Whether you seek to nurture your body, calm your mind, or simply indulge in profound rest and relaxation, the modern wellness holiday market offers a break to suit every aspiration. As Caroline Sylge reports, this industry, valued by the Global Spa & Wellness Summit at over £2 trillion—surpassing the entire British economy—continues to expand with an ever-growing array of treatments in increasingly luxurious settings.
The Global Pursuit of Wellbeing
From the Kamalaya resort on Thailand's Koh Samui, which unveils a new state-of-the-art fitness centre this year, to the authentic Ayurvedic experience at SwaSwara in Karnataka, India, destinations invest heavily in crafting environments designed to soothe the psyche. While opulent surroundings can enhance the experience, the expertise of the therapist remains paramount. A simple room can become a site of transformation, as demonstrated at Hotel Tresanton in Cornwall, where respected facial reflexologist Graham Sluter addresses insomnia, stress, and hormonal imbalances.
Nutrition and Detox Focus
The conversation around wellness increasingly centres on nutrition. Last year's debate over whether sugar or fat poses a greater health risk highlighted the complexity of dietary management. Nutritionist Max Tomlinson, speaking during a Hellenic Healthy Holidays week in Kefalonia, noted the significant impact of blood sugar fluctuations. In response, boutique operator in:spa now offers sugar-detox options in Morocco, France, and Spain, while The Body Retreat launches dedicated five-day Sugar Detox Retreats for women in the Somerset countryside, priced from £1,250 inclusive of accommodation, meals, treatments, and workshops.
The Need for Silence and Digital Detox
In an age where Ofcom reports we spend more time on digital devices than asleep, the demand for silence and disconnection is rising. Introductory meditation weekends at Buddhist retreats are often fully booked, but alternatives like The Orange Tree in Yorkshire incorporate mindfulness and silent meditation into their programmes. Similarly, Reclaim Your Self offers Digital Detox weekends combining yoga, healthy eating, and mindfulness talks in stately homes across Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
Specialist and Recuperative Retreats
The sector also caters to those recovering from serious illnesses. Options range from long-stay support at The Farm at San Benito in the Philippines, where guests can bring children, to post-cancer retreats at Puyssentut in south-west France. Closer to home, Grayshott Spa in Surrey has introduced a Nurture and Support programme for individuals after cancer treatment.
Wellness Closer to Home: The British Isles
Domestic options abound for rejuvenation without long-haul travel. Split Farthing Hall will extend its transformative coaching and raw food retreats to Sussex and Hampshire from April. Yeotown in Devon now runs its five-day Yeotox retreat weekly, while Newbold House in Scotland offers private, tailored wellbeing retreats in a Victorian mansion. For authentic Ayurveda, The Clover Mill in Worcestershire provides contemporary lodges, and Essex's Lifehouse Spa features experts trained at Thailand's renowned Chiva Som.
International Escapes
Asia remains a favourite for relaxation, with new luxury entrants like Vana in northern India offering Ayurveda and tranquillity on a 21-acre estate. In Thailand, Absolute Sanctuary on Koh Samui introduces Pilates Reformer Bootcamps, while Reclaim Your Self pioneers Jivamukti yoga retreats in the Mongolian desert this July.
Morocco, just hours from the UK, continues to develop healthy holidays, from meditation weeks in the Marrakech Stone Desert to wellbeing weekends in riads. Further afield, the Four Seasons Resort Maldives features a jungle yoga pavilion for AntiGravity Yoga, and Bali's Spa Village Tembok includes daily creativity classes in its programmes.
High-Tech and Bespoke Wellness in Europe
Europe boasts sophisticated retreats, particularly in Spain. The macrobiotic clinic SHA in Alicante has expanded to include advanced facilities like an Alzheimer's Prevention Unit. On Ibiza, 38 Degrees North launches DNA Fit Ibiza in April, using pre-arrival DNA testing to create bespoke fitness and nutrition plans. Elsewhere, France's Yobaba Lounge offers yoga and vegan food in a shabby-chic chateau, and Cyprus's Zening provides beachside yoga, now welcoming children.
The Americas and New for 2015
From surfing and yoga in Costa Rica to detoxing on Brazil's Costa Verde, the Americas offer diverse options. For high-altitude wellness, HighLives Travel's trip to Peru includes shamanic ceremonies and a spa retreat. Weight-loss seekers might consider The Ashram in California or Rancho La Puerta near San Diego.
New openings for 2015 include Villa Stéphanie in Baden-Baden, dedicated to spa luxury, and Karma St Martin's on the Isles of Scilly, bringing Balinese-inspired treatments to the UK. The Gainsborough Bath Spa, set for a spring opening, will uniquely access Bath's thermal waters, while Phoenix and the Wolf begins spiritual retreats in Wales from March.
Ultimately, whether motivated by health, fitness, or peace of mind, the evolving landscape of wellness holidays ensures there is a perfect retreat awaiting every traveller.
