Countless hours of kneading muscles and nurturing guests to optimum health appears to have paid off for the team at Banyan Tree Spa Samui after they were recognized last week with a coveted award from UK-based The Luxury Spa Edit.
Announcing the Global Spa Awards 2026, a panel of some of the world’s leading spa and wellness experts, alongside highly regarded travel journalists and sustainability specialists, and including more than 85,000 votes from the public, determined that Banyan Tree Samui take the title as “Best Spa Resort – Thailand”.
“We are honored to win this award,” said Spa & Gallery Manager Naphasawan Badklang. “Much of the credit goes to each member of the spa team, most of whom came through rigorous training at the Banyan Spa & Wellbeing Academy in Phuket.”
Ms Naphasawan also paid tribute to the Banyan Tree brand’s “Wellbeing Sanctuary” program, offering guests an alternative vacation based on holistic activities and health, as well as the brand’s own “8 Pillars of Wellbeing” concept, highlighting: Rest; Nourishment; Connection; Movement; Mindfulness; Growth; Groundedness; and Practice.
Specializing in holistic treatments and health-giving products, including locally sourced coconut oil, the spa at Banyan Tree Samui is perhaps best renowned for its signature hydrotherapy facility known as The Rainforest, which takes guests on a tropical journey through a series of water jets, saunas and steams, ice fountains and whirlpools.
The Luxury Spa Edit award coincides with the rollout of a new Banyan Tree Spa 2.0 concept, combining ancient Asian practices in harmony with nature.
Following a personalized consultation ahead of their treatment at a Banyan Tree spa, each guest will now receive a herbal massage oil specifically blended to align with their key focus of wellbeing.
Banyan Tree Spa hosts will also introduce new signature ritual elements into each treatment, including the following: a Palm Touch Ritual; a Sound Healing Ritual; a Breathwork Ritual; and Koshi chimes and Tingsha Tibetan bells used to awaken and conclude the treatment.
Each treatment will end with tea and a purifying ritual, involving foot cleansing with a refined blend of Himalayan salt, lemon powder and herbs, reinforcing the spa’s natural and Asian heritage.
Among the signature treatments at Banyan Tree Spa Samui is the Sense of Place – Sukhothai Heritage Massage, promoting deep relaxation and flexibility, and featuring a scrub and wrap with a healing blend of fresh coconut, jasmine rice, turmeric and tamarind.
Another much loved treatment is the Royal Banyan, a harmonious combination of Eastern and Western massage techniques to ease muscle tension and boost circulation.
Guests can also choose a restorative journey incorporating both the hydrotherapy facility with a massage – a treatment known as the Rainforest Indulgence. It features a rainwalk, salt scrub and mud bath, before a Swiss shower, sauna and ice fountain, and concludes with a wellness ritual in the vitality pool and a tailored massage.
“Along with several members of our expert panel, I have been fortunate enough to visit Banyan Tree Samui personally,” said Lisa Brown, Founder and CEO of The Luxury Spa Edit. “The Banyan Tree brand has long been renowned for its eco-friendly, world-class luxury spa resorts and eight pillars of wellness philosophy, but this resort has something a little magical.
“From the stunning hillside setting, which offers breathtaking views over Lamai Bay, to the spacious pool villas with personal hosts, the resort creates a cocooning haven of calm. Its extensive wellness offering is particularly impressive, and The Rainforest provides an exceptional hydrotherapy experience. I was especially impressed to have my own personal ‘Hydrotherapy Host’ guiding me through each stage of the circuit. The Spa therapists are all trained at the Banyan Spa & Wellbeing Academy, and I’ve always found them to be highly skilled. My Rainforest experience at Samui was one of the best holistic treatments I have ever had. Congratulations to the Samui team on a well-deserved win.”
A Sanctuary for the Senses
Banyan Tree Samui’s 88 spacious pool villas, each with its own private infinity pool, provide a serene and secluded oasis where guests can unwind and reconnect with nature. Designed to seamlessly blend with the surrounding landscape, the villas feature contemporary Thai architecture and are adorned with locally sourced materials and artwork, creating a truly authentic and immersive experience.
The resort hosts three restaurants, including Saffron which was recently listed in the 2025 MICHELIN Guide. Other onsite facilities include a fitness centre, a kids’ club, a meetings and events centre, and a library.
For reservations and more information, contact samui@banyantree.com or tel: +66 077 915 333.
Villas at Banyan Tree Samui, each with a private infinity pool, start from US$585 per night.
