COMO SHAMBHALA ESTATE BALI

At Como Shambhala Estate, wellness isn’t about fixing what’s broken – it’s about preventing imbalance before it takes root, and for the holistic healers behind this Indonesian spa, that doesn’t have to stray far from what a holiday looks and feels like. In other words, there won’t be any raised eyebrows when ordering a bottle of the Barossa Valley shiraz with your dinner. Located between mist-swathed rice terraces and almost psychedelically colourful, plant-packed tropical gardens, this Ubud retreat invites guests to unplug and immerse themselves in indulgent rest and relaxation – abstinence isn’t a buzzword around here.

Before arrival, guests pick from five wellness plans: the ‘fit’ path to boost strength, the ‘detox’ route to reset and refresh, ‘nourish’ to nurture your body, ‘connect’ to inspire mindful synergy, or the bespoke ‘integrated wellness path’, which utilises expert diagnostics to help achieve a complete mind-body reset. Pathways are guided by various holistic practices, with healers experienced in Chinese healing and ayurvedic programmes, and there’s plenty of modern tech on hand (hello, hyperbaric chambers and infrared saunas) to guide guests towards ultimate R&R.

But it’s not all yoga flows and panchakarma rituals: the resort is keen to ensure guests experience Bali’s many cultural benefits too, with guided walks, rice paddy bike rides and temple visits on the cards. Appreciation of the destination goes hand-in-hand with Como’s ethos of slow, leisurely healing – and that extends to the kitchen. There’s no fasting involved. Instead, you’ll find mouthwatering, flavour-packed organic dishes made with locally sourced produce. Breakfast plates range from wok-fried red rice to smoked-salmon-topped waffles, while nutrient-dense – but no less delicious – dinner creations include raw salads, supercharged bone broths and southern Indian-inspired dhals, all confirming that gut-friendly fare doesn’t have to be dull.

And, at the end of the day, you’ll retreat to one of 30 suites, villas and residences designed to blend into the Ubud jungle, thanks to locally sourced stone and wood materials and traditional alang-alang roofing – another gentle push towards the realisation that living in tune with your surroundings aids rest and recovery.

MII AMO USA

At Mii Amo, the desert isn’t just a backdrop – it’s a guide. Tucked between the statuesque red-rock buttes and steep canyons of the high desert surrounding the city of Sedona, close to one of the world’s most renowned ‘energy vortexes’, this transformative wellness retreat offers far more than mere pampering.

A personalised ‘journey’ at Mii Amo (which is a Native American term meaning ‘one’s path’) includes a curated itinerary designed to nurture your body, mind and soul, all while tapping into the raw, powerful beauty of Arizona’s desert landscape.

Mii Amo’s offerings are as vast as the desert sky above it. There are over 80 weekly classes, including Reiki healing, energy clearing and chakra balancing, while outdoor adventures such as energy-seeking hikes and stargazing connect you with the rhythms of the earth. Sedona’s New Age energies have permeated the spa’s offering too, with the serene desert setting providing an outdoor workshop space for practices including lunar-cycle-led massages and nature-connecting sessions that draw from manifestation and intention-setting techniques while you stroll through the rusty-coloured surrounds.

If that all sounds a little woo-woo, fear not – there’s just as much on offer when it comes to more practical outdoor activities, desert-inspired communal spaces and excellent spa treatments. The food is nourishing, with fresh juices bursting with prickly pears and Arizona citrus, and hearty breakfasts like almond butter oats, egg white omelettes and Canyon burritos fuelling your days. Evening meals set the tone for the rebalancing retreat, with vibrant salads, fresh seafood and healthful sides like roasted sweet potato and spiced carrots. 23 rooms and suites take inspiration from casitas, with whitewashed, south-western-style interiors.

The rigorous offering of self-transformative experiences provide plenty of time for guiding your gaze inwards at Mii Amo, but you’ll probably want to spend the majority of your time gazing out towards Arizona’s spellbinding desert landscapes too. And who wouldn’t when the views are just as restorative?

LANSERHOF SYLT GERMANY

Few names carry as much respect in the wellness industry as Lanserhof, and their latest outpost on Sylt Island upholds their reputation. Set beneath Europe’s largest thatched roof, this 20,000sq m medi-spa blends cutting-edge science with nature-led restoration practices, nestled amid the salt flats and dunes of a Unesco World Heritage island in the Wadden Sea on Germany’s northernmost coast. The ethos here is classic Lanserhof: detox and regeneration through gut health. Programmes start with a deep dive into your body’s inner workings, including physical assessments, diagnostic analyses and blood tests. Each guest receives a personalised plan under the guidance of an in-house physician. From there, days are structured around various traditional and modern restorative methods, from abdominal massages to reflexology, hay baths or chronomedicine, which aims to anticipate future health concerns.

