If you indulged a little too much over Christmas and want to start the New Year feeling your best, then your best course of action is a wellness retreat – and we have the one for you.
Your idea of wellness might be to improve your yoga practice, clean up your diet, shed a few kilos, or simply relax – whatever your resolution, there’s something here for everyone.
The Ranch Dolomites, Italy
This seven-day program is a pop-up version of The Ranch Malibu’s hugely successful wellness retreat – but in Northern Italy. Set in a charming Alpine hotel in San Cassiano, the wellness retreat takes 22 guests through a rigorous fitness and wellness regimen that focuses on reconnecting with the outdoors. A typical morning begins with a guided scenic hike through the mountains of the UNESCO World Heritage site, followed by lunch and downtime.
After a well-deserved nap, guests’ afternoons are filled with a mix of strength training, restorative yoga and meditation – plus daily deep tissue massage. To refuel guests, The Ranch culinary team prepare nutritious plant-based versions of traditional Italian fare with locally grown ingredients – think spinach and zucchini lasagne and homemade macadamia nut ‘ricotta’.
Fivelements, Bali, Indonesia
At the eco-friendly Fivelements Bali, you have a choice of three therapeutic retreats: Rejuvenation, Detox or Culinary – each taking you on a healing journey through the mystic culture of Bali. Designed to help you tune into your physical, emotional and spiritual levels, the Signature Rejuvenation Retreat, Panca Mahabu (five elements) uses a combination of Balinese healing, plant-based cuisine and sacred arts to guide you through a holistic transformation. The personalised program can be done alone, as a couple or in a small group and normally lasts from three to 21 nights, depending on your needs.
Six Senses Douro Valley, Portugal
Set among lush vineyards and rolling green hills overlooking the majestic River Douro, Six Senses Douro Valley is all about embracing the healing power of nature. A total of 60 guestrooms are housed within the restored 19th century manor and the list of therapies on offer is extensive – spa treatments, yoga, meditation, mindfulness, and holistic sessions with healers and wellness specialists.
All Six Senses Spas use locally sourced ingredients, and Six Senses Douro Valley is no exception. A talented team of chefs celebrate regional cuisine and there’s an organic herb and vegetable garden onsite where fresh ingredients are harvested as needed. Plus, there’s no shame if you want to indulge in a glass (or two) of local wine.
SHA Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain
Tucked away in the Sierra Helada Mountains, peering onto the vivid azure of the Mediterranean Sea, SHA Wellness Clinic has a reputation as one of Europe’s top medical spas. Spanning more than 6,000 square metres, the luxe wellness retreat blends Western medical expertise and ancient Eastern alternative therapies, alongside healthy nutrition.
It’s no wonder SHA has become so popular among celebrities, professional athletes and even royalty. There’s a vast array of programs that can be tailored to your specific needs, such as Detox, Optimal Weight, Healthy Ageing, and Rebalance. Each program aims to help you achieve your personal health and fitness goals, and focuses on improving your wellbeing with natural therapies, a customised fitness plan and a nutritious diet.
Golden Door, California, USA
Just 40 minutes outside of San Diego, Golden Door has become the go-to retreat for some of Hollywood’s brightest stars – Oprah Winfrey and Nicole Kidman are fans – since opening in 1958. Surrounded by 600 acres of rolling hills and 50 kilometres of private hiking trails, the seven-day retreat offers 80 classes for your mind and body, personal training, organic farm-to-table meals, and a daily massage.
Plus, there are four staff members for every guest, so you’ll be well taken care of. Daily spa treatments provide soothing reward for all those hikes, yoga and fitness classes you’ll be doing, while mindfulness workshops, art classes and silent meditation walks will rejuvenate and energise. Styled after a Japanese ryokan, the 40 guest rooms are kitted out with sliding shoji doors and tatami mats. In your wardrobe, you’ll find a workout outfit for the day and a Japanese yukata robe for dinnertime.
