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by Mary E Tjotjos

Wellness Travel Guide

International—Wellness Destination Resorts


Amanoi

At Amanoi, in Vietnam, the spa is heavy in mind-body offerings like guided meditation, Reiki, craniosacral therapy and acupressure (there’s kickboxing, circuit training and boot camp for those intent on sweating it out), and the Amanoi just opened two private Spa Houses, each sleeping four and including treatment rooms with hammam or banya (a giant sauna), Jacuzzi, plunge pool and outdoor deck. aman.com

Ananda in the Himalayas Destination Spa

Located in the spectacular Himalayan foothills, Ananda Spa is truly one with nature. The Spa offers Ayurvedic wellness treatments under the eye of an Ayurvedic doctor using organically grown botanicals and the Green Team has made a deep commitment to environmental sustainability. anandaspa.com

The Beach House

Since you can’t discuss detox without mentioning India’s ashrams and retreats, The Beach House, in Goa, offers an extensive list of all things wellness. After an initial consultation with an Ayurvedic specialist or one of the specially trained experts, participants get a full body analysis complete with pH balance, body composition, vitals and a Chakra assessment. thebeachhousegoa.com


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Body Holiday

Not merely a relaxing or refreshing getaway, with its world-renowned spa, endless list of activities and sports, and idyllic island setting, BodyHoliday in Saint Lucia is a vacation designed to restore balance in body and mind.

When it comes to winding down, there’s the Wellness Centre. Voted the best spa in the Caribbean time and again, within this Moorish-inspired palace a team of skilled therapists and beauty specialists offer an endless list of blissful possibilities — from Swedish and Balinese massage, body wraps, scrubs and facials to Ayurvedic treatments — to explore every day of your stay. thebodyholiday.com


Bürgenstock Resort

Following a nine-year, $500 million renovation, the Swiss icon has been re-invented for a new generation of travelers—especially those seeking wellness. As part of the redevelopment, the four-hotel complex now features two world-class spas and a full medical center, making it one of Europe’s most extensive wellness hub. buergenstock.ch

Cala De Mar

Offering seasonal wellness retreats, Cala de Mar features beautiful ocean views from all of its 59 rooms. Wellness programs integrate authentic Mexican healing modalities, and more, including meditation, qui gong, and quantum healing, near Ixtapa and Zihautanejo, where a vegan renaissance is taking place. calademar.com

The Chateau

The Chateau is designed as an organic destination wellness spa. Spa rituals evoke the European tradition, with an herbal-infused sauna and a salt grotto, for example, and the spa uses organic products in its treatments. thechateau.com.my

Chewton Glen

Cooking is now on the menu at Chewton Glen, a luxurious 130-acre country estate on the edge of the New Forest National Park in the rolling English countryside. chewtonglen.com

Chiva-Som International Health Resort

Chiva-Som, the holistic destination spa on the Gulf of Thailand, offers an approach to wellness, based on integrating Asian and Western therapies with the goal of balancing mind, body and spirit. Enjoy comprehensive fitness programs, spa and light medical treatments. chivasom.com

COMO Shambhala Estate

Located near Bali, the Shambhala Estate is a “Retreat for Change” and provides a completely immersive, 360-degree well-being experience. Each program is designed for the length of stay and each delivers a comprehensive combination of meals, treatments and activities. comohotels.com

Copperhead Retreat & Spa

From the cleansing effects of juicing to the power of bone broth, Copperhood, located in Shandaken, New York, offers personalized programs to educate guests on how to improve their metabolism, increase energy, lose weight, maintain lean body mass and decrease inflammation. copperhood.com/weight-loss

Gran Canaria Wellness

A spa for wellness and health, located in Spain, Gran Canaria Wellness hews close to the local culture, with spa and wellness offerings that rejuvenate mind, body and spirit. grancanariawellness.com

Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat

Situated near Australia’s Gold Coast, Gwinganna is a luxury boot camp in the bush. On arrival, guests visit the Wellness Therapies Cottage for a health assessment and private consultation with a naturopath. The gorgeous Asian-inspired spa offers nurturing treatments. gwinganna.com

Harmony Hotel

The Harmony Hotel, in the surfer town of Nosara, Costa Rica, is all about eco-friendly wellness and cleansing. The wellness retreat is centered around nature, situated between the jungle and beaches. harmonynosara.com

Kamalaya

Kamalaya’s philosophy is “nurturing into health” and it does so using the freshest locally sourced ingredients in its kitchen and wellness spa. It is known for its detox program, which offers nutritional and herbal support, and daily massage. kamalaya.com

Kurotel Longevity Medical Center & Spa

A complete package of wellness, the Kurotel has many programs to suit all guests. Weight loss, health longevity, fitness and spa are some of the choices on menu for all interested parties. Located in Brazil, it is a destination for wellness. kurotel.com.br

Kurotel Longevity Medical Center & Spa

A complete package of wellness, the Kurotel has many programs to suit all guests. Weight loss, health longevity, fitness and spa are some of the choices on menu for all interested parties. Located in Brazil, it is a destination for wellness. kurotel.com.br

