Wellness Destinations In Asia, North America, Africa and Europe

Year-end round ups typically highlight bucket list experiences around the globe. In the same manner, we welcome the start of 2025 with a new itinerary or vision board of the places we hope to discover or revisit. Regardless of destination, distance, and duration, travel has become both an investment and form of therapy. It allows us to discover facets of ourselves we otherwise wouldn’t come face to face with in our comfort zones. Trips driven by wellness have similarly reignited connection with one’s best self. The most impactful journeys I’ve ever been on were the ones that gave me permission to retreat, relax, and recalibrate.

Wellness Tourism has continuously grown in the past five years. It is a trajectory that has reshaped the way we experience and interact with the world. The Global Wellness Institute predicts that the sector will hit the $1.3 trillion mark in 2025. More than the standard spa massage and requisite fitness gym, discerning travelers now seek tailored experiences that support holistic wellbeing. As a result, a new crop of hospitality brands and concepts have also begun to proliferate the industry, offering innovative ideas that nurture the body, mind, and spirit.

Wellness Destination #1: Cruise Around Komodo National Park Onboard Amandira

The Komodo Expedition on board the AMANDIRA takes travelers on a seven-night voyage around the storied land of Komodo dragons. Built by the Aman hospitality group, this flagship luxury yacht takes inspiration from centuries-old Phinisi vessels. The private ship, which stretches 52 meters, was handcrafted by Konjo artisans using local hardwood. A total of five spacious cabins make the AMANDIRA cruise ideal for families or intimate groups of up to 10 guests.

The cruise experience onboard AMANDIRA is completely bespoke, and may vary depending on one’s traveling style. It is definitely ideal for those looking to detox from urban life and connect with wilderness. There is a full crew on board to ensure that all your wellness travel needs are met. Two private chefs whip up exceptional gourmet experiences that highlight the freshest Indonesian flavors. They also put together postcard worthy dining experiences like dinner under the stars, barbecues on secret beaches, and hilltop banquets.

The expedition explores the untouched terra and pristine waters of the Komodo National Park where Komodo dragons continue to live. This cruise includes a dive into some of the most biodiverse bodies of water–the Batu Monchu Bay, Gili Lawa Laut, Sabayor, and Masassar. During these dives one is likely to swim with dolphins, turtles, and manta rays. There is also time for lounging on the Pink Beach. Invigorating and treks and hikes await the adventure traveller on Rinca Island where stunning vistas of the savanna and sea await.

Apart from unparalleled water activities, treks, hikes, and an abundant spread of only the freshest ingredients, the Komodo Expedition also invites guests to immerse in wellness experiences that enhance one’s encounter with the UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a masseuse onboard the AMANDIRA for private massages after a full day at sea. Enjoy the early morning meditation on deck before docking on the beach for an energizing yoga flow.

Wellness Destination #2: Reset For The New Year At The Shou Sugi Ban House In the Hamptons

Shou Sugi Ban House is regarded as the wellness gem of the Hamptons. Located in Water Mill, the private sanctuary features 13 studios, state-of-the-art wellness facilities, a demonstration kitchen, and expansive spaces for movement and healing arts. Guests who are checked in can enjoy unlimited access to daily wellness activities like Ashtanga Yoga, Sound Healing, Meditation, Mat Pilates, Strength and Balance Training. They can also use the contrast plunge pools, infrared sauna, dry sauna, eucalyptus steam room, and as well the experience shower and ice fountain.

Spa rituals are in themselves reasons to book a weekend escape to the Shou Sugu Ban House. Bodywork treatments include lymphatic and prenatal massages, sports recovery therapy, as well as reflexology. Facials on the menu utilize only clean skin care philosophies and formulations by renowned brands like Tata Harper and Biologique Recherche. When you see these names attached to a spa, you know you’re in good hands.

The culinary experience at the Shou Sugi Ban House was developed by the team in collaboration with Chef Mads Refslund. The pioneer of new Nordic cuisine founded Michelin starred and recommended restaurants NOMA and ILIS, respectively. His vision for the Shou Sugi Ban House was to create a culinary program “guided by overarching principles of wellness and sustainability.” Ingredients are consistently market-fresh, seasonal and organic. The team at the Shou Sugi Ban House writes: “Eating closer to the source allows you to be more in tune with the season, and the food itself will hold a higher nutritional value.” The property also grows its own herbs, greens, nuts, berries, and edible flowers.

Seasonal Programs like the Claim Your Confidence Retreat with Lydia Fenet offer a more interactive experience of the space. Happening from January 9 to 12, 2025, this program guides participants as they step into a new year with clarity, confidence, and intention. It will include workshops and one-on-one sessions designed by the bestselling author, founder and CEO. There are options to either stay for the full four days or just one.

