Thailand

Built around an ancient cave that once served Buddhist monks as a place of meditation and spiritual retreat, Kamalaya, offers a secluded sanctuary nestled on the tropical Thai island of Koh Samui. For the last eleven years, this leading destination spa has been pioneering wellness itineraries for guests from around the world. Now, they’re taking that one step further with three new life enhancement wellness retreats for 2016 and 2017.

As we approach Easter of 2024, travelling this diverse planet we share has never been easier. There are hidden gems of wellness all around the world and modern advances mean we’re more able than ever to go out and find them. 

It’s time to start setting healthy goals for 2021, and exercise need not be a chore with activities like hiking, biking, surfing and triathlons on offer, whether it’s alone, with a partner, or with the whole family, you can lay the foundations for a healthy new year with these invigorating fitness holidays for 2021. From hiking magnificent volcanoes in the Galapagos Islands and training for triathlons in Thailand, to personal training in the Mediterranean and family fitness activities, there’s a healthy break for everyone to kickstart their fitness journey.

Break free from the daily stresses of modern day life as you head off to idyllic Asia for a relaxing wellness spa retreat. Bask in the serene ambiance of the continent’s exotic natural surroundings whilst being pampered with a wide array of spa treatments, designed to enhance your well-being and vitality. More than just a simple spa break, our wellness spa holidays include tailored wellness programmes, designed to target everything from stress-management and weight-loss, to holistic healing and anti-ageing. Leave your troubles far behind and begin your journey with our 10 best wellness spa holidays in Asia, to rediscover your mind, body and soul.

Many of us battle with balancing our hectic daily schedules and home life. Between work-related issues, personal problems and struggling to find the time to catch up with yourself, it becomes increasingly easy to fall into a trap of feeling burnt-out, exhausted and stressed. In fact it is so common that in 2012, around 428,000 people suffered from work-related stress. Chronic stress is not only bad for your emotional state, but also for your physical health and well-being in general. Symptoms can include a lack of focus, irritability, migraines, and a cycle of poor nutrition and sleepless nights.

Push yourself to the max on the ultimate fitness holiday experience with the support of fellow solo travellers on our 5 best fitness bootcamps for singles. From beach boxing in Ibiza to TRX training in Thailand, discover the motivation to reach your fitness goals on a singles bootcamp holiday where you can build the foundations to make healthy changes in your life. Down time is crucial to replenish your muscles, so take full advantage of the fabulous luxury spas with their many tantalising treatments. You will be left motivated for the next day’s group bootcamp workouts on a singles holiday where you can easily get to know other solo travellers on the same health and fitness journey.

Revitalise your mind and body with our blissful detox retreats in Asia. It is often overlooked just how many toxins our bodies are exposed to in the modern world. Not only are nasty impurities hiding in the food we eat, but they can also be found in the air we breathe and the products we use daily. From boosting your energy and curbing food cravings, to managing stress and promoting skin heath, there are a whole host of benefits for you to discover on our luxurious detox holidays. Enjoy everything from Ayurvedic massages in India to organic, detoxifying facials in Malaysia which will have you going home feeling refreshed and re-energised.

Fly to the exotic locales of Thailand and experience the benefits of going on a yoga retreat where you can rebalance your mind, body and soul. Nurture your health to peak wellness as you find peace and serenity in any of our luxury Thai yoga retreats. Learn from the pros on how to master yoga poses as you focus on your posture, breathing and mindfulness and let the powers of yoga take over. Absorb the tranquillity and soak up the cultural atmospheres of the yoga retreats that are surrounded by the beautiful and peaceful landscapes, leaving you rejuvenated, revitalised and reenergised on departure.

We discover the world’s most luxurious and breathtaking yoga retreats to book around the world. From the local shores of Portugal, to the distant islands of the Maldives, grab your mat and you can practice anywhere you please, whether you are a beginner or an expert yogi. You’ll be able to gain a solid foundation and develop your personal practice on these hand-picked yoga holidays and retreats across the globe, and combine this with a variety of holistic sessions, relaxing spa facilities and beautiful backdrops, what more could you ask for in a yoga holiday?

Each yoga retreat welcomes yogis of all levels and under the guidance of expert tuition so you can choose to start learning yoga on holiday, or focus on strengthening and developing your existing practice. Whichever path you choose, you will return home re-balanced, rested, and restored.

