Escapes for the mind, body and soul
As another year dawns, the importance of wellness-led travel shows no sign of slowing down. The WGSN x Soneva Future Travellers whitepaper identified five types of future travellers, one of which being the Wisdom Seekers, who are in pursuit of self-improvement and transformative wellness experiences.
We’ve rounded up a selection of our most immersive and innovative experiences around the world, including:
- Pioneering wellness brand, SHA has announced the opening of SHA Mexico in January 2024 in the state of Quintana Roo, driving its transformative wellness concept across the globe
- SHA Wellness Clinic launches a dedicated Sexual Health Unit with a bespoke focus on sexual and hormone health to improve emotional balance and wellbeing
- Soneva Fushi & Soneva Jani, the Maldives, introduces four new bespoke and immersive wellness programmes including sleep, detox and a full body reset, as part of their Soneva Soul concept which combines centuries of traditional healing therapies with cutting-edge treatments and equipment
- The Twenty Two, Mayfair, has recently introduced a transformative multi-sensory experience in partnership with Dreem Distillery, alongside offering unrivalled access to London’s most exclusive wellness spots
- Nirjhara, Bali leads the way for spiritual and culturally-rooted forms of wellbeing, offering massages inspired by the Hindu love story of Rama and Sita, cleansing rituals inspired by ancient Balinese village traditions, and an off-property blessing in the foothills of Ubud
- Hotel Castello di Reschio allows guests to disconnect from modern life, and reap the therapeutic benefits of moving slower
- Kamalaya’s first women-only programme with a focus on holistic wellness and bespoke healing
- Kayaam House launches in-depth and bespoke Ayurvedic wellness programmes related to individual energetic constitutions
- Marbella Club marks 70th anniversary with wellbeing at the core of its four key pillars
- Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad, allows alpine surroundings to inform specialist retreats in their 3000sqm subterranean spa
- Monument Hotel Athens offers boutique wellness in the heart of the historic Greek capital
FOR A FULL BODY MOT
Pioneering wellness brand, SHA, to launch its first outpost on the Mexican Caribbean in January 2024
Pioneering wellness brand, SHA has announced the opening of their Mexico outpost in January 2024 in the state of Quintana Roo, in the eastern portion of the Yucatán Peninsula. This carefully planned expansion programme has been developed by the AB Living Group and through this new venture, SHA will continue to drive its award-winning concept forward, redefining integrated and transformative wellness across the globe. The complex itself will be made up of 35 residences and 100 ocean front rooms & suites, each with private balconies that feature panoramic vistas of the turquoise Caribbean Sea.
Guests will choose between four personalised health programmes (which will mimic that of those in SHA’s Spanish outpost and range from four to 21 days). Naturally, they will be led by renowned professionals and experts in four distinctive areas of health and well-being impact: Rebalance & Reenergise, Detox & Optimal Weight, Well-Ageing & Prevention and Leader’s Performance. Each programme will be curated to meet the guests’ needs and goals through nine key disciplines which all come together to form what has become known as the SHA Method. Unique to SHA Mexico, the wellness clinic is set off the coast of the largest coral reef in the Americas offering guests a unique location to immerse with nature, which has its own healing benefits, along with therapies inspired in the prehepatic cultures, such as Temazcal, aimed to heal the body and the mind.
To book: Rates at SHA Wellness Clinic Mexico starts from £4,535, inclusive of the 4-day Recover and Energise programme, SHA Nutrition plan and in-room accommodations in an ocean front deluxe room. The property will be accepting reservations from 7th of November 2023. For more information, please visit shawellness.com/en/sha-mexico-promo/ / Imagery: here*
FOR SEXUAL AUTHENTICITY, FREEDOM AND PLEASURE
SHA Wellness Clinic, the global pioneer of medical and holistic wellbeing, launches Sexual Health Unit
Bringing the clinic to a new era, the new dedicated Sexual Health Unit at SHA Wellness Clinic will optimise the sexual and hormone health of its guests improving their overall emotional balance and quality of life through a three-tiered approach. Spearheaded by Clinic Psychologist, Cinthya Molina, the new Sexual Health Unit takes its lead from the WHO’s research which states that boosting your sexual wellbeing is a fundamental factor in improving one’s own overall mental, physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health. The unit was also inspired and informed by the latest analytical data which concluded that approximately 52% of women and 38% of men suffer from some type of sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives. With this in mind, it will address all aspects of sexual wellness including function, desire, and self-esteem.