Wellness Destination #3: Holistic Healing And Transformations At The Euphoria Retreat in Greece

Founded by Marina Efraimoglou, Euphoria Retreat is located on the Peloponnese peninsula in Southern Greece. Its idyllic location sets the stage for a holistic healing and transformation where mythical landmarks and ancient civilizations are the fitting backdrops. Natural environment and time honored traditions of ancient Greece inform the Euphoria Retreat and its philosophy. The team refers to this as the Euphoria Metodos, which “embodies a holistic approach based on the understanding that our physical, emotional, and spiritual selves are intrinsically linked.” It also prescribes to the belief that our energetic cycles are in sync with nature and the changes in season. At Euphoria Retreat, Hellenic medicine and Taoist spiritually converge in a shared wisdom of the universe and human nature.

Programs, retreats, and treatments at the picturesque mansion are designed to “reboot your energy levels and align your inner world with the rhythms of the natural world.” These wellness journeys support a wide range of wellness goals like detoxification, relaxation, healthy weight loss, longevity, nutrition and fitness, emotional harmony, and even adventure. Programs that have piqued my curiosity include the Euphoria Retreat with Elizabeth Lesser, Herbal Medicine for Everyday Living Retreat, and Yoga and Mindfulness.

Innovative and best-in-class facilities make the Euphoria Retreat among the best in the world. They take up four expansive levels connected by a spiral staircase where a Kneipp Therapy Water Well is located. This special water feature showcases natural skylights that illuminate hot and cold foot baths beneath.

The sphere pool is considered as the spa’s centerpiece. Byzantine domes and spherical walls surround hydrotherapy jets that help ease muscle aches. Another sphere with water that’s waist deep surrounds a four-meter deep central “womb,” Diving into this abyss-like part of the pool brings forth the feeling of being “connected to your primal self, where dreams are born and where the body comes out of the head and into feeling.” More than a therapeutic pool, this remarkable wellness feature symbolizes spiritual rebirth. Other features of the resort that will inspire one to book a ticket to the south of Greece are the Watsu Pool, Ice Fountain, Tepidarium, and Speleotherapy Salt Room.

Euphoria Retreat has drawn wellness enthusiasts from around the globe because of the patented 3GL Plus Therapy. This cutting edge approach to nutrition follows the biomarkers for metabolic health, namely glycogen, glucose, and glutathione. It also considers the amino acids in our bodies responsible for metabolism. Results from the 3GL test inform bespoke menus intended to boost balance, energy and overall health.

Wellness sojourns at the Euphoria Retreat are made more luxurious by rooms and suites dressed in colors, textures, and patterns of the Byzantine era. Each one is well appointed to support rest and undisturbed relaxation. Euphoria Retreat’s team writes, “No two rooms are the same; all have their unique touches. Several offer disabled access, while those in the lovingly refurbished 1830 Leoncini Mansion can be booked for exclusive use and come complete with a private dining room.”

Wellness Destination #4: Better Aging At The La Réserve Genève in Switzerland

La Réserve Genève invites guests to embrace slow living and allow the most memorable moments to unfold. Located on the shore of Lake Geneva and set in 10 acres of sprawling greens, the renowned hotel and spa sits right across from iconic Mont Blanc. Unlike most of the classic five star accommodations found across Switzerland, La Réserve is contemporary, impossibly chic, and cozy. It is home to Michelin-starred restaurant, Tsé Fung. But apart from food and sights as its main attractions, La Réserve has also drawn an elite crowd of beauty and wellness enthusiasts to the Swiss leader in anti aging, the Nescens spa.

Occupying 27,000 on an entire floor of the hotel, the wellness center features: an indoor and outdoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness room, sauna, treatments rooms, a steam bath, and a Rosanno Ferreti (in my opinion, the Rolls Royce of hair cuts) salon. This wellness mecca offers a comprehensive menu of holistic health programs. The spa also brings its unrivaled expertise in healthy aging to support men and women as they optimize energy, nutrition, balance, movement, and vitality.

The spa utilizes state-of-the-art technologies such as Oxylight, diamond dermabrasion, oxygen infusion, microcurrents, LED therapy, and ultrasound for its facial treatments. Esthetic doctors of Nescens Spa can also administer skin rejuvenating treatments to compliment these facials. These include: Exosome Therapy, Profhilo Injections, Medical Peeling, and Hyaluronic Acid Injections. The La Réserve team writes: “Spa Nescens offers you unique synergies between treatments, nutrition and physical activity in order to achieve visible and lasting results. Services are provided by a multidisciplinary team of therapists, coaches, and medical specialists with expertise in the realms of preventive and aesthetic medicine.”

