At Luxe Wellness Club, you know that we’re big fans of Six Senses hotels , which offer the perfect blend of luxury, sustainability and wellness. For example, you can read our articles “We tested for you” Six Senses Ibiza, Six Senses Douro Valley, Six Senses Ninh Van Bay… So it was time to go and stay at Six Senses Samui, historically the brand’s very first hotel! With breathtaking views, lovely villas with private pools and a delicious range of food and drink, the hotel has a lot going for it. Here, therustic chic spirit still has its full meaning. Pascal Languillon reports on the results of his survey.
An idyllic setting on the island of Koh Samui
During a trip to Thailand to discover the marvellous Kamalaya and Rakxa , among others, I spent two nights at the superb Six Senses Samui. Built in the early 2000s on a peninsula, perched high above the sea, the hotel perfectly embodies the original Six Senses trademark of barefoot luxury or, in other words, rustic chic. Since then, the brand has opened relatively imposing brand-new resorts, and even city hotels… In Samui, you’ll find the recipe that made Six Senses such a success in the first place: close contact with nature, mostly wooden architecture, for a very relaxed luxury, the opposite of ostentatious.
While this is certainly my favorite style of hotel (as a reminder, I am the author of the book Ecochic, which referenced the best eco-luxury hotels in 2010), I must admit that it has aged a little, as of January 2023 during my stay. After 20 years in a tropical climate, bamboo and wood don’t look quite the same, and some of the decorative elements have gone out of fashion, no doubt. Rest assured, however, that renovation plans are underway to bring the resort back to its original glory, and the current resort experience is not degraded by this missing layer of varnish. This small flaw can turn into a big plus for your wallet . Six Senses Samui is currently half the price of other Six Senses resorts in the Asia-Pacific region.
I fell in love with the magnificent infinity pool overlooking the sea. An even better view than at Six Senses Ibiza, no doubt… I wanted to be there from morning till night. My second favorite was my own private swimming pool in my villa. It’s always a bonus not to have to put on a swimsuit when you get out of bed!
The resort also boasts a crystal-clear beach , but this is shared with other hotels that are less well integrated into the environment. These hotels did not exist even a few years ago when Six Senses was created.
Lovely villas
All villas have private pools and open sea views. Depending on the orientation of the villas, you can face the sunset or the sunrise! Personally, I preferred the west-facing position I had, as the view is more natural (you can’t see any other hotel).
I found the rooms and villas absolutely charming. Exceptional bedding as always at Six Senses, outdoor and indoor showers, soft cushions everywhere… Multiple places to laze and enjoy. Admittedly, the home automation isn’t what you’d find in the group’s new hotels, but a few modern touches are there, and the air conditioning and wifi work perfectly.
I loved the small outdoor lounge surrounding the private pool… Lots of tropical vegetation for total privacy. In my opinion, these villas are a lover’s paradise! Too bad, for my part I was alone…
Sea-facing treatment rooms
The spa features several treatment rooms dotted around the forest, most with sea views. The massage I received was extremely pleasant and highly professional. Before that, I’d taken advantage of thehammam-sauna area to start loosening up my muscles.
Yoga classes are held every morning in a dedicated beachside pavilion. A gentle wake-up call. Other wellness activities are planned throughout the week. Tibetan bowls, meditation and reiki sessions are available.
Compared to other Six Senses establishments, the current offer was less in-depth, but a new spa director was joining the establishment at the time of my stay and new, more advanced wellness packages were being created. Contact us and we’ll send you the latest treatment map.
Flavoursome cuisine
Thai food is one of my favorite cuisines. For me, it’s almost the reason to go there. All those flavours, all those spices, all those delights! When sublimated in luxury establishments of the calibre of Six Senses, it becomes irresistible.
The hotel has three restaurants. Dining on the Rocks is the most emblematic, with its terrace overlooking the sea and its gourmet cuisine. However, I spent most of my time at Dining on the Hill, which also has a beautiful view, but on the pool side. The dishes I tasted were all divinely successful. Mango and shrimp salad, Tom Yum Soup, green curry… the whole gamut of Thai gastronomy is there.
As for breakfasts, as usual with Six Senses, you can expect extensive buffets with a choice of hot and cold dishes, fruit salads of all kinds, detox juices of all colors and even Thai soups.
The setting of Dining on the Hill is very pleasant, with a large pond lined with water lilies and dragonflies on one side, and sea views on the other.
Our feeling
A beautiful hotel in a privileged location with magnificent views and villas with private pools. The spa offers a wide range of treatments in cabins facing the sea. If the resort is not currently a 100% wellness destination, Six Senses Samui could be the ideal complement to a stay in Kamalaya , just a 30-minute drive away.
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Rates : From around 400 euros per night in low season.
Call us for the USA on +1 (646) 980 6652 or for the UK on +44 20 4577 3258