Much like every other cornerstone of health at SHA, the Sexual Health Unit will delve deep to produce a bespoke and ultra-personalised treatment plan based on the individual guest’s needs and goals. The cornerstone of the service is an initial consultation with Dr Molina, who will carry out a comprehensive assessment of the patient. From here, a consultation of the function of the guest’s neuroendocrine axis (the key communication highway between the gut environment and the central nervous system) will take place, followed by a consultation with a gynaecologist and urologist to review the patient’s overall physical health in relation to sexual function. Based on these diagnostic tests, personalised treatments will be included in each guest’s programme and may include high intensity inductive therapy to tone and regenerate tissue, female intimate rejuvenation to improve the pelvic floor or a stem cell treatment for erectile dysfunction.
To book: Rates for a Deluxe Suite at SHA Wellness Clinic are from £345 per night. Rates for health programmes are subject to variation. For more information please visit shawellness.com/en/ / Imagery: here
FOR A REVIVAL OF THE BODY & MIND
Soneva invites guests to embark upon an wellness journey of inner discovery and outer balance with pioneering concept, Soneva Soul
The pioneering luxury resort collection, Soneva, has recently launched its brand-new transformative wellness concept – Soneva Soul – across its award-winning Maldivian resorts: Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani. The new wellness brand harnesses and combines the knowledge and expertise gathered on Soneva’s journey since launching its first resort, Soneva Fushi in 1995, where wellness has since permeated every part of the Soneva experience and formed a core tenet of the brand’s SLOW LIFE philosophy.
New for 2023, Soneva Soul has unveiled four bespoke and immersive wellness programmes ranging from three, seven, or 14-day journeys centred around the themes of Foundation, Sleep, Detox and Time Rewind that combine healing therapies with cutting-edge treatments and equipment. Uniquely designed to promote healing and health, each programme is personalised to include Soneva Soul’s holistic blend of naturopathy, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine alongside rejuvenating spa treatments and regenerative therapies, such as hyperbaric oxygen and ozone therapy. Yoga, meditation and movement classes complement this uniquely integrated wellness experience, alongside wholesome menus with a focus on plant-based cuisine and adaptogenic foods, designed to support the wellness journeys by in-house nutritionists. Each wellness programme includes pre and post-treatment consultations to address key concerns and provide further guidance to ensure guests can continue to enjoy health and wellness benefits long after their stay.
To book: The three-day Foundation Programme at Soneva Soul starts at £2,440. Accommodation and transfers not included. Programmes do not include meals or drinks. Programme prices are exclusive of all taxes. For more information, please visit soneva.com/soneva-soul/ / Imagery: here
FOR THE CITY’S MOST EXCLUSIVE WELLNESS EXPERIENCES
Gain access to London’s most exclusive wellness offerings with a stay at The Twenty Two
The Twenty Two, a chic lifestyle hotel and members’ club, is the ideal base for those looking to start the new year on the right foot. Ideally situated down a quiet street in Mayfair, yet moments from the hustle and bustle of Bond Street, Oxford Street and other central London delights, those looking to experience unrivalled access to the city’s most exclusive wellness and fitness hubs, can do so within easy reach. For January 2024, the property has launched a new multi-sensory and transformative offering, Linger and Dreem, in partnership with award-winning luxury British CBD brand, Dreem Distillery. Linger and Dreem incorporates an overnight stay in one of The Twenty Two’s impressive suites designed to aid sleep with complete soundproofing and blackout blinds, a pre-bedtime 60-minute Rest & Repair body massage blending a fusion of high-grade CBD and botanicals, accompanied by a live sound healing session.
