Situated on Phou Vao Hill overlooking the historic Laotian royal retreat town and UNESCO heritage site of Luang Prabang, the new spa by Ytsara offers guests a therapeutic and relaxing experience. The spa treatments are based on traditional Lao herbal remedies, aimed at healing and nurturing and use only pure botanical ingredients from the organic herb garden and local farms such as lemongrass, sticky rice, black sesame seeds and honey.
There are two signature spa treatments that are exclusive to the Ytsara spa, the ‘Mohom’ an Indigo healing art body ritual and the ‘Piu Nuan’ a Lao secret of sensual skin. ‘Mohom’ is a herbal compress using the native indigo plant, which has strong origins in the Laos region and is prized for its potent skin-healing and anti-inflammatory properties. The 90 minutes ‘Mohom’ body treatment is priced at 48 US$/(*£27). ‘Piu Nuan’ which means ‘smooth skin’ is another herbal compress using local sticky rice, the staple diet of the Laotian people, along with black sesame seeds and heated honey and oil to smooth and soften the complexion. This treatment is derived from an ancient recipe used by Laotians for centuries. The unique Lao herbal steam uses specially blended formulas and herbs for therapeutic and rejuvenating results, such as lemongrass, kaffir lime, and Lao rosemary for detoxification. The 120 minutes ‘Piu Nuan’ body beautifier treatment is
priced at 60US$/(*£33.86).
Architect Francois Greck, designed the Ytsara spa, maintaining the simplicity and traditional designs of a typical Lao village. With tranquil spa cottages set around a lush water lily pond, the spa facilities include four individually decorated treatment rooms that can be used for couples and individual use, one private steam bath room, one outdoor wooden bath tub, a large steam room area and an infinity edge plunge pool.
One of the most enticing features is the open-air Japanese style sunken bathtub with a garden view which is the perfect place to enjoy a muscle-soothing hot herbal bath during cooler months. The steam room is made of limestone, with a pebbled stone path leading to the rinsing area where guests rinse off by splashing water from traditional earthenware urns.
Built in traditional local materials, the spa cottages are decorated in a contemporary Laotian style using wooden furniture and elegant wall panelling, made of hand woven local silk. The spa doors are decorated with hand carved wooden lintels, inspired by traditional temple motifs and the brass door handles and hangers are reproductions of traditional jewellery of the local Hmong hill tribe people.
The spa also offers health food, snacks and drinks, all made from the purest local organic ingredients. There is a selection of herbal drinks specifically formulated for rejuvenation, relaxation, and detox. Day packages will also be available including a spa lunch with organically grown local ingredients, as well as Tai Chi and Chi Gong classes.
La Résidence Phou Vao has 32 spacious rooms and suites and is located in three hectares of lush gardens on Phou Vao hill (the hill of the kites), overlooking Mount Phou Si, Luang Prabang’s sacred mountain, and the golden dome of the Vat Chamsi Stupa. It is ten minutes from Luang Prabang airport and five minutes from the town centre.
Notes to Editors:
In 2004, Orient-Express Hotels invested in Hosia Ltd., the Hong Kong holding company which owns or part owns and operates 6 unique hotels in Southeast Asia under the brand name Pansea Orient-Express Hotels. Under the terms of the deal, Orient-Express Hotels will invest up to US$8 million in the Pansea group. This is initially a loan, convertible into equity in Hosia Ltd. Orient-Express has an option to buy 100 per cent of the shares in Hosia over a period of five years. Pansea has a number of development plans and this partnership will accelerate those plans.
There are now six operational Pansea Orient-Express hotels:
• La Résidence d’Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia
• The Governor’s Residence, Yangon, Myanmar
• Napasai, Koh Samui, Thailand
• La Résidence Phou Vao, Luang Prabang, Laos
• Jimbaran Puri Bali, Bali, Indonesia
• Ubud Hanging Gardens, Ubud, Bali
For further information, please contact:
Fiona Duthie, Senior Public Relations Executive
Orient-Express Hotels
Sea Containers House,
20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PF, UK
Tel: 44 20 7805 5069 Fax: 44 20 7805 5938
Email: fiona.duthie@orient-express.com
*The sterling price guide is based on the exchange rate at the time of going to press, but the final price, payable Euro, will depend on the exchange rate at the time of booking.
Downloadable high resolution photography is available at www.orient-expressimages.com
Spa images are available on request.
Contact details:
La Résidence Phou Vao, Phou Vao road, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
Tel: +856 71 212194/212530 Fax: +856 71 212534
e-mail: laos@pansea.com www.pansea.com
