PHUKET, Thailand – I arrive in SAii Laguna Phuket resort for my first wellness retreat with a stiff neck, the culmination of months spent hunched over my laptop. The timing for a trip that focuses on well-being feels serendipitous.
Unlike medical wellness retreats, which involve scientific diagnostics and specialists to tailor intensive treatments such as intravenous drip therapy, this is an entry-level, largely relaxing experience within a family-friendly resort, with optional self-care activities.
It is part of SAii Hotels & Resorts’ new wellness programme launched in March at its four resorts in Phuket, Phi Phi Island, Koh Samui and Maldives.
Wellness as a travel trend has been burgeoning in recent years and appears to be heading towards a new peak in 2026.
Research from the United States-based non-profit organisation Global Wellness Institute shows that wellness trips now account for around 17.6 per cent of international tourism spending. And marketing research firm Global Growth Insights estimates the worldwide wellness tourism market reached about US$989 billion (S$1.3 trillion) in 2025.
In March, I spend two nights in Phuket and another two on Phi Phi Island to experience the programmes, which are tailored to each resort and built around the five circles of well-being: eat, sleep, move, explore and stay well.
At SAii Phi Phi Island Village, wellness is closely connected to nature, with experiences like snorkelling, kayaking, mangrove forest bathing and stargazing.
At SAii Laguna Phuket, well-being is centred on staying active. As part of its Peace of Mind package, guests enjoy unlimited access to the resort’s wellness activities, including morning beach runs, pilates and aqua aerobics.
As a working mother of three, I think these activities could expand my self-care repertoire. While I love a good hike, my days are often a whirlwind of work demands and family logistics. As a result, my main form of exercise is a time-efficient but somewhat monotonous brisk morning walk.
SAii Laguna Phuket is nestled between a lagoon and Bang Tao Beach.
ST PHOTO: JANE NG
I start off my first full day with a 6am “fun run”. Making my way to the meeting point under the pre-dawn sky, I wonder who will possibly turn up for a beach run at this hour.
Well, I forget I am at a wellness retreat, because nearly 70 people, including hotel guests and members of a local running club, turn up in full force.
I opt for the less strenuous 3km route, leaving the 5km one to the seasoned runners. We wind through the expansive Laguna estate and along the beach.
Some 70 people turn up at the “fun run” hosted by SAii Laguna Phuket.
ST PHOTO: JANE NG
Slogging (slow jogging) on sand feels more tiring. But the scenic shoreline of Bang Tao Beach more than makes up for it and turns out to be a beautiful distraction that pushes me to the finish line, never mind that some of the 5km runners reach the end before I do.
My small win? I clock 5,000 steps before breakfast that day.
After lunch, I head to the spa for a blissful 60-minute Gentle Calm massage at 3,300 baht (S$130). The therapist’s skilful kneading, using a warm blend of geranium, orange and vetiver oils, does wonders for my stiff shoulders.
I have had massages, but never one that includes a singing bowl ritual combined with the Reiki Touch technique. The ritual involves the therapist using a mallet to strike or rub the rim of a metal bowl to produce a resonant tone that is said to promote relaxation, while Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction.
A massage with warm essential oils does wonders for the writer’s stiff shoulders.
ST PHOTO: JANE NG
With a warm sand compress for my feet and another for my eyes, I am, as the spa brochure promises, in a state of deep calm. And at the end of my session, the herbal compress around my neck feels like a warm hug.
In the evening, I attend a sunset yoga class by the beach, which covers basic stretches and poses. The session is timed to coincide with golden hour. As I perform the gentle moves meant to align and stretch out my muscles, I am reminded of how inflexible I am, but am once again pleasantly distracted by the sun descending towards the horizon.
The writer joins a yoga class by the beach during sunset.
PHOTO: SAII HOTELS & RESORTS
The next morning, I attend a breathwork class at a breezy seaside pavilion, where I learn several breathing techniques including a four-count inhale and seven-count hold, followed by an eight-count exhale. The longer release is meant to lower the heart rate.
The combination of soothing music, lapping waves, chirping birds and the coach’s baritone creates a pleasant sensory experience, until I begin to feel my lower limbs getting numb. I subtly adjust my sitting position to ease the prickly sensation in my legs and am relieved when we are given a break to stretch our limbs.
