Six of the world's best wellness retreats
Switch off at these hideaways, worth an international flight.
Switch off and revive at these hideaways, worth an international flight.
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FOR YOGA
Ananda Spa, India: The spiritual city of Rishikesh - located on the banks of the Ganges river in the north Indian state of Uttarakhand - is the birthplace of yoga. So if you're a yogi in the making - or a proficient one for that matter - this is the place to visit. There is no dearth of ashrams - suitable for all budgets - in Rishikesh, but Ananda Spa is often cited as the region's best.
Housed in the former palace of the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal and surrounded by soaring Himalayas, it's perched on a hill with views of the holy river in the distance. Yoga retreats come in form of seven-, 14- or 21-day programs, with wellness "journeys designed for transformative results". But a range of other programs are on offer, too. Sign up for the seven-day Dhyana experience to bolster your practice of meditation or opt for the 21-day Panchakarma program, which utilises the timeless principles of Ayurveda to detoxify and rejuvenate the body. From $1215 per night; anandaspa.com
FOR POCKET-FRIENDLY RESET
Plantation Villa, Sri Lanka: A wellness experience in the Indian Subcontinent doesn't have to cost a bomb, and this retreat - located about an hour south-east of Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo - is proof. Housed in a colonial home about 150 years old, the retreat is surrounded by lush rainforest.
Prices start from $170 per night for programs focussing on everything - from yoga and meditation to weight loss and nutrition - and include meals, wellness classes and other activities such as cooking classes, guided walks and visits to local villages. Read the full review of the Plantation Villa here. plantationvilla.com
FOR SPECIALISED PROGRAMS
Kamalaya Koh Samui, Thailand: Unforgettable scenery - think storybook sunsets and sweeping views of the Gulf of Thailand - meet world-class wellness plans at this retreat located on the south-eastern coast of the island of Koh Samui. The encyclopedic menu has all the usual suspects, such as yoga, detox and sleep retreats, but where this hideaway truly scores is when it comes to highly specialised areas of wellbeing.
Structural Revival, for instance, focuses squarely on improving posture and increasing mobility and flexibility, while Resilience & Immunity is ideal for those suffering post-viral fatigue and want to boost their immune system. From $940 for minimum three-night programs; kamalaya.com
FOR SCENIC BEAUTY
Aro Ha Wellness Retreat, New Zealand: Forget wellness programs - simply arriving at this retreat is bound to dial up the Zen factor. It's located just 10 minutes south of the town of Glenorchy - the gateway to The Lord of the Rings filming locations on New Zealand's South Island. Which only means one thing: mesmerising vistas - from glass-still lakes to majestic mountains - at every turn.
Soak it up on the drive to Aro Ha, which is about one hour northwest of the Queenstown airport. Six-day retreats range from Breathwork and Renewal to Ayurvedic Spring Reset, led by leading New Zealand health and fitness experts such as Fraser Beck and Celine Wallace. From $6370 for six-day retreats; aro-ha.com
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FOR CUTTING-EDGE PROGRAMS
Clinique La Prairie, Switzerland: Swiss wellness retreats are in a league of their own - not only do they honour timeless principles of wellness, they lace their programs with scientifically proven treatments, too. Add to that their picturesque locations and you have the makings of a wellness retreat of a lifetime. Located in Montreux, on the shores of Lake Geneva, Clinique La Prairie ticks all those boxes. Sign up for the seven-day Brain Potential program that promises to enhance cognitive health, promoting overall mental wellbeing; or if you want to reverse the clock, opt for the anti-ageing Beauty Stem Cells program. Rates are in a league of their own, too. From $19,500 for five-day packages; cliniquelaprairie.com
FOR TOTAL RESET
The Ranch, US: The Hudson Valley outpost of the Ranch - one of the country's most highly regarded wellness retreats - is great if you want to tack on a four- or a five-day retreat to your visit to New York City. But if you want to break the journey from the East Coast of the US to Australia, the OG Ranch in Malibu, which opened in 2010, is your go-to.
Whichever location you end up at, a total reset - guided by expert-led fitness programs and plant-based nutritious meals - is most likely on the cards. From $3314 for four-day retreats; theranchlife.com
Akash is the Deputy Travel Editor for Australian Community Media. He has lived and worked in four cities around the world – Sydney, London, New Delhi and New York – and, at last count, travelled to 42 countries.
My all-time favourite destination is ... New York. You can drop a pin anywhere in Manhattan and start walking in any direction, and the sights and sounds of the city that never stops will begin to stimulate all your senses in an instant.
Next on my bucket list is … Scandinavia - at the peak of summer, when the sun almost never sets.
My top travel tip is … If you’re flying to Sydney from anywhere in the world, pick a window seat far from the wing on the left-hand-side of the aeroplane. If the weather gods and flight path align, you’ll have the most incredible views of the Sydney Harbour and Opera House.
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