PHOTO:
SUMMER 2026 ༠ 45
RED DAO HERBAL BATH
Where: Sapa, Vietnam
The Experience: Handed down from 
generation to generation, this medicinal 
tradition practised by the Red Dao 
community in the Sapa region of Northern 
Vietnam distils the goodness of the local 
forest into a therapeutic bathing experience. 
A 15-30-minute soak in water containing a 
concentrated infusion of roots, bark, and 
leaves foraged from the forest relaxes 
muscles, improves circulation, and cleanses 
the skin. At the Silk Path Grand Resort  
& Spa in Sapa, this treatment is experienced 
with mist-shrouded views of the Hoàng  
Liên Sơn mountains.
CEYLON TEA INFUSION
Where: Ceylon Tea Trails, Bogawantalawa 
Valley, Sri Lanka
The Experience: Set within the emerald 
green tea estates of the Bogawantalawa 
Valley, this special aromatic bath celebrates 
Sri Lanka’s most famous export. Guests 
soak in an oversized clawfoot tub filled with 
warm water infused with freshly harvested 
green tea leaves, black tea extracts, or 
various flavoured teas including jasmine, 
cinnamon spice, black pepper and orange, or 
bergamot and geranium. Rich in polyphenols 
and antioxidants, the tea bath is often 
followed by a tea-infused scrub, all designed 
to soothe sun-exposed skin, reduce 
inflammation, and gently boost circulation.
ANCIENT SAND BURIAL 
Where: Anakato Nubian Houses, Aswan, 
Egypt
The Experience: Practised by Nubian tribes 
in Upper Egypt, the Rammal or Dafn sand-
burial ceremony harnesses the curative 
properties of sun and sand to heal the 
body. During the summer months, visitors 
to Anakato Nubian Houses are made to lie 
in shallow pits and covered from neck to 
toe in sun-heated sand for 15-30 minutes 
(with head protection). It is believed that the 
weight, warmth, and mineral composition of 
the sand treat musculoskeletal disorders, 
including arthritis and joint pain.
Sky Lagoon
Sand bath
Red Dao women collecting 
herbs in the forest 
Dried teas and herbs
PHOTOS: AXP PHOTOGRAPHY ON PEXELS (NUBIAN HOUSE), ALISON LOVE (SKY LAGOON),  
KYONNTRA/GETTYIMAGES (SAND BATH), GRIGORIY ON PEXELS (HERBAL TEAS), KRISTIN LIS, PEXELS (SEAWATER IMMERSION) 
SUMMER 2026 ༠ 45

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.