20 Best Wellness Retreats to Help You Relax and Recharge
Updated: May 25, 2023Looking for some serious R&R? Make your physical, mental and spiritual health a top priority at these amazing wellness retreats.
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Wellness retreats for the ultimate in relaxation
If there’s one thing the pandemic taught us, it’s to never take our health and well-being for granted. That’s why so many of us are planning vacations right now, whether it’s a nearby weekend getaway or a longer, more far-flung trip, perhaps to one of the most luxurious spas in Hawaii or Europe. We’re looking for ways to recharge, strengthen our personal connections with friends and family and recover our sanity. For that reason, another big trend has emerged: wellness retreats. These vacations help you relax and de-stress, recharge and renew, or just point you toward a healthier lifestyle.
When you’re choosing a wellness retreat, says Heather Miskell, co-founder of the wellness website Well Defined, do your research. And make sure to be honest with yourself. She poses this question: “Are you looking for a relaxing getaway with a glass of rosé by the pool or a more intense experience where you hike six miles every day and alcohol is forbidden?” Make sure your expectations are aligned, consider the activities that are important to you, and think about the wellness goals you want to address.
How we chose the best wellness retreats
To find the best wellness retreats, we consulted experts in wellness, spas and travel and asked for their personal and professional recommendations. Then we cross-checked those suggestions with TripAdvisor to make sure these spa resorts had top rankings and excellent reviews. We also made sure to find properties across all price points, so there’s truly something for everyone here. Finally, we picked spots around the country for ease of travel and mini vacations, as well as around the globe so you can get zen in a bucket-list setting.
So, sit back, scroll through and find the right R&R for you, for a wellness week or even just a weekend. It’s an investment in yourself—and the benefits will last long after your vacation is over.
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Best for a luxury all-inclusive stay
BodyHoliday St. Lucia
Location: Saint Lucia
One of wellness expert Rona Berg’s favorite wellness retreats, the luxe BodyHoliday Saint Lucia has long been known as one of the top all-inclusive wellness resorts in North America. And this Caribbean hot spot is truly all-inclusive: A spa treatment is included in the room rate every day, with options ranging from a full-body massage to a Lucian Lime & Ginger Scrub to seawater thalassotherapy. Meals include healthy options in the Wellness Cafe, as well as indulgent choices at the full-service restaurants. And yes, you can have a cocktail here—there’s even a Wine Salon.
Outdoors, the beach and the sparkling Caribbean Sea beckon, as do activities such as yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, water sports, golf and tennis. You can also book a guided wellness program for an additional fee.
Pros:
- Evening entertainment and cocktail bars are both included, a rarity for spas
- Six dining spots included in the all-inclusive package, including the award-winning Tao
- Complimentary water sports, including scuba
Cons:
- Minimum age of 16, except during special WellFit Family weeks
- No TVs in the guest rooms
Best for all-inclusive gourmet dining
The Lodge at Woodloch
Location: Hawley, Pennsylvania
The stunning setting for this award-winning destination spa? More than 500 pristine wooded acres, with a 15-acre private lake, in under-the-radar northwest Pennsylvania. This all-inclusive resort includes lavish accommodations, exceptional dining, outdoor adventures, fitness/wellness programs and educational forums—all as part of your one-and-done price. The Lodge embraces a philosophy of personal awakening, and it offers more than 35 daily classes touching on everything from the expected (yoga and hiking) to the more meditative (watercolor painting and cooking) to the downright adrenaline-pumping (fire making and hatchet throwing). You’ll also find unique classes and features each season.
And the food here is a treat. You’ll find options such as filet mignon, wild mushroom bisque, diver sea scallops, and chicken breast with black truffles as part of the three-course dinner menu. (Yes, you get dessert too!)
Pros:
- Large portions and gourmet options on the all-inclusive menus
- Can order cocktails and wine, which not all spas offer
- Numerous activities at no additional cost
Cons:
- Alcohol is extra
- Books months in advance
Best for tropical zen
Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort
Location: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Sitting on one of the longest continuous white-sand beaches in the Caribbean, Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort offers the ultimate travel experience for guests looking for a zen island stay. The adults-only all-inclusive resort offers a Wellbeing 360 Experience, a collection of activities and rituals designed to connect guests with their physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, social and environmental development through the resort’s five wellness spaces: Social, Silent, Sensory, Culinary and Personal. Wellness activities include conscious-breathing exercises and guided meditation, mud cleansing, beachside yoga, workout classes, garden workshops, bike tours and mindful-eating classes.
