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The Banjaran, A Luxury Wellness Retreat Unlike Any Other
Text by Ariel Chew, Photos by Yusman Suudi (except the ones in asterisks which are courtesy of The Banjaran)
 You are a seasoned traveller and have stayed in the world’s finest hotels. Nothing has the capacity to impress you beyond belief anymore.
Or so you think.
May I suggest you take a trip to the rustic town of Tambun which is just a 15 minute drive from Ipoh? Where verdant limestone mountains reign and pomelo trees thrive. Where myths and legends live and ancient rock paintings in 400 million year old caves abound. Where 3 million litres of water is produced daily by the natural hot springs.
Situated in the cocoon of these towering green limestone mountain ridges, The Banjaran, which means ridges in Malay, is a study in calm. Water features, abundant greenery and soothing music are the first things that greet you as you step into the 5-star luxury wellness retreat’s plush landscaped gardens and hot spring pools.
A brainchild of Sunway Group founder and chairman Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, it opened just over a month ago. In that short time, guests as far as Canada have made their way there and were bowled over by the manifold treasures that lie therein.
The Epitome of Luxury, Comfort and Wellness
On arrival, we began our journey to wellness with a glass of Pomelo Mojito – a refreshing cocktail of pomelo and fresh lime juice, before checking into our opulent villas.
The Banjaran’s 25 sumptuous thatched roof villas are a delightful blend of traditional as well as modern Malaysian decor and architecture. Succumb to the feeling of pure indulgent relaxation in these heavenly villas that include a private plunge pool, a sunken Jacuzzi with geothermal hot spring water piped directly from the source daily, a private outdoor rain shower, a 40” HD LED-screen television, open living room with sofa seating, and an outdoor patio for dining. Luxuriate in the master suite with a splendid oversized king-sized bed with “feather-bed” topped mattress and feathered-down duvet.
The luxurious private plunge pool fronting the open living room and outdoor patio
The sunken outdoor jacuzzi pool
The outdoor rain shower
The lavish his and hers bathroom
The supersized king bed in the spacious bedroom
There certainly is much to relish and discover about this one-of-its-kind wellness resort. The health and wellness concept goes beyond the usual “resort with a spa” – it permeates every length and breadth of The Banjaran. Guests can choose from programmes that take a complete holistic approach to health and wellness incorporating spa treatments, therapies, exercise and meals. These retreat programmes vary from between 2 to 21 days and have been designed by the wellness practitioner to maximise the benefits of your stay while keeping with the latest in technology, style, luxury and comfort.
The invitingly opulent open living area
Should you need any assistance at all during your stay, your personal butler is just a call away.
“Here is your room key, miss,” my butler Kama said as he handed me a green rubber strap. “It’s waterproof.”
The ‘key’ slipped easily onto my wrist. No longer do I have to worry about ever leaving my key card behind as I can wear it while bathing, during treatments and while sleeping. How convenient!
Another interesting feature was the villa handset that guests must carry everywhere they go. It makes it easier for the staff to reach you if you are late for your spa or yoga appointments.
Holistic Wellness
The heart and soul of this exclusive natural spa hideaway is the Spa & Wellness Centre. An extensive menu of over 40 specialty treatments that include naturopathic consultations, colon hydrotherapy, energy healing, massages, facials, body treatments and fitness programmes is crafted to the premium nurturing and pampering of guests.
Resident naturopath Amber Foley provides pre-treatment consultations to ensure that the therapies are specifically customised to the guests’ needs. It is a pleasure to chat with the caring and knowledgeable Amber who enjoys answering any health and wellness concerns that I had, and recommending an effective plan of action to optimise my overall health.
Amber Foley is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to natural medicine
She recommended The Banjaran Signature Massage to me – a 90-minute top to toe pleasure that begins with soothing foot bath, an Indian head massage and a Malay full-body massage. I fell asleep under the skilful ministrations of the therapist and woke up feeling very relaxed and rejuvenated.
