We then clambered into the back of a song thaew (literally meaning two-rows – which is what you get in the back of these small passenger trucks) and after a short journey we were deposited at our guest house and home for the next 24 hours.
Having done lots of research before coming to Koh Phanang, we basically threw out all our previous ideas after a 10 minute chat with Khun Nit, the hostess at our guesthouse.
This was a short trip (though next time I will spend at least three days on this fabulous island) by necessity, thanks to a very ambitious travel schedule and we were happy to follow Nit’s advice.

“If you are here for only a short time then you must go and visit the Wat Pho herbal sauna,” said Nit.
We all immediately thought this idea was brilliant though I must say we had not allowed ourselves much time to relax and enjoy Thailand’s world famous spas or natural healing facilities on this trip.
While we had allowed ourselves a foot massage (a glorious foot massage) on the boat ride over we were all agreeing that this needed to change.
So it was decided we would follow Nit’s advice and after a quick lunch we were back in the two-row taxi and on our way to Baan Tai village.
The trip took all of 10 minutes which is the advantage of being on a small island such as Kho Phangan and we were deposited in front of an amazing little temple, Wat Pho – home of the renowned herbal sauna.
Our first reaction? Wow, this place is cool. I feel like I am on a movie set. There were other visitors lounging about the garden sipping tea and looking well relaxed.
Our first order of business was to locate the saunas, two rooms (male and female) situated atop a flight of concrete steps where an antique looking metal boiler containing a mixture of water and herbs produces the luxuriant steam.
The combination of Thai herbs, such as lemongrass, jasmine and turmeric, are said to be healthy for the skin and to purge the body of toxins.

The rooms are small with low ceilings and the steam enters through piping protruding from the walls. The experience is as much unlike any Western spa experience that I wouldn’t know where to begin.
The steam is intoxicatingly fragrant and soon the sweat is pouring freely down the body. The whole environment is rustic, foreign and very much like… well, like being on a movie set.
Stepping from the steam, to what now feels like a cool breeze on a hot day, is a welcome relief. We then took turns ladling cool water from earthen urns onto our sweat drenched bodies.
After just enjoying the surroundings a little it was time to do it all over again… and so it went until we were ready to retire to the garden for a cool drink (or a hot herbal tea).
After barely more than an hour we all felt as reinvigorated as one would expect after a $200 dollar spa treatment – except our cost was just 50 baht (about $US 1.50) apiece plus a small tip to help keep this wonderful steam oasis going so that we can enjoy it again and again on subsequent trips back to beautiful Koh Phanang island.

About Wat Pho (Temple of the Reclining Buddha) Herbal Sauna 
Located in Ban Tai, the Wat Pho herbal sauna is a 10 minute drive from Thong Sala pier. The sauna is open from 2-7 pm daily, seven days a week. There is a 50 baht nominal charge and any donations will help the monks keep the sauna operating for all to enjoy.