Ibiza, Spain: Wylder Retreats
Teaching sustainable wellness and skills that will last longer than the retreat itself, Wylder retreats are the ideal yoga-based retreats, not too far from the UK. Across four nights in October, guests will enjoy activities from yoga and pilates to hikes and sound healing sessions. Additionally, all meals are plant based, and a zero-waste cooking workshop will teach guests skills to take home with them (along with their new feeling of tranquillity and a goodie bag to boot).
Book it: 27–31 October. wylderretreats.net
Dominican Republic: Cenote Wellness Retreat at Eden Roc Cap Cana
Surrounded by some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders – pristine beaches, towering cliffs and tropical forests – Eden Roc Cap Cana is always a good idea. Their new Cenote Wellness Retreat adds another string to their bow. From December, guests can partake in yoga and meditation sessions, have massages, drink healthy smoothies, and retreat to the unique cenote waterfall fountain. Eden Roc Cap Cana’s underground cenote formed when a cave ceiling fell; making the most of it, guests can not experience private diners, spiritual spa treatments and gentle fitness sessions here, as well as the therapeutic experience of hearing the water – said ‘to be in the womb of the mother earth’.
Book it: Launching in December 2022. edenroccapcana.com
Saint-Jean-de-Luz, France: La Réserve
Located on a clifftop overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and nestled within three hectares of luscious gardens, La Réserve could be just the spot for your mind and body reset. Check out the Well-Being package, a programme of relaxation and escapism to clear the mind. And if it’s beautiful spots for a self-guided meditation you’re after, try the infinity pool – built on two levels with one side gently cascading into the next, with a 360-panoramic view over the ocean. Ommmmmm.
Book it: Priced from 524€ and available throughout the year, the ‘Well-Being’ package includes 2 nights in a standard room along with a buffet breakfast, a 3-course dinner facing the ocean at the hotel’s Ilura restaurant and a 25-minute spa treatment per person. hotel-lareserve.com
Marrakech, Morocco: SAHA at The Oberoi
The Oberoi’s new holistic wellness programme, SAHA (meaning ‘health’ in Arabic), has been created by leading specialists and is focused on four key cornerstones: Soul & Spirit, Active Body, Holistic Treatments, and A Better Plate. The Oberoi is already a haven of meditative tranquillity where guests can take time to rediscover inner peace and serenity, and the new wellness programme has been specially designed by The Oberoi team, originally for the local community in Marrakech, to put health and safety at the forefront. With personalised wellness plans and packages guests will improve their well-being, whether they are looking at a more holistic approach to day-to-day life, to keep fit during their stay with dynamic fitness activities and a dedicated fitness trainer, or discover inner peace (be it through yoga, meditation, mindfulness activities, or experiencing a good night’s rest with the hotel’s sleep therapy programme).
Book it: Guests can choose from a 3 to 7-night programme, including a stay in a deluxe villa with a private pool, along with treatments, therapies, and activities from the four key cornerstones. oberoihotels.com
Image courtesy of Alan Keohane
Oman: Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort
When you’re in a crowded Covent Garden studio and the person leading your guided meditation tells you to imagine yourself in a calm and beautiful place, this should be it. Perched 2,000 metres above sea level on the rim of a great canyon, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar is the highest five-star resort in the Middle East. Enjoy the clifftop yoga on Diana’s Point, where guests are invited to de-stress the mind and body, with incredible views of the sunrise over the great canyon. The perfect spot for daily meditation practices. (Just don’t look down!)
Book it: anantara.com
Meribel, French Alps: Refuge de la Traye
Refuge de la Traye – a zig-zag of stone and log cabins – sits, randomly sprinkled, atop a snowy landscape above Meribel, like granola on yoghurt. With seven bedrooms and a private chalet, access is via foot (for the energetic, if weather allows) or electric snowmobile. Once there, you’ll quickly realise it’s worth the journey. The Refuge re-opened late last year following a full face lift, adding eco-reponsible systems respecting the delicate nature of its setting. Rooms are designed for rustic hedonism: swish yet simple with raw wood panelling, sheepskin throws, natural wools and linens and superb amenities. Ski, if you must – the snow taxi heads off for a main ski lift at a leisurely 9.45am. Better still, stay put and snowshoe in the peaceful landscape before a heat treatment in the spa.
Iyashi dome, a Japanese infrared sauna experience, gently sweats out toxins while you lie body-encased in an MRI-style scanner. Or enjoy the sauna and hot tub, alternating with a whizz outside to jump into snow, experiencing pin-pricks of icy ecstasy. Wellsystem is a gentle, pummelling massage with ‘water pillows’ strapped to the body. Or how about a milk bath and snooze in the warm hay bed, nestling in like a tiny chick. Once the mountain air and spa have ironed out stress and recharged the spirit, quench hunger with the Refuge’s beautifully presented, traditional Swiss fare accompanied by local wines. After all that, you sleep like a baby.