Find your Balance in Bali – Divine Body Retreat at Bliss Body Retreat, Bali

Take yourself off on a luxury yoga retreat that immerses you in meditation and recuperation whilst surrounded by the infamous rice terraces and vast Balinese Jungle. Wash yourself of the strain and anxiety of everyday life with a healing holiday and you can immerse yourself in a world of meditation, rejuvenation and therapy. The organic approach of the Bliss Body Retreat offers a variety of yoga classes, nutritional seminars, and wellness treatments to boost your overall well-being and rediscover your inner balance among a calming Balinese backdrop.

More Information: View Divine Body Retreat at Bliss Body Retreat

Poolside Peacefulness in Costa Rica – Yoga at The Retreat, Costa Rica

Find your serenity in the magnificent mountains of the Atenas province with an Ayurveda retreat. Not just an escape from the boredom of mundane life, this yoga holiday provides you with culinary opportunities, healing massages and nature hikes, all to help you relieve stress and find direction. The organic treatments and methods of a detox retreat can help you rid your body and mind of toxic thoughts and feelings, opening you up to the calming world of meditation and the incredible abilities of the mind, body, and soul.

More information: View The Retreat

Flow with the Mediterranean – Discover Yoga at Six Senses Kaplankaya, Turkey

Embark on a yoga holiday and allow yourself to find your inner balance through the guided meditations, luxury spa and spectacular landscapes. Wake up to the coastline views, ocean breeze and the sparkling sea, spend your day doing personalised pranayama, and finish off the evening with a traditional Turkish treatment, to revitalise your body, mind, and soul. This yoga retreat is tailored to your personal needs, and combine it with cooking classes, water sports, exercise classes and sport to combine a fitness holiday that provides you with a journey of a lifetime, both spiritually and physically.

More information: View Six Senses Kaplankaya

Meditation in the mountains – Yoga at Ananda in the Himalayas, India

Escape to India on a luxury yoga retreat and rebalance with yoga amongst the calming landscape of this exotic yoga holiday. An ideal choice for a singles holiday, enhance your well-being when you combine personalised yoga sessions and group classes, with discovering a taste of local culture through traditional Indian music classes and dance performances. For a true sense of wellness, make the most of complimentary Pranayama and meditation classes, before relaxing on a luxury spa holiday combined with aromatherapy massages and reflexology.

More Information: View Ananda in the Himalayas

Beach yoga – Yoga & Spa Premium at Paradis Plage, Morocco

Practice daily beach yoga, from sunrise to sunset on Portugal’s Atlantic coastline, for one of the best exotic yoga holidays at Paradis Plage. Keep active on your healthy adventure as you combine Manipura and aerial yoga with discovering the island through a selection of water sports, mountain biking and treks. One of the best destinations for beach yoga from our range of yoga & spa holidays, enhance your well-being after an active day in the traditional Moroccan Hammam and relax with therapeutic spa treatments.

More information: View Paradis Plage

Island yoga – Discover at COMO Maalifushi, Maldives

Find tranquility on a yoga retreat on the private island of Thaa Atoll, where work and worries are a world away. The crystal-clear waters and white sand beaches are a perfect escape, blended with group Pilates sessions, beach yoga classes, and exquisite culinary options, there is nothing to disturb your wellness practice while you are here. Find your Zen and unwind with a mindfulness retreat that also caters with optional activities to fill your day, and with this yoga holiday offering windsurfing, kayaking and mountain biking, it’s certain you’ll never want to leave.

More information: View COMO Maalifushi

Calm on the cliffs – Yoga at Pine Cliffs Resort, Portugal

Kickstart your morning an Ayurveda massage in the Serenity Spa, spend the afternoon in a guided meditation and finish off the evening watching the sun set over the cliffs, this yoga holiday allows your mind, body and soul to reset and relax. The range of sporting opportunities, wellness facilities, and breathtaking landscapes means this yoga retreat is the ideal choice for someone in need of a de-stress holiday. Not only will you watch the sun set over the water, but over your anxieties and worries too.

More information: View Pine Cliffs Resort

Sunrise yoga – Yoga Synergy at Kamalaya, Thailand

Give your body and mind the break it needs with a luxury spa holiday and jet off to align your chakras and find your balance of mind, body, and soul with this yoga retreat. On the South coast of Koh Samui this wellness holiday offers you the tropical jungle foliage and lily ponds for the perfect ambience to supplement indulgent spa treatments, calming meditations and exhilarating water sports. Whilst you succumb to your wellness wanderlust on this yoga holiday, the holistic methods and natural healing on this will prove to you how meditation and mindfulness can improve your life significantly.

