Types of Massage in Thailand
Twelve types of massage in Thailand, what each one actually feels like, and which to pick for how you feel today. Written by the team that sends therapists to hotels and condos across Bangkok every day.
What types of massage in Thailand can you book?
Thai massage is not one thing. A shop sign that says massage can mean twelve different sessions, and they do not feel alike. Some are done fully clothed. Some use a lot of oil. Some are strong enough to leave you sore the next day.
Here is every type we send a therapist out for, what each one feels like, and who it suits.
| Type | What it feels like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Thai | Clothed. Pressure points and assisted stretching. No oil. | Stiff bodies, poor flexibility, long flights |
| Thai oil | Oiled skin, long gliding strokes, medium pressure | Full body relaxation, first timers |
| Aroma oil | Oil with a scent blend. Slow and calming. | Stress, poor sleep, wind down |
| Coconut oil | Light oil, gentle strokes, kind to skin | Sunburn free days, dry skin, sensitive skin |
| Deep tissue | Slow, strong pressure into one area at a time | Knots, tight backs, gym soreness |
| Four hands | Two therapists working in time with each other | Switching off fast, a treat, jet lag |
| Sports and stretch | Active work and stretching, firmer pace | Runners, cyclists, gym days |
| Office syndrome | Targeted work on back, neck and shoulders | Desk pain, laptop posture |
| Neck and shoulder | Short and focused on the upper body | Phone neck, tension headaches |
| Head and scalp | Light work on the scalp, temples and neck | Headaches, screen fatigue |
| Foot reflexology | Clothed. Pressure on points in the feet. | Long days walking Bangkok |
| Couples | Two people, two therapists, same room | Partners, friends, a shared hour |
Thai massage or oil massage?
This is the choice most visitors face, and it is simpler than it looks. Traditional Thai keeps your clothes on and works your body through stretches. Oil massage puts you under a towel and works your muscles with long strokes.
Pick Thai if you feel stiff. Pick oil if you feel wound up. We wrote the full comparison in Thai massage vs oil massage.
Which type should you pick?
Start from how you feel right now, not from the name of the massage.
- Tight shoulders from a laptop: office syndrome or neck and shoulder.
- Off a long flight: traditional Thai to open the body back up.
- Cannot switch off: aroma oil, or four hands if you want it to work fast.
- One stubborn knot: deep tissue, and tell your therapist exactly where.
- Legs dead from walking all day: foot reflexology.
- Sore from the gym or a run: sports and stretch.
What is Nuad Thai?
Nuad Thai is the proper name for traditional Thai massage. UNESCO added it to its heritage list in 2019. If a therapist says Nuad Thai, they mean the clothed, stretching kind.
More on where it comes from in what is Nuad Thai.
How long should the session be?
Sixty minutes suits one focused area. Ninety is the one most guests book, because it covers the whole body without rushing. Two hours suits deep tissue or a couple who want to stop watching the clock.
We broke down all three in how long should a massage be.
Types you will see in Thailand that we do not send out
Two more types are everywhere in Thailand and worth knowing about, even though they need a shop rather than a hotel room.
- Herbal compress. Steamed cloth balls packed with herbs, pressed into the muscles. It needs a steamer, so it stays in the shop.
- Fish spa. Small fish nibble the dead skin off your feet. It is a novelty, not a massage.
How to book
Tell us the type you want, how long, and where you are staying. A therapist travels to your hotel, condo or residence and brings the oil. You pay on arrival, before the session starts.
Not sure which type to pick? Say how you feel and we will suggest one.