special report
travelled
From mindfulness in the Alps to silence in Worcester, Carey Townsend reports on wellness tourism and how transformational travel experiences can nourish and support us from the inside out.
We’re at a time in our history when personal wellness is a non-negotiable. So, it is not a trend but a movement towards long-term good health that people seek wellness in their downtime – which might only be when they are travelling. Now more than ever we are actively seeking ways to unwind, recharge and reboot.
The Global Wellness Institute reports that wellness tourism is predicted to grow by an average of 21% annually through 2025, as personal wellbeing becomes less of an indulgence and more of an essential for today’s consumers. Travellers are more reflective than ever, more community focused, and on the hunt for experiences that nourish and support from the inside out. Daria Rasmussen, co-founder of Bliss & Stars (a wilderness retreat), says: “The pandemic and the collective trauma drove the greater awareness of mental wellness, awareness of anxiety and stress that is prevalent in our lives. People are seeking meditation, breathwork and holistic practices, and with it, transformational travel experiences that offer more meaning.”
We’ve rounded up a menu of wellbeing experiences, each mindfully designed for optimum restoration – however that looks for you. As the hospitality industry continues to embrace the future of wellness travel, we can expect curated mind-body-soul offerings that promise much-needed rejuvenation and reconnection. Your journey awaits.
Bliss & Stars Wilderness Retreat Clanwilliam
This unique experience is built around physical and mental wellbeing, adventure, unexpected food experiences, learning and giving back. The team at Bliss & Stars expertly weave together ancient Buddhist teachings with the science of astronomy to design their space and their experiences.
They offer guests a stay in a remote location where they can tap into the immense power of nature to calm and heal. ‘Mindfulness Immersion’ is about finding calm in a frantic world, while ‘Befriend Yourself’ helps visitors feel connected in times of distress, rather than feeling isolated and alone. Their ethos of regeneration is also reflected in how the retreat operates and reflects love for the earth and community. They are fully solar-powered, use natural spring water, have removed invasive plants and fish and eschew single-use plastic. The team has also developed its own clean skincare line that not only nourishes body and mind, but is also sensitive to the land.
Vipassana Meditation
Dhamma Patāka, Worcester
Mindfulness, long sought by spiritual seekers, is the aim of this 10-day silent meditation retreat in the Karoo – believed to be one of the most pollution-free and serene environments in South Africa. The meditation retreat offers Vipassana yoga, one of India’s most ancient mindfulness techniques. Meaning “to see reality as it is”, it involves observing your thoughts and emotions as they are, without judging or dwelling on them.
The journey creates space for self-transformation through self-observation, which involves meditation, clean meals, fasting and spending time in nature. Benefits include developing a clear and calm mind, and reducing stress and anxiety.
Dhamma Patāka is the first Vipassana centre to be established in Africa, and one of more than 200 in the world.
Singita Sabora, Tanzania
Singita Sabora weaves together the magic of the African bush with a wellness philosophy championing spiritual, emotional and physical wellbeing. Guests are encouraged to engage on a level that they feel most comfortable with, and at their own pace. From yoga and massage to meditative experiences and stargazing, Singita Sabora thoughtfully creates opportunities for enhanced wellbeing.
A reimagined tented camp on the Serengeti plains in Tanzania, it is built closer to the ground without air-conditioning, and with large windows to take in the Great Migration (when more than 1 million wildebeest and other animals travel en mass to find seasonal grazing and water).
Each suite comes with a blender and a stocked pantry, encouraging guests to make their own healthy smoothies. Added to this is the menu offering an ever-increasing selection of plant-based dishes sourced from local suppliers, as well as the most beautiful meditation deck.
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she she Retreat,Europe
From summer island escapes in Mallorca and Pantelleria to cosy winter gatherings near the Alps, she she retreats are dedicated to holistic, meaningful wellbeing experiences.
Curated for the conscious and modern woman, the retreats don’t follow a strict schedule but rather favour a contemporary approach to wellness without the rigidity. Think movement with Kundalini, Vinyasa, Yin and Yoga Nidra paired with mindfulness practices designed to help you rediscover your intuitive way of being.
Enjoy art workshops, cooking classes and other tailormade activities with nature at the forefront.