When life gets hectic, wellness retreats that encourage us to “move back”, rest, and recharge physically and mentally are often the answer. The concept of wellness holidays has come a long way, and now it's more diverse than ever.
Your dream wellness retreat can be an all-out spa pampering, an advanced yoga class, a new fitness adventure or a deep connection with nature. Whatever your favourite form of retreat, the idea is to switch off a little while, and then return and feel refreshed and fully charged to face the world.
We’ve done our research to discover the best wellness retreats in the world as any of us deserves a healing getaway sometimes. Bookmark these wellness destinations to cross off your dietary, fitness, yoga goals or whatever you have in mind!
16 Wellness Retreats For Your Next Nourishing Getaway
- Sensei Lanai - A Four Seasons Resort | Hawaii
- Aro Ha | Glenorchy, New Zealand
- The Ranch Malibu | Malibu, California
- Lake Austin Spa Resort | Austin, Texas
- The Lodge at Woodloch | Hawley, Pennsylvania
- COMO Shambhala Estate | Bali, Indonesia
- Mii Amo | Sedona, Arizona
- Kamalaya | Koh Samui, Thailand
- Crestone Mountain Zen Center | Crestone, Colorado
- Ojai Valley Inn | Ojai, California
- Sensei Porcupine Creek | Rancho Mirage, California
- Hilton Head Health: Hilton Head | South Carolina
- Golden Door | San Marcos, California
- Six Senses | Rome, Italy
- CIVANA Wellness Resort And Spa | Carefree, Arizona
- Amangiri | Canyon Point, Utah
1. Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort - Hawaii
There are good reasons why wellness seekers spend time and money on this remote Hawaiian resort. On its 24-acre property, you can feel a Zen-like vibe permeating all over the air. Here, guests can approach their wellness with a different, evidence-based philosophy. Practise “Move, nourish, and rest”, or what they call the “Sensei Way”.
While taking a breather from your daily grind here, you can feel your best with their wellness classes, lakeside yoga and spa treatments. All are tailored by your Sensei Guide right after you check in to have a perfect itinerary for you.
There are also thermal body mapping and sleep analyses, to make sure guests won't find any trouble falling asleep. The activities won't solely focus on your mindfulness, however. There is horseback riding, scuba diving, sailing, etc. if you want a slice of a standard holiday.
You can also spend the entire afternoon at the beach of its sister resort. Between treatments, treat your body to delicious food by chef Nobu Matsuhisa, with most ingredients from the hydroponic farm just down the road.
2. Aro Ha - Glenorchy, New Zealand
Nothing beats a wellness course after a good hike. Photo by Anupam - stock.adobe.com
A typical day at Aro Ha begins with sunrise Vinyasa flow yoga. Then, guests will fuel their days with a green smoothie before kickstarting a three- to four-hour hike somewhere scenic through Mount Aspiring National Park.
Once back, you’re rewarded with a wholesome plant-based lunch before deep-tissue massages and high-octane exercises start. Save some energy for your night yoga sessions and again, delicious nutrient-dense food.
Yet, the biggest draw of this hideaway is definitely its epic setting. Hugged by snow-capped sub-alpine mountains, and with a 360 view of Lake Wakatipu, the setting alone is enough to encourage you to rest and restore.
3. The Ranch Malibu – Malibu, California
A seven-day wellness retreat at the Ranch Malibu is packed with immersive fitness programs and unbelievably good plant-based meals.
Limited to just 25 guests, the retreat is only for those with specific wellness goals and are willing to work hard for them. Have you ever heard about those gruelling hikes with just a handful of almonds as fuel? But the program turns out effective, and thus, super popular.
For wellness seekers who prefer a more private, tailored program, there's also the week-long Ranch Private package, which limits your interaction with other guests on the property.
4. Lake Austin Spa Resort – Austin, Texas
Sitting on the bank of Lake Austin in Texas Hill Country (far away from downtown), this resort is meant for a spa getaway. Spa programs are diverse on this 25,000-square-foot LakeHouse property. You can spoil yourself with gemstone treatments, 100 massage offerings, and more than a dozen facials on the menu. Enjoy your favourite therapies in the semi-opening settings - their garden cabana - to blend into nature.
