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Wellness retreats around the world: rejuvenate and feel great

By TravelLocal | 3 January 2025

Feeling sluggish after festive overindulgence? Put the spring back in your step with a trip to a destination where you can refresh and relax (and make sure you return rejuvenated!). Indulging in some wellness and detox travel doesn’t just have to mean checking into a spa. There are many varied paths to reviving your body and mind, and different cultures approach the need to re-balance in various ways. From soaking in hot springs to the mind-clearing solitude of the desert, here are some ideas for worldwide wellness and rejuvenation retreats to help you rejuvenate.

The world’s best rejuvenation retreats

India

When it comes to rejuvenation retreats, India should be first on your list. Although the Indian Himalayas have always been a favourite with serious trekkers and climbers, they are also home to a flourishing wellness tourism scene. As this area is home to many important Buddhist and Hindu shrines, retreats here draw largely on the spiritual heritage of this exciting region. Many visitors are tempted to explore three important elements of Indian spirituality – mysticism, yoga and meditation. These focus on encouraging and enabling participants to reconnect with their spiritual selves and refocus on what is important in life. Many of the retreats are located among northern India’s soaring mountain scenery, and allow time and space to practice meditation in peace and tranquillity.

Costa Rica

Embrace the pura vida – pure life – in the earthly paradise of Costa Rica, an idyllic destination for a range of rejuvenation retreats. The Arenal Volcano’s hot springs are a heavenly place to pamper your body with the mineral-rich hot water, believed to have healing properties. Pummel your tension away under steamy waterfalls which tumble through luxuriant vegetation, and soak in the calming pools of geothermally-heated rainwater. The paradise theme is reinforced by the bird life of Costa Rica, as jewel-coloured hummingbirds sip nectar from the flowers. With these kinds of enchanting sights on offer, Costa Rica is sure to enhance your feeling of well-being.

Namibia

Time spent in the desert is often meditative. The vastness of the landscape and the lack of human impact are a very real reminder of our place in the universe. This kind of awareness can help banish trivial anxieties, and a break from newsfeeds and reliance on tech is a healthy way to reboot your vitality. The Namib Desert is a perfect place to suspend normal life and immerse yourself in nature. The rippling sands and rocky horizons are the epitome of peace and seclusion; inspiring and calming at the same time. Peace, nature and just enough solitude are likely to boost your mental well-being and refresh world-weary minds.

Jordan

Rejuvenation comes as standard on a trip to Jordan’s Dead Sea coast. Revered for its health-promoting properties since Roman times, the water in the Dead Sea hovers around 33% salinity. This means it is richer in therapeutic minerals than all other seas, and that it can rightly claim to detox your body. The high mineral content has a mild diuretic effect which flushes the system of unwanted elements. Other effects attributed to the rich mineral waters and mud banks are improved circulation, reduced pain and inflammation, and rejuvenated skin. The climate and altitude are additional factors thought to promote well-being. The Dead Sea lies at 410m below sea level, which increases the oxygenation of the atmosphere and lessens the strength of the sun.

Peru

The ancient sacred sites of Peru are perfect for a spiritual inner journey as well as a brilliant travel experience. Traditional spiritual rituals are still performed in Peru today and, against this background of shamanic teachings, restoring your equilibrium comes easily. Feeling connected to ancient peoples through the relics of their lives and communities can be transformative, and the surrounding landscape is sure to relax and inspire you. Furthermore, the physical exertion required to reach the sites is invigorating and has a positive effect on energy levels and state of mind.

Iceland

Few places on Earth feel as wild and elemental as Iceland. Its mesmerising landscapes are so unfamiliar to most of us, that simply being in the midst of them can alter your perspective. Both the Midnight Sun of summer and endlessly long nights in winter subtly shift reality, making life feel just a shade surreal, thus prompting recalibration. Here you can hike across multi-coloured hills to swim in a geothermally-heated river, stand on a black-sand beach and watch the crash of the waves roll in a thousand diamond-like ice slivers, or feel the incredible force of a glacial river waterfall. In Iceland, there are hot springs galore to soothe worries and warm the bones, with many of them in incredible wild locations. Not to mention the Aurora Borealis, which dances its colours across the night sky in winter.

Thailand

Thailand’s gentle soul is a strong enough tonic to soothe most 21st-century blues. Digital overload and never-ending to-do lists will all fade into the background and disperse as you listen to the gentle lap of the ocean on one of Southern Thailand’s blissed-out beaches. Here, lush tropical forests meet white-sand bays, and glinting turquoise waters are alive with coral reefs. Wellness and barefoot luxury rejuvenation retreats dot the coastline, where you can disappear for a week or two to nourish the mind and body. Sun-ripened fruits and fresh seafood are bountiful, and Thai massage and wellness treatments will help you find ease. Thai people are famously friendly, quick to smile and have a propensity to take life a little more lightly than many. They have been welcoming world-weary travellers for decades, and have nigh-on perfected the formula for recharging the spirits.

Morocco

Morocco’s traditional riads are built to cocoon their guests in calm and tranquillity. With rooms designed around a central courtyard garden, they feel like a haven from the outside world. They often include serene hammam bathhouses, with subterranean pools, low lighting and spa treatment rooms. Elsewhere in Morocco, the magical Atlas Mountains host yoga retreats, while along the coast near Essaouira, surf and yoga camps dot the landscape, offering various ways to unwind depending on your mood. Head into the desert to experience a shift in perspective, as you gaze up at infinite starry skies in a Berber camp.

Indonesia

A truly transformative journey is on the cards in Indonesia, where ancient wellness practices are deeply rooted in its rich landscape. Aromatherapy, local spices and herbs, and medicinal plants are heavily used in nourishing treatments and therapies, while eco-experiences in the great outdoors will serve to energise both your mind and body. Whether you’re opting for a luxurious or more down-to-earth experience, you’ll soon feel connected – both spiritually and with your natural surroundings. Bali is one of the most popular islands, with a well-developed yoga and wellness scene. For a wilder escape away from the crowds, consider one of the less-visited islands (there are several thousand!). For dazzling surf breaks, Sumatra is a great choice, while the pristine shores of Sumba invite you to unplug from modern life and find a new perspective in the gentle roll of the waves.

Sri Lanka

Like India, Sri Lanka is known for its time-honoured Ayurvedic practices, while its other medicinal practices also encompass Siddha, Unani and Deshiya Chikitsa. Alongside these, you’ll soon find yourself in harmony with nature as you partake in traditional local activities that combine wellness with the great outdoors – from surfing and cycling to yoga and meditation.

Make it happen

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