of the north
in both architecture and interior décor.
At the time of our second visit in 2006 (our first
visit was in year 2000), The Spa was in its seventh
year of operation. Without a doubt, it continues
to exude exotic charm, which in our opinion, few
world-class spas have come close to matching.
Perhaps it’s the rich interior and exquisite
play of maroon colors on gold; perhaps it’s
the smart use of light to convey a unique ambience;
perhaps it’s the oversized day bed that
sits by the fireplace in the relaxation lounge;
or perhaps it is the expansive view of the verdant
rice fields extending into the misty mountain
range beyond. It is easy for The Spa to rest on
its laurels with such blessings in abundance,
but it did not. Over the years, the spa menu has
evolved to incorporate new branded treatments,
from the anti-aging promises of Elemis to the
holistic rituals of Ytsara.
During
our recent visit, we opted for the “Prai
Hair Treatment.” Prai root is a natural
moisturizer from the ginger family and has been
used by the Thais for centuries to heal skin ailments.
It has a sweet woody fragrance (which you either
love or hate) and serves to nourish and soothe
the skin and scalp. As you need to leave prai
oil your hair for two hours prior to washing,
for maximum effectiveness, the spa recommended
a filler treatment. We opted for the 150-minute
body ritual called “Sawan” by Ytsara,
the only organic spa line in the world that is
made in Thailand.
The
hair treatment began in the beauty room where
our gracious therapist, Khun Kanchana, cleansed
our hair twice with prai shampoo. Warmed prai
oil was then gently massaged onto the scalp and
a therapeutic head and neck massage by her firm
and persuasive hands followed. Next, a hot towel
embraced our flowing wet tresses. Whilst our crowning
glory was put to rest, the attention shifted to
our feet, as the highly experienced Khun Kachana
massaged them with lotion of prai. When we awoke
from a brief slumber, the interlude with prai
had sadly ended and we were escorted to the “Chiang
Saen” room for the next treatment, the much-anticipated
“Sawan.”
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| Infinity-edge
pool at twilight |
A
moisturizing body scrub cream infused with cajeput
seed and essential oils of petit grain, sweet
orange and lavender gently exfoliates the skin
while preparing it for the application of Ytsara’s
pineapple and tamarind nourishing cream. The body
was then covered in pieces of banana leaves and
layered with linen for warmth. During the ten-minute
wrap, Khun Sumitra’s hands continued to
pamper us with a scalp massage. After a shower
to remove the wrap, a relaxing massage with oils
of lemongrass and sweet orange ensued. Thereafter,
we were back to Khun Katchana for hair rinse (not
with shampoo, water only) and application of prai
tonic.
The
spa cuisine here is equally nourishing. This is
not mean, tasteless food low in calories, but
delectable creations using the freshest ingredients,
such as steamed codfish lightly coated with a
hint of sea salt and black pepper, drizzled with
extra virgin olive oil—or if you are a nibbler,
opt for the chef’s masterpiece of tomatoes
dressed in fresh mozzarella, diced mangoes and
passion fruit. After lounging in, take a buggy
ride to the Elephant Bar and watch the sunset
amidst the misty mountain range and scenic rice
paddy fields while sipping a banana smoothie.
Trust us; no other experiences can beat this.
 See
also: Best Spas in Thailand
Four Seasons Chiang Mai
Mae Rim-Samoeng Old Rd.
Mae Rim, Chiang Mai 50180
Thailand
66 53 298 181
reservations.chiangmai@fourseasons.com
www.fourseasons.com/chiangmai
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