THE WORLD’S MOST TRANSFORMATIVE
WELLNESS RETREATS
From a brain-boosting programme on Lake Geneva’s crystalline shores to Ayurvedic healing in the Himalayas, these landmark destinations blend ultra-personalised programmes and pioneering science with ancient traditions. Whether seeking to rejuvenate the mind, renew the body or uplift the soul, wellness seekers can do so in style at the world’s most revered retreats.
FOR COGNITIVE FUNCTION:
A BRAIN-BOOSTING PROGRAMME ON THE SHORES OF LAKE GENEVA
Founded in 1931 by Dr. Paul Niehans, the pioneer of cellular therapy, Switzerland’s Clinique La Prairie is the last word when it comes to longevity. Its new Brain Enhancement Programme, developed in collaboration with neuroscientists from the University of Lausanne, zeroes in on optimising cognitive function. The journey begins with molecular brain genetic screening and DNA analysis, followed by a bespoke plan that encompasses everything from nutrition to manageing neural oxidative stress.
FOR GUT HEALTH:
A DATA-DRIVEN APPROACH ON A GERMAN ISLAND
Long synonymous with medical excellence, Lanserhof — the wellness clinic beloved by Victoria Beckham and Karl Lagerfield — recently opened a sleek outpost on the windswept island of Sylt. Here leading experts including a neurologist, cardiologist, urologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, rheumatologistand orthopedist assess patients to inform personalised fasting protocols that cleanse and detoxify the gut.
FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH:
AN AYURVEDIC RETREAT IN INDIA’S HIMALAYAS
Set on a 100-acre estate that was formerly home to the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, Ananda is the industry leader when it comes to blending luxury wellness with spirituality. Surrounded by the rippling foothills of the Himalayas and with views over the Ganges valley, its spa, yoga pavilions and Ayurvedic suites are overseen by some of the world’s most revered practitioners of Tibetan medicine.
FOR FUN:
A SUMMER CAMP FOR ADULTS IN THE HOME OF AMERICAN WELLNESS
A favourite with Hollywood starlets since the 1950s, Golden Door is a 40-room escape luxuriating within 30-miles of private hiking trails. Proving that laughter is central to feeling well, the programme includes burlesque lessons, astrology readings and clay sculpture classes alongside more traditional healing offerings such as massage and water shiatsu treatments. Seasonal and delicious food grown on the hotel’s own biointensive farm is another highlight.
FOR A NATURAL BOOST:
A HOLISTIC OVERHAUL ON A MALDIVIAN ISLAND
A quilt of pearl-white sands, periwinkle seas and emerald jungle greets guests as they arrive by seaplane at Joali Being, the Maldives’ first private island dedicated to well-being. An encyclopaedic treatment menu draws on Chinese medicine and naturopathy to inform treatments ranging from chi nei tsang, a centuries-old abdominal massage technique, to herbology workshops. A session in the sound-therapy room is gently complemented by the lapping waves on a stroll along the island’s powder-soft shoreline.
FOR A CALM MIND:
A NATURE-FOCUSSED RETREAT IN
AUSTRIA’S ALPS
Nestled at 1,550m in the Tyrolean Alps, newly opened Eriro redefines the alpine retreat through nine contemporary suites dressed with local wood, raw stone and sheep’s wool panelling. Only accessible by cable car, this serene bolthole offers guests the chance to hike barefoot trails and experience guided meditations in pine forests, before returning to relax in the spruce-needle sauna. Highlights include a sound room attuned to the Earth’s frequencies and a meditation pool that mimics sunlight.
FOR FAMILY TIME:
A SPA SESSION IN PARIS
Neighbouring iconic attractions such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, Le Bristol has been one of Paris’ most celebrated hotels since 1925. The Brixtol X Bonpoint Spa is a recent collaboration with the famous French children’s brand offering a full treatment menu for youngsters using natural products specially formulated for delicate skin. Entire families can enjoy treatments such as facials and massages side-by-side, with adults also able to visit an enclosed rooftop pool offering expansive views of the city.
FOR MINDFULNESS:
AN OPPORTUNITY TO SLOW DOWN IN JAPAN’S HOT SPRINGS
Samurai warriors discovered the restorative power of thermal springs more than 2,000 years ago and the tradition continues at Amanemu, Aman’s zen property located among the geo-thermal springs and forests of the Ise-Shima National Park. Guests can choose from programmes such as the Mindfulness and Stress Management Immersion – a combination of meditation, shiatsu massage and aquatic bodywork – or keep things simple by whiling away hours in the open-aironsen baths.
The Longevity Issue
Next Article – Living Longer
Luxury wellness in 2025 is no longer defined by indulgent treatments or spa retreats on Caribbean islands. Breakthroughs in the fields of genetics, cellular biology and preventative medicine mean that the ideal of ‘ageing gracefully’ is increasingly being replaced by that of ageing purposefully. Rather than solely talking about living longer, today’s longevity experts are instead discussing ‘healthspan’, i.e. how mobile, cognisant and capable you will be in the last decade of life.