From mystical yoga extravaganzas to an eco-friendly wellness retreat in Thailand, these festivals offer a holistic alternative to your average mud-trodden, alcohol-fuelled fiesta. There’s music and entertainment, but also fitness activities, meditation, panel talks and more worth travelling for – so you can leave feeling zen, recharged and inspired. And if you need an incentive to get fit, one of these tropical adventures might fit the bill…
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- December 2022: Wonderfruit
- February 2023: Envision Festival
- May: PACE by Peligoni
- September: SOUL Festival
Wonderfruit
WHEN? 15–18 December 2022
WHERE? Thailand
WHAT? Asia’s answer to Coachella, Wonderfruit takes place in Thailand’s Pattaya, around two hours’ drive south of Bangkok. Wellness offerings here are diverse and some out-of-the ordinary – expect everything from TED-style talks to crystal bowl meditation to capoeira to ‘orgasmic yoga.’ Sustainability is a big part of their ethos, with pretty much every structure on-site made from recycled or reusable materials – in 2017, this included a stage made out of parcels of rice that were given away and eaten after the festival.
HOW? Tickets from THB 4,000 (approx. £94). wonderfruit.co
Envision Festival
WHEN? 27 February–6 March 2023
WHERE? Costa Rica
WHAT? Every February, hundreds of artists, yogis and wellness enthusiasts descend on the Costa Rican rainforest for Envision Festival, nestled where the Pacific Ocean meets the wild jungle. With a focus on ‘awakening our human potential’, the four-day celebration is designed to inspire through art, music, yoga, performance and nature.
HOW? Tickets are yet to go on sale, but are expected to start at £544.71 per person. envisionfestival.com
PACE by Peligoni
WHEN? 22–26 May 2023
WHERE? Zakynthos, Greece
WHAT? Kicking off the summer season in style, Greece’s Peligoni Club will be back with their week-long wellness festival in 2023, in collaboration with Rob da Bank. The programme focusses on wellness at your own pace, offering guests an opportunity to dip into fitness, cold water exposure, breathwork, yoga, gong baths and meditation alongside plenty of delicious food and Rosé. Last year, contributors included Sir Chris Hoy, Rosemary Ferguson, the IO Project, Emma Lucy Knowles, Richie Norton and Aodhnait Lombard (certified Wim Hof) – so 2023 is bound to be a good one.
HOW? Tickets from £400, including a week’s membership to the club, a full water sports upgrade which includes paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing and windsurfing, and all the fitness and yoga classes, meditation and wellness workshops. peligoni.com
Soneva Fushi, Maldives (c) Julia Neeson
SOUL Festival
WHEN? 29 September–8 October 2023
WHERE? Soneva Fushi, Maldives
WHAT? Time for wellness in paradise: pioneering, sustainability-first Soneva is partnering with wellness enterprise ORGANIC INDIA on the inaugural immersive wellness festival, SOUL, at their Soneva Fushi resort in autumn 2023. Over 10 days, guests from across the globe will explore wellness in all of its forms, led by a line-up of visionaries, thought leaders, and wellness pioneers, and celebrating both ancient healing traditions and modern innovations through workshops, programmes and one-to-one consultations. All proceeds from tickets sold will go to the Soneva Foundation and ORGANIC INDIA Foundation to support the development of positive impact environmental, social and economic projects.
HOW? Tickets from USD 6,900 for two guests, for a minimum three-night stay. This includes two festival tickets and full access to the entire programme, with luxurious private villa accommodation, daily full board at selected dining destinations, and complimentary round-trip wheeled plane domestic transfers. soneva.com
Featured image: Wonderfruit.