5. The Lodge at Woodloch - Hawley, Pennsylvania
Rustic and woodsy, The Lodge is set on 500 wooded acres, with a stunning view of a private lake. There are up to 35+ daily activities on-site for your dream digital detox. From Tabata classes, and forest bathing, to chakra meditations, a day at the Lodge can feel fast-paced, but in a healing way.
Yet, the place where guests usually spend most of their time is at the spa. Each guest can enjoy the treatments from the comfort of their private verandas, with a view of the peaceful lake and surrounding greenery. With such a luxurious and indulgent experience, it's no surprise that the Lodge comes at a pricey price.
6. COMO Shambhala Estate - Bali, Indonesia
COMO is the most sought-after destination of Ubud among wellness seekers. Just like Bali, the place carries a mysterious, spiritual vibe, with traditional treatments and ancient therapies being the core of their programme.
Guests can choose to unplug from their 4 offerings: Ayurvedic, Be Active, Bespoke, or Cleanse. The goal varies from stress handling, and weight management to dealing with life transitions. If you want to get outdoors, you can also trek through the tranquil rice paddy fields or the 23 acres of tropical forest on the property.
7. Mii Amo - Sedona, Arizona
After a sweeping overhaul in 2023, Mii Amo comes back stronger with its impressive sleek designs by Gluckman Tang Architects. The property now completes 23 casitas, a new culinary garden, a signature restaurant, and a sunken living room, all surrounded by the Arinzona’s red rocks.
At Mii Amo, there is an all-inclusive journey to wellness, from 3-10 nights, depending on your needs - all are customised. Mii Amo is an adult-only spa, so it's not the best choice if you are looking for a family-friendly holiday destination.
8. Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand
Kamalaya is full of repeat visitors, and not without good reasons. Built on a sacred hill at a tropical paradise, the resort has a sense of tranquillity that sets the background for what’s coming up next. One of their most outstanding wellness courses is the Radiant Bliss, which aims to help women through different stages of womanhood.
The resort is also an amazing holiday destination itself. The villages are just a stone’s throw from the beach, with a lush jungle surrounding them to unplug and recharge. Not to mention their healthy, bold Thai food awaiting at the end of your treatment.
9. Crestone Mountain Zen Center – Crestone, Colorado
Sitting at the base of the towering Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this Colorado retreat is ideal for you to calm your mind and reset. Your wellness program can be customised, and you can choose to stay from 4 days to three months.
Crestone approaches wellness through Zen practice. The Practice Week led by Zentatsu Richard Baker Roshi - Dharma Heir of Shunryu Suzuki will guide you on how to release some part of your mental suffering and to feel grateful for what you have in life.
With some of the best trails in Colorado at your doorstep, like Spanish Peak Trail and Kit Carson Peak, you can get more active and even closer to the great outdoors.
10. Ojai Valley Inn - Ojai, California
The 31,000-square-foot spa village at Ojai Valley Inn has drawn many Hollywood celebrities for its ultra-luxe spa treatments. The menu is also diverse, running from Holistic Micronutrient Facial, and sound energy therapy, to its signature Ojai Body Polishes. All will leave you renewed and rejuvenated.
For spectacular sunset views, consider booking an Ojai penthouse. You can plunge down on your private terrace and take in the scenery of Ojai Valley and the majestic mountain views in peace.
11. Sensei Porcupine Creek, Rancho Mirage, California
This property once sat in the former private estate of the billionaire entrepreneur Larry Ellison. The place was previously popular for its ultra-exclusive 18-hole golf course, which was only open to professional athletes and big celebrities like Barack Obama.
The good news is the curtain is pulled back from the course when Larry Ellison decides to turn his private home into Sensei Porcupine Creek. Until now, the golf course is still a major draw, as who can resist the challenging rounds with stunning Rancho Mirage landscapes as a backdrop?
