The Best International Wellness Retreats For 2024
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The Best International Wellness Retreats For 2024

Forget sitting cross-legged on your living room floor – this is the jet-setters' guide to finding your zen

Meditation: the practice of focusing your mind on a thought, object or activity to achieve inner calm and mental clarity. It can be difficult if the number 32 bus is trundling past your open window, or your toddler is trying to spoon-feed porridge to your laptop in the next room. Looking to boost your health and wellbeing? Find some headspace in one of the most beautiful spots in the world; here is the jet-setter’s guide to international wellness retreats and the best places to meditate in 2024.

Read the C&TH Responsible Tourism Guide

Wellness Retreats: The Best Places in the World to Meditate in 2024

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Lefkada Glow Retreats

Glow Retreats Lefkada

Where? Lefkada, Greece

What? Fancy finding some inner peace on a Greek island paradise? The Glow Lefkada retreat offers six nights of yoga, mindfulness, and guided meditation on the scenic stunning Greek island paradise. The twice-daily practice focuses on reconnecting to the self through movement and stillness. Guests will also enjoy nature excursions, sailing, and optional one-on-one meditation coaching to cultivate inner peace and clarity, plus plenty of fresh, healthy meals and great company.

When? 16-22 June 2024

BOOK: glowretreatsibiza.com

a small path with archway and stairs

Image (c) William Joshua Templeton

Silent Mandali Experience

Where? Mandali Retreat Centre, Italy

What? This wellness retreat is your ticket to restoration. Mandali is a spiritual sanctuary set high on an Italian hilltop just over an hour’s drive from Milan, easing guests into stillness and silence. With idyllic views across the Swiss Alps and Lake Orta, Mandali is the ideal retreat to rest, reflect and reset.

When? Ongoing

BOOK: 3, 6 and 7-day retreats available. mandali.org

Three people on all fours

Wildfitness

Where? Menorca

What? Time for a transformative fitness holiday? Whisk yourself away to Menorca for wellbeing, movement and gastronomy set against the backdrop of biophilic greenery and stunning coastline. Established in 2001, Wildfitness is well-versed in ‘rewilding’, with three pillars at the core of the philosophy: wild living, improving sleep and listening to your body; wild food, eating in-season, fresh produce; wild movement, using the natural landscape as a ‘gym’.

Staying in a charming 18th century farmhouse, retreats centre the natural environment, walking barefoot along the beach and swimming in the clear ocean, alongside cooking, mindset workshops, yoga and breathwork. 

When? Dates throughout 2024

BOOK: From £1,680 per person for the six day Fundamental Programme, or £3,090 per person for the 13 day Transformative Programme, excluding flights. wildfitness.com

crystal bath at a wellness festival

Reset, Rejuvenate and Reconnect

Where? PACE by Peligoni – Zakynthos, Greece

What? Peligoni Club’s wellness week is back for the second time this year – in 2023 in collaboration with Rob da Bank. Taking wellness at your own ‘PACE’, the PACE programme helps guests dip into fitness, cold water exposure, breathwork, yoga, gong baths and meditation alongside delicious feasts and plenty of rosé. 2022’s contributors included Sir Chris Hoy, Rosemary Ferguson, the IO Project, Emma Lucy Knowles, Richie Norton, and Aodhnait Lombard (certified Wim Hof) – so you’re sure to be in good hands.

When? 7-11 October 2024

BOOK: Tickets from £400, including a week’s membership to the club, paddleboarding, kayaking, all the fitness and yoga classes, meditation and wellness workshops and a complimentary driver service. peligoni.com

people doing yoga in cape town

Souljourn Yoga

Where? Italy & New Mexico

What? Join Souljourn Yoga for a week of yin and yang, movement and meditation, social change, and adventure in some of the world’s most incredible locations. Tailoring trips to immerse guests in local culture and stunning scenery with days structured around transformative yoga practice and wellness activities.

