Vihara Sanctuary | Sauna, Ice Bath & Thai Massage, Lamai Koh Samui
Two members of the Vihara team welcoming guests at the garden entrance in Lamai

where Samui resets

A sauna at 80°C, herbal steam room, ice bath and Thai massage in a tropical garden in Lamai. Everything a body needs to reset, all in one garden.

Day pass
380 THB · sauna, steam, ice bath
Open
11am to 9pm · closed Tuesdays
Where
Lamai · opposite Punch It Gym
Booking
None needed · just walk in
The six

some days ask a lot of you

This is your place to arrive and let go. Start in the heat, take the cold, and let the afternoon go quiet. Stay two hours or stay until we close. Towels, lockers and showers included.

Inside the Finnish sauna at Vihara

heat

A Finnish sauna held at 80°C, and a herbal steam room beside it. Warm wood, soft light, and as long as you'd like to stay.

The ice bath at Vihara topped with fresh ice, looking out to the garden

cold

An ice bath, topped with fresh ice through the day. A minute or two is plenty, and the quiet afterwards is the best part.

Massage beds in the open-air sala at Vihara, seen through tropical planting

massage

Traditional Thai, oil and deep tissue in an open-air sala. On your own, as a couple, or up to four side by side, with the birdsong.

A fresh pineapple and mint drink from Deffi's Café at Vihara

nourishment

Smoothies, specialty coffee, bowls and plates from Deffi's Café, served among the trees. Fruit-infused water all day.

Loungers on the lawn in the garden at Vihara

stillness

Cushions under a bamboo roof, loungers on the grass, birdsong, and nobody moving you along.

Thai cushions in the bamboo sala looking out over the garden at Vihara

green

A tropical garden of coconut palms, banana leaf and flowers in every colour, with the hills rising behind it.

Spa passes

one visit, or a rhythm

Every pass includes unlimited use of the sauna, steam room and ice bath, with towel, locker and showers. The research suggests the benefit builds with regularity, which is what the passes are for.

Day pass

380 THB

A full day in the sauna, steam room and ice bath. Walk in any time from 11am.

No booking needed

Island pass

1,500 THB

5 visits in 14 days, made for a short stay on the island. One person.

20% off

Sanctuary pass

2,280 THB

10 visits within 3 months. Guests welcome with the pass holder.

40% off

Vihara pass

4,000 THB

20 visits within 6 months, for those who make it a weekly rhythm. Guests welcome with the pass holder.

50% off

Children under 12 visit free with an adult.

The sanctuary

coconut palms and colour

The bamboo sauna entrance at Vihara, framed by bougainvillea and bromeliads The garden at Vihara looking out to the Lamai hills, loungers, ice bath and bamboo walls The garden circuit at Vihara, plunge pool, ceramic jar fountain, sauna and steam room doors The garden café bar at Vihara under a wooden roof, ferns hanging above A guest reading on a Thai cushion in the bamboo sala, looking out over the garden at Vihara Café seating beneath the Vihara Spa and Retreat Centre sign
Massage

thai massage in the garden

Many of our guests come only for this. No spa entry needed. On your own, as a couple, or as a group of up to four at the same time, booked online or at reception.

A massage mat with fresh linens in the open-air sala at Vihara, looking out to the garden
Thai massage · 60 min500 THB
Thai oil massage · 60 min600 THB
Deep tissue massage · 60 min650 THB
Foot massage · 60 min450 THB
Head & shoulder massage · 30 min300 THB

Every treatment is available on your own, as a couple, or as a group of up to four side by side in the sala, with or without a spa pass. Book online, or at reception.

Book online
Deffi's Café

the garden café

Smoothie bowls, poke bowls, wraps and plates, alongside specialty coffee, teas and cacao. Open to everyone, so you are welcome to visit just for the cafe, no day pass needed.

Fresh drinks served on a tray at Deffi's Café, Vihara Sanctuary
What guests say

rated 5.0 on Google

★★★★★  from 127 reviews.

Find us

easier to find than you'd think

We're in Lamai, directly opposite Punch It Gym, inside the Spa Garden Resort.

