Sound Bowls, Lake Views, and a Very Good Massage

Early March in Western Hungary always feels like a quiet turning point. Just a few days earlier, Andrew and I had reopened our countryside house near Sümeg after the winter. The garden still looked half asleep, yet the air carried that unmistakable promise of spring.

So when I received an invitation to spend International Women’s Day at Evergreen Health at Zala Springs Health and Golf Resort, the timing felt perfect. From our house, the drive takes around thirty minutes. Meanwhile, several other women travelling from Budapest arrived by train and were picked up at Keszthely station by the resort.

Evergreen Health at Zala Springs is located near Zalacsány in Western Hungary, about fifteen minutes from Hévíz and roughly half an hour from Lake Balaton.

Although Evergreen Health was new to me, Zala Springs itself was not. It happens to be Andrew’s favourite golf course. Over the years we’ve spent many afternoons dining with friends, practising at the driving range, or enjoying the pool while our husbands disappear across the fairways.

However, Evergreen Health represents something entirely different.

Thirty Minutes to Calm

The drive from Sümeg to Zalacsány winds through some of Western Hungary’s loveliest countryside. On that particular Sunday the weather could not have been better. Blue sky, sunshine, and the first hints of spring warmth.

Because I had visited Zala Springs many times before, I already knew the setting was special. Still, Evergreen immediately felt like a new chapter for the resort.

The space is elegant but welcoming. Private treatment rooms line the interior corridors, while open relaxation areas and a small coffee and juice bar create a relaxed atmosphere. Large windows draw in natural light and offer views over the resort’s lakes and landscaped grounds.

I was greeted by Zsófi Kotsy, the Health Manager, and Sally Momtez, International Operations Director, who had invited me to the event. Around the room, a group of women gathered for the day’s programme. Some were Hungarian, others international. The mix felt friendly and relaxed from the start.

Not Your Average Spa

Before any treatments began, we gathered for brunch. Now, I’ve attended plenty of wellness events over the years. Yet this one struck the right balance. The food was healthy without feeling overly strict, and the ingredients came from nearby producers whenever possible.

One highlight was a soft goat cheese sourced from a farm just down the road. When someone says “local”, they often mean within the same country. In this case, local meant practically around the corner.

As we ate and chatted, the atmosphere quickly settled into something comfortable. It felt less like a formal wellness retreat and more like a group of women taking time for themselves.

Bowls, Sunlight, Lake

Our first activity was something entirely new to me: sound bowl meditation.

The yoga and meditation room sits beside one of the lakes on the property. A full wall of windows faces the water. Because the weather was so beautiful, the doors stood open, letting fresh air and sunlight fill the space.

At first, the idea seemed unusual. Singing bowls produce deep, resonating tones designed to create vibrations in the body. Yet within minutes the sound became surprisingly calming.

The vibrations felt both relaxing and energising at the same time. Meanwhile, the lake view and gentle spring air made the experience even more memorable.

Sometimes a wellness activity surprises you. This was one of those moments.

My Laptop Owes Me This

After the meditation session, I headed to my private treatment room for a personalised massage.

Anyone who spends hours writing at a computer will understand the situation. Neck stiffness, tight shoulders, aching hands. Eventually your posture starts protesting.

The hour-long treatment focused exactly where I needed it most: neck, shoulders, back and hands. In other words, all the places that complain after a long day at the keyboard.

The therapist and I chatted briefly during the session. She had grown up in the area, which made the conversation easy. Western Hungary has that effect on people. The atmosphere tends to feel more personal than transactional.

By the end of the hour, the tension had simply disappeared.

Lavender, Rosemary, and a Good Idea

Later in the afternoon, we gathered again for a creative workshop. Each participant created their own bath salts using dried flowers, herbs, and aromatic spices. Lavender added a calming fragrance, while rosemary came directly from Zala Springs’ own kitchen garden.

There is something satisfying about making something simple with your hands. After a day of treatments and relaxation, the workshop felt like a light, social ending to the programme.

Of course, we also received goodie bags containing THALION spa products, the same brand used during many of the treatments at Evergreen.

Andrew’s Version

Meanwhile, Andrew had his own version of the day.

Because he had driven me to the event, the team kindly allowed him to enjoy the resort’s wellness facilities while he waited. He spent the afternoon moving between the sauna, steam rooms and jacuzzi before eventually wandering over to the driving range. By the time we met again later that afternoon, we both looked far more relaxed than when the day began.

That alone tells you something.

Why Leave Hungary?

People often talk about travelling abroad for luxury wellness experiences. Austrian spas, Italian retreats, or weekend escapes in Switzerland frequently appear on those lists. Yet Western Hungary offers many of the same possibilities.

Within a short distance of Zala Springs you’ll find Lake Balaton, the thermal waters of Hévíz, vineyards, countryside villages, and some remarkable wellness facilities. Evergreen Health adds another layer to that landscape by combining modern medical wellness with traditional relaxation therapies. For anyone spending time in the Balaton region, it is certainly worth discovering.

If you’re curious about the countryside lifestyle in this part of Hungary, I wrote more about it in another article:
Press Houses and the Joys of Rural Hungary

International Women’s Day felt like the perfect excuse to spend a few hours at Evergreen Health. However, the truth is that Zala Springs Health & Golf Resort has already been part of our lives for years. We visit for golf, dinner, and occasional wellness days with friends. This time simply added a new reason to return.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Evergreen Health at Zala Springs?
Evergreen Health is a medical wellness and spa centre located within the Zala Springs Golf Resort in Kehidakustány in Western Hungary. The facility combines traditional spa treatments with modern therapies designed to support relaxation, recovery, and overall wellbeing.

What kinds of treatments does Evergreen Health offer?
Evergreen Health offers a wide range of treatments, from personalised massages and wellness therapies to more advanced services such as infusion therapies, cryotherapy, hydrogen therapy, genetic testing, and medical aesthetics. The centre also incorporates practices like yoga, sound bowl meditation, cupping, gua sha, and acupressure massage.

Do you need to stay at the resort to book a treatment?
No. Visitors can book individual treatments, wellness days, or structured programmes without staying overnight at Zala Springs Golf Resort.

Where is Zala Springs Golf Resort located?
Zala Springs Golf Resort is located in Kehidakustány in Western Hungary, about 15 minutes from Hévíz and within easy reach of Lake Balaton. The resort sits in a large landscaped park surrounded by countryside and vineyards.

What makes Evergreen Health different from a traditional spa?
Evergreen Health blends spa relaxation with medical wellness services and personalised health programmes. In addition to massages and wellness treatments, visitors can access diagnostics, therapies, and preventative health services designed to support long-term wellbeing.

One More Reason to Return

As golf season approaches, I suspect Andrew and I will be returning to Zala Springs quite often. While he heads out to the course, I now have an excellent reason to join him. I’m perfectly happy settling onto the terrace with my little dog Sümi, enjoying a coffee or lunch while watching the day unfold. And now, with the addition of Evergreen Health at Zala Springs, even a non-golfer like me has plenty to look forward to.

If you enjoy discovering places like this, along with practical insights about everyday life in Hungary, you might enjoy my monthly H2H Insider Newsletter, where I share updates, experiences, and useful information from around the country.

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Evergreen Health is the newest wellness facility at Zala Springs Health & Golf Resort. I was invited to attend this International Women’s Day event. I paid for my own massage treatment, and everything shared here reflects my personal experience. The programme was open to anyone who wished to attend.