The gentle ministrations of the therapist will roll your stresses away
Besides Malay therapy, the Spa & Wellness centre have special rooms for Traditional Chinese Medicine and massage, and Ayurvedic treatments, as well as a host of other contemporary spa treatments - some of which employ the usage of state-of-the-art machines for colon hydrotherapy.
The traditional Chinese treatment room
The Ayurvedic treatment room
The Malay treatment room
At The Banjaran, the 100% organic and halal KuuSh exclusive skin care range from South Australia is part of almost every treatment. KuuSh utilises the goodness of pure essential oils to address the needs of your skin. For women, the black cohosh is used to balance to female hormones and the body massage focuses on the lower back. For men, tribulus is used to balance their hormones and the massage is focussed on their shoulders.
The exclusive range of KuuSh products
After the invigorating Black Cohosh Anti-Ageing Facial treatment, I received several compliments on my glowing skin. It also felt soft after the pampering treatment. Surely this is the power of KuuSh at work!
Hot Bubbling Goodness
But The Banjaran’s star natural highlights are the revitalising hot springs. As you lounge in the 4 geothermal dipping pools, your body will be fully charged with the water’s restorative properties, absorbing minerals such as calcium and magnesium that soothes aching muscles. The hot spring water at Tambun is not high in sulphur and thus, does not emit strong sulphuric smells.
**The dipping hot spring pool with temperatures from 40 to 45 degrees Celsius
Heated within earth’s crevices, the water bubbles up at 40 to 70 degrees Celsius. Soaking in the healing waters (below 45 degrees Celsius) amidst the picturesque sight of the limestone mountain and soothing sounds of water is a pleasurable experience.
Not too far away from the dipping pools is the Dr. Fish pool where eager garra rufa fishes are on hand to nibble away dead skin cells from your body and feet. Next to the pool is the reflexology pool where foot reflexology fans can walk to their hearts’ content.
Enjoying a bout of fish spa in the cool of the morning
Tantalising Caves
It would be a sin to miss out on The Banjaran’s cleverly designed caves which are cosy pods of privacy. Free of cell phone reception, being in the caves gives you complete and unadulterated bliss, leaving you completely untouched and unencumbered by the demands and rigours of the outside world.
**The lovely view from the Observation Cave
I enjoyed basking in the Geothermal Steam Cave which utilises steam emitted from the natural hot springs as a form of restorative and detoxification therapy. Truly an ingenious energy saving method! There are no on/off buttons in this completely natural steam cave - only a thermometer is there to gauge the temperature within and several wooden benches are provided for you to rest and relax in the soothing steam. After an invigorating hot spring steam session, you can choose to have a dip in the ice bath located just outside the steam cave to stimulate bloodflow and increase energy.
Meditation fans should not miss out on the Crystal Cave and Meditation Cave. The Crystal Cave is a small cavern embedded with faintly lit crystals and seats for guests. It is believed that meditating in the presence of crystals helps bring forth clarity of mind, tranquillity of emotions and positive energy.
The Meditation Cave, on the other hand, is naturally divided into several decks that offer secluded and enchanting backdrops for meditation and even yoga practice. The soothing sounds of running water and being insulated in a dimly lit cave gave me the sense of zen-like calmness during my one-to-one yoga session. I began to understand why hermits love meditating in caves.
The tranquil Crystal Cave
Yoga in the Meditation Cave
Be sure to also ascend the steps of the Observation Cave to get a breathtaking view of The Banjaran. History buffs will not fail to notice the Chinese writings on the cave walls believed to be etched during the communist times.
Swanky Jeff’s Cellar
And if you should feel parched for liquor, head over to the fascinating Jeff’s Cellar – the only place at The Banjaran where you can get alcohol and even indulge in a karaoke session or two. At the outset, Jeff’s Cellar (named after Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, the founder and chairman of the Sunway Group) looked as imposing as a dungeon. The high steel grated gates, double crests and a well at the entrance add to the medieval ambiance. Inside is a comprehensive cellar offering a tasteful selection of Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah’s personal wine collection.
