10 WELLNESS HOLIDAYS FOR 2020
Feel-good trips to boost mind, body and soul
REMEMBER WHEN KUTA WAS all about the overconsumption of happy hour alcohol rather than tasting kombuchas on your way from the yoga studio? Now, as the travel wellness industry continues to grow (the Global Wellness Institute estimates it will be a $919 billion market by 2022, growing more than twice as fast as tourism overall), we’re all changing the way we holiday and, in the next 12 months, the leading travel wellness trends are likely to be our most interesting yet.
TIBETAN HEALING BOWLS
Instruments such as Tibetan healing bowls – used for healing and personal transformation purposes – are picking up traction among travellers seeking “music therapy”. Designed to bring the brain and nervous system together in sonic healing harmony, the meditative practice is big news at the Integratron (integratron.com) in Landers, California, as well as at ChivaSom (chivasom.com) at Hua Hin, Thailand, where multi-day wellness packages can be enjoyed.
FOREST BATHING
Forest bathing may sound like doing snow angels in the grass as woodland characters whisper in your ear about how great you look with twigs in your hair, but the practice (known as shinrin-yoku in Japan, where it originated) is simply about moving slowly through nature as you engage all five senses.
You can hike alone, however, travellers are increasingly opting for qualified guides and tours, such as J&H Travel and Tours (jhtours.com.au), known for its Japan tours which include forest bathing.
SLEEP RETREATS
Paying thousands to go to a resort and sleep doesn’t make much sense on paper, but sleep retreats are becoming all the rage as stressed out execs put on their out-of-office, travel somewhere exotic and drop like flies.
Check out Grand Resort Bad Ragaz (resortragaz.ch/en/), a wellness hotel located in the foothills of the Swiss Alps which runs a sleep diagnostics clinic, with three-night, half-board sleep deals from $7150 per person.
DIGITAL DETOXING PLUS
Nope, digital detoxing isn’t anything new but in 2020 we’re all pushing harder against all the noise by pairing screen-free living with minimalism so the only thing you’ll be travelling with is a six-string and a dream (and hopefully, perhaps a pair of clean underwear).
A movement designed to free travellers emotionally and physically, these holidays often take place in hideouts such as forest
micro hotels designed to make you feel as removed from the modern world as possible. Check out Vipp Shelter (vipp.com/en/hotel/
vipp-shelter) in the Swedish forest to get an understanding of what you could sign up for.
URBAN WELLNESS
Going to New York City for a wellness resort might sound like going to a fast food diner for a salad, but urban retreats are tipped to become one of the year’s biggest health movements – both with travellers seeking staycations in hometowns and those seeking healthier alternatives during big city travels.
Six Senses (sixsenses.com) and Aman (aman.com) will open NYC properties in 2020, while One & Only (oneandonlyresorts.com) has announced it’s working on an urban portfolio, the first of which, One Za’abeel, Dubai, will be unveiled later this year.
SLOW WELLNESS
Gone are the days of jetting everywhere and speed-ticking popular destinations off a champagne bucket list. On the back of flight shaming and #trainbragging movements, 2020 is about slowing right down, focusing on sustainability, low-impact travel, and spending time helping wider communities during off-the-beaten track adventures.
Taking a bike tour around Kenya and spending weeks or months building a school? Not only is it a great way to see amazing countryside and foster human bonds, but studies show volunteering your time boosts physical and mental wellbeing as well as possibly even boosting mortality rates.
GENDER-DIVIDED WELLNESS BREAKS
Along with the dawning realisation that yes, perhaps the opposite sex really does belong on another planet, is the increase in separate holiday offerings for men and women.
Living Valley (lvs.com.au) health retreat on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland offers maleonly health retreats, ranging from seven to 21 days, on its 60ha hinterland property, while California’s Golden Door (goldendoor.com) has dedicated weeks set aside for ladies only, or if you’re really keen, book a trip to SuperShe Island (supershe.com), a females-only destination located off Finland’s coastline.
MARATHON TOURISM
What about heading to New York City, London or Tokyo – not to sightsee but to run long distances for no reason at all? These events draw thousands of competitors so you already know you’re in good company but The IRONMAN Group (ironman.com) reveals an increase in interstate and international participants at its bucket-list events.
Among destination events enjoying more runners is Noosa Triathlon (Qld) and Queenstown International Marathon (NZ), with running and endurance events set to evolve as everyone from experience-seekers to recreational runners take on new global challenges. For details on upcoming running events, go to Travelling Fit (travellingfit.com).
SOCIAL WELLNESS
Trying to find a suitable holiday combining your niche interests of cats and cruising, or My Little Pony and the army, used to be difficult at best but social communities are increasingly creating travel opportunities for every kind of traveller. Flying in the face of our collective disconnect are Club W (clubw.com.au), a women’s only wellness centre and social club in Sydney, and The Assemblage (theassemblage.com/coworkingnomad), a New York co-working space offering nature retreats and wellness workshops. Those interested in taking a longer trip can book in for a group health retreat with the likes of Wildfitness Zanzibar (wildfitness.com).
DEATH-POSITIVE TOURISM
Despite all this focus on living well and long, it can be helpful to remember no one is getting out of here alive. Bleak? Perhaps, but it’s an acceptance that can also steer us to appreciate the present and focus on living our best lives.
Attending a spiritual retreat which focuses on the bookends of life and death, such as Ananda in the Indian Himalayas (anandaspa.com), or The Retreat Costa Rica (theretreatcostarica.com), is helpful.
Happy 2020!
THESE HOLIDAYS OFTEN TAKE PLACE IN HIDEOUTS SUCH AS FOREST MICRO HOTELS WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU FEEL AS REMOVED FROM THE MODERN WORLD AS POSSIBLE