What is the difference between a Thai massage and a Swedish massage? They are different in many ways, such as in the techniques used, the philosophies, the use of oil, how clients dress, and the benefits. Knowing the differences between Thai massage and Swedish massage is essential in making a decision about which one is best for you.
In this article, we have listed all the key differences to help you make the right decision.
The Differences Between Thai Massage vs Swedish Massage: Summary
Dress: Swedish massage uses essential oils or lotions; therefore, clients are undressed and covered by a towel, lying face down on the massage table. There's no need to undress for Thai massage since the oils used are not essential oils and are often not applied. You can wear loose comfortable clothing that allows you to move freely.
Techniques: Thai massage applies pressure onto acupuncture points to stretch and loosen muscles. Swedish massage, also called 'soft massage', mainly uses techniques that include stroking and rubbing. Rather than just using hands, fists, forearms, and elbows — the standard tools of the Swedish masseuse — the at large Thai masseuse may use legs and feet during the massage.

Positions: A 'lazy yoga massage' gets its name from the fact that during a Thai massage, clients are rocked or stretched by the masseuse in various positions. During a Swedish massage, a client usually lies on the massage table on his/her stomach.
Benefits: Thai massage is more dynamic and focuses on enhancing the energy flow. It has a bit more of a healing affect than Swedish massage, which is more focused on relaxation, mainly using long strokes and rubbing techniques to relieve stress and pain.