Read our interview with Jordan Ashley, founder of Souljourn, here

When? July & December 2024

BOOK: From $1,190 (approx. £2,906), including a $375 tax-deductible donation to the Girls Home. Not including flights, gratuity and travel insurance. souljournyoga.com

Soneva Fushi

Image (c) Julia Neeson

SOUL Festival

Where? Soneva Fushi – Baa Atoll, Maldives

What? Pioneering, sustainability-first Soneva is partnering with wellness enterprise ORGANIC INDIA on the inaugural immersive wellness festival, SOUL, in autumn 2023. Over 10 days, guests from across the globe will explore wellness in all of its forms, led by a line-up of visionaries, thought leaders, and wellness pioneers, and celebrating both ancient healing traditions and modern innovations through workshops, programmes and one-to-one consultations. All proceeds from tickets sold will go to the Soneva Foundation and ORGANIC INDIA Foundation to support the development of positive impact environmental, social and economic projects.

When? 9-13 October 2024

BOOK: From USD 6,900 for two guests, for a minimum three-night stay. This includes two festival tickets and full access to the entire programme, with luxurious private villa accommodation, daily full board at selected dining destinations, and complimentary round-trip wheeled plane domestic transfers. soneva.com

Yoga in the forest

Wylder Retreats

Where? Ibiza, Spain

What? Teaching sustainable wellness and skills that will last longer than the retreat itself, Wylder retreats are the ideal yoga-based retreats, not too far from the UK. Typically set across four nights, guests enjoy activities from yoga and pilates to hikes and sound healing sessions. Additionally, all meals are plant based, and a zero-waste cooking workshop will teach guests skills to take home with them (along with their new feeling of tranquillity and a goodie bag to boot).

When? Dates throughout 2024

BOOK: wylderretreats.net

spa at eden roc cap cana

Cenote Wellness Retreat at Eden Roc Cap Cana

Where? Dominican Republic

What? Surrounded by some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders – pristine beaches, towering cliffs and tropical forests – Eden Roc Cap Cana is always a good idea. Their new Cenote Wellness Retreat adds another string to their bow. Guests can partake in yoga and meditation sessions, have massages, drink healthy smoothies, and retreat to the unique cenote waterfall fountain. Eden Roc Cap Cana’s underground cenote formed when a cave ceiling fell; making the most of it, guests can now experience private dinners, spiritual spa treatments and gentle fitness sessions here, as well as the therapeutic experience of hearing the water – said ‘to be in the womb of the mother earth’.

When? Ongoing

BOOK: edenroccapcana.com

Yoga on a wellness retreat in the Algarve

‘The Detox Retreat’ at Serenity SPA

Where? Pine Cliffs Resort, a Luxury Collection Resort – Algarve, Portugal

What? A New Year’s detox in the Algarve? Don’t mind if we do. Head to Pine Cliffs Resort in ever-popular Portugal for a spot of winter sun alongside a three, five or seven day retreat, with a focus on combatting and preventing burnout and stress, slowing down and resynchronising. Guests will have full access to the Thermal Oasis alongside a programme of holistic treatments, fitness classes, lymphatic drainages and a customised take-home plan – as well as the picturesque grounds and the luxury resort’s amenities, of course. You can even get a head start on reducing your 2023 screen time by relinquishing your mobile for a few days.

When? Ongoing

BOOK: Prices start from €436 (approximately £363) per person for the three-night programme. pinecliffs.com

people running on the beach

(c) Michael Shawn Marcellin

Joy of Wellness

Where? BodyHoliday, St Lucia

What? Hopping on the 2024 wellness trend of the pursuit of joy, the ever popular BodyHoliday has launched a new ‘Joy of Wellness’ programme, showcasing new and trusted activities across movement, mindfulness, nature, balance, connection and relaxation. All programmes are bespoke to the guests needs and goals, and created by specialists pre-arrival.

