ONE WEEK IN RXV WELLNESS VILLAGE, BANGKOK

Last year I was excited to hear about an incredible place in Bangkok called RAKxa – an ultra-luxurious integrative wellness and medical retreat focusing on science-backed longevity treatments. It sounded like paradise for anyone seeking a high-end health reset or a deep wellness overhaul. But with two little ones in tow, it wasn’t quite the place for them to be running wild, so I shelved the idea… for a bit. Where intention goes, energy flows – so I popped it in my mental manifestation locker, trusting the right opportunity would present itself when the time was right.

Four months later, I was invited to visit RAKxa’s sister retreat, RXV Wellness Village – a newly renovated hotel with a 4,000 sqm wellness facility set in a lush, 50-acre natural healing environment. Rooted in the philosophy of “Everyone’s Wellness,” RXV takes a more relaxed, family-friendly approach to wellbeing, making it the perfect place to visit for a day, a week (or longer!) with friends and family.

Just outside Bangkok, RXV is tucked into the serene surrounds of Suan Sampran’s organic heritage gardens along the Tha Chin River, with preserved flower beds and century-old trees. We arrived off a long-haul flight, weary and flushed from the leap from UK winter to Thai summer (hello, +30°C!), and were instantly soothed by the cooling greenery and calm. I spotted many of my favourite houseplants thriving in their natural habitat – a lush, tropical home-from-home.

The hotel has been lovingly restored with elegant Thai-inspired architecture and a seamless indoor-outdoor wellness design. From yoga and meditation spaces to hydrotherapy and traditional healing treatments, this peaceful green haven, surrounded by river life and teeming with birdsong, was our sanctuary for the week.

The programme was tailored to us, blending ancient Thai, Chinese and Indian medicine with the latest wellness tech. On our first day settling in, we found ourselves mid-consultation with two very jet-lagged little ones fast asleep on our laps. The team swiftly whisked us off, one at a time, for grounding massages. I had a dreamy Thai aroma massage accompanied by a crystal alchemy singing bowl – my kind of heaven. Nick had a deep-tissue Thai oil massage (less dreamy, more deep!) and while I snoozed through mine, he winced through his. But the result? We were deeply relaxed and ready to ease into retreat life with minimal jetlag.

For the next week, Nick and I took turns to enjoy an 8am morning class,before meeting up with the rest of the family for breakfast. The kids were in heaven sipping colourful herbal teas, juices  and tonics, drawing, crafting and making paper animals with the ever-attentive staff – it felt like having five extra mothers around! The schedule for the day included dedicated children’s sessions which we attended as a family – think yoga, circuit training, clay moulding, mandala-making with crystals, and weaving fish from pandan leaves - but they also gatecrashed a few of ours. Mahi, who’d just turned four, joined me for a Muay Thai dance class and while Nick worked out in the gym she challenged the gym instructors to various games or scaled the climbing wall. Dash enjoyed followed her everywhere and having a go at everything, high-fiving the staff and proudly declaring “Kop Kum Krab” to anyone who would listen – which was pretty much everyone.

Food at RXV is a farm-to-table celebration of health and flavour, with organic produce sourced from nearby farms. A real highlight for me was joining Chef Toey on a trip to their local organic market – just five minutes away by golf buggy – where we sourced herbs and greens, tasted our way through the stalls, and brought it all back for a half-day cooking workshop. You can find two of the base dressings we used [here – link to recipes].

The food was an absolute highlight, not just for my tastebuds but also to nourish the mind and body, it’s creative, fresh and delicious. Favourites included the colorful Thai salads bursting with fresh herbs and zesty dressings that I’ve always loved, as well as comforting Asian broths and herbal soups made with traditional healing ingredients. The Japanese breakfast platter was a particular hit with my children with a little bit of everything including housemade miso soup and pickled radish, and of course tropical fruit platters featuring the sweetest local, seasonal produce.

The treatments here were next level. A perfect harmony of Eastern wisdom and Western science. From gentle essential oil massages with crystal bowls to flying high in aerial yoga. A particular highlight was the Thai traditional medicine consultation, including a spine analysis and abdominal massage to support gut health. Nick and I were both so impressed with the knowledge and care of the therapists, doctors and trainers.

When a change in travel plans meant we had to stay an extra day – no complaints here! – I booked in for the Lady Health Therapy, a traditional Thai treatment using a heated salt pot and herbal blend to support the womb and pelvic area, followed by a special abdominal massage. It’s deeply nurturing, easing menstrual cramps and reawakening circulation – particularly beneficial for postpartum or menopausal women. 

Now, hydro’s not usually my thing (hot and cold contrast? No thanks!) – but this became my favourite ritual of the stay. The circuit included an infrared sauna, herbal steam, soda pool, oxygen pool, therapy jets, and a cold plunge – with a handy chart showing how to use it depending on whether you wanted glowing skin, deeper sleep, or muscle recovery. My legs have never felt smoother!

All in all, RXV was a magical experience – not just for me and Nick as seekers of authentic wellness, but because we could share it as a family. This is the first luxury retreat I’ve visited where children are not just allowed but embraced – welcome on every step of the journey. Many people actually come away on retreats seeking to connect with their inner child again, become flexible and free of mind and body, and playful of spirit, to feel energetic and vital again. Just watching our children play and interact in this space is a reminder of all of these things.