For those willing to embrace the ‘cure classic’, fasting level ‘0’ provides broth and tea only, while gentler tiers offer more nourishment. Whatever your choices, every element of the stay is designed to reset your body and mind, including muted interiors in oatmeal tones, steam-cleaned rooms and pollutant-free finishes. Outside, fresh sea air and wind-swept, grass-fringed sand dunes add to the feel of an upscale-sanatorium- inspired seaside escape. When you’re not in treatment, cycling through the grasslands and salt flats offers an invigorating way to soak up Sylt’s elemental beauty. Just don’t expect pampering – the only indulgence in your minimalist suite is a pair of Lanserhof-blue Birkenstocks, perfect for stepping into a fresh chapter of wellness.

ALPIN PANORAMA HOTEL HUBERTU ITALY

The laws of physics seem optional at Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus. This South Tirol gem defies gravity with its jaw-dropping Heaven & Hell Sky Spa – a cantilevered alpine hut that dangles in the crisp Dolomite air, mirrored by an upside-down hut that appears reflected below. Suspended high above Val Pusteria’s snow-dusted peaks, it’s the pinnacle of the hotel’s imaginative reinvention of mountain wellness. Relaxation here is a balancing act. The ‘heavenly’ top floor offers outdoor whirlpools, semi- enclosed to let the mountain air swirl in, while the ‘hellishly’ indulgent lower level invites guests to turn up the heat with two saunas, another whirlpool and an ice room (plus a devilish no-swimsuits policy). Elsewhere, you’ll find a Dolomite cave steam bath, four further pools, ten treatment cabins, a relaxation pavilion and a log-cabin sauna, all designed to blur the lines between the indoors and nature’s embrace. The second architectural marvel is a 12m heated infinity pool that appears to float out to the peaks. All 74 bedrooms channel modern Dolomite chic, with tree-trunk accents, wood finishes and windows framing cinematic views. For the ultimate indulgence, book a suite with its own hot tub terrace.

Nature’s balm is the theme in the treatment menu – try the Gsund Belvita for a South Tirol-sourced, head-to-toe ritual of massages and footbaths that leave you revived and renewed, mountain-style. Of course, this being the Tirol, the culinary offerings are as impressive as the views. The redesigned restaurant reimagines local flavours, with dishes ranging from delicate salmon trout to gooey cheese fondue.

KAMALAYA WELLNESS SANCTUARY AND HOLISTIC SPA THAILAND

It’s all about long-term self-improvement at Kamalaya. Situated on the tranquil southern coast of the paradisiacal Thai island of Koh Samui – location for the latest season of The White Lotus – this holistic health retreat specialises in fixing up stressed-out 21st-century spa-goers and expulsing modern ailments like gut irritation, stress, anxiety and burnout. Travellers return here year on year, drawn by the retreat’s ethos of living life to its full potential, and seeking long-term renewal and restoration. Some say it’s the healing energy flows that have acted as a siren call to Buddhist pilgrims for centuries too. Founders John and Karinan Stewart were first drawn to the region by their interest in its ancient mediation caves; one such rocky sanctuary, the 300-year- old Monk’s Cave, now sits at the heart of the retreat. Today, guests can use it for introspection and mindfulness practices.

Beyond the cave, Kamalaya winds, labyrinth-like, across hilly pathways that lead between lush vegetation to yoga pavilions,
a 24m lap pool, a gym, a medi-spa for body analysis, and tranquil, solitary villas and hillside bedrooms dressed in calming, muted hues. Wellness here is inspired by Chinese medicine and ayurvedic practices, but the focus is on priming bodies for the stresses of the modern world – so programmes range from improving fitness and enhancing sleep to enriching the gut and encouraging longevity. You’re as likely to find yourself exploring chi nei tsang sessions (an internal organ massage) and experiencing shirodhara – when warm, medicated oil is poured on to your forehead to relieve tension – as you are to sample cutting-edge offerings like IV therapy. All treatments are designed to support the body’s natural healing process and promote long- term wellness, with additional holistic activities like outdoor yoga, t’ai chi, and guided meditation on hand to guide healing. Guests can pick and mix from the menu – but, perhaps, better to leave it in the hands of practitioners who will curate your wellness journey in its entirety, ensuring everything from talking therapies to sleep- enhancing herbal drop concoctions are bespoke.