Stay in the resort’s Level Wellness Suites and you’ll receive one spa treatment per day per person, a personal wellness concierge and a bicycle to explore the resort. Suites also feature a guided meditation from Deepak Chopra, mood-enhancing aromatherapy, dawn simulation for gentle wake-ups and a shower infuser that reduces chlorine to leave hair and skin feeling softer and smoother.
Pros:
- Programs designed by leading wellness expert Deepak Chopra
- Access to water sports and recreational activities and entertainment
- Adults-only
Con:
- Summers can be quite hot
Best for self-care
Hilton Head Health
Location: Hilton Head, South Carolina
The weeklong all-inclusive experiences at Hilton Head Health help guests learn to manage stress and find a healthy life balance by focusing on self-care. You’ll also be able to reconnect with nature, learn meditation and practice yoga, all while indulging in luxurious spa services and delicious, nourishing meals. Even better, this wellness retreat is located in Hilton Head, one of our favorite spots for an East Coast vacation.
Upon arrival, guests of the ReNew Experience have a one-on-one session with Hilton Head Health’s licensed therapist to develop goals and personal strategies, address potential barriers from stress, and focus on personal growth and life success. Guests participate in cooking classes, spa treatments, daily yoga, meditation and a number of nature experiences, including daily beach walks, seasonal SUP and kayaking, beach yoga and bike rides.
Pros:
- Personalized wellness goals
- A short bike ride away from the ocean
- All-inclusive
Cons:
- Wine is available by request only
- Hot and humid in the summer
Best for an Italian getaway
The Spa at Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Location: Lake Como, Italy
If you need a detox after all the pasta, bread and wine you consumed on your Italian holiday, book a stay at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo‘s T Spa in Lake Como. The family-owned, five-star resort is one of the lake’s historic properties and home to one of the most luxurious spas in the world. In addition to pampering, you’ll be treated to gorgeous views of the Bellagio and the Gringe mountains.
The 3,200-foot T Spa features five treatment rooms, an infinity pool, a hammam ice fountain (the only one in Lake Como), a yoga studio and much more. Pro tip: Opt for the Lake Como Relaxing Ritual, which uses locally grown herbs to provide a full-body, super-relaxing experience. This is one of the wellness retreats you’ll be dreaming about for years to come.
Pros:
- Unparalleled lake and mountain views
- Located in the “Hollywood of Italy,” where George Clooney has a home
- Intimate
Cons:
- Not open in the winter
- No all-inclusive option
Best for finding the fountain of youth
Six Senses Ibiza
Location: Ibiza, Spain
Set above the crystal-clear waters of Cala Xarraca Bay, Six Senses Ibiza offers a stunning bucket-list location for a wellness escape. Guests can choose from 116 guest accommodations, including townhouses, pool suites and even beachfront caves. The resort specializes in expert-led retreats, designed to help you reconnect with your inner peace so you can thrive when you’re back in the real world. If you’re looking to book a vacation this June, Miskell suggests the resort’s Young Forever Retreat with Dr. Mark Hyman. “It will feature practices included in his bestselling book Young Forever,” says Miskell. “You can also take advantage of [the resort’s] innovative diagnostics and biohacking therapies.”
While at this Ibiza retreat, enjoy the 12,900-square-foot spa, which houses the RoseBar Longevity Lounge, a steam room, hammam and holistic anti-aging program, as well as a state-of-the-art fitness area, cafe and juice bar. Outdoors, there’s everything from a boxing ring to an organic garden, where ingredients for the spa botanicals and Alchemy Bar are grown.
Pros:
- Expert-led retreats from top wellness experts
- Waterside location and gorgeous sea views
- Wide range of activities
Cons:
- Retreats are offered only on specific dates
- No all-inclusive option
Best for launching a healthy lifestyle
Canyon Ranch Lenox
Location: Lenox, Massachusetts
This spectacular spa has all the natural beauty of the Berkshires going for it, plus a reputation as one of the original names in destination spas. (There are also locations in Arizona, California and Las Vegas.) This all-inclusive U.S. retreat is as well known for its full range of health and fitness activities and spa amenities as it is for its food. (Healthy chicken enchiladas and asparagus guacamole, anyone?)
Its athletic instructors and speakers are also top-notch, but what really sets Canyon Ranch apart from the rest is its teams of on-staff medical professionals. They focus on preventive and integrative medicine and use advanced diagnostics and assessments to help you implement healthy lifestyle changes.
