Geo Spa
Four Seasons, Langkawi, Malaysia
A lush retreat; an island within an island.
Overview
Ah, beautiful Langkawi. It’s an archipelago made up of 99 islands on Malaysia’s West Coast. Stunning white powder beaches surround lush paddy fields and jungle filled hills – it’s the stuff of dreams. We stayed at the Four Seasons Langkawi which you might (or might not) recognise from the hen scene in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ which was filmed in this very location.
This 5* property is set in the Northern part of the island. A 30-minute drive from Langkawi airport it is isolated, but the resort has everything you could possibly need; the Four Seasons motto is never to say ‘no’ to guests so that’s worth remembering if you’re feeling sheepish about forgetting anything. It’s a beautiful property, more Moroccan in design than Asian - think cobalt blue walls and clay plate displays. There are multiple courtyards which invite in the breeze as you swing on the wicker furniture, sip a cocktail and listen to the trickle from the waterfalls.
The spa is just as beautiful as the property and takes up a large area with plenty of dreamy day beds should you wish to relax post treatment, in fact, you are invited to spend the rest of the day here should you wish. As with the hotel, there are lots of water features making it an immediately relaxing and serene environment.
Spa Brands
ila (www.ila-spa.com/) which is a British brand, that prides itself on quality ingredients, aromatherapy blends and organic products. We’re big fans of it at TSL.
Prices
Massages start at $150 USD for 60 minutes.
Treatment booked
Geo Signature Massage – 60 minutes.
The Treatment Menu
The treatments here are based around the four elements; Earth, Water, Light and Air. The Earth massages, for example, use elements from the earth; crystals, mud, rocks, the water treatments use water and so on.
But well as the extensive range of massages, facials and salon services, we were notably impressed by some of the more unique signature experiences such as the ‘Spine Strengthening Ritual’ which begins with yoga followed by a warm herb bundle massage.
Our Treatment
After changing into robes and slides, we entered a huge glass room with a timber frame that looks out into the spa gardens. Once seated outside, the therapist washed our feet in lemon-infused water from a copper bowl (which has healing and antibacterial properties in Asian cultures) and chose between which oil we wanted for the massage, and our preferred choice of music (how indulgent!) The therapist guided us back in the room to lay face down on the bed, head facing another copper bowl filled with fragrant local flowers, as she invited us to take deep breaths.
The massage started with our feet being rubbed with a warm towel, followed by acupressure along our legs and back. The massage itself was a mix of traditional Malaysian style with long rhythmic strokes and kneading mixed with a traditional Thai style which is more focused on stretching. The mix worked perfectly. And because there wasn’t a focus on kneading we didn’t walk away with painful shoulders. It feels like a personal yoga session, whilst asleep, using oil – actual bliss, and deeply restorative.
Other Facilities
We loved the facilities here. The spa complex is actually pretty huge and you could spend the whole day relaxing just in the grounds without even having a treatment. There’s a lounge area where you can sit on arrival, day beds set atop a pool of water and even a yoga room where you can book private sessions with the onsite instructor. Before being taken in for your massage you are shown to a sizeable dressing area where there’s a steam room, shower and changing room.
Little Extras
It’s the little things isn’t it? On arrival, we were served a welcome drink of Tamarind water; pulped tamarind extract mixed with honey and ice-cold water. (It was so delicious we asked for more!) Lots of fun stuff is available in the dressing rooms too; mouth wash, body lotion, hair gel, dental kits, shaving kits, shower cap and combs. So you don’t have to worry about bringing anything with you – which is a bonus. It’s also super peaceful and because the spa is child free we found it one of the most relaxing secret spots in the resort.
Sleep Over
You’ll probably be staying at the resort; standard rooms are huge with high ceilings and double bathrooms (with his and her sinks and changing areas too) starting from £450 per room per night.
Food
Food isn’t served at the spa but there are three restaurants onsite which do a variety of cuisines; Kelapa Grill which serves international fare (pizza, pasta, seafood and steaks), Rhu Bar, perfectly situated to watch the sunset and Ikan Ikan, a traditional Malay restaurant. Room service is also very varied and there are menus by each of the pools too. Our favourite meal was at Ikan Ikan where we would reccomend you order the starter platter consisting of local delicacies like Chicken Satay, Vermicelli wrapped prawn balls and basil salad.
