Wellness retreats offer more than just a vacation. With invigorating yoga sessions and soul-soothing meditation, these sanctuaries nurture mind, body and spirit.
Revitalize with an all-inclusive stay at a historic mountain estate surrounded by the Shawangunk Ridge. Mohonk Mountain House offers a full spectrum of healing treatments, including a eucalyptus steam room and outdoor mineral pool.
1. Como Shambhala Estate
With an extensive list of holistic wellness therapies encompassing the cutting edge in modern healthcare, COMO Shambhala Estate is a restorative retreat that delivers results. Days could be spent happily here, but this sprawling Bali jungle haven (just a 20-minute drive from the chaotic Ubud town center) has something even more special: a proactive philosophy that focuses on tackling underlying issues before they manifest themselves as dis-ease. The targeted Wellness Programmes—Cleanse, Be Active, Ayurvedic and Bespoke—start at three nights and are designed to help you make informed lifestyle changes that will last long after your trip.
You’ll find expert practitioners onsite from yoga instructors to acupuncturists, and the property’s state-of-the-art facilities are as impressive as its setting. Accommodation is among the most luxurious of its kind, with immaculate teakwood Suites and Villas spread across lush jungle clearings and on awe-inspiring hilltops above the Ayung River. The residential-style suites are divided into five different “Residences” that share a pool and lounging areas, with the Tirta Ening Residence a particularly calming choice.
During your stay, you’ll also benefit from the expertise of a personal health assistant who will ensure every detail is taken care of—from yoga classes and outdoor circuit training to massages and the heavenly COMO Shambhala Cuisine (balancing, nutritious meals served at Kudus House restaurant).
2. Cal-a-Vie
Cal-a-Vie is a 450-acre retreat that pairs luxurious European spa philosophies with California concepts of fitness, wellness and nutrition. The resort offers a variety of packages to help you achieve personal goals and find balance in your life.
This gorgeous retreat near San Diego looks like a quaint French village with its peach stucco cottages and gardens. Each day, you’ll receive an individualized schedule of classes and treatments to accomplish your personal health goals. Higher-intensity workouts like spin and barre usually take place in the morning, while the afternoon is reserved for spa treatments or educational seminars.
The resort offers an extensive selection of spa treatments from which to choose, including the antioxidant-rich vinotherapy options that utilize organic grape seeds, skins and pulp. You can also pamper yourself with a manicure or get acupuncture to reduce stress and pain.
Guests can also enjoy the outdoor pools and tennis and pickleball courts. In addition, you can attend a variety of wellness seminars and classes to learn the tools that you can use to maintain your newfound healthy lifestyle after your return home. These include meditation and yoga for stress reduction, a labyrinth to encourage inner reflection, and pranayama and crystal sound baths for mental clarity.
3. Malibu Popoyo
Located along one of the world’s best surf regions, Malibu Popoyo is an all-inclusive boutique surf retreat for surfers, yogis and adventure travelers. The secluded beachfront resort is grounded in Nicaraguan culture and neighbors more than 10 world-class surf breaks. Designed to inspire transformation, the retreat provides everything needed to push physical limits, stimulate the mind and stir the adventurous spirit.
The retreat offers a full surf experience with a strong focus on yoga and healthy food. Stay in the hotel’s comfortable Garden, Loft or Master rooms that include organic linens, handmade unique concrete tiles and glass walls that maximize your view of the surf and volcano. Daily yoga sessions are available to help you relax and stretch sore muscles. And, with a variety of waves within 30 minutes of the resort, there is something for every level from beginner to advanced.
Due to the multiple flight cancellations during Covid times, Malibu Popoyo recommends flying into Liberia (LIR) International Airport in Costa Rica and then taking a direct transfer to Popoyo (about 2.5 hours). They can also arrange for a private transfer from Managua, however, this may incur an additional cost. Guests will be able to enjoy all the benefits of a Malibu Popoyo stay, including the beachfront yoga palapa that doubles as a stage for live music, a spa and wellness center and artisan bowls and baskets with grab-and-go snacks to help refuel after surfing.