Book it: refugedelatraye.com
St Lucia, Caribbean: BodyHoliday
Lost your fitness mojo recently? Get it back in style at BodyHoliday St Lucia, where an impressive line-up of Olympic stars and famous athletes are running wellness retreats. Travelling with your kids? The WellFit Families retreat is perfect for multi-generational holidays, offering the chance to train with Welsh Olympic sprint champion and TV presenter Jamie Baulch.
Book it: From $320pp. bodyholiday.com
Maldives: Mirihi Island
Check in to one of Mirihi Island’s yoga packages to combine your meditation escape with some of the world’s best yoga classes. Along with group or provate yoga sessions, guests can also enjoy some time away from it all in their private water or beach villa, on a secluded beach, or whilst enjoying a spa treatment. There is a no television policy in the villas or Wi-Fi in the restaurants, so there’s nothing to come in between you and your meditation. Inner tranquility, here we come.
Book it: mirihi.com
Tuscany, Italy: ADLER Thermae
How do panoramic views over the Tuscan hills sound for your meditation getaway? While there’s no specific mindfulness programme on offer, this is the perfect place for self-guided meditation and a digital detox. Find a secluded spot in the quiet gardens and let your mind wander (before bringing it back to the present and focusing on your practice, naturally).
Book it: adler-thermae.com
Bali: The Legian Seminyak
Meditation has been an intrinsic part of Balinese culture for hundreds of years and, from a young age, children are taught to meditate during temple prayers, learning to sit silently with the village priest as he chants mantra and rings his holy bell. So what better place to visit for an introduction to meditation? The Legian Seminyak in Bali’s ‘Wellness by The Legian’ concept incorporates spa treatments, nutrition, fitness and personalised wellness programmes to help guests find their zen. The programmes and treatments are simple, holistic and inspired by the rich local healing heritage and local products including yoga, mindfulness meditation, positive affirmation and visualisation sessions.
Book it: lhm-hotels.com
Marbella, Spain: Marbella Club
If you thought Marbella was just a playground for the rich and famous to drink Champagne in the sunshine, think again. Marbella Club offer a range of year-round wellness retreats, with a focus on the connection between inner health and outer beauty, ranging from the signature ‘Mediterranean Lifestyle’ program, to ‘Tranquility & Sleep Enhancing’ and ‘Optimal Fitness & Energy’. Aerial yoga and outdoor activities also make the most of the beautiful surroundings, including cycles along the promenade and hiking in the nearby mountains.
Book it: Rates start from €390. marbellaclub.com
Thailand: Awareness at Amanpuri
Trouble quietening your mind? Let the experts guide you at Amanpuri Awareness’ Thailand programme. Promising to lead you on a highly meditative experience, you will begin your journey with a consultation to help form your bespoke itinerary. You will be guided throughout by a former Buddhist monk on this mind, body and soul transformation through yoga, meditation and reflection. You’ll also experience complementary therapies such as Teiki and cranial sacral therapy. And all in a beautiful green Thai setting. Yes please.
Book it: Health and Fitness Travel offers 7 nights at Amanpuri, including full board, a wellness programme, spa treatment and return private transfers. healthandfitnesstravel.com
Puglia, Italy: Green Gold
Autumn welcomes the harvesting and pressing of olives in Puglia, and Masseria Torre Maizza have designed a series of seasonal holistic activities and special gastronomic offers to celebrate the season. Discover the antique Tao tradition of Ding Shu Qi Gong, a practice noted for combating exhaustion of mind and body while in direct contact with trees – that is, tree hugging is proven to generate an exchange of energy. Or, try Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) – a traditional Japanese practice – in the nearby Pianelle Forest. At the Masseria’s Irene Forte Spa, olive oil (so-called ‘green gold’) plays a key role in leg and foot treatments, relaxing massages, scrubs or toxic draining techniques. Dine in the restaurant for a technical tasting curated by sommelier Rossana Minunni, who will outline the different olive varieties produced in this area while defining characteristics of each, from the smells to the flavours of this prized local cultivar.
Book it: roccofortehotels.com
The Anambas Islands, Indonesia: Bawah Reserve
Accessible only by private seaplane from Singapore – in the relatively unknown Anambas Islands, between Malaysia and Borneo – Bawah Reserve is the ultimate choice when you want to go off-grid. As well as partaking in activities including paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and hiking, there are plenty of spots perfect for self-guided meditation. To relax further, guests can head to the Aura Wellness Centre and have unlimited treatments which are included in the all-inclusive rate.
Book it: www.bawahreserve.com
Maldives: Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas
Escape to the all-pool villa sanctuary of dazzling Maldivian hues with Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas to kick-start your meditation practice this year. Realign your chakras with blissful spa treatments overwater and Ayurvedic cuisine. Alongside the other wellness offerings, you can practice meditation and yoga with one-on-one training overlooking the ocean.
Book it: kihavah-maldives.anantara.com