LifeClass

The LifeClass at Portoroz Hotel in Slovenia offers guests one of the most comprehensive thermal, health and wellness programs in Europe. Equipped with modern facilities, this resort includes a centre for beauty, fitness and Ayurveda practices. lifeclass.net

One&Only Palmilla

When dreaming of Mexico, this hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico, is what the mind conjures: whitewashed adobe walls, terra-cotta tile, wall paintings, arches and colorful embroidery. At three-day retreats, guests learn practical tools to enhance well-being, reduce stress and live more presently in everyday life. The experience is infused with workshops designed to nourish mind, body and soul. The spa offers treatments that draw from Sonora’s Mayo tribe to include a Temazcal experience. oneandonlypalmilla.com

The Orchard

The Orchard focuses on a mindful approach to health. Experience wellness programs that draw on traditional treatments and modern medicine. Facilities include a Swiss steam room, far-infrared sauna, Kneipp foot bath, Himalayan crystal salt room and much more. orchardwellness.com

Posia

“Posia” means “spring” or “source” and it is the perfect place to reconnect with yourself. With three pools, a spa with Ayurvedic wellness and a stunning location in San Foca, in Salento, Italy, on the waters of the Adriatic, a retreat at Posia will help restore, refresh and rebalance mind, body and soul. posia.it

Pura Vida Retreat & Spa

One part Healing Hotels of the World, Pura Vida is a mountaintop resort located along the provinces of Costa Rica. Enjoy the wellness experience with an inner explanation through yoga or explore with an eco-adventure on location. puravidaspa.com

Rancho La Puerta

The Ranch is an industry leader in overall wellness programming and offers over 60 fitness classes and activities at any given time. You can also experience a specialized men’s fitness program, exhilarating hikes, top-notch spa treatments and a 3.5-acre organic farm. rancholapuerta.com

Richmond Nua Wellness Spa

A destination where wellness is not a trend, but an encouraged lifestyle. Located in Turkey, the Richmond Nua Wellness Spa, birthplace of Global Wellness Day, promotes the belief that peace achieved by mental, physical and spiritual harmony is a way of existence. richmondnua.com

Santani Wellness Resort Sri Lanka

In a beautiful natural setting in Sri Lanka, Santani offer extensive wellness programming based on a global philosophy, including Ayurveda, and two essential components: revitalization of the body, and education of the mind, to teach guests healthy habits for overall well-being. santani.lk

SHA Wellness Clinic

Not only is it a Mediterranean getaway, but the SHA Wellness Clinic in Alicante, Spain is serious about its dedication to health. The wellness area blends unique Eastern healing modalities and cutting-edge Western medical treatments to keep guests on their path toward good health. shawellnessclinic.com

Six Senses Qing Cheng

Six Senses Chengdu is less than an hour from the city center in China’s Sichuan province, and a beautiful hike up the Qing Cheng mountains. With a focus on healthy eating and longevity in the wellness programs, you can experience Tai Chi, traditional Chinese massage and Chinese reflexology. sixsenses.com

Six Senses Samui

Set on the shores of the shimmering Gulf of Thailand, Six Senses Samui, in Koh Samui, is an oasis of tranquility, with a focus on multi-pronged wellness. Or, you can just hike, snorkel and relax. sixsenses.com

Song Saa

This idyllic private-island sanctuary in Cambodia’s Koh Rong archipelago is state-of-the-art-sustainable—the owners even created a local NGO to conserve the natural environment and partner with local villages. It is also as gorgeously organic as it gets. songsaa.com

Soukya International Holistic Health Center

Surrounded by acres of organic gardens, the Soukya Center is an oasis and wellness destination one hour from the city of Bangalore. More than a spa, this center is an “integrative medical treatment facility” based on Ayurvedic philosophies. soukya.com

Spa Eastman

Located about 90 minutes from Montreal in Canada’s idyllic Eastern Townships, Spa Eastman is a sustainable resort with a ground-level spa. Environmentally conscious, it has a commitment to wellness with spa treatments, a nail bar and all organic products. spa-eastman.com

Spice Village

The Spice Village draws on the essence of a mountain tribal village, re-imagined to modern standards. A breath of fresh air with a mountaintop climate, this wellness resort offers an on-site Ayurvedic spa and is sustainable on its own using organic gardens and fruit orchards. cghearth.com

Vana Malsi Estate

This state-of-the-art wellness retreat in the beautiful Himalayan foothills earned Platinum certification and features a Tibetan Healing Center (which joins separate centers for Ayurveda, Yoga, Wellness, Spa, and Aqua & Fitness) for serious wellness and healing. vanaretreats.com

Vivanta by Taj Bekal

The excellent Jiva Grande Spa at the Vivanta by Taj Bekal features 165,000 square feet and offers guests Ayurvedic and Indian herbal treatments. Plus multi-week yoga, detox, Ayurvedic wellness and spiritual retreat programs and holistic experiences. vivantabytaj.com