A remote oasis in the cool Highlands of Malaysia.
Overview
Essentially the Peak District of Malaysia, the Cameron Highlands sit in the middle of the country and are the home of tea plantations, cooler temperatures and beautiful waterfalls. The Highlands are four hours from the capital of Kuala Lumpur, and seem to be where the rich and famous retreat to escape the city temperatures.
Spa Village is set within the grounds of the five-star Cameron Highlands Resort hotel, but you can visit whether you are staying at the hotel or not. Spa Village is a Malaysian spa brand and has a few spas within boutique hotels in this region. The main focus at this spa brand is healing therapies inspired by the restorative properties of tea, which makes sense given that the surrounding area is mainly made up of tea plantations. In fact, every spa guest is invited to soak in a tea infused bath before their treatment, no matter what that treatment is. Dreamy right?
Spa brands used
Spa Village hand blended oils, we love that they only use their own brand.
Prices
Massages start at £42 for 50 minutes which is pretty darn amazing.
Type of treatment booked
Swedish Deluxe massage – 50 minutes.
How to book
You’ll most likely be staying at the hotel, but it’s still worth checking availability in advance. We contacted the hotel in advance and they got back to us within 24 hours and explained the availability, difference in massages and use of facilities. When we arrived onsite, there was a button on the phone that dialled straight to the spa so we called down and reconfirmed. They were open until late and happily answered all questions.
The Vibe
The spa complex isn’t huge here but you could still spend a half day relaxing in it. The entrance also forms a shop where you can buy products afterwards, then there is a tea area where you are served refreshments while completing your health assessment form, a lounge area and the treatment rooms. There is a gym too which is large and well-equipped so you could always do a work out here and then head in for your treatment. The lounge area was our favourite area; day beds with warm blankets and an abundant array of magazines overlooking a water feature where we could have happily whiled away a few hours resting after our massages listening to the sound of tinkling water.
Our review
After being shown to a changing room where we had our own shower and locker area, we were given slippers and robes to change into.
First, we were led to a room where a bath had been set up with rose tea infused water and sprinkled with rose petals. Deliciously warm and really fragrant, this is a great idea and one which would be great prior to any massage as it warms you up and instantly relaxes you. The only down side is it can leave you cold if you’re not in very warm conditions or taken straight to your massage bed.
After soaking for 15 minutes, we were led upstairs to the main treatment rooms. We were asked to choose our preferred oil and then left to relax face down on the bed. The massage started with a focus on the shoulders and back but you can specify if you want more focus on a particular area. The mix of Malay and Thai technique meant that the massage never felt painful, the therapist used the palms of their hands and full forearms instead of fingers and the long sweeping movements and wide surface area meant that our knots were massaged out gently, not intensely. Overall the treatment was well paced, had a heavier pressure than a usual Swedish massage and we walked away feeling really floppy; muscles relaxed, not sore.
Little Extras
We had iced lemongrass and green tea on arrival which was delicious. The gym facilities were really good for such a small complex and it was good to get a work out in before having a massage, really felt like we’d worked for it! The changing facilities are well thought out and we loved the post massage rest rooms because of the setting and sunlight streaming into them. Heated and scented eye masks are such a great extra during a massage and helpful to keep maintain the sleepiness when you move from your front to your back – these were tea infused and smelt amazing.
Sleep Over
The Cameron Highlands Resort is like something from a film from the 20s – beautiful old wooden décor and wicker seating with plush cushions and wall hangings. Rooms start from £117.
Food
There’s no food service at the spa but the hotel has a tea room, a steamboat (hotpot) restaurant and an English Dining room. We’d strongly recommend the steamboat restaurant (book in advance as people come from all round to visit this) which was fun as well as warming, fresh and tasty.
Best time to visit:
Jan – March is the best time to visit Malaysia.
In the area
Lots to see and do, must sees are the Bo Tea plantation – standing in the middle of a tea plantation will give you Instagram content for days! Strawberry picking, lavender gardens, butterfly farms and temples. Plenty of hikes too for those who want a more active break, just take plenty of insect repellent to avoid bites.
Packing list
The temperature in the highlands is much cooler than the rest of Malaysia. When we visited it was actually cold in the evenings, so do check temperatures and pack warm clothes at least for evenings. We also recommend taking mosquito repellent and refrain from wearing skirts or open shoes unless you want annoyingly placed bites.
What wasn’t great
The changing rooms are for individuals and have your own shower and locker area so you can get changed with ease. They provide slippers and robes although the robes were made of thin cotton which we found a little too cold following our massage, it would have been nice to have had thicker robes or warm socks provided afterwards.
Details
Address: 39000 Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia
Number: +60 5 491 1100
Website: www.cameronhighlandsresort.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/ytlhotels/