mind-body-wellness-retreats-to-visit-before-you-die

However, there is no need to explore other countries in a hurried manner that leaves you exhausted and depleted. 

Along the way, you can incorporate traditions from the communities you visit to add alternative whole-body wellness solutions to your self-care routine. 

These are ten of the world’s top destinations for strengthening mind/body wellness: 

Rainforest Spa – Ireland

The Emerald Isle is a bucket list destination for all sorts of reasons. Some travelers go to learn more about their Irish heritage. Others want a look at the tiny nation that challenged an empire and won, securing its independence from the United Kingdom. 

There are spectacular cliff views of the ocean, medieval castles, and modern architecture that defies imagination, along with music, dining, and drink unlike any other. 

Best of all, in the midst of your Irish adventure, you can take time out for self-care at the country’s top day spa. 

Nestled in the rolling hills 30 minutes outside of Dublin, the Rainforest Spa is an award-winning oasis of wellness and rejuvenation. 

Spend a few hours or a few days exploring services that range from massages and facials to yoga courses. 

In coming months, the Rainforest Spa will open its Klinik Aesthetics and expand its menu to include laser hair removal and certain body sculpting procedures. 

Learn more and book online at Rainforest.ie. The spa recommends planning your visit four weeks in advance to be sure you can take advantage of your preferred services.

Chiva-Som – Thailand

When you think about the best wellness retreats to visit, tropical images of Thailand may spring to mind. Vacationers flock to Thailand, because it offers something for everyone. 

Modern spaces are built around ancient ruins, and cities are a complex mix of quiet Buddhist temples and bustling restaurants, bars, and markets. 

Enjoy one of the many festivals that dot the calendar, while you take in the culture. Leave the city to explore the country’s diverse wildlife and remarkable natural features, which include 1,500 miles of coastline and some of the best dive sites in the world. 

While in the nation’s capital city of Bangkok, Chiva-Som International Health Resort is not to be missed. 

Chiva-Som, the haven of life, is more than a spa. It is an opportunity to transform your lifestyle from the inside out. 

Holistic therapies and activities are just the beginning of your Chiva-Som experience. 

During your visit, you can participate in one of 13 retreats designed to help you integrate the needs of your mind, body, and spirit. 

The retreats were developed to offer the exact experience you need based on where you are on your path to health and wellness. 

Begin your journey online at ChivaSom.com

Maui Healing Retreat – Hawaii, United States 

There is a reason why Hawaii appears on almost every traveler’s must-see list. It’s nothing short of paradise. 

Maui holds a special place in the hearts of vacationers, and most consider it the crown jewel of the archipelago. The weather is nothing short of perfect, and the island boasts colorful beaches, rainforests, waterfalls, and volcanoes. 

It seems like nothing could make a visit to Maui more spectacular, but the Maui Healing Retreat transforms an already idyllic setting into an oasis of health and wellness. 

This retreat offers massages and other treatments to nourish the body, therapies to nourish the mind, and deep connections to nourish the soul. 

Whether you are transitioning through a major life event, recovering from a trauma, or simply in search of deeper relationships with yourself and your loved ones, Maui Healing Retreat is ready to serve. 

Learn more about the opportunities available to you and reserve your space online at MauiHealingRetreat.com.

Southern Ocean Lodge – South Australia

The land down under attracts visitors for its remarkable wildlife and its vast stretches of untouched outback. 

Many want to explore the Great Barrier Reef or swim in one of the nation’s stunning pink lakes. There are towering waterfalls, natural swimming holes, and miles of beaches, as well as some of the most liveable cities in the world. 

Though wildfires struck the country hard in the summer of 2019 and 2020, many areas stayed safe from the flames and are still welcoming travelers. 

The Southern Ocean Lodge was a longtime favorite for those in search of peace and tranquility on Australia’s Kangaroo Island. 

Sadly, the Lodge was seriously damaged by fire, and it has not yet announced its reopening. 

In the meantime, you can support those who suffered losses in the wildfires by continuing to contribute to its critical tourism industry. For example, try Melbourne’s Crown Metropol Isika Spa or one of the top-rated View Retreats properties. 

Shunyata Retreat and Day Spa – New Zealand

New Zealand is often overlooked when it comes to must-see destinations, but that’s a mistake. 

Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies were filmed throughout this small country, and anyone who has enjoyed them knows that the scenery is nothing short of breathtaking. 

There are glacial mountains and sandy beaches, massive waterfalls and jagged snowy peaks. Whether you are in search of adventure or tranquility – or some of both – New Zealand has it all. 

You can experience the best of New Zealand’s commitment to natural wonder by spending some time at Shunyata Retreat and Day Spa. 

Here, you will test your emotional and spiritual limits and push past the self-defeating behaviors that have kept you in your rut. 

While you heal your mind, you also care for the needs of your body through massage and other bodywork, as well as yoga, meditation, and top-shelf nutrition. 