The Twenty Two has also recently introduced their 22 Days of Wellness concept, which will see an array of top practitioners host a curated programme of wellness-themed events and workshops throughout the month, offering behind-the-scenes access to some of the city’s most prolific therapists and wellbeing experts. Furthermore, guests can sweat it out with exclusive classes at the nearby JAB Boxing Club, or train with PT Matt Roberts to keep on track of fitness goals. Hip-hop yoga is offered in The Club, and infrared saunas can be enjoyed to help flush out toxins and boost circulation.
To book: Rates at The Twenty Two start from £650 on a B&B basis. For more information, please visit the22.london / Imagery: here
FOR DISCOVERING THE ANCIENT SOURCE OF HEALING
Spiritual and traditional healing at Nirjhara, Bali
Hidden away in Tabanan on Bali’s southwest coast and perched just beside a waterfall, Nirjhara blends seamlessly into nature, offering up a holistic wellness getaway just a short drive from the island’s volcanic sand beaches,
The Retreat, the property’s spa, celebrates age-old healing practices and rituals, and offers guests the chance to take a step back from ordinary life Designed around a reflection pool, The Retreat combines ancient traditions and modern practices, from daily yoga to releasing past or present negative energy with the certified Reiki master, massages inspired by the Hindu love story of Rama and Sita, and facials using Ayurveda marma points.
For those looking to truly tune out, intrepid travellers are invited on a rejuvenating and immersive experience which will transport them to the foothills of Ubud. Journeys commence with a sound healing and breathing meditation session in a sanctuary of relaxation tucked in the midst of the rice terraces. This is followed by a cleansing ritual at Sebatu’s holy springs, a highly spiritual setting and home to one of Bali’s oldest temples. Following the sound bowl and meditation, guests are led by a spiritual leader of Sebatu, and guided into the forest where two majestic waterfalls can be discovered. Here, another mediation takes place followed finally by a healing purification journey where guests submerge into the water and travel beneath the cascading waterfalls to be cleansed.
To Book: Rates at Nirjhara start from £260 per night on a B&B basis, based on two sharing. For more information, please visit nirjhara.com / Imagery: here
FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING FAR BEYOND THE SPA
Hotel Castello di Reschio, Umbria, introduces new bath ritual and series of Creative Contemplation experiences
Reschio is an enchanting 3,700-acre estate home to Hotel Castello di Reschio and a collection of exquisite private homes that have been meticulously restored by the owners, Count Benedikt and Donna Nencia Bolza. New for 2024, the Reschio Bath Ritual is designed to revive the feeling of a mother’s care with nurturing hands in the warmth of the Bathhouse, an ethereal retreat in the depths of the hotel’s ancient-vaulted wine cellars. This two-hour ritual begins with dry brushing to stimulate lymphatic drainage and help the body release toxins, while increasing blood circulation and boosting collagen production. A carefully curated selection of seasonal plants and wildflowers fill the bathtub, bespoke to guests’ need and healing. The body is immersed and washed gently with cotton and hemp, before being swathed in a linen sheet. The ritual ends with a restorative massage using essential oils foraged by hand in the estate as guests relax to the sound and warmth of the roaring open fireplace. Elsewhere in the Bathhouse lies a tepidarium carved into an ancient cave and a cleansing steam room.
At Reschio, wellness goes far beyond the spa and guests are encouraged to explore the bountiful wilderness and embrace inner creativity. Inspired by the skills first mastered in the monasteries, the new series of ‘Creative Contemplation’ experiences are designed to disconnect from modern life, revel in a slower pace and reap the therapeutic benefits of tending things by hand. Guests can join local masters to learn a host of new skills; art aficionados can perfect the practice of calligraphy or illuminated letters, paper marbling welcomes expression through pattern, while colour making teaches one of the very first methods of adding a uniqueness to fabric. In the heart of nature, guests can admire the beauty of Reschio’s 40 Spanish pure-bred horses at the Equestrian Centre before heading out on a guided hack or immerse themselves in foraging workshops before learning the art of Italian cuisine at the cookery school.
