Holistic Holidays: The 7 Best Wellness Retreats In The World
Rejuvenate your senses, reignite your traveller fire, and discover our top extraordinary wellness holiday destinations around the world to treat yourself to.
Featuring world-class spas, medical programmes, relaxation centers and holistic activities to render even the busiest Londoner peaceful, these retreats are not to be missed.
7. Chenot Palace Weggis, Switzerland
Already a notable movement prior to the pandemic, the events of the last two years have amplified the importance of mental and physical wellbeing. In 2022, with fewer restrictions in place, many people will seek to reverse the effects of the pandemic on their minds and bodies.
Chenot Palace Weggis sits at the foot of the captivating Swiss Alps and is enveloped by the scenic Lake Lucerne and features a Recover & Energise programme, that aims to reduce stress, recharge the body’s all-natural energy and restore its vitality by blending detox treatments with clinically proven and patented neuroscience technology.
The programme encourages the body to restore its natural rhythms, reduce chronic stress, improve restorative sleep, and optimise energy levels – the ideal solution for a post-pandemic health reset.
6. Aro Hā Wellness Retreat, Glenorchy, New Zealand
Aro Hā is located in New Zealand’s ethereal Southern Alps, just a 40-minute drive from Queenstown Airport.
The retreat is the first wellness centre of its kind, based on a template for optimal wellness and has been refined over the last 10 years to provide guests with a life-altering glow.
The design, by Wellington architect Hugh Tennent, is refreshingly simple and unadorned: built of stone, wood and glass to blend into the landscape.
5. COMO Parrot Cay, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
Parrot Cay’s earthy, whitewashed villas and colonial-style buildings have long been a welcome departure from the mega-resorts that line Grace Bay Beach.
Rooms are adorned with four-poster beds dressed in Italian linens, breezy Indonesian-inspired furnishings, outdoor showers, and perks that include in-room yoga mats and jaunty bikes for leisurely rides around the island.
Rich with marine life, vegetation and ample tranquility, the 1998-built property consists of guest rooms and beachside villas, a hilltop Como Shambala Retreat (whose name is Sanskrit for ‘center of peace and harmony’), two restaurants, white-sand beaches and natural landscapes.
4. Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt
Bio-Hotel Stanglwirt, an expansive, snow-capped chalet at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser mountain in Austria mirrors the postcard-pretty set of The Sound of Music.
The Stanglwirt is both an organic farm and a five-star luxury and wellness resort. It has been welcoming guests for over 400 years with authentic Tyrolean hospitality and an outstanding array of top-quality facilities for leisure, sport and relaxation.
To benefit as much as possible from the fresh mountain air, take a six-mile climb over to Schwarzsee Lake, one of the hottest in the Alps, where you can set up a picnic or take a plunge in the crystalline waters.
3. Amatara Wellness Resort
Tucked away in a peaceful corner of Cape Panwa on the southeastern tip of Phuket Island, Thailand, this fabulous luxury resort offers a selection of comprehensive wellness programmes.
The Amatara Wellness Resort centres around an experience of total wellness ranging from its holistic programmes to its exclusive retreat packages – complete with a daily signature Royal Amatara massage.
There is a 55m infinity pool that is great for swimming lengths or basking bedside. Three restaurants serving traditional Thai and international specialties make dining a delight, with an emphasis on healthy yet delicious cuisine.
2. Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel
The newest addition to the luxury wellness hotel sphere is the luxury Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel.
Newly opened in June of 2019 in Alvor, Portugal, the 5-star wellness property features 70 bedrooms and suites, a highly-Instagrammable rooftop infinity pool, and a world-class medical spa.
The most compelling aspect of the wellness hotel is the state-of-the-art spa which offers a wide range of holiday programmes such as ‘Relax and Wellbeing’, ‘Stress Management’, ‘Mindfulness’, ‘Yoga, Fitness and Bootcamp Rejuvenation’ and ‘Anti-ageing and Medical Check-ups’.
In addition to the innovative wellness and medical spa offering, Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel features two restaurants, Mediterrânico Restaurant by Longevity and the Chill Out and Relax Tea Lounge, including a rooftop Pure Cafe by Longevity with panoramic views over the stunning bay of Alvor.
Staying true to the core of the Longevity brand the food will be fresh, delicious, and colourful, focusing on local and functional, alkaline, and anti-inflammatory foods.
1. The Gilpin Hotel, Lake District
Set in the heart of the Cumbrian countryside, the Gilpin Hotel is just a stone’s throw away from Windermere village. The welcoming atmosphere is notable and the attractive day rooms are perfect for relaxation.
Eating in any of the quartets of dining rooms is a must, while Gilpin Spice restaurant is located within the grounds and well worth a visit.
The Lake House, situated a mile from the main hotel, features an additional six private suites, a sensational spa, and stunning lakeside views.
