RAKxa Integrative Wellness is a luxury medical spa retreat offering a transformative wellness experience that goes beyond the traditional spa retreat. Nestled on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, Rakxa can be found on the edge of the bustling city of Bangkok in the urban oasis of Bang Krachao, a man-made island known as the Green Lung of Bangkok.
My luxury wellness experience started before I had even left the airport as all wellness programmes at RAKxa include complimentary airport transfers and a VIP immigration fast track service. This meant that I was able to skip the security lines and was whisked through security in no time, ideal after a long flight, before being led to my driver for the 45 minute drive to the retreat.
From the moment I arrived, I was greeted with warm smiles and a sense of tranquillity in the welcome pavilion where I was offered a tea before being invited to join a Tibetan bowl ritual. The serene surroundings, coupled with the attentive staff, set the tone for what would be a truly immersive wellness journey.
The Hotel
RAKxa means to ‘cherish and heal’ in Thai, a philosophy that allows the retreat to offer an all-encompassing wellness experience for those looking for peace, recovery, and holistic healing.
As soon as I stepped into the retreat, I felt like I’d stepped into an oasis of peace and calm. The retreat is spread over 63 acres of paved paths and the buildings are all built in soft neutral tones that blend in with the natural surroundings. Bicycles are provided in the villas for guests to get around the sprawling grounds to appointments or explore the grounds to discover the the Olympic sized swimming pool surrounded by lush greenery or the tranquil views of the lake offering Skyline views of the high-rises of Bangkok city where I was lucky to see an otter on the other side. The retreat's commitment to sustainability and eco-conscious practices is evident throughout, further enhancing the sense of harmony and balance that permeates the entire experience.
What stood out most is the friendliness and professionalism of all the staff. The team are available on WhatsApp if you need anything but the communication between each department was so efficient that, so much so that when I turned up for an appointment in the wrong building, the staff kindly pointed me towards the correct building before I had even parked up my bicycle. A nice touch was also the linen envelopes left on the door of my room each evening with any messages or schedule updates to my programme.
The Accommodation
There are 60 villas with garden views or private pools at RAKxa Integrative Wellness, each meticulously designed to foster deep relaxation and restoration. I stayed in a private pool villa which was a tranquil haven of privacy; as I entered my villa I was greeted with a welcome gift of a wellness journal, reusable water bottle and bag for me to use during my stay.
My villa was modern and luxuriously decorated with a warmth of calming earthy tones and no expense spared on the comfort factor; floor to ceiling windows overlooked the lush green gardens and my private pool while an oversized bed offered the dreamiest sleeps. The bathroom was kitted out with a Japanese toilet and deep sunken bath and the spacious lounge and dining area was equipped with a (not so) minibar area stocked with fresh health shots and nutritious snacks, comfy L-shaped sofa and dining table. It really did feel comfortably like my home away from home during my wellbeing escape.
The Wellness Facilities
RAKxa’s integrative system merges ancient wisdom with cutting-edge medicine to craft a personalised healing journey tailored to guests health goals. A combination of advanced diagnostics, treatments and therapies will support a personalised treatment plan based on 4 key pillars: Therapy, Nutrition, Rest, and Lifestyle through RAKxa’s key modalities which take place in the retreats main buildings.
RAKxa Jai is the retreats holistic wellness centre with more than 200 treatments on offer in a comprehensive setting. Treatments vary from Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Thai Medicine to Ayurveda and Energy Healing, while the therapeutic spa hosts indulgent massages and healing treatments. Here you can find the hydrotherapy circuit, separate for men and women, with a vitality pool, sauna, herbal steam room, sensory shower and relaxation area.
The VitaLife Scientific Clinic has partnered with Bumrungrad Hospital (Bangkok’s top hospital and houses a wealth of internationally-trained medical doctors take preventative measures to increase vitality with state-of-the-art treatments and fulfil every biohackers dream. Guests can benefit from cutting-edge diagnostics, including genetic, hormone and micronutrient testing and preventative cancer screening. Modern technologies include IV nutrient therapy, cryosauna infrared sauna, light therapy and platelet-rich plasma therapy.
