As wellness tourism continues on its spiritual, nicely paced, calming march, and with many out there likely wanting to improve their physical and mental wellbeing following the aggressive crush of the January blues, we’ve decided to put together a list of some of our favourite health-centric escapes. The hotels we’ve chosen blend the comforting pleasures of a five-star stay with the research-backed, cutting-edge ethos of a clinic whose state-of-the-art programmes will target your specific ailments and needs.
So, whether you’re looking to lose weight, improve your mobility or simply want to remember how to get a good night’s sleep, we recommend you check-in to any one of these medical marvels.
Euphoria Retreat, Mystras, Greece
In a nutshell: Closely situated to ancient Sparta, this rustic-modern bolthole merges an ancient spirit with contemporary, scientific practices – but a vibrant, joyful approach nixes any potential sterility. The facilities here are centred around the five elements of antiquity – water, wood, earth, fire and metal – and the first of these is showcased in the superlative spa complex that’s complete with two pools, one of which has a 4-metre depth and provides guests with an ‘experience akin to a sensory rebirth’. Although Hippocratic and traditional Chinese medicines feature heavily, Euphoria doctors also carry out nutrigenomics (the relationship between diet and genes) programmes, and the ‘Euphoria Immunity Reset’ uses OMICS technologies.
The treatment to seek: Get a deep, pore-cleansing scrub at the Byzantine-style hammam.
Santani Wellness Resort, Werapitiya, Sri Lanka
In a nutshell: With thick greenery as a backdrop, this one-time tea plantation is the ideal spot from which to reboot. The refined, almost minimalist villas, which are propped on steel pillars, help clear the mind, and the glass walls give you a ringside view of Knuckles Mountain Range. You’ll start with a basic health rundown, which is then followed by bespoke programmes that run the holistic gamut, from mental health to exhaustion and anti-ageing.
The treatment to seek: For those looking to recover from their January burnout, the ‘Santani Sleep’ will help you cope with anxiety, stress and other related conditions, and the therapies and meditation sessions will (hopefully) provide you with the right tools for achieving an easy slumber.
One&Only Portonovi, Herceg Novi, Montenegro
In a nutshell: Set at the opening of Boka Bay, which juts off the Adriatic, and with rooms whose soft, rich palette takes inspiration from terracotta rooftops, cerulean seas and green valleys, One&Only Portonovi bills itself as a place for “palatial living framed by fjord-like beauty.” The hotel has partnered with Swiss wellness juggernaut Chenot and lays claim to a 4,000sq m health-focused space replete with the obligatory ‘relaxation pavilion’, pool, steam room and sauna, but guests can also have on-site doctor assessments that check on cardio health; assess the thickness of skin collagen; provide neuromuscular activation treatments; curate nutritional menus; and suggest which stress-relieving activities may be best for you.
The treatment to seek: The ‘Phyto-Mud’ treatment has you encased in a body wrap made of green or white clay, microalgae and essential oils, all of which are said to alleviate muscle tension.
Lanserhof Lans, Innsbruck, Austria
In a nutshell: A leader in the scene since 1984, and the choice for those with deep pockets, Lanserhof, cushioned amongst a landscape of forests and Alpine mountains, champions ‘natural healing’ and high-tech medicine. In 2016, Düsseldorf architect Christoph Ingenhoven was charged with giving the destination an extensive revamp, making it lighter and more soothing, with a new five-floor building (filled with suites) that’s defined by its curving profile; a medical cold chamber, bathhouse and saltwater pool pad out the additions. It’s suggested that you stay for three weeks (one is the bare minimum, we say), and the true draws are the ionic footbaths, liver packs, detox-cupping and Kneipp water therapy.
The treatment to seek: The ‘Lanserhof Cure Advanced’ may take some time (two weeks) and is costly (€7,347), but its circuit, which includes blood analysis and detox drainages, is claimed to pay dividends.
RAKxa, Bang Nam Phueng, Thailand
In a nutshell: Even though it’s in a country famed for its wellness retreats, results-driven RAKxa is at the forefront of the circuit. An interior of refined lines and plenty of clean-cut wooden slats sets a calming tone that is fully bolstered by a clinic in which your first visit may be a 50-minute consultation (with a 25-minute follow up) with a specialist who’ll examine your current health status and then devise a comprehensive plan based on your goals; or a preventative ‘24 Hours Lifestyle Analysis’ that will use heart-rate variability data to bring to attention any insufficient recovery levels. You’ll also find movement specialists and physiotherapists at the medical gym.
The treatment to seek: The rather unique ‘Blood Ozone IV Formula’ is an alternative treatment to both enhance your ability to intake oxygen and boost your immune system – the use of ozone (a colourless gas that is made of three oxygen atoms) is said to disinfect the body and reduce the negative impact of viruses, bacteria and protozoa.
Want more travel inspiration? These are the top adventure holidays in Scotland…
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