Pros:
- Top-notch staff of medical professionals
- Proven track record
Con:
- Mixed reviews on the health-focused culinary offerings
Best for mountain air
Tschuggen Grand Hotel
Location: Arosa, Switzerland
It’s all luxury at this Swiss Alps hideaway that has its own private mountain railway and a spa that looks like an ice palace built into the side of the mountain. As part of that design marvel, you’ll get to enjoy Tschuggen’s heated outdoor infinity pool, which boasts jaw-dropping views of the Alps and flows seamlessly into the surrounding landscape. Equipped with massage jets and underwater music, the pool is heavenly—and just one part of an extensive hydrotherapy circuit.
Another highlight at this wellness retreat: the Moving Mountains program, which is notable, says Berg, for its five-pillars focus—Move, Play, Nourish, Rest, Give. At this scenic hotel, you’ll also find outdoor yoga, a sleep program created in partnership with a leading sleep clinic, restorative spa treatments and multiple gourmet-dining options.
Pros:
- Stunning outdoor infinity pool, which is part of a hydrotherapy circuit
- Free use of the hotel’s Tschuggen Express mountain railway
- Ideal location for skiers and hikers
Con:
- No all-inclusive option
Best for spa treatments
Miraval Austin
Location: Austin, Texas
Located on 220 acres in the forested hills of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve, Miraval Austin is the ideal location for adults seeking a revitalizing getaway to relax and pamper themselves. The luxury wellness resort overlooks beautiful Lake Travis and offers guests an all-inclusive experience rooted in balance and mindfulness. (Miraval also has two other locations, in Arizona and Massachusetts.)
A stay at Miraval Austin includes access to Miraval’s acclaimed Life in Balance Spa, the property’s 10-acre farm and ranch (including Miraval’s Equine Experience), conscious-cooking classes in the Life in Balance Culinary Kitchen, and wellness workshops such as Tex Zen Yoga and Floating Meditation. Miraval also features spa treatments from the Slow Beauty Collection designed especially for each location; the Petal Pecan Mask is a must-try in the Austin location.
Pros:
- Local products used in spa treatments
- Round-trip airport shuttle transportation included
- Part of World of Hyatt, so you can book with points
- All-inclusive
Con:
- Summers in Texas can be extremely hot and humid
Best for a bucket-list retreat
Anantara Veli Maldives Resort
Location: Maldives
Recently reopened following nine months of extensive renovations, this adults-only resort combines spectacular scenery on a stunning turquoise lagoon with the ultimate in modern spa and wellness treatments. Highlights include the Balance Wellness by Anantara Spa with a resident nutritionist, holistic therapist, personal trainer, and yoga and lifestyle coach, plus a new hammam. And you can fully immerse yourself in your mind/body getaway with the Wellness Villa experience. Enhanced with light, sound and even scent therapy, it includes Ayurvedic spa amenities and a wellness minibar packed with herbal teas, healthy shakes and whole-food snacks.
Of course, wellness isn’t just about being perfectly peaceful—it’s also about living life to the max and expanding your horizons. To that end, guests at Anantara Veli have access to a wide selection of experiences both on, and under, the water, including diving, surfing and snorkeling with sharks.
Pros:
- Located in one of the most beautiful spots in the world
- A villa host will handle all your needs
- Adults-only
Cons:
- Remote location
- Not a family retreat
Best for yoga
Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health
Location: Stockbridge, Massachusetts
North America’s leading yoga retreat center, Kripalu is the perfect low-key getaway for anyone looking to recharge and reconnect in the gorgeous natural setting of the Berkshires. Its all-inclusive offerings include both gentle and advanced yoga, meditation, flavorful and nutritionally balanced meals, classes and workshops that follow Ayurvedic principles, and a philosophy of compassion and self-care.
Another bonus: This classic wellness retreat is incredibly well-priced, with all-inclusive stays starting at less than $200 per night. (Healing arts massages and spa treatments incur an extra charge.) This just might be one of the best, most affordable girls weekend getaways in America.
Pros:
- The top yoga retreat in the country
- Affordable pricing and flexible schedules
- Driving distance from Boston and New York
Cons:
- Rooms are very basic
- Silent breakfast (unless you eat outdoors)
Best for hiking
Red Mountain Resort
Location: Ivins, Utah
With the breathtaking natural setting of Zion National Park as its backdrop, Red Mountain Resort features a comprehensive selection of fitness classes and programs, outdoor and hiking adventures, nutritious cuisine and personal-discovery seminars. While the resort offers specialized health and wellness packages, it also offers family-friendly and adventure-based options, so you can bring along your nearest and dearest, if you’d like. But when you need a break from them, sneak away to the on-site Sagestone Spa & Salon. There, you’ll find an array of restorative spa services utilizing indigenous desert botanicals, local honey and mineral-rich muds, clays and salts. It’s truly the best of both worlds!
