Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary

With 76 villas and suites situated within mature gardens that have flourished as an integral feature of Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary since the doors opened in 2005, guests have an extensive choice of accommodation alongside the comprehensive wellness programme, treatments and therapies available. This is a true sanctuary located in a tranquil corner of Koh Samui where the approach to wellness is holistic and you can embrace everything they have to offer with an open mind and an open heart. From the moment we arrived we were able to relax, safe in the knowledge that we were going to be very well looked after during our stay. Having already perused the extensive wellness menu, and got excited about all of the delicious and nutritious sounding plant based food on the dining menus, we had a very good idea of what the next few days had in store.

Our villa at Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary

Villa 45 was ‘home’ during our stay and it was simply perfect. Our luxury villa was located with uninterrupted sea views over a manicured lawn, and we never wanted to leave. The split level design offered more of those beach views from either the raised bedroom area or the lower lounge, as did the expansive decking with dual sun-beds for cooling down in the gentle ocean breeze. We loved the bathroom where the vanity and toilet were separated from the outdoor shower by floor to ceiling windows, and we also enjoyed having a JBL Bluetooth speaker to enjoy some relaxing tunes in the evening, which certainly made a change from our usual habit of sitting in front of the TV. There is no TV in the villas at Kamalaya, and this is an approach that we feel more resorts should take, especially when the focus is on relaxation, wellness and escaping from the outside world.

The vegan food at Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary

With many guests on programmes during their stay that include diet, the menus at Kamalaya were clearly labelled with various options including plant based. Breakfast and dinner are served at Soma Restaurant, whilst lunch is served at Amrita Cafe which was conveniently close to our villa and was also blessed with those sea views. At breakfast we enjoyed dishes including mung bean kitcharee from the à la carte menu, and savoury pancakes with grilled tofu, hummus and vegetables from the buffet. The team also prepared a selection of other dishes that were not on the menu including an excellent scrambled tofu and cheela pancakes made with chickpea flour served with Indian spiced tempeh. The psyllium and seed bread with pistachio butter and homemade jams was divine as were the spinach dumplings. A huge array of seeds, nuts, dried fruits and granolas paired perfectly with the delicious coconut yoghurt, whilst the daily changing cold pressed nut milks and nut butters were another excellent source of plant based protein.

Vegan wellness cuisine at Kamalaya

During our meals at both Amrita and Soma we loved the healthy and vibrant salads, with nutrition packed ingredients such as gotu kola, banana flower, kale and wing beans at the fore. One of our favourites was the ‘Gado Gado Indonesian Salad’ which was served with sunflower seeds, cashews and tempeh for that added protein hit. Other dishes including lightly spiced curries and flavourful rostis were all excellent, while the delicate raw tacos, a risotto-inspired dish made with mung beans, puréed pumpkin and coconut milk, and Caesar salad with vegan Parmesan were dishes we would happily eat again (and again). We loved the option to add plant based protein (tempeh or tofu) to any of the dishes, and we also enjoyed the selection of raw crackers served with creamy guacamole and their homemade ‘vegan cheese of the day’ which was delicious.

Vegan sweet treats at Kamalaya

For those who enjoy something sweet after their meal, you can rest assured that they’ve got you covered at Kamalaya. The ‘Dairy Free Chocolate Pie’ and the ‘Chocolate and Coconut Terrine’ were both divine and we have to confess that we ordered them both more than once during our stay. There were also local Thai favourites on the menu which were excellent too. The mango sticky rice was made with adzuki bean and served with coconut sorbet, whilst the Thai street food classic, khanom krok, were filled with a mixture of beetroot, corn and spring onion. If you have never tried these ‘accidentally vegan’ Thai street food snacks that are a mixture of sweet and savoury please look out for them on your travels. Or better still, stay at Kamalaya and enjoy their refined version each and every day during your retreat!

The vegan essentials at Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary

We were delighted to receive two insulated and refillable water bottles which were in our villa upon arrival. Not only was this a kind and thoughtful gift, but it was a gift that helped reinforce the commitment to removing single use plastic here at Kamalaya. Throughout the resort there were refill points, whilst in our villa there was glass bottled water which was replenished daily. In our villa there were also a selection of homemade healthy snacks that were all vegan, and Kamalaya branded herbal teas which we enjoyed very much at the end of each day.

The Vegan Food Quest Verdict

Kamalaya quite simply offers the full package with an holistic approach to wellness that leaves no stone unturned. Being able to follow one of their programmes, or create your own bespoke programme with guidance from their expert team allows anyone to benefit from all they have to offer. The staff team was kind and gracious throughout our stay, our villa was simply spectacular and the plant based food was creative, nutritious and delicious. It’s hard to fault our experience at Kamalaya as we were impressed at everything that we experienced.

We were guests of Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary but please rest assured that their generosity in hosting us didn’t influence our views.

Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary
102 9 Laem-Set Rd, Tambon Na Mueang, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84140

Telephone: +66 77 429 800
Email: reservations@kamalaya.com
Cost From: £250 / $330 (August 2026)