Taking control of your health and wellbeing can lead you to new levels of peace and happiness. A wellness retreat or holiday is a great way to do it. They can give you the boost you need to achieve your goals or introduce you to a new virtuous lifestyle.
With so many incredible breaks available, that whatever your goals, you are bound to find one that suits you. There are opportunities to focus on your fitness, eat nutritious food, get close to nature, dig deep into yoga or just kick back and relax.
Whether you are looking for a week of yoga or a luxurious spa break, there is a wellness retreat for you. This list will introduce you to some of the options available and kickstart your search.
Table of Contents
What is a Wellness Break?
Wellness breaks include a vast range of activities and experiences. There is no one size fits all, but they often share the common aim to refresh body, mind and soul. Wherever you choose to go or whatever you decide to do, you will have the chance to focus on improving your own personal health.
Breaks like these are as varied as the people wanting to go on them; some want to actively pursue specific healthy activities while others are looking for a beneficial break from their daily routines. Your motivation, interests and objectives will help you to choose the type of wellness travel that suits you best.
The different types of wellness break:
Spa breaks
These often involve a stay in a hotel with access to a pool and spa facilities. During your stay, you may be able to choose a massage or a treatment or two.
Detox and digital detox
Often set in beautiful countryside settings these aim to get you back to a simpler life. For general detox, you may spend some time learning about health and nutrition or how to prepare beneficial juices. On a digital detox, you may be asked to leave your phone in your suitcase and engage in other activities to refocus you away from your devices.
Exercise and fitness
A fitness break will allow you to focus on getting active. They are often open to any ability from total beginner to advanced levels. If you want to improve your fitness but aren’t sure where to start one of these will suit you perfectly. There are often dedicated trainers to teach you new skills and achieve a level of confidence and ability that will allow you to continue at home.
Weight loss and nutrition
These can be similar to fitness breaks but are specifically focused on helping you break habits and develop new ones to reduce your weight or improve your diet. They may involve sports and fitness, cooking and even life coaching.
Yoga retreats
These are the most popular wellness retreats and are great for advanced practitioners but are also excellent if you’ve never even tried even the most straightforward yoga pose. They often pair yoga with beautiful settings, good food and good company.
Adventurous escapes
If you want something with a bit more adrenaline, you are ideally suited to an adventurous break. These often involve exciting and energetic activities which can be paired with more relaxing pursuits like meditation or mindfulness.
Getting back to nature
What better way to recharge than get out into nature with enough time and attention to appreciate it. There are lots of retreats that will take you to some of the most beautiful places on earth.
How we’ve chosen the breaks on this list
We’ve carefully selected these breaks to cover a wide range of interests and show you the incredible options available. We’ve included Spa breaks, yoga retreats, hikes into nature, surfing, stand up paddleboarding, even an adventure across the Galapagos Islands and an off-grid experience in Canada.
To make our final choice we’ve selected; retreats with well-respected teachers, hotels with incredible accommodation, nature retreats in areas of outstanding beauty and generally looked out for the best of the best.
The Best Wellness Breaks in the UK
IMPORTANT NOTE – This list will be updated as soon as new breaks become available post-COVID.
1. The Belfry
Luxury Pamper Spa Break in Sutton Coldfield – Two Nights for Two People
For a real treat, this is a luxury spa break that delivers rest and relaxation from the moment you arrive. Check-in, then head to the pool, relaxation rooms or hot tubs. Set in the incredible Belfry Hotel and Resort in Sutton Coldfield you will be blown away by the many opportunities to be properly pampered.
You get two full days and nights and two 55 minute spa treatments of your choice. You can spend your time in the Leisure Club, the pool, the Ryder Grill restaurant or enjoy a gentle stroll around the magnificent grounds.
If you need an energy boost and a weekend where your most significant decision will be pool or hot tub, get yourself a voucher at Virgin Experience Days and book your break for any time in the next 90 days.
What’s included?
Two nights stay
Two 55 minute spa treatments each
A three-course dinner on the first evening
Full English breakfast each morning
Entrance to Bel Air nightclub and lounge on Friday or Saturday
Welcome gift pack including
Key points
Classes or facilities –Fire & Ice Experience, swimming pool, whirlpools, fitness studio and choice of spa treatment
Spa treatments – Full body massage, Illuminating body treatment, Reiki, Reflexology, Indian head massage, Hot chocolate body shot, Thai poultice massage,
Location – The Belfry Hotel & Resort, Lichfield Road, Wishaw, Sutton Coldfield
When –Any time, seven days a week Available seven days a week excluding Christmas and New Year. Bank holiday weekends are an additional £30.