  1. Head for Punch It Gym, Lamai.
  2. Cross the road to the Spa Garden Resort entrance.
  3. Follow the garden path to the back, past the bamboo, and you will find us.
Open in Google Maps

Open 11am to 9pm, closed Tuesdays. No booking, walk in and we'll meet you at reception.

Questions are answered fastest on WhatsApp. If you would rather speak to someone, call +66 83 139 8590, English or Thai.

Good to know

questions, answered

How much does a day pass cost at Vihara Sanctuary?

A day pass is 380 THB. It gives you full access to our sauna, steam room and ice bath, plus a towel, locker and showers, for the day.

Do I need to book in advance, or can I just walk in?

No booking is needed, Vihara is walk-in only. Arrive any time between 11am and 9pm (we're closed Tuesdays) and buy your pass at reception.

What's included in the day pass?

Full access to the 80°C Finnish sauna, herbal steam room and ice bath (topped with fresh ice through the day), plus towel, locker and shower access. No treatment purchase required.

How do I contact Vihara Sanctuary?

The quickest way to reach us is WhatsApp on +66 81 582 0315, where enquiries and massage bookings are answered promptly. If you would rather speak to someone, call +66 83 139 8590 and the team will help in English or Thai. You are also welcome to simply walk in, daily 11am to 9pm, closed Tuesdays, with no booking needed.

Where is Vihara Sanctuary located?

In Lamai, Koh Samui, directly opposite Punch It Gym, at the back of the Spa Garden Resort. Tap "Get directions" anywhere on this page to open the route in Google Maps.

How cold is the ice bath?

Ice-cold, topped up with fresh ice throughout the day for a consistently sharp plunge. It works as a full cold plunge alongside the sauna and steam room.

Is there a pool or a jacuzzi?

There is a dipping pool in the garden for cooling off between rounds, alongside the ice bath. There is no jacuzzi or hot tub. The dipping pool is included in the 380 THB day pass along with the Finnish sauna, herbal steam room and ice bath.

What temperature is the sauna?

Our Finnish sauna runs at 80°C, alongside a fragrant herbal steam room.

Do you have a hammam or steam room?

We have a herbal steam room, fragrant with herbs, directly beside the Finnish sauna. It is not a Turkish hammam with a marble slab and a scrub service, so if that is specifically what you are looking for, we would rather say so. What you get is a hot herbal steam room, a Finnish sauna at 80°C and an ice bath topped with fresh ice, all included in the 380 THB day pass.

Do you have an infrared sauna?

No. Ours is a traditional Finnish sauna, wood lined and held at 80°C, with the herbal steam room beside it. If infrared is what you are after, we would rather tell you now than have you make the trip.

What are the health benefits of the sauna, ice bath and massage?

Research associates each part of the circuit with something worth having. In a controlled trial, people who added a 15-minute sauna after exercise saw more improvement in fitness, blood pressure and cholesterol than those who exercised alone. Trials show cold water after hard effort eases next-day soreness and helps strength return sooner. Massage after intense exercise has been shown to bring muscle strength back faster and to ease soreness for up to three days. In a survey of 3,600 sauna users worldwide, 83.5% said they slept better afterwards. And two hours a week in green space is associated with better health and higher wellbeing. The research suggests the benefit builds with regularity, which is what our multi-visit passes are for.

Where can I do an ice bath or cold plunge in Koh Samui?

Vihara Sanctuary in Lamai offers an ice bath (cold plunge) alongside an 80°C Finnish sauna and herbal steam room, all included in a single 380 THB day pass.

Is Vihara good for recovery after training?

Heat, cold and massage are all in one garden, a few minutes from the Lamai gyms, and we are open until 9pm. A common session is the Finnish sauna at 80°C, then the ice bath topped with fresh ice, then a deep tissue massage in the open-air sala. Facility access is 380 THB for the day, and massage can be added on arrival or booked on its own with no day pass needed.

What's the difference between Vihara and other sauna and ice bath spas in Koh Samui?

Many spas on the island are built around a social scene, and can be busy places. Vihara is designed for rest and recovery: a Finnish sauna held at 80°C, a herbal steam room, an ice bath topped with fresh ice through the day, traditional Thai massage in an open-air sala, a garden café and shaded corners to lie down in. Everything a body needs to reset, all in one garden. Facility access also stands alone, so you can visit purely for the sauna, steam room and ice bath, and add a massage only if you would like one.

