Sacred Suites: The 5 Best Hotels for Your Next Wellness Retreat
More discerning travelers are discovering that hotels are destinations in and of themselves. While sightseeing and exploring a new city bring their own thrills, there’s something truly restorative about staying at a property that provides ample space and enriching activities for one to truly unwind.
From Italy to Indonesia, countless resorts and hotels provide amenities and programs tailored to help guests decompress and reconnect. Whether it’s a guided meditation session or a suite perfect for contemplation found just at the river’s edge, these stays promise to grant one the relaxation and a sense of stillness to nourish the soul.
Below is a curated list of stays that deserve your attention.
Eremito in Umbria, Italy
Located in the majestic Umbrian Valley, Eremito is an eco-retreat housed in a restored 13th-century monastery. Found just in front of a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, it offers guests an ideal sanctuary to reconnect with nature. Eremito’s contemplative spaces, rooted in Franciscan minimalism, are designed to encourage guests to fully focus on their restorative journey. Picture candle-lit rooms and faint Gregorian chants preserving an atmosphere of tranquility. The rooms, known as celluzze, are purposefully simple (expect a break from television), yet discreetly equipped with modern comforts.
The eco-retreat offers monastic Mediterranean meals, with organic vegetables and herbs grown in its own garden. Eremito features a relaxation area, entirely dug out from rock, where a rejuvenating steam bath awaits. The retreat also offers yoga and meditation sessions, with a serene yoga room overlooking the surrounding hills. Marcello Murzilli, Eremito’s founder, describes it as “a place where one can regenerate oneself, finding again the priorities of life maybe lost in the day-to-day living.”
Six Senses Vana, Dehradun, India
Nestled in the serene foothills of the Himalayas lies Six Senses Vana, a refuge for those seeking holistic wellness, seamlessly integrating Ayurveda, yoga, Tibetan medicine, and natural healing therapies.
Six Senses Vana’s commitment to providing the highest standards of wellness is evident. It is among the few retreats in the world to offer Sowa Rigpa—Tibetan traditional medicine—practiced under the guidance of Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medicine Institute. Here, the retreat’s doctors and therapists are trained, and medicinal preparations are carefully sourced.
Six Senses Vana’s commitment to providing the highest standards of wellness is evident. It is among the few retreats in the world to offer Sowa Rigpa—Tibetan traditional medicine—practiced under the guidance of Men-Tsee-Khang, the Tibetan Medicine Institute. Here, the retreat’s doctors and therapists are trained, and medicinal preparations are carefully sourced.
Designed by Spanish architectural company Esteva i Esteva, the retreat features 66 rooms and 16 suites, thoughtfully designed to evoke a sense of peace and harmony. Spacious terraces, floor-to-ceiling windows, and forest views fuse to grant guests their own sanctuary.
Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
A mere four-hour flight from Manila, the Four Seasons Sayan is a paradise in the literal sense of the word–guests have to cross a dramatic suspension bridge to reach the resort. The retreat rests between two rivers, and lies just 15 minutes away from Bali’s Ubud district. The resort’s 42 villas feature private pools and spacious terraces, all providing ultimate privacy and comfort. Inside, rare collections of Indonesian art are on display to set the atmosphere. Guests have the option to stay in riverfront villas to elevate their experience.
Dining options are aplenty, whether you prefer Indonesian cuisine with hillside views, Mediterranean dishes by the river, or a curated meal within the confines of your villa. Riverside Balinese cooking classes, private rafting experiences, and chakra ceremonies are just some of the on-site activities available for guests. The resort’s Niskala Wellness Retreat, in particular, provides a much-needed reset. The retreat adheres to the Balinese philosophy of niskala–the practice of recognizing things that are unseen, but whose influence can be felt or experienced. Over the course of three days, guests experience traditional healing practices, yoga, contrast therapy, and spa treatments.
Shou Sugi Ban House in New York
Opened in 2019, Shou Sugi Ban House is the Hamptons’ premier wellness destination. The thirteen-room destination is a mere two-hour drive from New York City. Heavily influenced by wabi-sabi, the property’s simplistic interiors exhibit appreciation for the natural world. Picture cozy Japanese-inspired minimalist spaces, in line with the retreat’s namesake, Shou Sugi Ban–an ancient Japanese technique of charring wood to make it more resilient.
Shou Sugi Ban House offers several wellness programs for guests, including guided meditation, bespoke fitness plans, and shamanic healing. A particular highlight is the retreat’s Inner Journey with Jessica Forsythe, a Master Energy Healer and Spiritual Guide. The two-night program, consisting of restorative yoga, sound therapies, and Reiki, is designed to heal the nervous and glandular systems.
Amanemu in Ise-Shima, Japan
Tucked away in the forested hills of Ise-Shima, Amanemu is a tranquil sanctuary that intertwines wellness and Japanese tradition. The ryokan-inspired onsen resort’s villas boast views of Ago Bay, with secluded garden courtyards providing guests with ultimate privacy. Spacious day beds and private verandas seamlessly fuse indoor and outdoor living.
The resort offers an immersive healing experience centered around natural hot springs and holistic wellness. The world-class Aman Spa at Amanemu offers a variety of treatments, taking advantage of the surrounding hot springs. Amanemu’s individualised wellness programs, led by highly qualified health professionals, aid guests in achieving specific wellness goals. Immersions are focused on stress management, cleansing, and overall health. Guests can participate in daily guided meditation sessions, with the privilege of enjoying Zen-inspired gardens and tranquil spaces overlooking the Ago Bay.