ONE & ONLY MANDARINA MEXICO

Spa days feel more like time travel at the jungle-cocooned One
& Only Mandarina. Located at Riviera Nayarit on the wild Pacific coast of Mexico, the hotel looks to ancient rituals and archaic healing methods to inspire its spa offering. Tucked into a volcanic rock garden that hums with the energy of the jungle, the wellness space centres on a temazcal – a herb-infused sweat lodge that draws on pre-Hispanic traditions once used by tribal warriors in the region. The holistic centre offers a number of treatments, rituals and ceremonies inspired by ancient healing too, including kayuma cleansing, which weaves together the burning of indigenous plants with a herbal oil massage. Feeling introspective? Dive into the spa’s Spiritual Journeys. You’ll find sound baths played on ancestral instruments, Mexican feather energy work and meditative rituals involving seeds and intentions, surrounded by the serene hush of the higuera trees. Even saunas are a meditative experience, gazing out into the dense jungle that chatters with the area’s rich biodiversity. Whether you’re caked in volcanic mud or floating away to the vibrations of ancient soundscapes, the treatments honour time-tested traditions while celebrating nature’s power to heal.

Elsewhere, the jungle makes its presence known: 104 treehouses and clifftop villas are hugged by lush landscapes that can be fully explored on foot, by bike and on horseback, while one of the four restaurants showcases a high-altitude take on traditional Mexican favourites from chef Enrique Olvera.

ANANDA IN THE HIMALAYAS INDIA

In the forested foothills of the North Indian mountains, Ananda
in the Himalayas is a beacon for wellness seekers drawn by the region’s spiritual resonance. Above the city of Rishikesh, beside the sacred waters of the Ganges, this 40ha retreat was once the palace estate of the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal; it now serves as a fitting sanctuary for those seeking balance and renewal as it’s located within a region known as the birthplace of ayurveda, yoga and meditation practice. Guests are immersed in an all- inclusive wellness experience rooted in yogic, ayurvedic and vedantic philosophies.

With tailored programmes spanning three levels – foundation, comprehensive and intensive – the retreat offers bespoke journeys addressing specific, but broad-ranging, health worries, from hormonal health and sleep enhancement to immunity-boosting experiences. Pick from 75 elegant rooms, three private pool villas or the regal palace suite.

On arrival, you’ll find a set of crisp white kurta pyjamas hanging in your closet, which you’re invited to wear throughout the property – a subtle nudge to embrace the spiritual roots of the spa. An ayurvedic consultation and nutritionist-designed meal plan are par for the course here, with menus intended to harmonise with your personalised programme. Ananda’s expert team specialise in addressing both physical and spiritual wellbeing, making it a must-visit destination for holistic healing.

ARO HĀ NEW ZEALAND

Perched above the shimmering expanse of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand’s Southern Alps, Aro Hā offers a chance to disconnect and detox in one of the world’s most awe-inspiring settings. Just 40 minutes from Queenstown, this self-sustaining, 20-room eco lodge fuses scientific wellness principles with immersive nature experiences to create what it calls ‘wellness adventures’. The signature six-day Revive and Thrive Retreat is a mountain-high, intensive journey of renewal. Days begin with yoga, Pilates and meditation, progressing to guided hikes through the dramatic landscape.

Evenings are reserved for curated treatments like hot and cold hydrotherapy, restorative massages and sleep support practices. The plant-based menu is as cleansing as it is nourishing, designed to complement the physical and mental reset. Mindfulness is central – the resort asks guests to set aside their phones and digital devices in order to fully embrace the moment. Whether you’re stretching your limits on the trail orsinking into stillness during meditation, Aro-Hā delivers a profound sense of restoration amid other-worldly scenery.

CAL-A-VIE HEALING SPA USA

A stay at the Cal-a-Vie Healing Spa transports you to the heart of Provence – only, you’re actually located in the sun-kissed hills of southern California. The intention here is to blend the rustic charm of the French countryside with the serenity and expanse of the West Coast countryside – and somehow it succeeds. Set amid pastoral landscapes and framed beneath red-tiled roofs, the idyllic escape feels like stepping into an old-world haven, from the meticulously restored 18th-century chapel – transported from a convent in Dijon – and the country brocante-inspired interiors, to the stone-lined meditation gardens where time slows to a leisurely pace. Wellness isn’t just a series of treatments here; it’s a transportive experience. Days blend nature, exercise and indulgence.

Mornings start with sunrise hikes through vineyards, followed by yoga in open-air studios. Tailored fitness classes keep your body moving, while light, plant-based meals, guided by nutritional testing, Genova hormone testing and gut health advice from a registered dietitian provide a delicate balance of flavour and nutrition. Seasonal produce and herbs harvested from the resort’s organic gardens are at the forefront and dishes are inspired, naturally, by the southern French cookbook.

But the real magic lies in the treatments – on three, four or seven-night stays, detoxifying wraps, energy-aligning therapies and massage rituals harness European traditions to relax and revive you. Whether you’re soaking in the warm Californian sun by the pool or sitting in the softly lit chapel, the atmosphere is one of calm and focus, leading to a feeling of utter harmony.