And now for something completely indulgent ... a Chiang Mai Spa Tour

I've heard of kidney stones but this is ridiculous ...

Thailand has often been touted as the world’s Spa capital. After all, Thailand nearly invented the whole multi-billion dollar industry as we know it around the world today, and you can barely walk five metres without coming across a spa treatment centre of some sort, especially in Chiang Mai.

Some of the finest spas and wellness retreats are to be found in Chiang Mai, a laid back northern Thai city, and Greg Morling, Spa Indulgence Tours Co-ordinator, has the envious job of seeking them out and taking people to them. 

"Visitors to Thailand can experience a plethora of unique wellness treatments derived from ancient Thai traditions," says Greg, arguing that "the best of the best can be found in Chiang Mai, the pearl of Thailand."

And he should know. 

Greg has had a lengthy involvement with Spa and Wellness 

as a consultant, Salon and Spa owner, practitioner and writer.

"For the Spa and Wellness devotee there are just so many choices in Chiang Mai," he enthuses. "I first came here over 15 years ago and was really taken by the kindness and humility of the Thai people and their healthy, calm approach to life; mai pen rai, which means, don’t get mad, get glad! This attitude permeates everything in Chiang Mai. The serene ambience and spoiling Spa services are really just an extension of the Lanna (Northern Thailand) tradition. I have been here so many times now that Chiang Mai feels like my second home... and I love to come here to Spa!"

This guy is totally passionate, jing jing. 

And now you have the chance to join him on an eight-day Spa Indulgence tour, taking in four of his top selected spas. Talk about indulgence! It's just one spa after another ... there's barely a moment to relax. 

Visit www.spaindulgencetours.com

Chiang Mai -- The Home of Spa.

'Thailand is the home of spa,' enthuses Greg Morling, an Australian spa consultant. 'And Chiang Mai is where it's at because it delivers that ephemeral experience, the ambiance, it's naturally in the Lanna people.'

Any of these techniques may be physically replicated anywhere in the world. But it's not going to be the same if it's not in northern Thailand.The misty mountains where lemongrass, prai and turmeric grow. Soaring spiritual temples (there are over 300 in Chiang Mai alone). Cooler climate. And the softer, gentler Lanna culture that has pervaded this region since the 13th century.  

 The Lanna Kingdom left a rich heritage in ancient health secrets, and secrets for healing and rejuvenation. The Lanna Exotic Massage style combines centuries-old Thai massage techniques (known as Tok Sen) with oils extracted from local herbs, and Lanna music therapy.

As former president of the Australian Association of Massage Therapy, Morling knows what he's talking about. And he's in Chiang Mai to find the very best spa experiences to bring specialist tour groups to.

 By his definition, spa means 'water' so it's all about reverence for water. He tells me of one amazing spa  'out in the jungle, under a waterfall.' But he conveniently forgets its name. He's not telling. You'll have to join his tour to find out.

Greg used to be a fan of the Oasis Spa group, but now feels its become the 'MacDonalds of spas'. 'The more outlets they have, the less interested I become,' he says.

Their signature is a four-hands massage (two masseuses simultaneously) and one treatment with real gold leaf in its oil. Jing jing! He makes a dismissive one-handed gesture of that.

His big thing is signature treatments. 'Each of us has a signature, one signature; so a spa needs to have one too. Something truly unique and original to it.'

He's off to check out The Spa at Four Seasons Resort (pictured above). 'I've heard it's the best in the world, but I've not tried it yet.'

It's a filthy, rotten, dirty, low-down job, but someone's got to do it.

Footnote: Interested in a Northern Thailand spa tour? Email Greg Morling at gmorling@live.com.au