Top Places to Travel to For A Wellness Retreat
Wellness tourism is all about traveling for the purpose of taking care of your body — spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally — and to, hopefully cultivate a sense of mindfulness in your everyday life. The wellness tourism sector has grown rapidly in the past couple of years. According to a study done by the Global Wellness Institute, the global wellness economy, which includes everything from the spa industry, to mineral springs, to the beauty and anti-aging sector, comes in at over 3.6 trillion dollars.
While the anti-aging and beauty sector contributes the most to that amount (over 900 billion dollars), the wellness tourism industry is not lacking in contribution either. With over 500 billion dollars spent on wellness tourism, it is no surprise that there are an enormous number of wellness retreats sprinkled around the globe. With so many options, it can be hard to decide the best places to go.
According to Travel to Wellness, the top destinations often focus primarily on nature — shows the majority (roughly 51%) of people care most about. After nature, the biggest factors when choosing a location were peace and quiet, spa amenities and, culture.
Below are a list of the top four locations where nature, peace and quiet, spa amenities and culture all come together to create the perfect wellness retreat. So, if you are considering a vacation centered on your personal well-being, be it physical, mental, emotional or spiritual, make sure to consider these five amazing places.
Hawaii: With gorgeous beaches, volcanic mountains and a tropical landscapes, it is easy to understand why Hawaii is a wellness retreat paradise. There are plenty of outdoor activities to take part in — from hiking, to snorkeling to kayaking along the vivid green coast. The weather is always nice and the locals are warm and inviting. If you are looking for an award winning spa, look no further than the Grand Wailea Resort and their Spa Grande on the island of Maui. It is the largest health resort on the island and was voted one of the top in all of Hawaii by Conde Nast Traveler.
Italy: Once out of the major cities like Rome and Milan, the Italian countryside is the perfect location for a relaxing vacation. With stunning landscapes, great food, friendly locals, and some of the best wine in the world, Italy is a great place to spend a couple days focusing on yourself. One spot in particular, Adler Thermae Spa Resort, gives a nice Tuscan spin on the wellness retreat: they give you the option of partaking in vinotherapy, a beauty therapy that combines the anti-aging powers of wine grapes with the relaxing powers of facials and massages. The resort also has over 100 miles of hiking and cycling trails that wind through the countryside, stopping off at wineries, truffle tastings and olive oil producers.
Bali: With its lush vegetation, volcanic sand beaches and gorgeous Hindu temples, Bali is a wellness lovers paradise.Bali also focuses a lot on the spiritual and mental side of wellness. Many resorts offer a number of classes and activities, from different types of yoga to Balinese healing practices. One place in particular, Fivelements Puri Ahimsa, is a healing center that allows visitors to learn more about Balinese wellness culture, as well as take classes like the yoga and clay retreat — which mixes yoga with spinning clay on a wheel.
British Columbia: If you are looking for something a bit less tropical, and a lot more wild, then British Columbia is the place for you. With dense forests, majestic mountains and lots of wildlife the Canadian province is the place to retreat into nature and get in tune with your physical being. Mountain Trek is a different type of wellness retreat because it focuses mostly on physical health. Their activities are intense — but are bound to help you get in touch with nature and your internal self. Their most popular retreats are weight loss focused where you spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities like hiking and eating food that is locally sourced. And to, top it off, on the last day they reward you with dreamy spa treatments.
Travel is already a wonderful way to focus on getting in touch with yourself. But if you are looking for a vacation that takes self-care to a whole new level, why not check out these four places.