98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I have never hear of this company…
I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. More
orge alvarez,
May 2023
|
Coco Yang worked tirelessly to…
From the moment I landed in Bangkok, Ms Noi Ying was there to welcome me and get me settled into my hotel. We enjoyed several days together touring Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. Lisa arranged a last-minute speedboat tour of 5 breathtaking islands in Phuket. From start to finish, the guides exceeded my expectations!! Thank you, Asia Highlight!! Debbie Woods More
Debbie Woods,
May 2023
|
Sharon from Asia highlights has been…
Sharon from Asia highlights has been amazing. She offered her amazing ideas to other tours I wanted. We have planned the perfect 9 day itinerary to Thailand. She worked in my budget and was very flexible when I had to change my flights. Thank you sharon. Can’t wait for the trip. More
Heather Stern Wilensky,
Apr 2023
|
Ms. Ning first review 4-2023
Ms. Albee Ning has been doing a great job accommodating my requests and itinerary changes. Remember the first itinerary is a rough draft and you may modify it to suit your tastes. Remember you can not do it all and see everything in 3 weeks. If the flight wasn't so long I would visit Southeast Asia more often. I will update my review in a few months. We don't leave for 9 more months. Asia Highlights is working well for me so far! More
Chiefray,
Apr 2023
|
Perfect Trip To Thailand…
We had so much fun in Bangkok with Tanni and Tom as they kept laughing at all of our silly jokes. Paul, our guide and Chiang Mai was really thoughtful, fun and full of great information about the temples and sights. Thanks so much! Brian and Michelle More
Scott Orchard,
Mar 2023
|
I highly recommend Asia Highlights
I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I worked with Alisa and she is fantastic! I was planning my honeymoon trip, and I changed the destination multiple times. Each time, Alisa provided me an updated itinerary with activities that matched my interests. Whether I had a small change to an activity, a question about one of the arrangements, or a change or destination, Alisa was helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable, providing me with updated options in an extremely timely manner. In the end, despite the fact that I changed my mind on location multiple times, I ended up booking a 17 day trip to Thailand for this upcoming November. I am extremely excited to experience everything that Alisa planned for us. I recommend Asia Highlights to everyone and look forward to using them again on any other trips to Asia in the future. Thank you Alisa and Asia Highlights! More
Britt Rosen,
Mar 2023
|
Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
A special shoutout to our last guide in Bangkok - Ms. Ka-Noon who spoiled us with her kindness and then got us through check in and security for our flight home in record time at that huge Bangkok airport. More
Deby,
Feb 2023
|
Over the last 5 years we've used Asia…
Over the last 5 years we've used Asia highlights twice. And both times we've had fantastic vacations. Would not want to do it any different when we travel to Asia from now on. Sharon was fantastic. She was a wonderful agent who helped us nail down our trip and make everything go as smooth as possible. More
Todd Atwell,
Feb 2023
|
Family Trip to Thailand
Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. I think we would have struggled to resolve the problem by ourselves. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. More
Roger Pyle,
Feb 2023
|
Trip of a lifetime from Asia Highlights!
I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Our travel consultant Albee took the time to connect with us during the planning process to make sure we were comfortable with our itinerary. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. They picked great hotels and tours. I often describe our trip as the trip of a lifetime! Would definitely use them again when we come back to Asia More
Nancy Parker,
Feb 2023
|
Asia Highlights and Albee - highly recommended
Asia Highlights is very reliable agency and Albee is an amazing representative of the company. From the moment when we contacted her until our departure, the whole support we received was 6* level. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. In the period between the offer and the trip, Albee was always available for all our questions and supported us on the best possible way. During the trip she was again flexible to add new activities/transfers and this went on the smoothest possible way. Thank you, Albee and Asia Highlights. Definitely we will approach you again for our next Asian trip More
AZ,
Feb 2023
|
5 STAR CUSTOMER SERVICE BY MONICA
Monica is a very sweet young lady who speaks excellent English via email/WhatsApp, and knows the importance of excellent customer service. More
Trent,
Jan 2023
|
We had an awesome experience with Asia Highlights
We started our trip in Bangkok, where Mr. Prassert our tour guide, met us. He was on time and the van was clean and well-maintained. Mr. Prassert was our guide for the 4 days we spent in Bangkok. He was helpful, kind, and willing to accommodate our pee and coffee breaks. The driver was safe and punctual. Next, we went to Chiang Mai.Gemma exceeded every expectation we had for our tour of Chiang Mai! She had a great attitude that made exploring the city fun and exciting, as well as an abundance of knowledge and experience. She was always spot on with figuring out logistics and coming up with unique ideas that suited our interests and schedules. Gemma was incredibly generous with her time and even walked us to security at the airport to make sure we could carry all of our luggage. That’s just one example of how far out of her way she went to make our trip easier and more enjoyable. Gemma was sincerely interested in making every minute of our trip count. We’re very grateful to have met her and feel like we have found a friend in Gemma! Our driver in Chiang Mai was also great and very accommodating to our changes in schedules. More
Lois Paskow,
Dec 2022
|
Thailand & Cambodia 2022
Albee went above and beyond to make our trip perfect. She rearranged flights due to a mistake of mine. She made sure we were still picked up and escorted to the airport. I felt comfortable and safe with all our reps. She did an excellent job and I highly recommend her booking your next trip. Thank you, Albee. More
Karen Brooks,
Dec 2022
|
Perfect vacation thanks to Albee we…
I can’t say enough about how much we appreciate all the efforts, attention to details and immediate responses to all questions that Albee and her team provided. The Asia Highlights team deserves more stars than the maximum allowed because of continually going above and beyond all expectations. Thanks Albee for making our vacation through south east Asia absolutely perfect!!! More
Michael Sharp,
Dec 2022
|
2023 Chiang Mai CAD Yipeng Festival
We got early bird ticket and Bella was assisting us through whatsapp. Easy, competitive price, front row tickets. Thanks Bella, for being patient explaining everything to me. Highly recommended. More
lily hartati,
Dec 2022
|
Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep
Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep. She was responsive and knowledgeable. Buying tickets from their website was super easy and the whole process was straightforward. Highly recommended. More
Khai,
Nov 2022
|
I was ever so grateful to have a point…
I was ever so grateful to have a point of contact while in a foreign country for the first time, alone, that helped me through the Ins and outs of getting to and from my destination. Albee was readily available which brought me much comfort and feeling of safety. If in this part of the world again, I will not hesitate to use your services.. More
Omega,
Nov 2022
|
Memorable Experience!!!
I booked tickets to the Chiang Mai Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Nov 2022. Bella was extremely responsive and helpful!! More
Bowen,
Nov 2022
|
Personalized
It is the attention to detail and what we specifically wanted to see that made the reservation experience so exciting. More
Peter Bongiovanni,
Nov 2022
|
Which Is Better for You - Thai Massage or Swedish Massage?
Swedish massage is better for people who:
- mainly want to feel relaxed and relieve stress
- love an oiled massage
- don't mind being half-naked
- are new to any kind of massage experience, as it is more gentle or soft compared to Thai massage
- are lacking in flexibility and feel awkward about being tossed around and stepped on
Thai massage is better for people who:
- want a body treatment more than just a relaxing experience
- want to improve their overall well-being and enhance their energy levels
- are shy about undressing in front of a masseuse
- don't like oiled massages
- have a mid-range of flexibility and can endure the manipulation by the masseuse
- want this must-try experience when they are traveling in Thailand
Thai Massage vs Swedish Massage: Modalities and Physiology
Thai massage, also known as hard massage or lazy yoga massage, has been taught and practiced in Thailand for thousands of years. It is based on the Eastern understanding of anatomy and physiology. The principles are based on the body's energy paths. Thai physiology believes that disease is the result of blocked energy pathways associated with spiritual beliefs. Therefore, Thai massage is mainly aimed at improving the energy flow in your body. The better your energy flows, the better your body works.
Swedish massage, which is most commonly seen and popular in the West, often known as classic massage, relaxing massage, or soft massage, is based on the Western understanding of physiology and anatomy. The aim is to promote relaxation and, to some extent, heal the body.