Times – Check-in: 15:00, Check-out: 11:00
Price –£719 for two people
The Best Wellness Breaks in the World
1. Monkeys Bootcamp
Nature, Sports and Yoga in Barcelona, Spain– Seven Day Retreat
Not far from Barcelona you can immerse yourself in nature and get serious with sports, yoga, massage and personal development. The Monkey’s Bootcamp takes place in and around Cal Victoria, a large villa in the small town of Vallcebre.
It is the perfect, peaceful environment where you can truly focus on getting strong and healthy, surrounded by aromatic plants and singing birds. During your stay, you will practice regular yoga, Pilates and Bodyfit and well as getting to try your hand at Via-Ferrata climbing and stand up paddleboarding.
Your meals will be provided and delivered from a local restaurant featuring the best local produce. Meat eaters, pescatarians, vegetarians and vegans will all find a range of tasty dishes to enjoy. The villa has lots of space and includes one single room and four twins as well as three large shared bathrooms. If you want to get active and get into nature, this one’s for you!
What’s included?
7 days, 6 nights stay
3 meals a day
5 yoga classes
2 cross training sessions
2 Pilates class
2 stretching class
2 guided hikes
1 cooking workshop
1 guided meditation session
1 Via-ferrata climbing session
1 Stand up paddleboarding session
1 nutrition presentation
1 massage workshop
1 life coaching presentation
1 art creation workshop
Available for an additional cost:
Drinks and snacks
Personalised Ayurvedic consultation
Personalised training program
Key points
Classes or experiences – Yoga, Cross training, Pilates, Hiking, Cooking, Meditation, Via-ferrata climbing, Stand up paddle boarding, Massage workshop, Life Coaching, Art creation
Yoga style – General
Experience level – Beginner/Intermediate
Class size – 8 participants
Location –Cal Victoria, Vallcebre, Berga
Languages – Instruction delivered in English. Instructors also speak French, Italian, Polish, Russian and Spanish
When – Retreats are run throughout the year
Times – Check out: 10:00
Price – From €899 per person
2. Odyssey MVMT
Yoga and Fitness in Canggu, Bali– Seven Day Retreat
This seven-day retreat is an incredible opportunity to benefit from personalized yoga and fitness instruction while settling into the incredible resort village of Canggu. Odyssey MVMT is a fitness and wellness centre where they take mind and body transformation seriously.
Your days will be packed full of nourishing food, mindful movement, yoga, and meditation. To balance the high levels of activity, you will have plenty of time to enjoy the local shops, take a trip to nearby Echo Beach or sit back and relax with a cocktail or mocktail.
You will stay in the Bija Villas which are a 2-minute walk from the Odyssey headquarter giving you the chance to enjoy the scenery and get ready for the day ahead. Rooms are spacious and come with access to the outdoor pool and free Wi-fi.
The real beauty of this retreat is that you have access to a personal concierge who will help to customize your week to meet your needs. They will also ensure that you achieve your goals and leave feeling relaxed and proud of your achievement.
What’s included?
Seven days, six nights stay
1x discovery session to set goals
2x 30 minutes personal/small group training sessions
1x 60 minutes private yoga session with an Odyssey expert
1x life coaching, health coaching or healing session with an Odyssey Coach
1x take-home fitness and nutrition plan
Unlimited fitness and yoga classes at Odyssey MVMT
5x massage or beauty treatments
1x tiny adventure (choose from surf lesson, Mount Batur hike, downhill mountain biking, Balinese cooking class, silver jewellery making class and more!)
Odyssey MVMT welcome pack
Airport transfers
Key points
Classes and experiences – Training sessions, Yoga, Life coaching, Massage, Beauty treatments, Choice of tiny adventure
Yoga style –General
Experience level – Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
Class size – Small group sessions
Location – Bija Villas, Canggu, Bali (Accommodation), Odyssey MVMT HQ (Classes)
Languages – Instruction delivered in English. Instructors also speaks Spanish
When – Available throughout the year
Times – Check-in: 14:00, Check-out: 12:00
Price – From €1156 per person
3. Pop Retreats
Ayurveda in Sri Lanka – 8, 15 and 22 Day Retreats
Ayurveda is a whole-body healing system based on maintaining the delicate balance between mind, body, and spirit. On this retreat, this will be achieved through expertly taught yoga sessions, therapies and deep healing which will follow a customized treatment plan. Whether you stay for 8, 15 or 22 days, your hosts will offer you every opportunity to achieve optimal health and peace of mind.
Set in a luxurious resort on the Sri Lankan coast, you will find everything that you need, including beautiful sea views and a step back from your busy life. Most of your sessions and therapies will be delivered outside in the treatment garden allowing you to fully relax and take in the peace of your surroundings.
You will take part in daily yoga sessions and have your nutritional needs attended by chefs cooking delicious, nutritious, vegetarian meals from local ingredients. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to fully immerse yourself in Ayurveda and walk an alternative path to total health for body, mind and soul.
