Cradled in a horseshoe bend of the Chao Phraya River and tucked beneath a thick tangle of jungle canopy, RAKxa doesn’t look like a medical clinic or even a spa. Guests arriving at this private paradise – south of the city centre and just a short drive from Bangkok’s international airport – may need a second to adjust to the stark change in scenery as they step foot on verdant Bang Kachao, a manmade islet often referred to as the city’s “green lung”, scored by birdsong and enveloped in fresh, clean air.

“On this well-preserved island, you feel as if you are far, far away,” says Piyarat Tanjaputkul, executive vice-president of Health & Wellness at RAKxa, adding that this propitious, 16sq km island was chosen as much for its calm surrounds as for its proximity to a key partner, the globally acclaimed Bumrungrad International Hospital. “Paired with our on-site scientific wellness clinic, VitalLife,” notes Tanjaputkul, “we can provide seamless and efficient treatment for guests while also benefiting from the most cutting-edge, clinically proven therapies available.”

“Clinically proven” isn’t just a catchphrase at RAKxa. Unlike conventional Thai spa retreats, where the emphasis is often on pampering and repose, RAKxa is a comprehensive wellness centre built upon the idea that, by combining advanced medical expertise with alternative health practices across a variety of disciplines, it can address every aspect of wellbeing and achieve truly transformative results.

As such, most visits – whether a five-night de-stress programme, a seven-night gut and immunity support regime, or a 14-night weight-loss plan – begin with a consultation with a doctor and a fitness assessment; many also include a full blood panel to evaluate vital markers such as hormone levels and biological age. Based on the guest’s test results and individual needs, treatments range from cutting-edge regimes like hyperbaric oxygen therapy and deep-tissue massages to acupuncture, sound healing or private yoga sessions, drawing on the most time-tested curative practices from traditional Thai, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines.

It’s this deeply holistic approach that sets RAKxa apart and allows guests to get to the bottom of what’s ailing them – sometimes finding answers that surprise. “Our clients are mostly C-level executives and business owners dealing with high-stress lifestyles,” Tanjaputkul explains. “They often come to us with symptoms like indigestion, insomnia or weight gain, and through our integrative process, we may find an unexpected source. Maybe the indigestion is due to a hormonal imbalance, or perhaps we find they’re not sleeping well because their digestion is disrupted. Working with our practitioners and doctors, we can then combine more than one science into their treatment.”

Of course, intensive healing requires high-quality fuel, which here comes in the form of anti-inflammatory menus individually tailored to satisfy each guest’s personal health requirements – and palates. “Food is medicine, but it is also a source of happiness,” says Tanjaputkul, noting that chefs and nutritionists work together to ensure meals are as pleasing as they are health-promoting, leaning heavily on fresh local produce. “Here we believe in qi, the energy of the fresh substance, and with such products, you don’t need to add a lot of seasoning or anything else – it has incredible flavour on its own.” 

Physio- and movement therapies take place in the state-of-the-art medical gym, where diagnostic assessments include functional fitness and neuromuscular connection as well as gait analysis. The offerings, in line with the RAKxa programme, span everything from HIIT training and aqua fitness to pilates, private suspension therapy and Tai Chi. As Tanjaputkul quips: “Exercise is the one thing here that guests have to do by themselves. We can take care of the food, the treatments, the supplements and so on, but we cannot exercise for them!”

After an invigorating workout or treatment, guests can unwind in the hydrotherapy spa, lounge under tropical greenery by the pool, or relax in their spacious accommodations; no rooms here, just garden and pool villas starting at a generous 80 square metres, which is one of the many ways RAKxa creates a remarkable and pervasive sense of privacy, discretion and dedication. In this expanse of serene jungle sanctuary, with its immersive level of personalised attention from devoted doctors and therapists, it can seem at times as if the entire retreat exists solely for your wellbeing – a feeling that is further enhanced by the welcoming warmth and authentic geniality of the centre’s experts and staff. They are the cornerstone of the RAKxa experience, as Tanjaputkul acknowledges: “It is our concept of true integrative wellness combined with our genuine Thai hospitality that, I think, really makes the difference.”

Find out more at rakxawellness.com