What kind of atmosphere does Vihara have?

Calm and unhurried. A tropical garden in Lamai where the focus is rest and recovery rather than a busy social scene. Guests describe it as an oasis of peace, spotless and serene, and the best reset.

Is there a membership or multi-visit pass?

Yes, the Island Pass (5 visits), Sanctuary Pass (10 visits) and Vihara Pass (20 visits) lower the cost per visit for anyone planning to return. Details are in the passes section above.

Do I need a day pass to book a massage?

No. You're welcome to book a massage without using the facilities, or use the facilities without a massage, both are available separately.

Does Vihara offer couples massage?

Yes, every treatment on our menu is available as a couples massage, side by side in the open-air sala with the garden around you. Singles are equally welcome, and so are groups of up to four at the same time. Book online, or at reception when you arrive.

Can we book a massage for a group?

Yes. There are four massage beds in the open-air sala, so a group of up to four can have their massage at the same time, side by side in the garden. Book the group online and choose a time that suits everyone. Larger parties can be arranged in two sittings. Every treatment on the menu is available to a group, and no day pass is needed, though most groups add one and make an afternoon of it.

Can I visit Vihara just for a massage?

Absolutely, many of our guests come solely for the massage. No day pass or spa entry is required: book online or walk in, and enjoy a traditional Thai massage in the open-air garden sala.

Where can I get a Thai massage in a tropical garden in Koh Samui?

Vihara Sanctuary in Lamai offers traditional Thai massage in an open-air sala surrounded by a tropical garden, rather than an indoor treatment room. There are four beds side by side, so you can book on your own, as a couple, or as a group of up to four at the same time. Treatments run daily from 11am to 9pm (closed Tuesdays), with no spa entry required.

How much does a massage cost at Vihara Sanctuary?

Thai massage is 500 THB, Thai oil massage 600 THB and deep tissue 650 THB (all 60 minutes); a 60-minute foot massage is 450 THB and a 30-minute head & shoulder massage is 300 THB. Prices are the same for single and couples bookings.

Is there food and drink available?

Yes, Deffi's Café serves smoothies, coffee, teas and cacao, plus smoothie bowls, poke bowls, wraps and more, in the garden. Complimentary fruit-infused water is available all day.

Can I visit the café without a spa pass?

Yes, Deffi's Café is open to everyone. You're welcome to come just for food and drinks in the tropical garden, with no day pass or booking required, daily 11am to 9pm (closed Tuesdays).

What should I bring?

Just yourself and swimwear, towels, lockers and showers are included with your pass.

Is Vihara for solo visitors, or couples and groups?

Vihara suits all three. Solo visitors come for the unhurried pace, couples book side by side in the sala, and with four massage beds a group of up to four can be treated at the same time. It is designed for rest and recovery rather than as a social scene.

Are children and families welcome?

Yes, we're family friendly. Children under 12 visit free; from 12 upwards the full adult price applies.

What is there to do in Koh Samui when it rains?

A sauna, ideally. The Finnish sauna at 80°C, the herbal steam room and the massage sala are all under cover, so a wet afternoon changes nothing except how good the heat feels — and the ice bath and dipping pool are just as good in the rain. Koh Samui’s wettest months run roughly September to November. We are open 11am to 9pm every day except Tuesday. Walk in, 380 THB for the day, no booking needed.

What do people say about Vihara?

Vihara Sanctuary holds a 5.0 rating on Google from 127 reviews. You can read them on Google Maps or in the reviews section above.

Vihara Sanctuary is where Samui resets. A day spa in a tropical garden in Lamai, Koh Samui, with a Finnish sauna at 80°C, a herbal steam room, an ice bath topped with fresh ice, traditional Thai massage in an open-air sala, and a garden café. Everything a body needs to reset, all in one garden. A day pass is 380 THB and no booking is needed. We are open 11am to 9pm daily, closed Tuesdays, opposite Punch It Gym at the back of the Spa Garden Resort.

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