To Book: Rates at Hotel Castello di Reschio start from £750 per suite per night on a B&B basis. A two-night minimum stay applies. For more information, please visit reschio.com / Imagery: here
FOR FEMALE EMPOWERMENT AND HOLISTIC WELLBEING
Kamalaya Koh Samui unveils its first dedicated Women’s Health programme: Radiant Bliss
Located on the southern coast of Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, Kamalaya is the expression of founders, John and Karina Stewart’s life experiences as a Buddhist Monk and a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The creative force behind Kamalaya’s health programmes, they have harnessed an integral approach to holistic wellness centred around compassion, spirituality and bespoke healing, leading guests further towards fulfilment within a nurturing and meditative environment. Whether guests are focusing on fertility, preparing for pregnancy, transitioning to perimenopause or managing menopause itself; the programme addresses all phases of women’s health through personalised treatments and therapies. Together with Kamalaya’s wellness experts, female guests will be able to craft a curated journey of well-researched holistic treatments and therapies to support a strong foundation and a path for their unique health goals.
Incorporated in the Radiant Bliss programme are Life-Enhancement Mentoring sessions to address emotional and individual needs, and functional medicine treatments in Kamalaya’s recently opened Longevity House including IV therapy specifically tailored to women’s health. Guests will also experience Kamalaya’s new Lanna Samunphrai Ron Abdominal Massage for balancing hormones and relieving lower back pain while aiding digestion. Additionally, the new programme will include a set of Kamalaya’s own blend of nutraceutical-grade supplementation and remedies for fundamental support of female wellbeing.
To book: The Radiant Bliss Programme at Kamalaya Koh Samui starts from £2,850 for eight nights. This includes all treatments and three meals per day. Accommodation is booked separately and starts from £150 per night. For more information, please visit kamalaya.com / Imagery: here
FOR AYURVEDA IN ONE OF ITS INDIGENOUS LANDS
Kayaam House, Sri Lanka launches Ayurvedic retreats for the stylish soul seeker
Located between the dense jungle and the golden beach, Sri Lanka’s newest boutique getaway, Kayaam House, launches an ayurvedic wellness offering. For guests who wish to heal in stylish design and comfort this latest concept offers programmes entirely based on Ayurveda – an ancient tradition which has been prominent in Sri Lanka’s medical and holistic wellbeing practices for centuries. Guests can opt to partake in a series of carefully designed, bespoke programmes ranging in length from three to 14 days with an in-depth, bespoke consultation from Kayaam’s experienced Ayurveda practitioner. Employing extensive knowledge and practical experience, bespoke itineraries are filled with restorative yoga practices, personalised ayurvedic therapies and nourishing menus aligned to each individual’s energetic constitution, knownas their dosha, with ongoing consultations throughout. All of the programmes are based on the principles of Ayurveda – an ancient tradition which has been prominent in Sri Lanka’s medical and holistic wellbeing practices for centuries. From deeply satisfying massages to oil-based therapies designed to awaken the nervous system, all treatments will incorporate remedial Ayurvedic elements including the use of herbal powders to stimulate hair follicles, massage boluses made from cooked rice to reduce stiffness and the use of boiled fresh medicated leaves to relieve musculoskeletal issues such as rheumatism, arthritis, and sports injuries.