When? Ongoing

BOOK: From $388 per person per night on an all-inclusive basis, including most activities and treatments. thebodyholiday.com  

The outdoor swimming pool at Palace Merano

Revital: Detox for Longevity

Where? Palace Merano, Italy

What? Set in an expansive private park, Palace Merano is a delightful retreat into nature. Add their new Revital Method to the mix, and you’ll be totally revitalised. The product of 20 years of experience and research at Palace Merano, the Revital Method focuses on revitalising the body, maintaining health and freeing it from toxins, and reactivating the energy through bespoke preventative health programmes and a balanced diet. 

When? Ongoing

BOOK: From €3,700 per person for the seven-night Revital: Detox for Longevity Programme. Plus €292 for an examination with the doctor. palace.it

outdoor pools at Verdura Resort

The Fit Programme

Where? Verdura Resort, Sicily

What? With two kilometres of private beach, a world-class spa and two Kyle Phillips golf courses, Verdura’s Fit Programme is ideally suited to couples looking to maintain their fitness in the New Year. Set amid olive groves, oranges and lemon trees, the spa is one of Europe’s most advanced luxury wellbeing centres, featuring 11 treatment rooms, a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, a double-height steam room, Finnish and infrared saunas, and four outdoor thalassotherapy pools, all heated at different temperatures with varying salt densities, minerals and organisms.

When? Ongoing

BOOK: The six-day Fit Programme from €2,750 per person. roccofortehotels.com

spa treatment room overlooking serene wilderness

Image (c) Alan Keohane

SAHA at The Oberoi

Where? Marrakech, Morocco

What? The Oberoi’s new holistic wellness programme, SAHA (meaning ‘health’ in Arabic), has been created by leading specialists and is focused on four key cornerstones: Soul & Spirit, Active Body, Holistic Treatments, and A Better Plate. The Oberoi is already a haven of meditative tranquillity where guests can take time to rediscover inner peace and serenity, and the new wellness programme has been specially designed by The Oberoi team, originally for the local community in Marrakech, to put health and safety at the forefront. With personalised wellness plans and packages guests will improve their well-being, whether they are looking at a more holistic approach to day-to-day life, to keep fit during their stay with dynamic fitness activities and a dedicated fitness trainer, or discover inner peace (be it through yoga, meditation, mindfulness activities, or experiencing a good night’s rest with the hotel’s sleep therapy programme). 

When? Ongoing. Guests can choose from a 3 to 7-night programme.

BOOK: Bookings include a stay in a deluxe villa with a private pool, along with treatments, therapies, and activities from the four key cornerstones. oberoihotels.com

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Oman

Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort

Where? Oman

What? When you’re in a crowded Covent Garden studio and the person leading your guided meditation tells you to imagine yourself in a calm and beautiful place, this should be it. Perched 2,000 metres above sea level on the rim of a great canyon, Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar is the highest five-star resort in the Middle East. Enjoy the clifftop yoga on Diana’s Point, where guests are invited to de-stress the mind and body, with incredible views of the sunrise over the great canyon. The perfect spot for daily meditation practices. (Just don’t look down!)

When? Ongoing

BOOK: anantara.com

Chenot spa at L'Albereta

Chenot Wellness Programme

Where? L’Albereta – Franciacorta, Italy

What? L’Albereta’s Chenot Espace Health Wellness SPA has just introduced new programmes after more than a decade of ongoing success in health, wellness and beauty. Featuring new state-of-the-art diagnostics, Chenot promotes health, vitality and equilibrium within the body and mind, focusing on a holistic and systemic screening method that aims to identify the current level of health and its potential within everyone. With energising massages, hydro-aromatherapies, phyto-mud therapies and hydro-jet treatments across four nights – accompanied by a healthy Bio-Light diet – this is the definition of restorative wellness.