Pros:
- Located near several national and state parks
- Excellent hiking access
- Family-friendly
Con:
- The resort’s outdoor pools are closed in the winter
Best for an adults-only experience
Sensei Lanai
Location: Lanai, Hawaii
Surrounded by lush foliage, pine-covered mountains and fresh tropical breezes, the adults-only Sensei Lanai, a Four Seasons Resort, is a dream come true. Located on the picture-perfect Hawaiian island of Lanai, just a quick hop from Maui, this secluded wellness retreat provides a personal sensei guide for each guest to create a personalized itinerary focusing on the Sensei Way. This core philosophy of the resort distills preventive health science into three simple paths for everyday living: move, nourish and rest.
Retreats include customized spa treatments, fitness classes, Sensei by Nobu dining and some pretty amazing activities. We’re talking everything from private yoga sessions to horseback riding through the surrounding hills of Koele to sailing along the scenic Lanai coastline.
Pros:
- Personalized itinerary
- Customized spa treatments
- A remote tropical island feel without leaving the United States
Con:
- No international airport on Lanai, so you’ll need to transfer from Maui
Best for finding inner happiness
Civana Wellness Resort & Spa
Location: Carefree, Arizona
Nestled high in the Sonoran Desert, the Civana Wellness Resort & Spa offers highly personalized wellness experiences that don’t feel prescriptive, restrictive or regimented. The resort takes advantage of its spectacular setting with morning meditation in the rose garden, sunrise yoga, desert hikes, outdoor sunset spin classes and sound-bowl and stargazing sessions under the night sky. Civana’s newest program, Habit of Happiness, teaches mind-body strategies that foster a mindset of joy, gratitude and resilience, while other activities include emotional-intelligence workshops, aromatherapy, meditation and healing waters.
The resort’s culinary offerings are hyper-seasonal, fresh, modern takes on regionally inspired cuisine. And although Civana isn’t all-inclusive (restaurants and spa services incur a separate fee), room prices here include a wide array of wellness experiences—including mindfulness, movement, culinary, personal growth, outdoor adventure and creative arts—with prices starting at around $200.
Pros:
- Reasonably priced
- Expansive selection of included classes and experiences
Con:
- No all-inclusive option
Best for high-tech treatments
Carillon Miami Wellness Resort
Location: Miami, Florida
Even though the nightlife may be hopping nearby, this luxe Miami wellness retreat offers everything you need for serious relaxation: sumptuous lodgings, tempting food, a sybaritic spa, invigorating workouts, sparkling pools and a pristine beach nearby. The Carillon also features a European-style hydrotherapy circuit and $1.2 million worth of recently debuted wellness tech. For example, the resort’s sleep-therapy program includes VEMI (VibroAcoustic, ElectroMagnetic & Infrared technology) treatment in a glowing purple room, Spa Wave beds that use Quantum Harmonic Sound Therapy tables, and a futuristic meditation pod called the Somodome. Not sure what that does for you, exactly? Trust us—you’ll love it!
Pros:
- Incorporates the latest technology in wellness treatments
- Oceanfront setting
- Large apartment-style accommodations with kitchens
Con:
- No all-inclusive option
Best for hydrotherapy
The American Club
Location: Kohler, Wisconsin
Kohler Waters Spa has been an industry leader in hydrotherapy since its flagship location at the American Club opened in 2000. Inspired by Kohler’s connection to water (yes, it’s also the company that makes plumbing fixtures), the spa’s goal is to help guests discover new depths of relaxation and rejuvenation. Sound good? Well, this will sound even better: You’ll do that by engaging in soothing water-inspired treatments, including a self-guided hydrotherapy circuit. Go from a temperate shower with a skin-rub exfoliation, to a muscle-relaxing hot whirlpool, to an icy plunge-pool “shock,” to a hot Himalayan salt-wall sauna. You’ll also find spa options with Vichy showers, ice massages and deep-soaking magnesium baths.
Destination Kohler also offers a gorgeous natural setting: 500-plus acres of Wisconsin wilderness, more than 18 miles of woodland trails and access to the Sheboygan River. Take Yoga on the Lake classes outdoors, when the weather permits, to take full advantage of the scenic setting. All stays provide access to the fitness center’s 60 classes per week, a dozen tennis courts and assorted pools, though a spa package will get you some extra included amenities, including a free yoga class, a spa treatment and a $75 credit to use on anything you’d like.