Thai Massage vs Swedish Massage: Techniques
Thai Massage Techniques
1. Thai massage works on your entire body! Compared to Swedish massage, Thai massage is more dynamic and invigorating. The masseuse uses every part of her body, the hands, elbows, forearms, knees, shins, and even feet, not only to stretch you but also to apply pressure on your muscles and loosen your joints. The masseuse may even walk on or sit on you if it is needed, to apply just enough pressure on certain parts of your body. As a result, your entire body is stretched, pushed, pressed, rocked, and vibrated.
2. Stretching in Thai massage involves more motions than Swedish massage. The masseuse places your body in various positions to apply pressure on various zones and trigger points of your body. This is where the yoga position part of massage comes from.
3. Technique for blocking the blood flow. This is only used in Thai massage and it is used on specific parts of the body, usually areas where the legs and arms meet at the torso. The masseuse will apply sustained pressure on your blood flow for about 30 seconds; then, when released, the flow of blood enhances the effect of the massage.

Swedish Massage Techniques

Swedish massage is more relaxing compared with Thai massage. It incorporates five major techniques:
1. Stroking and gliding: These are long, sweeping strokes, which are usually used at the start and end of a massage.
2. Kneading and rolling: just like kneading dough, the masseuse kneads the muscles to release any pain and to stretch them.
3. Pounding or drumming: These are fast percussion movements, such as tapping, chopping, and pounding. They are gradually falling out of favor with clients as they are not as relaxing as the rest of the techniques.
4. Friction: Friction and the application of deep pressure to particular spots are done using the fingertips, knuckles, and the thumb.
5. Shaking or vibration.
Thai Massage vs Swedish Massage: Positions
During a Thai massage, the client may change his or her position multiple times as conducted by the masseuse. The masseuse (usually a middle-aged Thai female) will stretch or fold the client's body into several yoga-like positions (such as the positions shown in the picture below) in order to focus better on specific areas and increase the effectiveness of the massage.
This is why Thai massage is also called lazy yoga massage. You don't need to put any effort into the movement, just relax and let go of your body, and let the masseuse take control of it. The masseuse knows what she is doing, and you don't really need to worry about being overstretched or hurt unless you step into a really low-end street massage shop where the staff either skip the part of the massage that includes position changes or they don't do it correctly so it may be uncomfortable.

Swedish massage rarely needs any position changes. It's like those typical stereotyped Western massages that are shown in many movies or the photo below. The client is undressed and covered by a towel. He/she lies on the massage table on his/her stomach with his/her back exposed to the masseuse. The back is the major part of the body to be worked on by the masseuse. Again, the client doesn't need to do anything but just relax and enjoy being stroked.
Thai Massage vs Swedish Massage: Privacy
A Thai massage doesn't necessarily include the application of any essential oils or lotions, so you can stay fully, or at least partially, dressed. Often, you will be provided with a specific garment by the therapist before the session. So, if you aren't that comfortable with massages that involve being undressed, such as a Swedish massage, a Thai massage obviously suits you better. A Thai massage can be conducted on a mat on the floor, in a room offering a good view in a spa center, or even on a park pathway where tourists can sit down on a chair and be fully dressed.
A Swedish massage has to be done in a very private room since you will be half-naked, lying face down on the massage table just covered by a towel.

Thai Massage vs Swedish Massage: Benefits
Both Thai and Swedish massage are beneficial to a client's overall health and well-being as they relax muscles and relieve back pain, let the body recharge and allow the client to feel energetic.
Thai massage involves many motions and a bit more flexibility. It's more dynamic. The masseuse focuses on energy flow or the body's joints to enhance the energy's efficiency within the body, so it has more healing affects than Swedish massage.
Swedish massage, on the other hand, is more focused on relaxation, using long stroking, kneading, and rubbing techniques to put your body at ease, to release cramped or tense muscles and, to some extent, release stress and pain, leaving your body feeling recharged.
Tour Thailand Your Way with Us
Want to enjoy the luxury experience of an authentic Thai massage? Visit Thailand with us, and you will be in the right hands for an extraordinary journey. Booking with Asia Highlights means you can rely on our extremely professional staff who will craft the perfect itinerary for you and ensure you enjoy a luxurious and professional Thai massage experience.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
Get Inspired with Our Sample Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.