Cool Retreats
The rise of wellness culture and alternative medicine, alongside the growing popularity of yoga classes even in the office and juice bars, has given way to a new way of traveling: hybrid destinations that sit somewhere between the boutique hotel and the meditative retreat. A welcome pause from stressful environments, hyper-connected lives, and increasingly frantic rhythms.
Indeed, in a world where disconnecting has become a daily necessity for managing one’s emotional intelligence pairing spiritual and physical development for a healthy mind in a healthy body choosing to step away for a few days, far from the noise of the world, to reconnect with oneself, is an option drawing a growing number of devotees. Women, but increasingly men too, living demanding city lives, are seeking the perfect combination of disconnection and self-reflection: kindness, relaxation, coaching, and healthy food, all in one place.
Slow travel, premium format
In line with the slow travel movement, but in a premium format, the retreat is no longer reserved for devotees of fasting and meditation. Far from silent monasteries and stripped-down mountain lodges, a new generation of retreats with the aesthetic codes of contemporary boutique hotels is opening its doors to the public, often launched by former high-powered executives turned wellness entrepreneurs. Their goal: to meet the demand of a clientele that wants to disconnect in order to better reconnect all within an inspiring, worldly setting. Think locations deep in nature or on remote coastlines, far from mass tourism, paired with yoga, qigong, and meditation practice with green juices and poke bowls to enjoy (and, of course, photograph) along the way.
New destinations are emerging in India, Mexico, Bali, and France.
Where to go
At Somatheeram, in India’s Kerala region, stays are built around Ayurveda a tradition rooted in Indian medicine and considered the oldest holistic healing system in the world. Set within a tropical garden overlooking the sea, the property offers Ayurvedic treatments alongside yoga and meditation sessions, in the purest Indian tradition. (somatheeram.in)
Yoga, massages, and healthy food: that’s the program at Mexican eco-lodge Amansala. At the foot of the hotel, an endless beach and crystal-clear water await for long swims or diving lessons. Culture lovers can take a trip to the ancient Mayan city of Tulum nearby. (amansala.com)
Nestled in the Balinese jungle, between a river and a vast clearing, Como Shambhala Estate combines spiritual and earthly nourishment. Guests can take Pilates or qigong classes, go hiking or climbing in nature, and enjoy Asian cuisine at its healthiest. (comohotels.com)
Smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other screens: all banished. Located at the foot of the Auvergne volcanoes, Vichy Célestins Spa Hôtel is a pioneer of the digital detox retreat. On the program: sophrology, behavioral coaching, sport all washed down with organic fruit juice. (vichy-spa-hotel.fr)
