Whether you want to drop a few kilograms, recharge from the Covid-19 stress, find your inner peace, or book an active vacation, we’ve created a list of the best health and fitness resorts in the world where all of this is possible!
1. The Ranch, California, USA
The Ranch is a luxury health retreat offering award-winning programs. Located on the coast of California, the retreat offers specialized transformative fitness programs designed to encourage weight loss, health and wellness. Guests can choose between 4, 7, and 9-day wellness programs; each of them is ideal for solo travelers, couples and groups. Their programs stimulate both mind and body through physical exercise and healthy meals. The resorts’ food is a key component of their results-driven approach to health and fitness. The Ranch cooking team carefully prepares complete and nutrient meals using only organic, seasonal plant-based ingredients and it organizes cooking classes for any guest willing to learn the secrets behind the vegan cuisine.
2. Red Mountain Resort, St. George, Utah
Located in St. George, Utah, Red Mountain Resort offers not only fitness-related experiences, but also several unique outdoor adventures. Guests can customize their adventures to Zion or Bryce Canyon National Parks, or to the Snow Canyon State Park, located only a quarter of a mile down the road. Additionally, all vacations include accommodations, guided hikes, bike rentals, fitness classes, healthy life classes and events, personal discovery activities, and three healthy meals per day made with fresh organic ingredients. Guests can even work with a personal trainer to create their customized fitness plan, or book a session with an expert to design a mindful meal plan, calculate the resting metabolic rate, perform a cardiovascular assessment, and much more!
3. Absolute Sanctuary, Koh Samui, Thailand
With 22 programs focusing on fitness, health, lifestyle, and weight management, the Absolute Sanctuary is one of the best fitness and wellness resorts in Asia. Their various programs span across 15 categories and aim to address individual goals, such as detox, de-stress, weight management, and lifestyle changes. Each program combines physical exercise with emotional therapies, spa treatments, detox protocols, and healthy meals.
4. The Body Camp, Ibiza, Spain
The Body Camp is a luxury fitness retreat that focuses on holistic holidays. The resort helps its guests to reach their personal health and fitness goals, develop mental health strength and awareness, and learn how to prepare plant-based recipes. Normally, mornings are dedicated to fitness programs created by the Body Camp team, while afternoons can be filled with relaxing activities. The retreat serves 100% plant-based meals. The Body Camp is also a sustainable facility as they are committed to minimising consumption and waste, saving energy and water, shopping ethically, and reducing their carbon footprint.
5. Aro Ha, Glenorchy, New Zealand
Aro Ha is an eco-friendly, solar and hydro-powered wellness retreat that can host only 32 guests. The retreat’s location is very suggestive: the retreat is situated about 35 minutes away from Queenstown in between the Southern Alps. It is surrounded by 8.5 hectares of rugged landscape overlooking Lake Wakatipu. The main aim of Aro Ha is to vitalize mind and body through wellness all-inclusive programs that can last 5 or 7 nights and that vary depending on the season. The luxury retreat offers fresh vegetarian meals based on raw and paleo-inspired recipes.
6. Six Senses Douro Valley, Portugal
Six Senses Douro Valley is set in a 19th century building among vineyards and hills overlooking the Douro River. The retreat is a perfect place to build a strong immune system through the combination of diet, sleep and movement. It offers several wellness programs, including the “WiseMotion method”, which improves brain health, holistic well-being and physical abilities, or the “Mind Your Brain” program, which includes mind-focused activities, breathing, journaling and sleep support to boost the brain. The “Sleep” program is also unique. It aims at improving the guests’ sleep through a sleep tracker, personal consultation, meditation, relaxing treatments, wellness therapies, nutrition advice and low intensity training. As for food, the Six Senses Douro Valley uses only locally sourced ingredients, and boasts a large organic herb and vegetable garden. Obviously, stopping by the Wine Library and Terrace is a must for wine lovers!
7. SHA Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain
Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, SHA Wellness Clinic is a luxury retreat that combines Western medical expertise and ancient Eastern therapies. The retreat offers a variety of programs, including a wellness program, a rejuvenation program, a weight-control and detox program, and even a post-COVID program to alleviate the effects and symptoms of the disease. Additionally, SHA includes a large clinic area offering specialized clinical treatments in various fields, such as Cognitive and Emotional Development, Revitalizing Medicine, Physiotherapy, Anti-Smoking Medicine, Dental Aesthetic Health, Aesthetic Dermatology, Capillary Health, Genomic and Preventive Medicine and more. The retreat also offers three types of healthy eating menus that are adapted to suit guests’ needs with the help of expert consultants.