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52 DREAM DESTINATIONS

WELLNESS

Wellness

ASIA M A LO LO I S L A N D IN THE MAMANUCA ISLANDS, FIJI Six Senses This luxurious, eco resort is set to raise the bar in the Fijian archipelago when it opens next week. Located on an expansive bay on volcanic Malolo Island, it faces a sweeping white sand beach and is flanked by rocky headlands and giant baka trees. The 26 spacious and sumptuous pool villas and 60 residential villas were designed by award-winning New Zealand architect Richard Priest. The resort has one of the largest off-grid solar installations in the southern hemisphere. Other sustainability initiatives include worm-based septic tanks, a reverse osmosis plant to purify water and a herb, fruit and vegetable garden. Local craftsmen have recycled fallen trees for furniture and resort construction. But what about the spa? Tailored treatments feature native medicinal plants and promise to rejuvenate even the most tired of bodies. There’s mindfulness training, an elevated tree-top yoga pavilion and more active pursuits such as surfing, diving, snorkelling, kayaking and sailing. At the end of the day settle into the Tovolea Bar and enjoy the sunset with a cocktail. IDEAL FOR: Honeymooners and families (a kids’ club is available). PRICE: From $1800 a night; sixsenses.com. THE EXPERIENCE:

G R I N DAV I K , ICELAND The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland has long been delivering spectacular scenery with a side order of whimsy, but the Nordic nation has only recently entered the global travel consciousness. Today Iceland is enjoying an Instagram-fuelled, aurora-seeking tourist boom. Demand is so strong it’s mandatory to pre-book your soak at the Blue Lagoon, an iconic spa attraction of milky-blue geothermal waters in a black lava field – and you’ll be sharing that experience with loads of others. The opportunity was ripe to expand and so The Retreat at Blue Lagoon opened this month. Here, the common spaces and 62 suites radiate exclusivity. Floor-to-ceiling windows take in other-worldly views of steaming pastel-blue waters and dramatic black-lava horizons. A private geothermal lagoon encircles the property and a subterranean spa beckons with treatments such as in-water massage. But should you begin to feel waterlogged, you can join a yoga class, take a group hike, or sample farm-totable fare at the restaurant. With the retreat 50 kilometres from Reykjavik, there are few distractions other than spa time. IDEAL FOR: Cashed-up couples, honeymooners, empty-nesters. PRICE: $1850-$4430 a night; bluelagoon.com. CAROLYN BAIN THE EXPERIENCE:

EUROPE U M B R I A , I TA LY Eremito Enter an eco-steeped, luxurious and painstakingly restored 14th-century monastery and be prepared for detox, of both the digital and spiritual kind. A labour of love for Marcello Murzilli, founder of the of ’80s and ’90s Italian fashion label El Charro, Eremito (Italian for “hermit”) is surrounded by a 3000-hectare sea of protected forest, a scene-setter for serenity and solitude. With no Wi-Fi or TV and a polite request to resist using THE EXPERIENCE:

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phones, this boutique wellness destination pursues an ethos in line with the property’s original purpose of reflection and connection to spirit. Rituals on offer include fasting and colon detox, Gregorian chant workshops, icon painting, horse riding and walks along the nearby riverbank. Eremito also organises fishing and other activities aimed at strengthening the relationship between parents and children. Checking in here means a shift into a much lower gear. Meals (all vegetarian and organic) are taken in the arched refectory in silence, as they have been for centuries. There are also a sauna, steam room, hot tub, relaxing oil massages and yoga classes. The 12 guest rooms – upgraded versions of the rooms

the monks once occupied, known as celluzze – are stone-bound, with sustainably grown hemp bed sheets and heated flooring. (Eremito is a member of Design Hotels, so think rustic chic.) Largely illuminated by candles and fireplaces, with the minimal electricity used provided by state-of-the-art photovoltaic cells, the atmosphere is tranquil and old world. IDEAL FOR: Individuals or couples in need of time out. PRICE: From €196 a night, all-inclusive; eremito.com. KEVIN R AUB

The Retreat at Blue Lagoon in Iceland, above, offers luxurious accommodation and indulgent spa treatments.

SHERIDEN RHODES

Try the fivestar Amatara Wellness Resort in Phuket, Thailand; amataraphuket.com. LIKE THIS?

The Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary in Thailand, right, the Six Senses resort, Fiji, below left, and the Nihi in Indonesia, below right, offer a variety of healthy tropical treats.

KO H S A M U I , THAILAND Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa Yes, there are wheatgrass shots on the breakfast buffet, but also plenty of quality coffee. Which pretty much sums up the Kamalaya philosophy – the emphasis is on nurturing and encouraging rather than lecturing. No wonder, then, that this ease-yourself-into-it spa set amid jungle-like gardens wins awards around the world. There are two ways to tackle Kamalaya. If you only have time for a quick break, check in for a couple of days and order treatments as you go. For a mindand-body overhaul, however, book one of the holistic packages that focus on a range of issues from burnout to relaxing and revitalising. Each program is packed with treats. The seven-day basic program, for instance, includes nine massages – from ayurvedic to Chinese – as well as oneon-one sessions on stress THE EXPERIENCE:

management, wellness and diet. In between appointments, you can join a free yoga class, have a session in one of the steam caves, or lounge by one of the pools munching on frozen grapes. Kamalaya’s food is perhaps the aspect that its devotees are most passionate about. The resort’s tome-like menu includes everything from seared scallops to chicken tikka masala, not to mention the I-can’t-believethey’re-not-bad-for-me desserts such as mango sticky rice and chocolate mousse. IDEAL FOR: Spa addicts and stressed-out executives. PRICE: From 56,542 Thai baht for a three-night stay, including meals and beverages, airport transfers and a wellness program; kamalaya.com. UTE JUNKER Try Escape Haven, a women-only retreat in Bali where a personal trainer will get you into shape when you’re not surfing, taking a yoga class or enjoying spa treatments; escapehaven.com. LIKE THIS?

SUMBA , INDONESIA Nihi Sumba Island A world of wellness awaits at this fivestar resort, a former surf lodge transformed into a culturally immersive enclave of bespoke experiences and indulgence. Indonesia’s Sumba is known as the lost-world island, where Nihi fronts one of the world’s cult surf breaks. There are 32 decadent pool villas, a beach club, a professional equestrian centre, daily yoga and a “spa safari”. The latter begins with a sunrise trek across Sumba’s dramatic west coast and through rice paddies to the secluded Nihi Oka Valley. Staff await bearing scented towels, fresh coconuts and a bush-cooked breakfast served in a tree house. The day unfurls with unlimited spa treatments – perhaps a salt scrub or reflexology – dips in the plunge pool and healthy meals cooked over an open fire. At day’s end, return to Nihi or stay in the new clifftop Villa Rahasia, complete with attentive Sumbanese butler. Nihi also operates the Sumba Foundation, which supports education, employment and health-care initiatives such as malaria clinics for locals. IDEAL FOR: Spa-loving couples with a conscience. PRICE: Villa Rahasia is $US2295 all-inclusive a night for a threenight minimum stay; nihi.com. THE EXPERIENCE:

SHERIDEN RHODES

Try L’Albereta in Italy’s Lombardy region, a 2000-square-metre wellness centre run by the award-winning Chenot group; albereta.it. LIKE THIS?

Try the visually spectacular Arctic Bath, near Harads in Sweden, a floating hotel opening towards the end of this year; arcticbath.se. LIKE THIS?

Try the phenomenal “Dusk to Dawn” experience at Shangri-La’s Fijian Resort and Spa; shangri-la.com. LIKE THIS?

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