RAKxa Gaya is the medical gym equipped with Olympian-approved equipment and overseen by a team of experienced physiotherapists and physiologists. Guests can expect support from the team to improve exercise, performance rehabilitation and neuromuscular training. The retreat also offers a programme of group activities with 4 classes per day to complement your wellness journey with activities such as HIIT, Stretching, Reformer Pilates, Singing bowl, yoga.
My Wellness Programme
I chose the Personalised Wellness programme which allowed me to focus on my goals to relax and recharge after a hectic year feeling close to burnout. Before my arrival, I had completed a comprehensive questionnaire that delved into every aspect of my health and well-being, from physical ailments to emotional concerns. This was discussed in further detail on arrival with my wellness consultant who explored my lifestyle and current health and together we decided on the treatments which would support my retreat goals for burnout recovery.
From my programme, my most memorable treatments were:
Deep tissue massage - My masseuse who was a trained physiotherapist worked out the knots in my upper back which she told me was where I was holding all my tension.
Chi Nei Tsang - An abdominal chi massage which would cleanse the body of toxins and negative emotions so that chi can flow freely and the organs can function optimally. My therapist explains in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the abdominal system is known as the ‘second brain’ with specific organs responsible for many crucial functions like digestion, immune response, and hormone regulation.
Colon Hydrotherapy – The restaurant specially prepared a lighter lunch to prepare for my treatment. I won’t go into too many details but for my first ever colonic, while it wasn’t the most comfortable treatment, I felt truly cleansed afterwards.
I also found the functional fitness consultation at RAKxa Gaya informative with valuable insights to my body with the use of the state-of-the-art medical gym equipment. I had a physical fitness assessment to check my balance, cardiovascular endurance, muscular power, flexibility, and trunk stability and discovered that the left side of my body weaker was weaker than my right. My instructor gave me creative and therapeutic tips to improve my strength - I’ve been using his recommendations since I returned home and have already seen significant improvement in my exercise routine.
Dining
RAKxa's approach is all about integration which extends to their food philosophy. They have combined the expertise of chefs and nutritionists guided by an anti-inflammatory philosophy with ingredients unprocessed and free from sugar and preservatives; macro and micronutrients are calculated to optimise and support each guest with their health goal.
The food served at Unam restaurant was nutritious, delicious, and plentiful which some might not expect for a medical retreat. I didn’t feel limited at all and each meal was truly delicious with dishes served including duck, scallops, ravioli which were paired with a tea infusion prepared by the tea sommelier. A homemade kombucha is served before each meal to promote healthy digestion followed by daily changing flavours of homemade gluten free bread, before being served a 3-course meal at lunch and dinner bursting with vibrant colors and seasonal ingredients sourced straight from Rakxa's own organic farm. Breakfast was offered as an a la carte menu designed as small plates so that you can sample a variety of Asian and Western dishes. I can honestly say that the food was outstanding.
On my first night, the chef came round to check that we were happy with our meals and when I mentioned that the coconut pandan steam puddings was one of the tastiest desserts I’d tasted, the team generously surprised me with one at lunch on my last day – another testament to the dedication of care from each department at RAKxa.
Afternoon tea and healthy snacks are served at RAKxa Cha tea lounge with special infusions blended by the tea sommelier each day. It’s safe to say that I never felt hungry at this health retreat.
My Final Verdict
My recent visit to RAKxa Integrative Wellness left me rejuvenated, refreshed, and profoundly inspired by the depth of care and attention to detail provided by their personalised wellness programme. The facilities at RAKxa are world-class, with luxurious accommodations, a serene setting, and cutting-edge wellness facilities.
During my stay, I met a variety of guests, some were simply looking to kick-start a balanced lifestyle, others were suffering from illnesses in search of healing therapies and some with high weight-loss goals and we all agreed that there’s no doubt that RAKxa delivers on results.
As I reluctantly said goodbye to RAKxa, I left feeling not only rejuvenated in body and mind but also equipped with the knowledge and tools to continue my wellness journey long after my departure. The personalised wellness program at RAKxa exceeded my expectations in every way, offering a holistic approach to well-being that is both empowering and deeply transformative. I cannot recommend it highly enough to anyone seeking to embark on a journey to greater health, vitality, and inner peace.