We all need a little R & R from time to time, but increasingly, travelers are turning to wellness retreats to not only escape the day-to-day but restore and rejuvenate their bodies and minds. The industry has more than doubled since 2013 and it’s forecasted to reach $9.8 trillion by 2029 according to a 2025 report in the Global Wellness Economy Monitor. But while the industry has expanded, it has also evolved beyond weekend spa getaways to a more holistic approach to wellness. As new destinations emerge, they signify this shift. Whether you’re seeking global enrichment, serene simplicity or rainforest rejuvenation, here are three stand-out destinations that offer something for mind, body and soul.
Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
St. Lucia, Caribbean
Any trip to the Caribbean could be viewed as restorative but a trip to Sugar Beach ups wellness to a whole new level. A Viceroy Resort, it’s set on the shores of St. Lucia overlooking the iconic UNESCO Pitons. A museum-quality art collection, celebrated locally sourced menus served al fresco with a side of Caribbean views, and personalized fitness training sessions are among the ways this oceanfront resort puts wellness at the forefront of its offerings. Not to mention, the property’s rainforest spa, built on stilts and perched among lush foliage and soaring mountain vistas. Ten treatment rooms including, four couples’ rooms, offer bespoke services including bamboo massage, pink salt stone therapies and body wraps.
The resort partners with Tata Harper to offer a luxurious and natural non-toxic skincare line. Don’t miss the 110-minute coconut bliss massage, which heals skin with natural coconut and spices. Don’t worry about the kids while here. There is a kids club and babysitting services on site and the 130 guest rooms range from 11 Sugar Mill rooms to 80 cottages and villas and 14 beach bungalows. For families, there are 25 residences with one- to four-bedroom accommodations. Guest rooms have either a plunge pool, private patio or walled garden.
Dining is fresh, seasonal and predominantly open-air. For authentic Caribbean fare, try the Sugar Beach Plant Burger at Bonte Restaurant and Bar where you’ll dine shoreside.
Miraval, The Red Sea
Shura Island, Saudi Arabia
This brand-new resort scheduled to open this year will be Miraval’s first international destination, meant to take the brand’s restorative approach to luxury travel and merge it with cultural immersion. “At Miraval, wellness is not simply one part of the guest experience, it is the foundation of everything we do,” says Juan Paolo, general manager of Miraval The Red Sea. “The Red Sea is one of the world’s most compelling destinations, celebrated not only for its extraordinary natural beauty but also for its vested commitment to sustainability and regenerative tourism: This new resort, Paolo notes, offers a rare opportunity to experience the brand’s signature wellbeing philosophy in an entirely new setting.
A sense of calm greets guests immediately upon arrival as graceful architecture is woven into the landscape organically, inspired by regional culture and tradition. Guests can build their experience here by answering “What Challenges me? What supports me? What have I never tried before? What calms me? What makes me feel connected?” Guests can choose to meet their goals through countless experiences including stargazing, hiking, meditation, visual arts, music, aquatics and cultural and culinary classes. The resort’s Life in Balance spa, will include 39 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and will be the largest dedicated spa on Shura Island. “What makes this destination especially distinctive is how we have thoughtfully woven the local culture and regional traditions into the guest journey, creating Red Sea exclusive experiences inspired by heritage and the surrounding environment,” says Paolo.
Accommodations include 180 sustainably designed rooms, suites and villas, many offering views of the Red Sea, private pools and open-air living space. Golf lovers can play the 18-hole championship course. Meanwhile, dining experiences reflect the flavors of the region and menus are designed for “mindful eating.”
“Beyond the environment, aesthetics and amenities, guests will discover themselves within the borders of our carefully curated community,” adds Paolo. “Here, guests can indulge in remote reconnection, engage with the place and culture that has shaped our resort and experience transformative moments that will linger with them long after check-out.”
The Ranch, Hudson Valley
Sloatsburg, NY
The Hudson Valley is the second location for luxury wellness retreat, The Ranch. The first, in Malibu, CA, opened in 2010. Having recently celebrated its second anniversary, The Ranch Hudson Valley has enjoyed high praise from travelers and accolades among travel critics. The resort boasts not an escape but a return to fundamentals and self-discovery. Accommodations are set on a historic lakefront estate adjacent to 46,000 acres of preserved green space. The estate feels private and exclusive with only 26 private guest rooms, no televisions and lots of places to gather. The 5,000-square-foot solarium has a heated pool, infrared sauna and hot and cold plunge pools. In warmer months an outdoor pool and jacuzzi offer more options for swimming and soaking. Fitness programs, yoga and meditation sessions, nature hikes, daily massages, facials, acupuncture, reiki, somatic energy release therapy and other treatments allow guests to curate a wellness experience tailored to their needs.
Dining here is intentionally plant-forward, nutrient dense and seasonally sourced and the culinary team here is happy to adjust guests menus to meet dietary preferences, allergies and portion control. “Each day is intentionally balanced between rigorous physical activity and mindful recovery, ensuring that guests leave not only revitalized, but also equipped with healthier habits to carry into their daily lives,” says Victoria Nickle, president of The Ranch.
Signature three- and four-night programs here are structured and curated to put the focus on wellness. “What often surprises guests the most is the depth and immediacy of the experience,” says Nickle. The Ranch program aims to strip wellness back to essentials, from morning stretches and hiking or massage, to farm-to-table lunches, cooking demos and infrared sauna soaks. Each element of the day is meant to create mental calm and focus as well as physical wellbeing. “Guests leave stronger, clearer and more grounded with a renewed sense of what their bodies and minds are capable of,” says Nickle. “That transformation and the momentum it creates, is something that simply can’t be fully understood until it’s lived.”
