Tamarind Springs Forest Spa

Overview

The Tamarind Springs Steam and Dream pass is the access-only option at Koh Samui's oldest dedicated day spa. For THB 1,500++ per person you can drift, for as long as you like, between two herbal steam rooms built into natural rock caves and three rock plunge pools fed by rolling water, all set among giant granite boulders on a forested hillside above Lamai. It is the only package on the Tamarind Springs menu that is not tied to a massage, which makes it the closest thing the spa offers to a day pass.

Tamarind Springs Forest Spa opened in 1998 as Koh Samui's first dedicated day spa and has since built an international reputation as one of Asia's most distinctive destination spas. The grounds combine a tropical garden, rainforest, palms, old trees, trickling waterfalls and huge boulders, and the herbal steam caves are the signature feature.

What Steam and Dream Includes

Steam and Dream is priced at THB 1,500++ per person and is described by the spa as "as long as you like", with no time limit on your session. It includes:

• Use of the 'Steam-and-Dream' and 'Steam-and-Scrub' herbal steam rooms, built into natural rock caves
• Three rock plunge pools carved among the boulders, with rolling water for cooling off
• A locker, sarong, towel and slippers, provided on arrival
• A complimentary welcome drink, snacks, refreshments and herbal teas, which come with all packages and treatments

The '++' means prices are subject to a 10 percent service charge and 7 percent VAT, so the final bill is higher than the headline figure.

The Herbal Steam Caves

Thai people have long visited herbal steam rooms at country temples to relax and detoxify, and Tamarind Springs draws on that tradition. Its steam room is set inside a natural rock cave, an experience the spa says guests have described as 'primal' or like 'entering a dragon's cave'. The usual rhythm is a spell in the fragrant steam, a plunge into one of the cool rock pools, a rest in the garden, then back into the cave. Most of the spa's longer programmes include at least 90 minutes in the steam caves and plunge pools.

Adding a Massage

If you want to combine the caves with a treatment, Tamarind Springs runs a set of packages that each start with 90 minutes of Steam and Dream. Forest Dreaming (4 hours, THB 5,500++) adds a 2.5-hour massage of your choice, Dream On (5 hours, THB 7,000++) adds 3.5 hours of massage, and there are hot and cold stone and manual lymphatic drainage packages from THB 7,500++. Massage-only treatments are also available, starting at THB 1,800++ for a one-hour head massage or foot reflexology. The massage menu includes Thai yoga massage, Prakop massage, classic oil massage, the 'Twice as nice' and 'Over the Top' options, facials and foot reflexology, and the spa accepts cash and all major credit cards.

Location and Getting There

Tamarind Springs Forest Spa is at 265/1 Thong Takian, Moo 4, Tambon Maret, Ko Samui, in the hills just north of Lamai on the south-east of the island. It is a short drive from Lamai town and around 20 to 25 minutes from Chaweng. The spa can arrange limousine pick-up from and to most places on the island at extra cost, with the exception of steep hillside locations.

Good to Know

• Opening hours: daily 09:00 to 18:00.
• Booking: advance booking is recommended. Reserve online through the Tamarind Springs booking page, call +66 85 926 4626 or +66 98 963 6449, or email spa@tamarindsprings.com.
• Deposit: steam-only packages require a THB 1,000 deposit per person, which is non-refundable. Rescheduling needs 24 hours' notice by phone or in person.
• Age limit: spa facilities are only available to guests aged 14 and over.
• Dress code: swimwear must be worn at all times in the steam caves.
• Phones: guests are asked to switch off and deposit mobile phones and cameras at reception before entering the treatment area.
• Health: herbal steam is not advised if you have a fever, an injury, a heart or blood pressure condition, have been drinking alcohol, or are pregnant.

For a long, unhurried afternoon of herbal steam and rock pools in a rainforest setting, the Tamarind Springs Steam and Dream pass is one of the most atmospheric wellness experiences on Koh Samui.