Wellness Destination #5: Your Ultimate Hammam Indulgence At The Royal Mansour Morocco

The Royal Mansour Marrakech is a portal into a world of opulence, history, mysticism and ancient wellness practices. Located close to the Jemaa El Fna square, the property cocoons its guests in a medina within a medina. The main idea was to embody Moroccan art de vivre. Instead of the typical suites and hotel hallways, visitors are invited to luxuriate in grad riads and explore winding alleyways. The team at The Royal Mansour Marrakech shares, “[We are the] only hotel establishment to offer this unique concept.” Luxury insiders have come to know The Royal Mansour as the “best hotel in Marrakech.”

Surrounded by walls of the imperial city, this iconic palace sits on 5-hectares of land. Lush gardens surround a collection of 53 riads. Each one covers three floors with its own pool and terrace. There is an option to book the Grand Riad, which is a four-bedroom palace and celebrity favorite. It is configured with its very own garden, hammam, and elevator and fitness room.

The very same sense of magic and splendor awaits at Spa Royal Mansour. This all white, 2,500 square meter space resembles fine white lace with its intricate cut-out panels, and marble inlays. The soothing sound of water from the fountains, accompanied by the fragrant aromas of essential oils immediately ease the senses once inside the spa. The Hamman is a true signature treatment that embodies the very essence of Moroccan wellness. It consists of a steam, beauty rituals, exfoliation, body wrap as well as floral water mists.

There are several types of signature hammam treatments on the spa menu that can either energize (Step Into The Atlas), boost radiance (Step Into Taliouine), or calm the senses (Step Into Kalaât M’gouna). marocMaroc, a luxury skincare and spa brand that draws from Moroccan traditions of beauty, has also partnered with the spa to create a collection of hammam treatments for detoxification and relaxation. According to the team, “The Spa Royal Mansour Marrakech traced the history of thermal baths and uncovered the beauty secrets of the Moroccan women who bear the traditions of this thousand-year-old art.”

Wellness Destination #6: Discover The Healing Waters Of Palazzo Fiuggi Medical Spa

Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Spa was recognized as the World’s Best Wellness Retreat in 2024 by World Spa Awards. Located 50 minutes away from Rome and perched on ancient hilltops that are 700 meters above sea level, the property rests on eight hectares of land. A natural spring runs through it, which is believed to be the source of Fiuggi’s healing waters. This is the beating heart of the medical spa’s medical, wellness, and movement programs.

The spa features three main swimming pools and a golf course that date back to 1936. Thalassotherapy pools harness the healing properties of Fiuggi waters, which help with detoxification, anti-inflammation, joint and muscle relaxation. They also address skin conditions such as psoriasis and dermatitis. Other features of the spa include a sauna, Turkish steam room, jacuzzi, and chronotherapy showers. There are several treatments on the spa’s menu, but among those not to be missed are the Psammo Experience and Hydrotherapy Three-Step Ritual.

Psammo works with the heat of natural quartz sand to relax the senses while relieving muscle and joint pains. Meanwhile, the Hydrotherapy Three-Step Ritual is a signature treatment that begins with a hydrotherapy bath. This is followed by sea mineral body wrap and capped off by a contrast shower.

The Movement Lab of Palazzio Fiuggi is a wellness masterpiece and a mecca for some of the world’s elite athletes. It is appointed with future perfect, best-in-class features like the Icaros. This VR-driven fitness system merges movement with gaming to create a truly unique and highly dynamic workout experience. It utilizes a gyroscopic mechanical device to control movement. Icaros takes users to virtual realms while boosting balance, muscle strength, coordination, and reflex.

The medical wellness spa center also offers Reaxing Neuroactive Training. This training system enhances both body and brain function. It works to boost the ability of our senses to connect, our nervous system to react, and our motor skills to react through motion. Reaxing helps to increase sports performance, muscle reactivity, and metabolic activity.

After a full day of movement, outdoor activities, and spa pampering, retreat to any of Palazzo Fiuggi’s well-appointed suites. For unrivaled luxury and privacy, Villa Luisa is 2,000 square meter, four-story enclave built in the Liberty-period style. It is configured with seven bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, dining and living areas, and a private garden. The spa is fitted with its very own sauna, Turkish bath, treatment rooms and state-of-the-art gym. It is the ideal Italian retreat for rest, restoration, and wellness done in the Roman style.