A destination resort in the hills of northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai is combining spa treatments with a military-themed boot camp to tempt wellness tourists from across the globe.
The Fresh Start Thailand Fitness Boot Camp opened amid the rubble of a building site in 2009, but has gradually progressed into a fully-fledged resort specialising in weight loss and detox, attracting professionals from Australia, Europe and the Middle East.
The boot camp is incorporated into the 80,000sq m Spa Resort Chiang Mai, a 36-bed boutique hotel centred around meditation and treatments.
After a hard day of exercise, treatments offered to boot camp guests in the resort’s intimate 320sq m spa include Ayurvedic therapies, a selection of Thai massages, reflexology, aloe vera body wraps and clay facials, as well as wet facilities including a herbal steamroom, two saunas and an Ayurvedic sweat tent.
All products used in the spa are naturally-made using ingredients from a nearby organic farm, with guests able to watch demonstrations of they are fashioned, using sweet almond oil, coconut oil and Thai balm.
The spa facility, owned and operated by Thai Company The Spa Resorts, is currently in the process of being taken over by a group of Thai and Chinese investors, who wish to remain nameless, but plan to continue the business in the same vein.
The boot camp side of the business is owned by British couple Louise and Richard Thomas – she a fitness instructor with 25 years’ experience, he a former British army marine – who have hired a team of ex-military fitness instructors to put visitors through their paces with classes based around running, aqua-aerobics, yoga, pilates and Thai boxing.
There are also specialised workouts developed by Richard based around the principles of high intensity interval training (HIIT), the Crossfit strength and conditioning programme, as well as kettlebell training.
“There are lots of similar boot camps in the Phuket area, but there’s nothing like this in the north of Thailand, so we decided to set up shop amid the hills and the elephants,” said Louise Thomas.
“The fitness offerings help guests realign their fitness goals, while the remote location allows them time to heal and rejuvenate before returning to the stresses of everyday life.”
Visits can range from a single day upwards, with a one-week package (comprising accommodation, boot camp, three massages, three spa sauna treatments and transfers to Chiang Mai airport) priced at 49,780 baht (£923).
