At the northern end of Chaweng, the Amata Spa is set in the beautiful tropical gardens of the Coral Bay Resort. The experienced therapists have all completed over 300 hours of training, and the spa boast exceptional facilities such as the detoxifying infrared sauna, high-pressure hydro-jets, and a herbal steam room with plunge pool. The spa manageress is also a qualified nurse, and you can have a consultation in order to tailor-make packages of treatments suited to your requirements.

• Tel: 077 422 223

Also in the North, the Anodas Spa is part of the luxurious Nora Beach Resort. The beautiful wooden open-air treatment rooms are nestled between the spectacular free-form pool and the ocean. The highly qualified staff uses a range of Thai herbal ingredients and organic, botanical products in their treatments. The Anodas Spa utilizes both Thai and western techniques for the massages and facials. There are many treatment packages to choose from, including one specially designed for men.

• Tel: 077 413 999

Further south still, the recently refurbished and renamed Cenvaree Spa at the Centara Grand Beach Resort is a high-end facility set in tranquil gardens with private treatment rooms and the very latest in heath and beauty treatments. The menu includes massages, wraps and facials as well as professional manicure, pedicure services and even slimming therapies.

• Tel: 077 230 500

Opposite the Nora Beach Resort. The Eranda Spa is a stand-alone facility with a good range of treatments on offer and a spectacular hillside setting. Known as 'The Spa with a view', Eranda also produces its own herbal product range and has developed some creative in-house fusion massages.

• Tel: 077 422 666

Chaweng has long cried out for a convenient spa, which doesn't offer only the unseemly kind of 'special' massages, and Four Seasons fills the gap nicely. Beautifully designed with lots of stone carvings, silk hangings and large jacuzzis, saunas, and baths, the Four Seasons offers a wide range of massages, wrap, facials and scrubs. Their signature 'Winter' massage uses hot stones to stimulate the lymphatic system to detoxify the body and is unavailable elsewhere on the island. There is also a nice selection of packages that combine three or four treatments at very reasonable prices.

• Opening Hours: 11am - 11pm.
• Location: Central Chaweng
• Tel: 077 414 141-3

Hanna Somatic Education was devised in the USA over twenty years ago and has been brought to Samui by Cynthia Lindway, one of only 80 certified practitioners in the world. Taught in either individual or group classes Somatics bears a superficial resemblance to yoga and is a highly developed, but relatively easy to learn, series of exercises designed to relieve pain and improve muscle control. It's application in pain relief can be quite startling - Cynthia's assistant Meredith Collard spent fourteen years in a wheelchair, as a result of a botched operation on her ankle and was told she's never walk again. Now thanks to several years of Somatics, she's fully mobile. Although all results won't necessarily be as dramatic as this, the course if well worth trying for anyone who suffers from persistent back, arm or leg pain.

• Location: Chaweng - 100 metres down the road opposite Tesco
• Tel: 01 970 1705

Back towards the centre of town, Mata Hari Spa is new addition to the massage scene in Chaweng, located right in the heart of the shopping street opposite Pizza Hut. The menu of treatments includes Thai and Western massage techniques and the private treatment rooms are well equipped and comfortable. The Mata Hari also offers a wide range of packages that combine body treatments, facials and massage at reduced rates.

• Tel: 077 413 146

Conveniently located in downtown Chaweng, Top to Toe is a spa cum beauty parlour with very reasonable prices. Aromatherapy and massages, facials, hair extensions, eyelash perms, eyebrow waxing, permanent make-up tattoos, hand foot and nail treatments and waxing are all available.

Their signature treatments include the Aromatherapy Facial, which combines lymphatic drainage, cleansing, hydrating, scrubbing, black spot removal with vacuum, sea weed mask, moisturising, with 30 minutes of face, shoulder and back massage. Nail treatments including Nail Extensions in Acrylic, French Acrylic, Gel or Fiber Glass cost between 2000 Baht - 2,500 Baht.

• Location: Chaweng Beach Rd