When? Ongoing

BOOK: The four day Chenot Wellness Programme starts from €1,804 per person, plus a compulsory medical consultation on arrival at €150. albereta.it

Le Refuge de La Traye

Refuge de la Traye

Where? Meribel, French Alps

What? Refuge de la Traye – a zig-zag of stone and log cabins – sits, randomly sprinkled, atop a snowy landscape above Meribel, like granola on yoghurt. With seven bedrooms and a private chalet, access is via foot (for the energetic, if weather allows) or electric snowmobile. Once there, you’ll quickly realise it’s worth the journey. The Refuge re-opened late last year following a full face lift, adding eco-reponsible systems respecting the delicate nature of its setting. Rooms are designed for rustic hedonism: swish yet simple with raw wood panelling, sheepskin throws, natural wools and linens and superb amenities. Ski, if you must – the snow taxi heads off for a main ski lift at a leisurely 9.45am. Better still, stay put and snowshoe in the peaceful landscape before a heat treatment in the spa.

Iyashi dome, a Japanese infrared sauna experience, gently sweats out toxins while you lie body-encased in an MRI-style scanner. Or enjoy the sauna and hot tub, alternating with a whizz outside to jump into snow, experiencing pin-pricks of icy ecstasy. Wellsystem is a gentle, pummelling massage with ‘water pillows’ strapped to the body. Or how about a milk bath and snooze in the warm hay bed, nestling in like a tiny chick. Once the mountain air and spa have ironed out stress and recharged the spirit, quench hunger with the Refuge’s beautifully presented, traditional Swiss fare accompanied by local wines. After all that, you sleep like a baby.

When? Ongoing.

BOOK: refugedelatraye.com

Mirihi Island Muraka

Mirihi Island

Where? Maldives

What? Check in to one of Mirihi Island’s yoga packages to combine your meditation escape with some of the world’s best yoga classes. Along with group or provate yoga sessions, guests can also enjoy some time away from it all in their private water or beach villa, on a secluded beach, or whilst enjoying a spa treatment. There is a no television policy in the villas or Wi-Fi in the restaurants, so there’s nothing to come in between you and your meditation. Inner tranquility, Maldives style, here we come.

When? Ongoing.

BOOK: mirihi.com

Adler Thermae

ADLER Thermae

Where? Tuscany, Italy

What? How do panoramic views over the Tuscan hills sound for your meditation getaway? While there’s no specific mindfulness programme on offer, this is the perfect place for self-guided meditation and a digital detox. Find a secluded spot in the quiet gardens and let your mind wander (before bringing it back to the present and focusing on your practice, naturally).

When? Ongoing.

BOOK: adler-thermae.com

The Legian Seminyak

The Legian Seminyak

Where? Bali, Indonesia

What? Meditation has been an intrinsic part of Balinese culture for hundreds of years and, from a young age, children are taught to meditate during temple prayers, learning to sit silently with the village priest as he chants mantra and rings his holy bell. So what better place to visit for an introduction to meditation? The Legian Seminyak in Bali’s ‘Wellness by The Legian’ concept incorporates spa treatments, nutrition, fitness and personalised wellness programmes to help guests find their zen. The programmes and treatments are simple, holistic and inspired by the rich local healing heritage and local products including yoga, mindfulness meditation, positive affirmation and visualisation sessions.

When? Ongoing.

BOOK: lhm-hotels.com

Marbella Club

Marbella Club

Where? Marbella, Spain

What? If you thought Marbella was just a playground for the rich and famous to drink Champagne in the sunshine, think again. Marbella Club offer a range of year-round wellness retreats, with a focus on the connection between inner health and outer beauty, ranging from the signature ‘Mediterranean Lifestyle’ program, to ‘Tranquility & Sleep Enhancing’ and ‘Optimal Fitness & Energy’. Aerial yoga and outdoor activities also make the most of the beautiful surroundings, including cycles along the promenade and hiking in the nearby mountains.