Embrace your potential by reserving your place at JourneyEssence.com

SHA Wellness Clinic – Spain

Spain’s White Coast, or Costa Blanca, stretches 120 miles along the Mediterranean Sea. 

This particular area enjoys a temperate climate year-round, attracting visitors and expats from countries all over the world. 

In a single day, you can walk through the Altea’s cobblestoned streets and see buildings that trace back to medieval times, then enjoy a lunch of traditional Meditteranean cuisine before heading over to the pristine beaches. 

Just a few miles outside of Altea, nestled between the town and the massive Sierra Helada park, you will discover the SHA Wellness Clinic. 

This  retreat is named for its unique combination of eastern and western wellness techniques. 

Detoxify your body, rebalance your mind, and renew your energy while you reconnect with yourself and your loved ones. 

Find out more about the SHA method and the SHA Wellness Clinic at SHAWellnessClinic.com

Mia Nha Trang Resort – Vietnam

Mountains, forests, rivers, and lakes are just the beginning of Vietnam’s treasures. 

This country features waterfalls and rock formations, villages and cities, and historical sites with connections to the global community. 

Perhaps one of the most attractive reasons to visit Vietnam is the low cost of living and traveling the country. You can immerse yourself in Vietnamese culture for far less than you might expect. 

Though Vietnam is particularly affordable, that doesn’t mean you have to settle for overly-rustic accommodations. 

The Mia Resort is known for being one of the world’s most luxurious wellness retreats. It has earned its 5-star rating for its tranquil beach setting and its stunning backdrop of sharp cliffs. 

In between swimming, snorkeling, and resting from the chronic business of normal life, you will enjoy a menu of treatments designed to restore your body and rejuvenate your mind. 

Discover more and schedule your wellness break online at MiaNhaTrang.com

Mriya Resort & Spa – Russia

Russia still seems like a distant, mysterious nation that is simply not accessible to the average western traveler. However, a lot has changed in the past two decades. 

Today, Russia is working its way up the list of top travel destinations, because it wants to showcase its extraordinary landscape and culture to the world. 

You will find the earth’s oldest mountains and deepest lake in Russia, along with a trove of ancient sites that played a role in world history. 

It would take far more than a brief visit to absorb the cultural riches that Russians enjoy every day. 

Even if you already had Russia on your bucket list, it’s probably not because you envision a trip intended to promote wellness. 

Believe it or not, these are areas in which Russia offers opportunities that are second-to-none. 

The Mriya Resort & Spa has been recognized again and again for excellence in hospitality and wellness opportunities. 

Among other accolades, it earned the Global Luxury Hotel Award in 2017, 2018, and 2019. 

Find out more about this awe-inspiring property at MriyaResortSpa

Six Senses Qing Cheng – China 

While European countries were establishing themselves and only Native Americans lived on the western continents, China was a fully-formed empire that already had a long tradition of wellness practices. 

Visiting China is an extraordinary experience that combines ancient history with some of the most advanced technology available. 

Exploring the urban and rural communities is like having a time machine that takes you far into the past, then to the future – sometimes in the same day. 

Chinese medicine is more widely accepted in the global community today than it ever was before, however the only way to benefit from the full range of wellness solutions is to visit practitioners in their home country. Here, you can benefit from a 2,000 year-old-tradition of whole-body health solutions. 

Many elect to explore eastern medicine at ​Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain, which is located just outside a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Dujiangyan. 

During your visit, you will work with experts to realign your Qi – the vital life energy that flows through your body. More importantly, you will gain an understanding about how to take what you have learned and make it part of your daily life when you return home. 

More information and reservations are available online at SixSenses.com

Aman Wellness – Tokyo, Japan 

Japan has thousands of years of history driving its traditions, but that doesn’t prevent the nation from embracing change. In many respects, Japan leads the world in technological innovation and advancement. 

Whether you visit for the purpose of exploring the country’s rich heritage,  or you want to get a taste of what it might be like to live in certain science fiction movies, there is no shortage of opportunities throughout the compact island nation. 

Your journey won’t be complete until you experience Japanese-style health and wellness, and one of the best places to do so is the Aman Wellness Spa in Tokyo. 

The moment you step inside, you will realize how critical it is to integrate nature into your daily life. 

This spa has the sort of services you would expect from any luxury resort, but it is set apart by its devotion to Japanese wellness traditions and philosophies. 

You can expect to feel a stronger connection to nature, while you restore balance to your mind, body, and spirit. 

Plan your visit using the online tools available at Aman.com

Of course, these ten are just a taste of the world’s treasures when it comes to traditional medicine that has been proven effective over generations. As you travel the globe, be sure to talk with your local hosts about their methods for achieving whole-body wellness.  

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About the author

William Shen

William Shen is a certified Qigong practitioner whose mission is to share the benefits of this Eastern energy practice with the world.