4. Ojai Valley Inn
This resort in California offers the best of both worlds – serene tranquility and a full range of activities for all kinds of travelers. It is situated in the picturesque Los Padres National Forest and surrounded by gorgeous, cinematic vistas. Moreover, the hotel is one of California’s most iconic and historic retreats and has been welcoming guests since 1923. Doing yoga can help focus on your spiritual wellbeing making you a better and healthier person.
The resort has plenty to offer, including a sprawling spa complex that earned it a Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star rating. The spa offers a host of soothing treatments and a long list of mind-body classes. Additionally, the property offers a variety of on-site dining options that serve meals made with locally grown ingredients.
The resort also hosts a number of cultural events throughout the year, including culinary delights and concerts. Guests can also enjoy the many activities offered at the nearby Lake Casitas Recreation Area.
5. Amangiri Resort & Spa
Whether you want to explore the area’s dramatic canyons and rock formations, reconnect with yourself and the world around you, or indulge in rejuvenating spa treatments and wellness activities, Amangiri Resort & Spa is the perfect place to recharge. Surrounded by red rock canyons and towering mesas, this Utah-based luxury retreat is a sanctuary in its own right.
Guests at the resort experience an undisturbed escape from the real world, with suite accommodation that captures the luminous beauty of the desert and offers powerful panoramas. With natural tones reminiscent of the surrounding landscape, deep soaking tubs, and floor-to-ceiling windows, these modern suites are an ideal space for resting and unwinding in the midst of nature’s most stunning scenery.
If you prefer an even more secluded getaway, the resort’s exclusive sister property, Camp Sarika, is located just five minutes from Amangiri and offers luxurious tented pavilions that include private terraces with hot tubs and fire pits. With full access to all the facilities of the main resort, including a vast Aman Spa, which features five treatment rooms and a water pavilion as well as two outdoor treatment terraces, guests at Camp Sarika also receive private dining experiences and guided hikes.
6. Ananda
Ayurvedic therapists and doctors offer a holistic approach to wellness; Bihar School yoga teachers teach traditional Yoga in a tranquil setting and meditation classes; and uplifting lectures on the spiritual teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda—author of Autobiography of a Yogi—are presented daily. Ananda also offers an expansive spa, international wellness experiences and healthy organic cuisine.
The resort is located on a 100-acre Maharaja’s palace estate surrounded by forests and overlooking the sacred river Ganges near Rishikesh. Its awe-inspiring location combines sweeping views of majestic Himalayan peaks with soothing spirituality. The best time to visit is March to June or October to December when the weather is warm, dry and clear.
The retreat specializes in wellness programs for enhancing fertility, healing sleep disorders and rebalancing the body’s hormones. Its detox programs use a combination of Ayurvedic therapy, Chinese medicine and Yoga to balance the body from within, while its Fertility Enhancement program uses Ayurvedic wisdom and the ancient science of Kundalini Yoga to help women overcome PCOS and other issues related to reproductive health. It’s the perfect place for those seeking a deeper sense of wellness and inner peace.
7. Joali Being
As people slowly crawl out of their pandemic holes and re-discover the joys of travel, the fabled wellness retreat is back in vogue. The latest entry, JOALI BEING, is located on the island of Bodufushi in Raa Atoll, Maldives and is the first-of-its-kind luxury wellness resort that celebrates nature while also doing some serious wellbeing work.
Guests can stay in one of 69 spectacular overwater and beachfront villas, all with private pools and a full range of special offerings that include a bespoke minibar set-up; tuned meditative balancing musical instruments for calming and grounding; wellness games and much more. Beyond the luxe treatment rooms, there’s a hydrotherapy hall; sound therapy chamber; a Discovery Sound Path amid nature that uses chimes and gongs to unite you with the healing sounds of the outdoors; and the archipelago’s only cryotherapy chamber. We’re especially smitten with Aktar, the on-site herbology center where master herbalists teach about healing herbs and how to use them for wellbeing.
All wellbeing sessions are crafted by a team of 60 dedicated specialists and tailored to achieve your goals, whether it’s a gut reset, anti-ageing or a focus on nutrition. The experience culminates in a personalised journey that can last up to 28 days.