When? Ongoing

BOOK: Rates start from €449, including breakfast. marbellaclub.com

Amanpuri Awareness, Thailand

Awareness at Amanpuri

Where? Thailand

What? Trouble quietening your mind? Let the experts guide you at Amanpuri Awareness’ Thailand programme. Promising to lead you on a highly meditative experience, you will begin your journey with a consultation to help form your bespoke itinerary. You will be guided throughout by a former Buddhist monk on this mind, body and soul transformation through yoga, meditation and reflection. You’ll also experience complementary therapies such as Teiki and cranial sacral therapy. And all in a beautiful green Thai setting. Yes please.

When? Ongoing.

BOOK: Health and Fitness Travel offers 7 nights at Amanpuri, including full board, a wellness programme, spa treatment and return private transfers. healthandfitnesstravel.com

Bawah Reserve

Bawah Reserve

Where? The Anambas Islands, Indonesia

What? Accessible only by private seaplane from Singapore – in the relatively unknown Anambas Islands, between Malaysia and Borneo – Bawah Reserve is the ultimate choice when you want to go off-grid. As well as partaking in activities including paddle boarding, kayaking, sailing and hiking, there are plenty of spots perfect for self-guided meditation. To relax further, guests can head to the Aura Wellness Centre and have unlimited treatments which are included in the all-inclusive rate.

When? Ongoing.

BOOK: bawahreserve.com

AKIH SunsetYoga

Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas

Where? Maldives

What? Escape to the all-pool villa sanctuary of dazzling Maldivian hues with Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas to kick-start your meditation practice this year. Realign your chakras with blissful spa treatments overwater and Ayurvedic cuisine. Alongside the other wellness offerings, you can practice meditation and yoga with one-on-one training overlooking the ocean.

When? Ongoing

BOOK: kihavah-maldives.anantara.com

Elevate Your Journey With Priority Pass

Flying there? Start your journey on a high by booking into an airport lounge – the perfect peace and quiet away from the hustle and bustle of an airport with an added edge of luxury. The best way to make the most of airport lounges is with a Priority Pass membership, a one-of-a-kind global network offering members access to more than 1,400 airport lounges worldwide for as little as £69 per year. Better still, Country & Town House readers can get an exclusive 20 percent off Standard memberships and 15 percent off Standard Plus when you purchase your membership using this link. Enjoy!

And if you can’t travel…

We also called on Dominique Antiglio, Sophrologist and founder of BeSophro to get some expert advice on choosing meditation locations…

‘Sophrology is a type of dynamic meditation that I love to practice because it can be easily incorporated into daily life. I have had amazing Sophrology experiences at the Ghats in Varanasi, India which faces the Ganges River, as well as being wrapped up among the mountains of Courmayeur facing Mont Blanc, and also in Ibiza when facing the sea. I also love practising early morning on Primrose Hill as it offers such a beautiful view over London, and no two days are ever the same so I have a unique view each time.’

But you don’t have to leave the comfort of your own home.

‘For best practice at home, I advise people to create a private space at home or in the office with a comfy chair. If you have a small, shared space only, don’t let it stop you, as you can put your headphones on and listen via a guided practice.

‘You may wish to personalise your space with a photo of a loved one or have an item of sentimental value nearby to enhance the connection of the space to your inner world. You could also light a scented candle to create a sense of calm and tranquillity in your space.

‘Personally, I have a comfy chair in my light, airy and minimalist office where I love to sit and start my Sophrology meditation practice mid-morning. I usually have a cup of herbal tea nearby to drink when I finish too. I also practice in between meetings, and even on the Tube and in taxis – if I feel tense, just five minutes of simple breathing and relaxation techniques is enough to relax me.’

So if you do make it to one of our ultimate meditation locations, you’ll have to pack the memories up to take home with you, back to your hardwood floor with the number 32 bus outside, to conjure up the images of your retreat as you find your inner calm on demand…