The imposing looking entrance
Dine and wine in style at Jeff's Cellar
The water features and surreal lighting adds to the swanky ambiance
Guests have the option to wine and dine outdoors
Wine, anybody?
I felt transported to another realm when I stepped into this swanky cavern. Its ethereal lighting, intimate cave interiors and breathtaking natural water features makes it the perfect place to host exclusive product launches and posh private parties.
Food for the Eyes and Tummy
After all the exercising and massage treatments, hungry guests can look forward to tucking into the enticing spa cuisine menu served at the Pomelo, the sole restaurant in the vicinity. Food plays an important role in a guest’s health and well-being. As such, the spa cuisine features healthy dishes that are low in fat, salt and cholesterol, and thankfully, doesn’t compromise much on taste. These well-balanced and easily digestible meals utilize organic fruits and vegetables; premium fresh seafood and poultry.
Salmon oozes with healthy and essential fish oil
The energy boosting Lift-Me-Up drink which comprises banana, strawberry and soya milk
A thriving herb garden fringes part of the Pomelo. Some of the edible herbs such as lemongrass, mint leaves, and pegaga leaves are used in Pomelo’s range of healthy mocktails and herbal blends. The drinks taste so good, you wouldn't have guessed that they are bursting with goodness that detoxifies, soothes and boosts energy.
Misai Kucing, which thrives in the herbal garden, has the power to whisk away joint pains
Eco-friendly
 It makes perfect sense for an exclusive wellness retreat enveloped in the very depths of nature to do all they can to conserve the environment and reduce carbon footprint. No trees were harmed during the construction of the retreat - the ones that stood in the way were relocated and replanted elsewhere. Electrical buggies are used to ferry guests, and even then their usage are minimised as some guests would prefer to walk on the grounds instead. The staff themselves cycle or walk a lot everyday to attend to their duties. Some of them have reported fitness improvement and healthy weight loss in the process.
For lighting, energy efficient light bulbs are used and electricity flows through low voltage and extra low voltage cables that are laid underground. The use of compost, organic pesticides, unbleached cloths, recycled paper and ceramic containers for guest toilettries are just some of the many green practices there.
Even the laundry baskets in the villas are made of twisted strips of old magazines. These works of beauty were made by a society of single mothers and is one of the ways The Banjaran gives back to the local community.
No Place Like The Banjaran
The Banjaran at night
With such an expansive choice of spa treatments and an experienced naturopath to consult with, avid spa-goers are sure to find just the right programme to invigorate, recharge or detox - all with The Banjaran’s majestic limestone ranges, enchanting caves, tranquil hot springs and sumptuous villas as their backdrop.
Indeed my 2 day 1 night stay left me clamouring for more. Even at such a short stay, my body responded well to the crisp clean air, pampering treatments, the long walks and organic spa cuisine. The Canadians I mentioned earlier in the article extended their overnight stay to 5 days 4 nights. The last I saw of them, they were the very pictures of tranquillity and glowing health. And so very reluctant to say goodbye to this little piece of heaven.
Details:
The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat
(A Sunway Hotel)
No. 1, Persiaran Lagun Sunway 3
Note: Maximum 2 persons per villa. Children below 16 years are not allowed within the premises. Guests have free access to the Lost World of Tambun located just next door.
Spa & Wellness Centre
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm daily
Last Appointment: 8pm
The Pomelo
Breakfast: 7am - 11am
Lunch: 12pm - 2pm
Tea: 3pm - 5pm
Dinner: 6pm - 10pm
Jeff’s Cellar
Opening hours: 7pm – 11pm daily
Juice Bar
Opening hours: 11am to 7pm daily
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