Pros:
- Specialized hydrotherapy circuit and water-based spa treatments
- Immersive natural environment
- Less than two hours from Chicago
Con:
- If you don’t book a spa package, everything is a la carte pricing
Best for meditation
Art of Living Retreat Center
Location: Boone, North Carolina
A meditation and Ayurveda wellness getaway located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, the Art of Living Retreat Center offers the perfect tranquil setting for you to get super zen. Featuring vast, open spaces and outdoor activities, with yoga and meditation set against scenic backdrops, it’s the ideal spot to get away from it all.
To fully immerse yourself in the peaceful setting, consider one of the center’s silent retreats and spend your time in meditation. Or keep your vocal cords limber and choose one of the wellness escapes focused on girlfriends, mothers and daughters, couples or solo travelers. With the latter options, you can embark on guided nature walks around the 380-acre wooded property, make pottery in the clay studio, practice yoga, and chat and sing during evening fire circles.
All that meditation might make you hungry, and when that happens, you’ll find a vegetarian, whole-foods menu guided by Ayurvedic principles that aim to create harmony and balance through food. Expect flavorful soups, hearty stews and veggie-forward versions of dishes such as nachos and tacos, stir-fries, pastas and Indian curries.
Pros:
- A variety of meditation retreats, including the popular silent retreat
- Two-night retreats make it easy to try out the programs
- Options for all levels of experience
Cons:
- No traditional spa treatments
- All food is vegetarian, which might not please all guests
Best for a digital detox
Rancho La Puerta
Location: Tecate, Mexico
Set on 4,000 private acres of gardens, mountains and meadows, Rancho La Puerta calls itself the original fitness resort and spa—after all, it’s been offering full mind and body wellness stays since 1940! The all-inclusive programs here include more than 80 fitness classes, spa treatments, therapeutic sessions, cooking classes and renowned speaker series, sure to leave you feeling revitalized and transformed both physically and mentally. The property offers weeklong programs and encourages guests to put away their cell phones during their visit to truly unplug and relax. Can’t get away right now? Plan your own spa day at home, complete with slippers, robes and soothing candles.
Pros:
- Extensive range of included activities
- Private casitas for accommodations
Cons:
- You can’t stay for less than seven nights
- Limited Wi-Fi
Best for personalized service
Eden Roc Cap Cana
Location: Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
As a Relais & Chateaux property, this beachfront gem is one of the best hotels in the world—and the only hotel in the Dominican Republic with this designation. It received four stars from AAA and was named Best Hotel in the Caribbean by U.S. News and World Report. Intrigued? You should be, especially since the property recently introduced the fully inclusive Endless Wellbeing program.
Book this wellness package, and you’ll get access to a “wellness concierge,” who will customize the program for your specific wellness, fitness, dietary and mental-health goals. This might include helping you choose your preferred essential oil for in-room aromatherapy or setting up a customized in-room fitness area. You’ll also get a personalized menu at the property’s dining outlets, have access to a variety of activities and classes (including yoga, aero-yoga, meditation and healthy-cooking classes) and get a consultation with a natural-medicine guru.
And we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the Eden Roc Cap Cana’s spectacular natural setting: flour-white beaches, turquoise ocean waters and lush green vegetation in a private enclave. In your downtime, kayak, windsurf, water-ski or sail from the resort’s dock; float in the lagoon-style pools; or play a round of golf on the Jack Nicklaus–designed course that winds around the resort.
Pros:
- Your own wellness concierge, who personalizes your goals and activities
- Award-winning resort
- Lodging in private villas
Con:
- Late summer/early fall is hurricane season on the island
Best for families
Mohonk Mountain House
Location: New Paltz, New York
Get back to nature at this 19th-century lakeside resort set in a Victorian-style castle surrounded by 40,000 acres of forest. Aside from having an amazing spa, Mohonk is one of our favorite all-inclusive resorts for families, with guest amenities that include three farm-to-table meals a day, archery, arts and crafts, disc golf, tennis, swimming, guided hikes and kayaking. Plus, the resort offers a vast slate of winter programming, including snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and ice skating.
Berg is also a huge fan of this wellness retreat. “This all-inclusive resort in Upstate New York really takes advantage of its beautiful mountain setting,” she says, “with seasonal wellness programs that incorporate hiking, mindfulness and positive psychology programs.” She also calls out highlights such as the lakeside spa gazebo with immune-boosting spa treatments, cold plunges in the glacial lake (so invigorating!), singing bowls, yoga and qigong. You’ll never want to leave!
Pros:
- Tons of outdoor activities for you and the whole family
- Located in a real castle
- Drivable from New York City
Con:
- Lake swimming only in the summer months
Sources:
- Heather Miskell, co-founder of Well Defined
- Rona Berg, former editorial director of Organic Spa Media and author of Fast Beauty: 1,000 Quick Fixes
