About Us

Many years ago we discovered a hidden mountain creek on Samui and created Tamarind Springs in its lush tropical surroundings.

Since its opening as Koh Samui’s first dedicated day spa in 1998, Tamarind Springs has been hailed as benchmark in local development, achieved international recognition from media and continues to build a reputation as one of Asia’s most acclaimed spas.

Tamarind Springs has played a leadership role - in providing high quality massage in a unique setting -  both for the island and for the spa industry in Thailand, without pandering to the latest spa trends and fads.

The Tamarind Springs team

Managing director Benjamas Pongchababnapa is a native Samuian and in charge of operations. With her artistic sensibility and profound experience in massage training she is a driving force in the continued success of Tamarind Springs Spa and Tamarind Springs Massage Academy.

Detlef Dirksen is the architect of Tamarind Springs’ magnificent spa and homes. German by birth, he has travelled extensively in Asia and draws much of his inspiration from his knowledge of South East Asian arts and his love of this unique tropical landscape.

Shelley Poplak co-founder of Tamarind Springs is from South Africa. Drawing on her love of words, images and her background in publishing. Shelley applies her creative energies to marketing.

Heimo Rieger, Tamarind Springs’ in-house chief instructor, is a qualified and certified massage therapist with 20 years experience. Heimo’s unique sensitivity as therapist and instructor comes not only from his various studies, but also from his personal intuition. The enormous energy he channels both in yoga practice and as a former drummer (!), produce a unique rhythm and flow in his work that is the hallmark of his superb massage techniques. As an instructor Heimo combines experience with physical mindfulness and uncompromising quality control, sharing his vast pool of diverse techniques with his students, the best tools for guiding them to develop into professional therapists.