Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai Review By Chris Wain

Our Sales Director Chris Wain recently travelled to Thailand, and his trip took him to Chiang Mai, and to the Aleenta Retreat. We caught up with him to learn a little more about his time there.

What and where is the Aleenta Retreat?

The Aleenta Retreat is a charming little boutique property, located less than 15 minutes drive from Chiang Mai airport, and only 10 minutes away from the city’s many temples and attractions.

At the heart of this small resort lie three magnificent wooden buildings, all over 200 years old and wonderfully restored to now house the Garden Restaurant & 1892 Bar, reception & library, and a 4-Bedroom Villa with private pool. The 44 guest rooms are a mix of 1- and 2-Bedroom Villas, all set on the ground floor with private pools, and Deluxe Rooms. In the centre sits the salt-water swimming pool and an upstairs sala where the wellness classes happen.

What is its wellness offering?

The Ayurah Spa & Wellness Centre is housed in a beautiful two-story teak building, which also plays host to the fitness centre.

The retreats on offer cover everything from Recovery & Rehabilitation, Mindfulness and Relaxation, to Stress Management, Detoxification and Self-Love, and there are at least two group wellness classes offered each day, covering activities such as Yoga, Qi Gong, Mediation, Sound Healing & Pranayama. I was a particular fan of the Bamboo Exercise class, which involved a 5ft-high piece of polished bamboo and a lot of stretching & sweating.

Anything else to do in the area?

Absolutely. If you can tear yourself away from your wellness, (which you should do), then there is plenty to see and do in the locality.

There are Wats (temples) galore – Phra That Doi Suthep, Palad, Umong are amongst the finest; the chi-chi neighbourhood of Nimman, home to stylish boutiques, galleries, coffee shops & restaurants; the famed Old City, which has one of Asia’s biggest and best night markets; and attractions as varied as the Elephant Rescue Park, Mae Sa Waterfalls & Chiang Mai Zoo.

Who would you recommend the property to?

It is perfect for all – those wanting to explore the city who just fancy dipping their toes into the world of wellness, as well as those keen on experiencing one of the retreats.

The excellent programmes are supplemented by daily wellness classes & activities which are offered in a very relaxed, non-judgemental atmosphere. Those on programmes are well catered for with special detox menus, but for the not-so-dedicated the restaurant provides an excellent a la carte & buffet breakfast and a wonderful selection of local & international dishes for lunch and dinner, with the local farm-to-fork principle adhered to wherever possible. The beautiful bar also offers what every great bar should.

Anything in particular which stood out?

A big shout-out should go to the staff. Thais are rightly renowned for their welcoming and caring nature, but the staff at Aleenta seemed to go just that little bit further, and were super-keen, in a lovely discreet way, to make sure that everybody was having the best possible stay.

The property is very female-centric; the owner, architect, landscaper and majority of staff are all female, as was the Feng shui master who was brought in to ensure that the pieces in the living spaces were arranged in such a way as to create balance with the natural world.

Aleenta’s eco-credentials are also top-notch – they are plastic-free, (quite an accomplishment in Thailand), and the guest rooms are cleaned with ozonated water, which does away with the need to use chemical cleaning detergents. Nice touches in the rooms include yoga mats, an i-Dock with large music library, nightly turn-down gifts, and cotton bathrobes & pyjamas which you would actually want to take away with you, (and which are luckily available to purchase from the Galleria shop).

Any tips?

The Deluxe Rooms are very comfortable, surprisingly spacious, (45m²), and have superb bedding with very high thread-count sheets, but for a little bit of extra peace & privacy, opt for a Private Villa with Pool. It is worth noting that the property does take families, and although they tend to be out and about exploring for most of the day, the pool area can get a little busy, (and noisy), for a couple of hours each afternoon, so having your own pool is a no-brainer.

In conclusion

Many make the mistake of only spending a couple of nights in Chiang Mai, but to do so would mean not being able to experience everything which both this property and the area have to offer. Try to spend at least 4 or 5 nights here, and really let the place get under your skin.

Chiang Mai is a city on the up and is now easily accessible internationally from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur & Hong Kong, and domestically from Bangkok, Phuket, Hua Hin & Koh Samui, making it simple to combine a stay here with one at RAKxa, Chiva Som or Kamalaya, allowing you to enjoy a double wellness-whammy.