A class on breathing techniques aims to help guests sleep well at night.
ST PHOTO: JANE NG
In addition to breathing techniques, we learn to empty our minds, which is challenging for me. My persistent, intrusive thoughts? I find myself, ironically, planning what to include in this article.
Even so, I leave the session feeling mentally refreshed.
Between activities, I divide my time between my freshly renovated, spacious 54 sq m club room with its cosy wood tones and the club lounge which overlooks the lagoon.
The lagoon view club room with an oversized daybed.
ST PHOTO: JANE NG
The more rustic but no less luxurious SAii Phi Phi Island Village is located within a sprawling coconut plantation, an hour-long speedboat ride from Phuket.
SAii Phi Phi Island Village has a selection of Thai-style bungalows and villas.
ST PHOTO: JANE NG
The resort is flanked by lush forest and turquoise waters, and has its own stretch of white sand beach.
SAii Phi Phi Island Village is nestled within a coconut plantation in Loh Ba Gao Bay.
ST PHOTO: JANE NG
I snorkel and learn the basics of stargazing, but the most memorable activity is kayaking through a dense mangrove forest. We are encouraged to collect any floating rubbish we see.
This initiative is part of an effort to address the pervasive issue of marine litter, which often accumulates in coastal habitats, likely resulting from both shipping and local human activity.
I share a tandem kayak with a fellow journalist from Taiwan, and we establish a slightly frantic paddling rhythm that seems to work. But kayaking against a gentle current means we are so focused on moving furiously upstream that we do not manage to pick up any trash.
Mangrove forest bathing and kayaking are among activities offered by the resort.
PHOTO: SAII HOTELS & RESORTS
In response to travellers’ demand for mindful, social wellness and nature-related activities, hotels in Asia are rolling out a gamut of programmes, from retreats focusing on yoga and mindfulness to those built around digital detox and nature immersion.
In 2024, Anantara Layan Phuket Resort opened Layan Life, a dedicated wellness and longevity retreat.
It uses what it calls a life-stage approach to well-being, blending medical-grade diagnostics like blood tests and longevity science with wellness elements like movement and nutrition. Each guest’s journey begins with assessments, including blood biomarkers and 3D body composition analysis.
It offers a range of treatments including radiofrequency therapy and shockwave therapy, as well as cryotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intravenous nutrient infusions.
In Bali, Indonesia, located within the lifestyle and wellness destination of Nuanu is Lumeira, a social wellness complex which offers experiences like wood-fire steam and dry heat treatments.
The wellness trend looks set to stay.
Mr Michael Marshall, chief executive of Thailand-based S Hotels & Resorts, the parent company of SAii brand, has seen a clear shift in guest behaviour – with interest in wellness-led experiences not only from leisure travellers, but also from MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) groups.
“Clients are increasingly incorporating wellness elements such as yoga sessions and spa journeys into their programmes, alongside local cultural activities like Thai cooking classes and hands-on craft workshops,” he says.
More are seeking destinations that help them disconnect from daily stress.
“Travellers are looking for journeys that allow them to slow down, reconnect with themselves and their surroundings and return home feeling rebalanced,” he adds.
With more travellers seeking wellness holidays, hotels are rolling out a gamut of programmes to entice them.
ST PHOTO: JANE NG
The intuitive, feel-good experiences in SAii’s wellness programme seek to draw new segments such as younger travellers, digital professionals and couples seeking restorative escapes.
Wellness retreats offer a pause from daily duties and looming deadlines. Now that I have returned to my normal routine, the five days in Thailand seem like a distant memory.
But beyond the brief getaway, I have picked up new ways to manage the stressors of everyday life. I continue to practise the breathing techniques, although I now do them while lying in bed instead of sitting cross-legged on the floor.
A club lagoon view room at SAii Laguna Phuket costs $350 a night and a deluxe seaview bungalow at SAii Phi Phi Island Village is $390. For more information, go to www.saiihotels.com
The writer was hosted by SAii Hotels & Resorts.
Weekend Trip is a series that looks at regional destinations through fresh eyes. For more travel stories, go to str.sg/travel
