Krabi Spa & Massage

Spa in Krabi

Krabi's lush greenery and tropical climate make this the ideal location to indulge in a spa treatment. Most spas in Krabi take full advantage of Krabi's natural assets and are situated outdoors in fragrant gardens with old-style Thai wooden pavilions and inspiring views.

Pampering is the order of the day in Krabi spas; you will not find the strict dietary and exercise regimes or 'health farms' of Koh Samui or Koh Phangan here. Massage, body scrubs, wraps and facials are the most common treatments available and most spas offer herbal steam and jacuzzi facilities as well.

Hotel spas offer pampering in luxury surroundings Most of the spas in Krabi are upmarket affairs, usually attached to a hotel - although outside guests are welcome. Two-hour packages start at around 2,500 Baht and go up to several thousand more for a full-day's pampering.

Here, you are mainly paying for the ambience and service: beautiful gardens, private pavilions and undivided attention from discreet, professional hostesses and therapists. There will many 'extras' - herbal teas, floral foot baths, silk robes, cold towels - that will make the experience memorable.

If all this is not important to you, there are also a number of cheaper places where you can receive similar treatments in more prosaic surroundings. Facials, manicures, waxing and massages will be less than a third of the spa price in most beauty salons in the beach areas of Ao Nang and Koh Phi Phi, but you're likely to be indoors, in or near a busy room, with a TV on in the corner!

Recommended Spas

Tropical Herbal Spa, Ao Nang
One of the first spas in Ao Nang, this is a well-run, reasonably priced establishment. Treatments take place in outdoor pavilions set in a mature tropical garden, or in your own private suite with jacuzzi. There is also a large pool and herbal steam area for relaxing. Evening visits are recommended: the place is beautifully lit at night.

Adora Spa, Krabi Town
Located in a peaceful corner of the vast Maritime Park Resort complex, this is one of Krabi's 'best-kept secrets'. You can spend an entire day here: start in the outdoor four-poster jacuzzi tub that 'floats' in the middle of a lake; try a whole host of body scrubs and massage in an air-conditioned suite; and finish in their beauty salon. Tel: 075-620028

Montra Spa, Ao Nang
Run by the prestigious Spa Clinique group from Phuket, this is one of the few indoor spas in Krabi. On the top floor of Pavilion Queen's Bay hotel, it enjoys dramatic views of Nopparat Thara Beach from the teak-wood panelled rooms. There's an excellent range of treatments on offer, concentrating on East-meets-West style massage techniques that combine traditional Thai massage with Swedish massage and aromatherapy. There is also a beauty salon and herbal steam room available for guests. Tel: 075-637950

Pimalai Spa, Koh Lanta
Pimalai is another top-of-the-range spa, set in the lush grounds of the Pimalai Resort in Kantiang Bay. The scenery alone will transport you to another world; while the treatments, including detox massages and body wraps, will leave you feeling like a new person. Tel: 075-607999

Kantawan Spa, Koh Lanta & Krabi Town
For something to suit the smaller budget, Kantawan is a great little spa concept with two branches, one in Krabi Town (Maharat Rd) and the other in Koh Lanta (Long Beach). Both are set in northern-style teak houses and offer good quality, traditional Thai treatments such as herbal steam, massage with hot compress, and tamarind body scrub.
Tel: (Lanta) 075-684500; (Krabi Town) 075-623659

Massage in Krabi

Thai massage is an ancient art which is still widely practiced across Thailand and offered at all tourist centres. In Krabi massage shops are found in all the main tourist areas as well as being offered in spas and hotels at more ‘professional’ rates. These masseuses are skilled at ironing out the pains and stiffness in your muscles from a day of travelling, sight-seeing, rock climbing or diving. They are all quite professional at offering traditional Thai, oil and foot massage in Krabi and there is none of the sleaze associated with the ‘massage parlours’ of Bangkok.

Thai massage is a relaxing way to pass an afternoon Thai massage is an art that has been refined over hundreds of years - passed down through generations. It is still taught by Buddhist monks at the main school of Wat Po in Bangkok. This form of massage in Krabi is similar to that offered in other centres, focusing on re-aligning the energy lines in your body through ten main points, known as 'sen' (although there are over 70,000 recorded in all). In Thai massage, muscles are kneaded, pushed, pulled and stretched into place through pressure from the body as well as the hands. It includes aspects of yoga, derived from Ayurvedic practices.

The most active tool in a masseuses arsenal is the thumb, A correctly trained Thai massage practitioner will avoid sensitive areas such as the knees. If you have ailments or chronic problems sensitive to body pressure, advise the masseuse before commencing.

There are three popular choices of massage in Krabi.

Thai massage: is a vigorous treatment of more than 100 areas of the body, using hand pressure, as well as the masseuse’s own body to apply forces, working pressure points and re-aligning energy lines in the body. Ideally, this process takes at least two hours and can be a little uncomfortable at times, but leaves you feeling very relaxed. Typically a full course will last two hours and cost about 400 – 500 baht upwards and may be a little uncomfortable during the ‘kneading’ but it leaves you feeling very rejuvenated. You can also opt for an hour or 90 minutes and request harder or softer massaging.

Oil Massage: is gentler than Thai massage, instead of pressuring the muscles with the hands, therapeutic oils are used for deep muscle tissue treatment. It won’t solve backaches and is better as an ‘after treatment’. It leaves you a little oily afterwards, but can be a very sensual experience. Generally they are more expensive (205 baht an hour), but an hour is enough.

Foot massage: is a form of reflexology that works the internal organs by manipulating pressure points on the soles of your feet. This is another skill that has been passed down through the ages and can be quite effective in producing a mild detox effect on the body. Often foot massage is offered on the street side at night markets and events.

Many places also offer massages specialising in specific parts of the body, such as the hands and head.

Thai massage shops in Krabi

numerous spas in Krabi offer good massage In Krabi, you can find plenty of massage shops scattered in Ao Nang and Krabi town, while a few places are found on Phi Phi and Lanta island. There will generally always be one nearby if you are in a busy area, just look out for the ‘reflexology diagrams’ displayed outside. Your hotel might be able to arrange room calls at a price. Freelancing massage ladies also ply their trade along the beach. There’s no guarantee that they will do a first-class job but there is something very satisfying about having a massage while lying on a tropical beach under the shade. The quality of these places ranges from mattresses carelessly laid out in a back room with unclean sheets, to spa-like places that have individual booths and soft music. It’s best to stick your head in and see for yourself. Generally the older the masseuse the more likely she is to be experienced and good.

Hotels and spas offer a more luxurious environment, with nicely decorated private cubicles, scented clothing and soft music, as well as more of a guarantee that the masseuse is a good one. However, they are typically two or three times more expensive and not necessarily any better. Typically a Thai massage in Krabi will cost 200 baht an hour, while a foot or oil massage is 250 baht an hour in the small shops.

Top Destinations

Bangkok | Phuket | Koh Samui | Krabi | Khao Lak, Phang-Nga | Trang | Hatyai, Songkhla | Pattaya | Hua Hin | Cha Am | Chiang Mai | Chiang Rai | Mea Hong Son | Kanchanaburi

The Islands

Koh Phi Phi | Koh Lanta | Koh Tao | Koh Phangan | Koh Ngai | Koh Yao | Koh Chang | Koh Samet, Rayong

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