To book: Ayurvedic retreats at Kayaam House start from £1,770 per night based on two people sharing, and £1,330 for single occupancy based on three nights’. For more information, please visit thereverie.life/kayaamhouse/ / Imagery: here
FOR WELLBEING IN CELEBRATORY STYLE
Marbella Club, a Mediterranean centre of wellness with year-round sunshine, marks 70 years
A center of wellness with a progressive approach to health and wellbeing, the Marbella Club is a restorative Mediterranean haven backed by the Sierra Blanca mountains and steeped in year-round sunshine. Wellbeing, spa, nutrition and fitness are the four cornerstones of Wellness at the Marbella Club, where guests are invited on highly bespoke and goal-orientated programmes whilst reconnecting with nature and loved ones. The spa at Marbella Club is one of the very few Thalasso spas in Spain, and the Holistic Studio offers advanced integrative and holistic health practices to identify root causes and provide long- lasting benefits to target modern day issues ranging from adrenal burnout, insomnia, weight loss and fitness. Guests can also partake in group fitness activities with plentiful facilities around the property including tennis and paddle courts surrounded by lush trees and rolling hills, as well as personalised hikes for private groups around the city’s historical and natural landmarks.
2024 marks Marbella Club’s 70th anniversary, and the year will see a host of celebrations focused on wellbeing, gastronomy, sustainability and culture, taking place across the hotel and in the newly acquired finca. Building on last year’s success, Marbella Club will once again host the San Juan weekend, a gastronomic and wellbeing festival, to kick-off the summer season. The weekend will feature a consciously crafted agenda of transformative wellbeing activities, roundtable discussions with inspiring wellness leaders and interactive sessions with Marbella Club’s own practitioners. The year will also see Marbella Club progress its partnerships with leading skincare brand, Dr. Barbara Sturm and global mindful movement, Sanctum.
To book: Rates at the Marbella Club start from £775 per night. For more information please visit marbellaclub.com / Imagery: here
FOR ALPINE HEALING IN THE MOUNTAINS
Serene Alpine healing at Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad
Offering the chance to reconnect with nature through active and rejuvenating pursuits, guests can ease into the day at Le Grand Bellevue with a visit to the extensive subterranean Le Grand Spa, a 3,000 square metre labyrinth of luxurious wellness facilities. Beginning their journey in the Thermal Oasis, guests can choose between 17 different wellness zones, including the revered Herbal Sauna, adorned with olive-green tiles, housing a ceramic furnace heating chamomile, lavender and sage, which allows the outside world to fade into the fragrance of Alpine meadows.
New for this season, Le Grand Bellevue’s expert practitioners will be bringing a refreshing approach to innovation and healing with sound therapy sessions that will run on a bi-monthly basis. Guests will also have the chance to be amongst the first ever to try the new Cellift Lotion of Cellcosmet x Caviarlieri, and receive personal consultations and treatments from the science-backed cellular skincare. Guests can also be pampered with pioneering techniques from spa partners Caviarlieri and Dr Barbara Sturm inclusive of the new collection of molecular herbal tea supplements as well as a host of intuitive and bespoke treatments tailored to meet individual needs with a holistic approach for optimum relaxation and results.
To book: Rooms at Le Grand Bellevue start from £640 per night on a half-board basis and experiences are available upon request. For more information, please visit bellevue-gstaad.ch/ / Imagery: here
FOR MICRO-WELLNESS
Boutique wellness with Monument Hotel Athens
Monument Hotel Athens – one of the Greek capital’s newest urban haunts – opened its doors in April last year and is at the forefront of the rising trend of “minor wellness programming,” a response to the growing demand for wellness offerings in bijou properties. Designed to feel like a private residence for those in the know, Monument is housed in a listed neoclassical mansion with just nine bedrooms and a private wellness centre hidden in the heart of the hotel. On the lower ground floor, guests can find a treatment room available for bespoke face and body treatments ranging from hot stone, deep tissue, and Swedish massages to rejuvenating hydration facials, using locally sourced almond oil infused with Greek natural essential oils. Guests also have complimentary access to the spa’s sauna and hammam. Minimalist in design, the space provides a tranquil escape from the bustle of the city that lies above.
To book: Rates at Monument Hotel Athens start from £260 per night on a B&B basis. For more information, please visit monumenthotelathens.com / Imagery: here
*Rates are subject to daily change based on inflation