Wellness programs at Sensei are entirely up to guests. Like its sibling in Hawaii, the treatment revolves around movement, rest, and nourishment. Wall yoga is a highlight, which uses loops and straps to help practitioners lean into stretches.
There are also circuit sessions if you want something more vigorous or fitness sessions to reveal your biomarkers. This way, your wellness guide can draw up a plan that better suits your wishes.
12. Hilton Head Health: Hilton Head, South Carolina
Hilton Head Health is just a short walk from Coligny Beach, so you can plan for a bike ride or beach strolling with your fellow wellness-seekers. Join the crowd in the hotel's courtyard whenever you need meditation to find your inner peace.
If you come up with a specific weight loss goal, the personal trainers, nutrition lecturers, and consultations will work together with your journey. TRX classes, yoga sessions, aqua Zumba and cardio boxing will help you realise your dream weight, whereas a calorie-controlled menu will keep your portion and nutrition in check.
13. Golden Door – San Marcos, California
The Golden Door experience begins as you literally pass through a golden door, revealing a hidden Japanese-style oasis that remains completely concealed from public view.
This spa has been a favourite of big stars like Oprah, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman. In fact, it ranks as one of the most exclusive and expensive health retreats in the USA (besides its crown as one of the best USA wellness retreats).
Spa treatments range from massages, reiki, and watsu to craniosacral therapy. Fitness classes, yoga sessions, and hikes are also on offer to suit different workout needs.
On a nice morning, you can even choose to burn 2000 calories or more with their 30 miles of hiking trail across its 600 acres. Farm-to-table dinners will put a nice end to your day.
14. Six Senses - Rome, Italy
Unlike many other wellness spas (that choose to nestle away in a quieter corner of the world), Six Senses decided to bring its property to Rome, a metropolis in Italy. Six Senses' longtime wellness focus - the spa - is still the biggest draw at this wellness retreat.
The menu features both signature offerings and some Italian-focused treatments, as you can see with their aerial yoga, sound therapy, biohacking, and facials. Many treatments use the famous Seed to Skin products, which will work wonders for your skin.
Yet, the biggest star at this Rome outpost is the Roman baths. Instead of a modern rooftop pool, Six Senses Rome has plunge pools that reproduce the caldarium, tepidarium, and frigidarium. Soak in a bath there just as the ancients did, and see how it feels like to be an ancient Roman royalty.
15. CIVANA Wellness Resort And Spa - Carefree, Arizona
At this affordable destination, guests are encouraged to push their life boundaries through 4 pillars: nourishment, discovery, movement and spa.
For those seeking pure relaxation, CIVANA Spa offers stone massages, and oxygen facials, alongside Eastern therapies like reiki to help you unplug. Wake up early, you can also join the guided hikes into the hills nearby.
Whatever you choose, remember that CIVINA focuses on “happiness first”. That's why you will have a personalised program for your own journey, to not feel at all prescriptive.
16. Amangiri – Canyon Point, Utah
Amangiri is not the typical spa you've ever come across. Its spa concept is inspired by the holistic healing treatments of the Navajo people. It involves unifying the mind and body through the healing power of the four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water.
At Amangiri, yoga sessions are always exciting as you will do it on a rock formation, with views of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
The accommodation is also a highlight, with stunning architecture blending with Utah's desert landscape. Camp Sarika, especially, feels worlds away, with outdoor terraces, a private plunge pool, and a fire pit.
Set in the dramatic scenery of the Colorado Plateau, the property has views of majestic red rock and impressive landscape as a bonus. It only takes a four-hour drive from Las Vegas for these wonders.
Find Your Happier Self With These Wellness Retreats
If you are still in doubt, let us assure you that your next holiday should be a health-focused retreat. Let's press a pause from your daily lives, and breathe deeper in one of the best wellness retreats in the world to come back stronger than ever. Or, you could consider a staycation instead, if you don’t want to break the bank.
Then, choose a destination with programs and technologies that match your goals and immerse in the wellness experience that your money can buy. We hope you will soon get back on track with a better version of yourself. Finally, check out CabinZero packs
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