Massage & Spa
Massage is an ancient practice in Thailand and is ingrained into the culture here. Traditional Thai Koh Tao massage uses a combination of pressure points combined with bending and stretching of the muscles to relieve tension.
Koh Tao massage facilities are plentiful. Walk along any street on Koh Tao and you’ll struggle to reach the other end without passing at least a handful of massage parlours, spas, and salons. Some are simple, family-run shops with elevated beds and just a few staff. Others are vast spaces lined with massage tables for full body treatments and reclining chairs for foot treatments and pedicures. Most Koh Tao massage shops double up as beauty salons. It’s unusual to find one that won’t offer facial, nail treatments as well as a full menu of massage options. If you are looking for the ultimate in luxury and relaxation, some high-end spa resorts offer packages. The packages include various combinations of treatments lasting for anything from a couple of hours to a full day.
Relaxing Massage
Most residents and Koh Tao visitors go to massage and spa salons purely for the experience and relaxation. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a long journey, a hiking tour, an activity, or a day out on a boat going snorkeling or scuba diving. However, there are some significant health benefits too. Massage has been shown to help with circulation, pain relief, and muscle growth. Also simply providing a temporary feel-good factor.
Traditional Thai massages are full body and do not involve any oils. However herbal oil massages and coconut oil massages are becoming very popular. You can even get aloe vera massages to help reduce the effects of sunburn. If you don’t want a full body massage, you can get a head, back and shoulder massages as an alternative, or even a lower leg and foot massage. The full menu list of options at any Koh Tao massage facility may include:
- Thai massage
- Oil massage
- Aromatherapy massage
- Swedish massage
- Head, back and shoulder massage
- Foot massage
- Facial and head massage
- Reflexology
- Hot stone massage
- Hydrating body wraps
Due to the almost infinite number of massage shops on Koh Tao, it’s difficult to recommend just a few in particular. Besides, personal opinion on what classifies as a ‘good massage’ is so varied anyway, it’s hard to find a truly objective view. So the good news is you’ll just have to keep trying a range of Koh Tao massage shops until you find your favourite!
