A Newcomer's Guide to Thai Massage Styles
In short
Traditional Thai uses no oil and you stay clothed on a mat, with assisted stretching. Thai oil, coconut oil and aromatherapy are table treatments where you undress to your comfort. Deep tissue is firm and focused. Head, neck and shoulder, foot and office syndrome massage need no undressing at all.
"Thai massage" is used as though it were one thing. It is not, and the differences matter — they decide whether you undress, whether oil is involved, whether you are on a table or a mat, and whether the hour is relaxing or fairly demanding.
Here is the whole range in the order a newcomer usually wants to understand it, with what each is actually for.
Traditional Thai massage — the one people mean
No oil, stay clothed, on a mat. Dry pressure with assisted stretching: the therapist uses palms, thumbs and forearms along lines of tension, and moves your limbs and spine through ranges you would not reach on your own.
It suits stiffness through the back, shoulders and hips, and it is the right choice if you want to move more freely rather than simply feel looser. It is more physically involving than an oil massage, and first-timers are sometimes surprised by how active it is.
Traditional Thai massage is ฿900 for sixty minutes, ฿1,100 for ninety, ฿1,300 for two hours. It needs about two metres by one of floor space and no large meal in the hour before.
Thai oil massage — the gentle starting point
Warm plain oil, on a table. A flowing full-body treatment, and the one we most often suggest for a first massage: it suits general tension and tiredness, first-time guests, and anyone who finds traditional Thai too firm.
Thai oil massage is ฿1,000 for an hour. You undress to your comfort and are covered throughout apart from the area being worked on.
Coconut oil massage — the same, for dry skin
Warm coconut oil, no added fragrance. The reason to choose it over plain oil is skin that has had a week of air conditioning and sun, and the reason to choose it over aromatherapy is that there is no scent in it at all.
Coconut oil massage is ฿1,200 for sixty minutes. It is richer than a standard oil, so most people shower afterwards. Tell us about a coconut or nut allergy before booking — this is the one treatment where that matters, and we will bring a plain unscented oil instead.
Aromatherapy massage — for not being able to switch off
An oil massage with a chosen essential-oil blend, and it is written for a specific problem rather than a general one: difficulty unwinding, poor sleep, and stress that has become physical — a clenched jaw, shoulders that will not drop.
Aromatherapy massage is ฿1,200 for an hour. Tell us of any scent you dislike, and note that essential oils are not suitable during pregnancy without advice.
Deep tissue — for one thing that will not release
Firm, focused work on specific areas rather than the whole body. For persistent knots, chronic desk stiffness, or sports recovery. Expect some soreness the following day.
Deep tissue massage is ฿1,400 for sixty minutes. Not appropriate over an acute injury or an inflamed joint.
The three that need no undressing
Worth knowing about, because they remove the main hesitation people have about a first massage.
Head, neck and shoulder massage — seated, through clothing, no oil, needs only a chair. ฿900 for forty-five minutes. For tension headaches starting at the base of the skull and shoulders that will not drop.
Foot massage — feet and lower legs, seated or lying down. ฿1,000 for an hour. For tired, heavy legs after walking or a flight, and a good first massage for anyone unsure.
Office syndrome massage — the desk-work pattern of neck, upper back, shoulders and forearms, and can be done seated at a desk. ฿900 for forty-five minutes.
And one that is a treat rather than a treatment
Four hand massage is two therapists working in synchrony on one person — the deepest relaxation available here, and generally chosen for an occasion or a long flight to recover from. From ฿3,000 for sixty minutes. It needs enough space for two therapists to move around a table.
Choosing, if you still cannot decide
| If you… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Have never had a massage | Thai oil, or foot massage |
| Want the classic Thai experience | Traditional Thai |
| Cannot switch off or sleep | Aromatherapy |
| Sit at a laptop all day | Office syndrome |
| Have one knot that will not go | Deep tissue |
| Would rather not undress | Head, neck and shoulder |
All of them come to your address, hotel or office with no travel surcharge in the twelve areas we cover. Thai massage etiquette for first-timers covers what is expected during the session. Book one, or see the full list on the home page.
Frequently asked questions
Which style should I try first?
Thai oil massage at 1,000 baht for an hour, or foot massage at 1,000 baht. Thai oil is a flowing full-body treatment with warm plain oil and suits first-time guests and anyone who finds traditional Thai too firm. Foot massage needs no undressing at all, which removes the main hesitation people have.
What is the difference between Thai oil and coconut oil massage?
The oil. Coconut oil is richer with no added fragrance, and the reason to choose it is skin that has had a week of air conditioning and sun. Most people shower afterwards. It is 1,200 baht for sixty minutes against 1,000 for plain oil, and a coconut or nut allergy matters here specifically.
Which one helps if I cannot switch off or sleep?
Aromatherapy massage, at 1,200 baht for an hour. It is an oil massage with a chosen essential-oil blend and is written for difficulty unwinding, poor sleep and stress that has become physical. Tell us of any scent you dislike, and note that essential oils are not suitable during pregnancy without advice.
What is four hand massage?
Two therapists working in synchrony on one person, and the deepest relaxation available here. It is generally chosen for an occasion or a long flight to recover from, from 3,000 baht for sixty minutes, and it needs enough space for two therapists to move around a table.
