Top 13 luxury destination spas

Personal programs

Destination spas are spa hotels that focus on health and wellbeing. Most destination spas see wellness as something that goes way beyond pampering. They offer personal programs with different themes and goals that include (holistic or medical) assessments, body and facial treatments, complementary therapies, healthy (dietary) food, exercise and (holistic) activities. These programs will be tailored to your individual needs and will always include several treatments.

A fully immersed health experience

Besides nurturing you, a destination spa aims to help you to achieve a healthier lifestyle. To do so, a healthy lifestyle is implemented in all aspects of your stay. A destination spa serves tasty healthy food and little or no alcohol. They organize various (holistic and sports) activities during the week such as yoga, meditation, pranayama or fitness classes. They may also offer workshops on personal development or mental coaching. Some may choose to only have hotel rooms without tv’s, to ensure you can fully relax and focus on your well-being.

Guests at destination spa’s

Destination spas attract solo travelers from all over the world. They are wonderful places if you crave some alone time but equally great locations to meet and connect with likeminded people. You might see the occasional couple, but you won’t encounter families with children. They are nice and quiet places where you can fully relax. You can find destination spas in all sorts of gorgeous locations: remote country sides, mountain areas or at the beach. And they come in all shapes and sizes, so you can always find one that is just right for you.

Holistic or medical approach

Finally, it is good to know that most destination spas have a holistic or medical approach to health. Depending on the destination spa or program you choose, you will have an intake with a Western GP, a Naturopathic doctor or a TCM/Ayurveda doctor.

Based on our customers feedback, here’s our top 13 pick of best luxury destination spa’s worldwide

SHA Wellness Clinic / Spain

Nearby airport: Alicante

Eastern philosophy meets western views on health and wellbeing at SHA Wellness Clinic. A medical destination spa with a holistic touch. Hyper modern and a state-of-the-art luxury design hotel.

Kamalaya / Thailand

Nearby airport: Koh Samui

A life changing experience. It doesn’t get much better than this when it comes to holistic destination spas. Kamalaya is all that, and more. This wellness sanctuary offers mental coaching combined with a wide range of eastern therapies, such as Ayurveda and TCM (traditional Chinese medicine).

Chenot Palace Weggis / Switzerland

Nearby airport: Zürich

Chenot Palace Weggis is the brand new Chenot flagship in Switzerland. The Chenot Method is known worldwide for its medical detox programs where Western science and Eastern philosophy come together.

Mandira Styria / Austria

Nearby airport: Graz

Unique! Ayurveda combined with the healing thermal waters of Eastern Styria. A fabulous European Ayurveda resort with Asian vibes.

Chiva-Som / Thailand

Nearby airport: Bangkok

One of the first destination spas in the world. Renowned for its beauty. This ‘Haven of Life’ is a breath-taking retreat of the highest quality.

Ananda in the Himalayas / India

Nearby airport: Delhi / Dehradun

A truly unparalleled wellness experience against a majestic mountainous back drop. Expect nothing but the best at Ananda in the Himalayas. Speciality: panchakarma ayurveda.

COMO Shambhala Estate / Bali

Nearby airport: Denpasar

Next level personal attention (you will have your own personal assistant!). The COMO Shambhala Estate team is incredibly dedicated to make your stay the best it can be and give you an exclusive experience. No wonder our guests can’t stop raving about the service, the treatments and the food.

ZOYA Health & Wellbeing Resort, Ajmen (UAE)

Nearby airport: Dubai

Opened in 2022: ZOYA Health & Wellbeing Resort is the first medical spa (and adults-only destination!) in the United Arab Emirates. ZOYA's motto is not to treat the symptoms, but to go deeper and find the underlying factors that lead to health problems. 

The Retreat / Costa Rica

Nearby airport: San Jose

The Retreat Costa Rica is one of the best luxury wellness boutique resort and spas. Organic gardens, lush landscapes, chirping birds, and technicolor sunsets are the setting for personal healing journeys.

Euphoria Retreat / Greece

Nearby airport: Athens

Greek and Chinese wisdom and medicine offer emotional, physical and spiritual health in a majestic and superbly beautiful holistic destination spa. A true ‘Wow’ destination located in a Unesco heritage site.

Atmantan / India

Nearby airport: Mumbai

Traditional eastern medicine meets modern western medicine at Atmantan Wellness Center. Atmantan has a state-of the art spa and ultra-modern fitness facilities. Special focus: physiotherapy.

Park Igls / Austria

Nearby airport: Innsbruck

Park Igls, located in the heart of Tyrol, Austria is a privately owned medical spa with a focus on modern dr. Mayr. One of the leading award-winning medical spas in Europe for a healthier lifestyle.

Shanti som / Spain

Nearby airport: Malaga

Shanti-Som brings you all the beauty and serenity of Bali but much closer to home. Secluded and intimate, with only 14 rooms. A place to rediscover yourself.

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Marleen

This blog is written by Marleen, the founder of PureandCure.com. She travels around the world in search of the best Health & Wellbeing Hotels, Spas and Retreats and shares her know-how, experiences and observations through her blogs.