Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats
Slide Nr 1What better way to start the new year than with a relaxing escape, an invigorating retreat or an energising wellness holiday? Amazing spa hotels are easy to find, but we dug a little deeper to uncover the ones that offer an authentic experience, a local speciality, or a unique approach. Now, breathe in, breathe out… and start planning a truly special escape.
0/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 2Hammam Experience In Morocco – The Moroccan hammam tradition is unique, even compared to the bath houses of other Islamic countries. Historic bath buildings and ruins of ancient structures can be found across the country, some dating back as far as the 8th century. La Mamounia Palace, the ultimate Marrakech luxury hotel, is a great place to experience an indulgent Moroccan bath. The sprawling spa and wellness area covers 2,500 square metres, which includes two traditional hammams and one private hammam. The full steam bath package includes a deep exfoliation treatment, a body mask and oil massage.
1/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 3Living The Dream In Costa Rica – At Kinkara Santa Elena, the wellness experience begins in your sleep. The glamping resort in Costa Rica’s southern zone is constructed to facilitate a meditative sleep. Tents are arranged on the periphery of a mandala garden; surrounded by nature, with the sounds of flowing water and acres of forest, rest should come easy. The Deep Relaxation package includes daily massages, a sound healing ceremony, a forest immersion hike, medicinal plant walks or an infusion blending workshop. Since the resort is integrated into a regenerative farm, guests also get to enjoy nutrient-packed, organic earth-to-table cuisine.
2/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 4Taking To The Water In Germany – In the foothills of the Bavarian Alps lies a spa town that has been dedicated to a form of hydrotherapy developed by Sebastian Kneipp in the mid-19th century. Today, visitors to Bad Wörishofen can put together their own treatment regimen, composed of the central warm and cold baths to boost circulation, gentle exercise, a healthy diet, phytotherapy using local herbs, as well as meditation and mindfulness practice. Steigenberger Hotel der Sonnenhof, a traditional spa hotel, is located on the edge of the spa gardens, within walking distance of a total of 23 Kneipp facilities.
3/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 5Spa Origins In Belgium – If you want to know your spa history, then take a trip to Spa. The town in the Belgian Ardennes, where the word originated, was the first in the world to export its mineralised water in the 16th century; it had already been known for its healing properties for centuries before. Now, it is one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe, a transnational World Heritage Site of 11 famous historic spa towns and cities in seven countries. Today’s Thermes de Spa is a modern complex offering a range of treatments informed by tradition and still powered by the same healing waters.
4/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 6Holistic Wellbeing In India – The Indian wellness industry has come a long way since the Beatles put ashram retreats on the map. Not far from Rishikesh, where the Fab Four famously headed for a transcendental meditation training course in 1968, lies Vana, a modern, sustainability-focused holistic retreat that integrates several “traditions of wellness, medicine and Indian wisdom”. Its location close to the source of the sacred Ganges river make it the perfect destination for those who seek to embark on a spiritual journey.
5/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 8Sweat It Out In Mexico – Sweat lodge ceremonies have roots in various Native American and Mesoamerican cultures and have been practiced for centuries. When participating, make sure the ceremony is led by a recognised ceremonial leader to avoid offensive appropriation. Pura Vida Eco Retreat in Yelapa, Mexico offers guided sweat lodge ceremonies as part of its health-focused holistic wellness retreat packages. With a medical doctor on site, you can also prevent one of the other pitfalls of the sweat lodge newbie – adverse effects caused by underlying medical conditions and triggered by heat, smoke and dehydration.
7/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 9Forest Bathing In South Tyrol – The therapeutic benefits of long forest walks have long been known and are increasingly being researched, but the wellness trend of ‘forest bathing’ is a relatively new one. At Vigilius Mountain Resort in the Italian Alps, you can immerse yourself in the forest in every way. The hotel, designed by architect Matteo Thun and built with vast expanses of wood and glass to both blend in with and offer views of the surrounding nature, sits amongst the trees on a mountain. Arrival is by cable car only, so no cars disturb the peace or interfere with the sounds of the forest. The hotel spa offers treatments using locally grown plants and herbs like mountain pine or hay flower. [Photo: Florian Andergassen]
8/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 10Hot And Cold In Finland – Although ritualised sweat sessions appear in cultures all over the globe, the Finnish sauna is probably the most internationally prolific. In the country that coined the word ‘sauna’, you will find a hot room in almost every home, hotel and even in many public buildings. For a truly authentic sweat, you will have to make like the locals and get naked for the heat, then brave the cold by jumping into an icy pool, lake or even the snow outside. The Finnish landscape isn’t short of breathtaking vistas, but the most visually stunning accommodation to enjoy both the heat and the cold is probably the Arctic Treehouse Hotel on the Arctic Circle. [Photo via Facebook]
9/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 12Ayurveda In Sri Lanka – Ayurveda has long become a wellness buzzword in the Western world, but on the Indian subcontinent it is so much more than an adjective attached to herbal teas or massages. In India and Nepal, it is a widely practiced form of alternative medicine, while Sri Lanka even has an Institute of Indigenous Medicine at the University of Colombo to research its healthcare practices. Surya Lanka Ayurveda Retreat, on a beach in the country’s south, prides itself on taking the more scientific route, supported by on-site doctors who follow the original Panchakarma traditions.
11/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 15Unwind In Bali – The Indonesian island has become a byword for wellness holidays, surf retreats and plant-based living. At Fivelements Retreat Bali, an eco-friendly ethos and vegan cuisine are accompanied by the requisite yoga and spa offerings, as well as treatments rooted in local healing traditions. The Balinese-inspired therapies include deep bodywork, energy movement or meditation, and retreats range from three nights to two weeks.
14/15
Living
The Ultimate Reset: 15 Authentic Wellness Retreats.
Slide Nr 16Getting Dirty In Italy – The use of fango treatments both for medical and wellness applications is widespread all over the world, but it is assumed the volcanic mud was first used by the ancient Romans. The Italian word simply means ‘mud’, but it actually refers to a mix of clay, thermal water and algae and microorganisms. The spa towns in the Euganean Hills outside Padua have countless natural hot springs ideal for the creation of this mixture. In Abano Terme, you can choose between a range of hotels, all offering their own thermal water springs, indoor and outdoor pools, and thermal mud treatments.
15/15
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.