More information: View Kamalaya

Talk to one of our Travel Specialists on or contact us here to discuss tailor-making your perfect yoga holiday.

Karina Stewart

Karina Stewart, co-founder of Kamalaya in Thailand has twenty-two years of experience in the study and practice of diverse Asian healing and spiritual traditions. Inspired by her mother's interest in natural healing, meditation and yoga, Karina founded a health centre in Kathmandu, Nepal prior to opening Kamalaya. Her vision behind the award-winning retreat in Koh Samui is integral wellness programmes that aim to access the inner healing power within each individual and support a harmonious integration of heart, body, mind, and spirit

It is a common misconception that yoga is not fast-paced enough to rid you of those extra pounds. However, you don’t have to look very far to find numerous testimonies of passionate yogis who swear by yoga, declaring it an extremely effective weight-loss technique. So, although to an outsider, yoga may appear to be just a series of light stretches and deep breaths, rendering it too low intensity to be an effective way to lose weight; for those of you who have already practiced yoga, you know that this is a severe misconception.

Charlotte Dormon finds a delicious way to detox at the Absolute Sanctuary Retreat in Koh Samui.

After battling through another cold winter and the stress of London life grinding me down, I decided it was time to recharge the body, relax the mind and book in some well-deserved 'me time'.

 Are you looking to up the ante on your health and fitness in the new year? A holiday tailored to your fitness goals will set you on the right path to achieving your fitness goals for 2021. You will feel rebalanced, recharged, and ready to face life’s challenges. From New Zealand to St. Lucia we have picked out a range of fitness holidays for 2021 with a variety of activities, including hiking, cycling, tennis, kayaking, to increase muscle strength and flexibility. From group bootcamps to one on one personal training and diet plans, Health and Fitness Travel offers the perfect healthy holiday to help you commit to your fitness goals in 2021.

A wellness programme for a healthy family bonding experience.

If you’re looking to get back in shape but haven’t got the time to go away on full-blown fitness holiday, then our exclusive four day Fusion Fitness breaks provide the perfect solution. Whether you want to lose weight, improve your flexibility or increase your physical strength, we can tailor-make your programme to suit your personal goals and kick-start a healthier lifestyle.

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that in celebration of the Queen’s platinum jubilee next year, there is going to be an extra bank holiday from the 2^nd to the 5^th of June. Lucky for us, as with just 3 days of annual leave we can get nine days off – giving us ample time to enjoy a wellness retreat fit for a Queen!

It is no secret that the British Royals adore travelling, from Balmoral Castle in the Scottish Highlands to Corfu, (after all, Prince Philip was born a Greek prince) to Mustique in the Caribbean, which was once solely reserved for the royals, particularly Princess Margret. So where should you travel to holiday like a Queen?

Stephanie Rault

Wellness Consultant at Absolute Sanctuary, Stephanie originally became a therapist to fulfill a passion in empowering others to improve their health and happiness  and inspire them to lead healthy lifestyles. With over 10 years of experience, she is able to work with her clients in a flexible, fun and caring way, creating a safe and supportive environment while exploring what really works for them. Stephanie not only conducts wellness consultations but also private sessions in clinical hypnotherapy, intuitive life coaching and smoking cessation programmes. 

Emotional balance is a vital ingredient for personal well-being and the health of our relationships, including the essential one we have with ourselves. Karina Stewart, master of traditional Chinese medicine and co-founder ofKamalaya in Thailand, shares with us how to cultivate and maintain a healthy emotional balance.

Today we’re going to be delving into one ofRAKxa Wellness & Medical Retreat’s newest programme collections, Authentic Eastern. You might be thinking to yourself, how are these new programmes different to the ones already on offer fromRAKxa? Well, with helpful insights from the resort Managing DirectorDusadee Tancharoen, all of your important questions will be answered! So, keep reading for some great information surrounding these new programmes and to find out if they may be perfect for you to embark on during your special wellness journey! 

Aashly Jayan, Health and Wellness Advisor at Chiva-Som discusses the role of technology in our lives and when it might be time to consider a digital detox.