10 Wellness Breaks To Book Now

Bali has always been a popular destination for those seeking a spiritual experience, and Raffles Bali is the first in the hotel group to launch ‘Retreat by Raffles’. If you’re after some pampering while improving your mental and physical health too,  this new wellbeing programme promises a rejuvenating and relaxing itinerary, and will be co-ordinated by your personal wellbeing butler who is available to you 24 hours a day. Expect yoga, meditation, hypnotherapy, Chakra balancing and Reiki, all by Balinese born and bred practitioners. There will also be healthy cooking demonstrations and a farm to table experience in the resort’s extensive botanical gardens, as well as relaxing spa treatments. The 32 luxe ocean-facing villas are decorated with batik fabrics and rattan furniture, and all have spacious bathrooms with indoor and outdoor showers, private gardens and sun decks. The resort also boasts a lovely beachfront infinity pool, a fitness centre, tennis courts and jogging trails. Some of us would come here for the food alone – the restaurant, Rumari, is overseen by chef Gaetan Biesuz who creates south-east Asian cuisine with authentic bold flavours. Most of the produce is sourced from farmers across the Indonesian archipelago, while many of the herbs, fruits and vegetables are grown in the resort’s own gardens. The wine list is impressive too. 

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Baden-Baden, near the border with France in southwest Germany’s Black Forest, is one of the world’s most famous spa towns, dating back to the 19th century when its thermal baths became fashionable amongst European royalty and aristocracy. Villa Stéphanie is part of the Oetker Collection’s Brenners Park Hotel, a 150-year-old five-star Belle Epoque villa. An innovative spa, set in peaceful surroundings, it’s the perfect place for recuperative and preventative healthcare, including medical, emotional, detox, fitness and beauty. With just 12 rooms and three suites, the spa and clinic offer total exclusivity and privacy, as well as a highly bespoke wellbeing experience. The extensive team of specialists is headed up by Dr Harry König who integrates traditional medicine with holistic naturopathy, as well modern diagnostic techniques. For a thorough once over, the new ten-day ‘Ultimate Medical Health’ programme includes genetic testing, cancer screening, hormone screening, a cardiac heart examination, an orthopaedic consultation and a full-body MRI, and will set you back just over 40,000 euros. However, there are plenty of less pricey options and you could happily spend a few days indulging in spa treatments, joining yoga and fitness sessions while enjoying the totally glamorous and serene setting.

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Located along Sri Lanka’s southern palm-fringed coast, Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort has recently launched its three-day all-inclusive Sanjeewana Ayurvedic Journey. If you’re looking for the peace and clarity needed to make healthy lifestyle choices, this is it. Following an in-depth consultation, the immersive programme combines healing spa therapies, mind-cleaning beach walks with the resort’s nature guru, temple meditation and bonfire mindfulness sessions under the guidance of a monk and a yogi. You can also enjoy Sri Lankan cooking classes and soul-soothing wood-oven baking sessions. The resort is scattered throughout 21 acres of tropical gardens and is fronted by a secluded beach and a beautiful rocky outcrop. The chic rooms and villas reflect Sri Lankan design with locally sourced furnishings and artworks. The villas have a private terrace with a plunge pool, and you can choose between garden or ocean views or a beachside setting. Extend your stay for a few days and explore Sri Lanka’s south coast from Galle in the west to Yala National Park in the east.

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Founded in 1931, Clinique La Prairie is located on the outskirts of the pretty Swiss town of Montreux and has a reputation as the world’s most exclusive health destination for those seeking a holistic and personalised approach to wellness. Their recently launched Revitalisation programme offers DNA testing using a blood sample, which allows experts to identify specific genetic mutations or variations that are associated with an increased risk of over 80 diseases. The results can help you take proactive steps to reduce these risks and to make informed decisions about prevention and treatments. Over seven days, the programme works to stimulate cell regeneration, fight signs and causes of ageing and enhance overall mental and physical health. Other programmes include weight loss, detoxing, advanced beauty treatments as well as full medical check-ups. With just 38 rooms in what feels like a grand old hotel, food is mostly vegan but delicious and plentiful – you won’t go hungry here. As you’d expect, prices are steep.

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A year ago, Six Senses took over Vana, the wellness retreat in Dehradun, in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhan in the foothills of the Himalayas. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be on your journey of healing and transformation – itineraries are personalised according to your Chakra, age and individual needs, and include practices such as Ayurveda, yoga and Tibetan medicine, as well as dosha-balancing and nutritionally-optimised cuisine. You’ll also be encouraged to breathe in the fresh forest air, indulge in aquatic massages and take part in various ball games and activities, all of which incorporate the surrounding nature to encourage movement and mindful reconnection. The 66 rooms and 16 suites are done up in soothing neutral tones with nature-inspired artwork and floor-to-ceiling windows and have balconies or terraces overlooking the herb gardens and fruit orchard. A minimum three-night stay in recommended but, in any event, you’re guaranteed to leave feeling a lot better both physically and mentally.

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At Philippe Starck-designed hotel Lily of the Valley in glamorous Saint-Tropez, the ethos is healthy living and long-term weight management. The Lily method is based on what they call their ‘four pillars’: health, diet, sport and a variety of personalised treatments. Featuring a large spa and fitness space, there’s a range of outdoor fitness sessions on offer, including aqua boxing, sea wading, Nordic walking and sunset yoga. New this month are a range of programmes. Better Ageing uses cutting-edge technology to teach guests how to adjust their lifestyles in order to stay younger for longer. Expect two-and-a-half-hour daily treatments that focus on the body and face, fitness coaching every two days and the signature ‘younger longer’ treatment encouraging mobility of the body through acupressure. The Sport programme aims to improve your overall sporting performance whereby your body is pushed to its physical limits through fitness coaching and is nurtured with manual muscle recovery treatments that involve stretching, poultices and cryotherapy. The Detox programme’s aim is relaxation and detoxification, and consists of an eating plan that excludes gluten and lactose, a light exercise regime and treatments focused on eliminating toxins in the body such as a ginger body wrap. Meals here are not a hardship – the chef spent 15 years working under Alain Ducasse and produces the best Provençal dishes using seasonal and local produce, with the emphasis on health and weight control. The 38 spacious rooms and six suites are filled with natural light, with terraces and balconies overlooking the sea or up over the hills. For a group, Villa W is totally private and set within its own grounds with a pool. It sleeps six. 

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