Transformative Travel

The idea of ‘wellness’ has moved outside our daily rituals and into our travel plans as many reevaluate what a holiday means to them. The best wellness retreats balance tailored therapies, indulgent spa treatments, and body-nourishing cuisine to provide guests with a holistic, health-promoting experience. One of the most successful examples of this is SHA Wellness, whose stunning portfolio of properties in Spain, Mexico, and soon the UAE seamlessly combines genuinely beneficial programmes with luxury holiday elements. Think chic rooms, stylish pool areas, and first-class dining.

Click here to see more of the best wellness retreats from around the world

These spiritually minded stays encourage participants to disconnect from outside stressors and engage in contemplative practices to increase self-awareness and foster personal growth. Surrounded by Sal forests, the environment of Ananda in the Himalayas inspires both inner calm and awe-struck wonder. One of the world’s top holistic wellness retreats, it combines Ayurveda, yoga, traditional Eastern medicine, and other ancient and modern healing modalities to restore balance and leave your mind, body, and soul feeling transformed. 

In contrast, fitness-focussed stays up the tempo as expert trainers put you through your paces to get you feeling invigorated and empowered to reach your goals. Thailand’s world-renowned Chiva-Som is a prime example, offering a comprehensive programme of daily classes that includes everything from mat Pilates to metabolic breathwork and exhilarating Muay Thai boxing to cater to a range of ability levels. This is alongside a studied evaluation of your individual body’s composition and nutritional needs for an all-encompassing approach that packs a punch (no pun intended).

Click here to see more of our favourite Southeast Asian spa hotels

Health truly is wealth, and we often don’t realise this until our own takes a knock. As people seek to take charge of their health, a clutch of exclusive facilities with a distinctly medical concept at their core has sprung up. Chief among them is Palazzo Fiuggi just outside of Rome. Its ethos of ‘a longer life, better lived’ plays out against the restorative backdrop of the Italian countryside, where skilled professionals use cutting-edge technology to evaluate your body, medical history, and other lifestyle factors to deliver highly specialised, tailored care and advice.

“I was invited to stay at SIRO One Za'abeel: a new fitness and recovery-focused brand that opened its doors in Dubai in February 2024.

"We dove right in with a HIIT class crafted by the training team at AC Milan that left us on a high, if a little out of breath. If group workouts aren’t your thing, the rooms have their own exercise equipment so you can work up a sweat in your own time.

“Though there is an emphasis on challenging yourself physically, it’s not all burpees... and the food is far from joyless steamed veggies. Opt for a customised dietary programme or explore the 11 restaurants located within The Link: the futuristic boulevard that connects One Za’abeel's two towers.

“There was also some time for R&R and I found myself cocooned in a sci-fi green tube a.k.a the Triple Detox by MLX i³Dome. Designed by NASA to help astronauts to reacclimatise after a stint in space, surely it could reverse my coffee addiction? 

“I would highly recommend SIRO to anyone looking for a health reset or to prioritise their fitness and recovery for a few days.”

Click here to read David's full review of SIRO