What’s included?
Recharge
8 days, 7 nights stay
All meals
Daily therapies and treatments
Ayurvedic therapies including Abhyanga massage, Udvartana herbal powder treatment, and purgative treatments
Daily yoga, meditation, and breathing sessions
Excursions such as temple visits and beach outings
Revive
15 days, 14 nights stay
All meals
Daily therapies and treatments
Daily herbal oil massages, herbal medicines, medical enemas
Controlled Ayurvedic diet
Classic Ayurvedic treatments such as Nabi Abhyanga, Shirodhara, and Vasti
Daily yoga, meditation, and breathing sessions
Excursions such as temple visits and beach outings
Renew
22 days, 21 nights stay
All meals
Full Panchakarma program
Daily therapies and treatments
A wide variety of treatments, herbal medicines, and massages
Daily yoga, meditation, and breathing sessions
Excursions such as temple visits and beach outings
Key points
Classes and experiences – Ayurvedic therapy, Massage, Yoga, Meditation, Breathing, Excursions
Yoga style – Hatha, Vinyasa, Yin/Restorative, and AcroYoga
Experience level – Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced
Class size – Small classes and one to one sessions where possible
Location – Lunukalapuwa, Kottegoda, Dickwella, Matara, Sri Lanka
When – This retreat runs throughout the year
Price – From €1290 per person
4. Yahweh Rapha Centre of Advanced Energy Medicine
Restorative Fall Colour Experience With Tours and Hikes in Michigan – Four day retreat
If spirituality is your thing, this fantastic retreat to a Michigan wellness centre will provide healing like nothing ever experienced before. You will receive personal treatment in a range of alternative therapies and the opportunity to explore the local area and vineyards.
When you’re not enjoying private yoga sessions or connecting with your higher self, you can tour the region’s best wineries and taste their produce. Your hosts aim to help you to achieve complete relaxation and a feeling of renewal.
Because this is an Autumn (Fall) retreat, as you travel you will be able to tour the astonishing leaf colours that the region is famous for. This is a great option if you want to achieve some intense relaxation and have an open mind for alternative therapies, and wine.
What’s included?
3 nights, 4 days stay
Daily breakfast, dinner and beverages
Alternative healing services and therapies
Advanced energy medicine Spa and clinic on site
Yoga and meditation (private instructed class)
Nature hikes
Winery tours
Transportation to and from dining establishments, tours and hikes
Pick up and drop off to airport on request
(Flights not included)
Key points
Classes and experiences – Healing, Therapy, Yoga, Meditation, Hiking, Winery Tours
Yoga style – General, Vipassana
Experience level – Beginner/Intermediate/ Advanced
Class size – Private sessions
Location – Yahweh Rapha Centre, Petoskey, Michigan, United States
When – Available from September to October
Times – Check-in: 12:00, Check-out: 13:00
Price – From £1,338 per person
Deposit – £669
5. Galapagos Islands
Luxury Wildlife Yoga Retreat– Ten days
In a place famous for its incredible nature and jaw-dropping natural scenery, you will find peace, relaxation and great local food. A retreat in the Galapagos Islands is the perfect way to drop out of ordinary life and get close to nature in a way you never have before.
You will stay in the incredible Waterfront hotel and take part in yoga sessions first thing each morning. Sessions will be on the beach or the hotel rooftop, allowing you to unplug and soak up the joy of the natural world.
You will have daily yoga sessions combined with incredible excursions. These include the frigate bird feeding ground, Galapagos penguins, swimming with sea lions, snorkelling to look at reef sharks and even visit the lava tunnels.
This break will let you fully take in what the Galapagos has to offer. With the help of yoga and meditation, you will harness the power of the world around you and make a lasting change to your health and wellbeing.
What’s included?
9 nights, 10 days stay
(8 nights in a shared double room at the Waterfront Inn and 1 night in shared 2 person Luxury room at Holiday Inn)
Daily yoga/meditation
All meals apart from 2 lunches, 3 dinners.
Transfer to/from hotel in Galapagos Islands
Day trip to Rancho Primicias, Gemelos and Lava tunnels
Day trip to North Seymor the frigate bird breeding ground
Day trip to Bartolomé Island to see the Galapagos penguins
Day trip to Santa Fe to swim with sea lions
Day trip to Pinzon to snorkel and look at reef sharks
All local taxes, fees and permits
All transport and local guides for the various tours and events
(Flights, some meals and tips for locals not included)
Key points
Classes and experiences – Yoga, Meditation, Day trips,
Yoga style – General, Yin, Hatha
Experience level – Beginner/Intermediate
Location – Galápagos, Ambato, Ecuador
When – Feb 28 – Mar 9, 2021
Price – From £4,401 per person
Deposit – £680
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