Have you ever thought about following a bracing morning of cross-country skiing with a Thai massage? The Echo Valley Ranch & Spa, located in rural Jesmond, British Columbia, was founded by husband-and-wife team Norm and Nan Dove; their luxurious property is a harmonious fusion of East and West.
Nan, who is of Thai descent, oversees the spa, which offers a full menu of traditional treatments performed by therapists from Thailand. “Luk Pra Kob, a centuries-old ritual that heals with heat, is very popular in the holiday season,” she says. The therapist presses warmed muslin compresses directly onto the skin along “sen” energy channels, allowing essential oils of turmeric, ginger, and cumin, to penetrate, soften, and soothe the underlying connective tissue. Other traditional Thai offerings include herbal steam baths, oil treatments, and massage, as well as a form of traditional Thai exercise similar to yoga called “Ruesri Dat Ton.”
The ranch’s original buildings, which date back to 1908, are typical of the Canadian wilderness: a log house, a root cellar, a log shed, and two barns housing over 40 horses and assorted farm animals. But the exquisite Baan Thai spa pavilion features decorative details hand-carved in Thailand by master craftsmen. A combination of Thai teak for the interior and Canadian cedar for the exterior makes this graceful structure emblematic of Echo Valley’s unique mix of heritages. For more information visit www.evranch.com
– Katherine Stewart
November/December 2007
- Earth Science - April 17, 2026
- Sweed Beauty - April 17, 2026
- Farmhouse Fresh - April 17, 2026