ZIMA Spa & Wellness

Overview

ZIMA Spa & Wellness is a genuine Russian banya in Rawai, on Phuket's southern coast, built around real wood-fired stoves rather than electric heaters. It brings together the full Russian bathing ritual on the island: a traditional steam room heated by burning firewood, venik (birch broom) parenie, a Turkish-style hammam, a Japanese onsen and a sharp ice plunge, with Thai and oil massage, tea and restaurant dining available on top of the base entry. For anyone who has experienced a real banya in Russia, or wants to try one for the first time, ZIMA is one of the more authentic wellness experiences in Phuket.

What sets ZIMA apart from most of the island's sauna and spa venues is the wood fire itself. The heat from burning firewood produces a softer, deeper steam than an electric sauna can reproduce, and it is central to the venue's identity as a proper Russian banya rather than a generic contrast-therapy studio. The result is a slower, more ritualised visit: steam, venik, plunge, hammam, onsen and rest, repeated at your own pace.

What the Day Pass Includes

A standard ZIMA visit lasts three hours and gives full access to the Russian steam room, the hammam, the Japanese onsen and the ice plunge pool. Entry between 09:00 and 16:00 is 650 THB, and entry between 16:00 and 23:00 is 1,000 THB. Wednesday and Sunday are family days, with a children's rate of 250 THB. Spa entry is included with every additional service, so a massage or venik parenie booking also gives access to the full facility rather than being sold separately.

On top of the base entry, guests can add venik (birch broom) parenie sessions, a Thai or oil massage, and food and tea from the on-site restaurant. Walk-ins are welcome subject to availability, though booking ahead online, by phone, WhatsApp or Telegram is recommended, particularly on family days or during busier evening hours.

A spa visit can be booked solo or as a group, which makes ZIMA a reasonable choice for a couple's afternoon, a small group of friends, or a solo visitor who just wants a few quiet hours of steam and cold plunge. A massage can also be booked on its own, without the full spa entry, for anyone who is short on time but still wants a treatment. ZIMA also runs occasional evening events beyond the standard day pass, including floating sound bath sessions in the pool, a relaxation practice where guests rest on a floating mattress in the water while the body settles into a weightless, deeply relaxed state. These events are announced separately from the standard entry tiers, so check ZIMA's own booking page or social channels for current dates.

The Banya, Hammam, Onsen and Ice Plunge

The heart of a ZIMA visit is the contrast between deep heat and cold. The Russian steam room (parilka) is heated by genuine wood-fired stoves, and an authentic venik ritual, using a bundle of birch or oak branches, can be added to intensify circulation and the classic banya sensation. Once the heat has done its work, the ice plunge pool delivers a sharp cold shock to reset the body before the next round.

Between steam sessions, the hammam offers a gentler, humid heat in the Turkish tradition, while the Japanese onsen provides a warm soaking pool for a slower, more contemplative kind of rest. The combination of Russian, Turkish and Japanese bathing traditions under one roof is unusual for Phuket, and it gives a ZIMA visit more variety than a single-style sauna or steam room. Massage is available as an add-on for anyone who wants to finish the visit fully relaxed, using either traditional Thai techniques or oil massage.

Location and Getting There

ZIMA Spa & Wellness is at 83/14, Rawai, Mueang Phuket 83130, about five minutes from Rawai Beach and ten minutes from Nai Harn. Free on-site parking is available, which makes it an easy stop by scooter or car for anyone staying in the Rawai, Nai Harn or Chalong area on Phuket's southern tip.

Good to Know

ZIMA is open Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 23:00 and closed on Mondays. Entry from 09:00 to 16:00 is 650 THB, and entry from 16:00 to 23:00 is 1,000 THB, with a 250 THB children's rate on the Wednesday and Sunday family days. A standard visit runs for three hours and covers the steam room, hammam, onsen and ice plunge, with venik parenie, massage and restaurant dining available as add-ons. Book online at zima.spa, or reach the team by phone, WhatsApp or Telegram; walk-ins are welcome subject to availability.