Winter wellness retreats to book in 2024

Whether you’re looking for a head-to-toe transformation, medical-driven treatments or a rejuvenating break, there are plenty of winter retreats to entice burnt-out Brits. Featuring a daily relaxing roster of yoga, breathwork, Pilates or high-tempo boxing classes and hikes, these are the types of holidays where wellness enthusiasts thrive. But that’s not to say they’re exclusive events – anyone with an interest in cleansing their body and mind are welcome. 

The best bit? Such wellness retreats are perfectly situated to receive that all-important dose of Mediterranean vitamin D almost guaranteed on the Balearics, Cypriot coast and Greek islands, and in far-flung paradises such as the Maldives (miles away from cloudy London). So, what are you waiting for? Waltz into winter with a clean mind and healthy body thanks to these top wellness retreats.

Parklane, Cyprus

Parklane, a luxury resort and spa in Limassol on the Cypriot coast, has partnered with female-founded fitness brand Oyogo to launch the Energia Wellness Retreat. Expert trainers and fitness coaches will host two one-week residencies from 28 October to 1 November 2024, and 4-8 November, to offer wellness seekers a dose of Cypriot vitamin D and a daily roster of curated fitness classes. Up first, coach Phodi Adams will put participants through their paces with a schedule of intensive strength and conditioning and HIIT classes, focusing on core and abs, lower body, and upper body. The following week, Sasha Morgan will lead more restorative Pilates and yoga sessions, ranging from a sunrise vinyasa yoga flow to rest and restore lessons. 

Post-workout, guests can rejuvenate in the five-star seafront property enveloped by palm trees and hugged by the Mediterranean Sea. The collection of 222 rooms, 34 suites and 18 villas – all designed by Harrods Interiors and decorated with art by Atelier 27 Paris – sit alongside the award-winning Kalloni Spa, secluded Blue Flag beach, four dazzling swimming pools, Technogym-equipped ParkFit gym, and tennis and padel courts. Elsewhere, discover six restaurants and bars, highlighted by the renowned Nammos, to nourish your body with traditional Cypriot cuisine. 

From £184 per night. 

Wylder, Spain

Hosted by yoga teacher Charlotte Townend, Wylder offers guests more than just your average yoga retreat, combining mindful practices, outdoor activities and unique workshops with a personal touch. Offering burnt-out Brits the perfect winter sun break to focus on themselves, spend time outdoors, learn new skills and indulge in inner-child activities like pottery and paddle boarding, there are five retreats set to take place across the Balearics in September and October, including locations in Formentera, Ibiza and Menorca. 

These autumn retreats will also see the introduction of the new Wylder Dine Series, where one exclusive dinner during each retreat is set among nature in a local beauty spot. The chosen chefs are native to the islands, creating a deeper connection between guests and local practices alongside exceptionally good food. 

From £1,650 per person. 

Pine Cliffs Resort, Portugal

Perched on the rocky cliffs of the Algarve, Pine Cliffs Resort is the perfect place to rejuvenate in Portugal. From 12-17 October 2024, the five-star hotel will host the Fitness and Wellness Fusion Retreat – designed by Pine Cliffs’ experienced instructor Josué Rosa – for those that want to improve their fitness, but also indulge in some sunny downtime. The six-day retreat is designed to enhance physical and mental vitality while guaranteeing those all-important top ups of vitamin D courtesy of southern Europe’s autumn sunshine, with temperatures typically between 20-24°C in October.

Fuelled by a daily healthy menu and detox juice, the workouts are held in various locations around the resort including the beach, cliffs, and studio, featuring a curated programme of beach bootcamp, stretching, Pilates, HIIT, and hiking on the cliffs. Post-workout, head to the Serenity Spa for a deep tissue massage before hitting the sunbeds at the hotel’s pool or private beach, teeing off on the nine-hole golf course or practising your serve at the tennis academy. 

From £2,162 per person. 

W Ibiza

While today Ibiza is synonymous with nightlife and wining and dining, the W outpost is harking back to the Balearic island’s bohemian and wellness roots. In collaboration with Ibiza-born fitness company Oranja, the Five-Day State of Adventure retreat – hosted from 14-18 October 2024 – has been curated to activate the body and boost stamina and cadence with a variety of cardio and strength workouts. Featuring Oranja’s famous hybrid sessions (part-spin bike, part-mat-based strength classes) alongside beach boot camps, runs along the coast and ice baths, this promises to be the ultimate solution for physical recovery. 

However, no trip to Ibiza should be all work and no play. Reconnect with your body and mind via yoga, stretch and flow sessions before exploring the island and hidden bays on expert-led hikes, e-biking lessons and on a private boat trip. Plus, for those who aren’t afraid to hit the dance floor, the itinerary even includes drinks and DJ sessions at the hotel’s all-night bar, Below. Balance is key…

From £189 per night. 

Eliamos Villas Hotel and Spa, Kefalonia

Perfectly secluded within a private estate, yet a short stroll from the island’s crystal water beaches and serene villages, Eliamos’ magical ambience entices guests to slow down and disconnect. Featuring just 12 villas, ranging from one to three bedrooms and each with a private pool, the hotel offers the privacy of a villa retreat but with access to five-star amenities. Nature-based relaxation and wellness take centrestage, with an outdoor gym and yoga deck complete with reformer Pilates beds, a saltwater lap swimming pool, and the Eliamos Spa. 

The five-star resort will be ending summer on a high this year with its inaugural wellbeing retreat, in partnership with female-founded studio Basic Space. Taking place from 12-18 October 2024, the residency will see Basic Space’s founder Jaime Hepburn and Pilates instructor Nat Kunz leading daily classes, ranging from dynamic yoga and Slow to Yin, to more high-energy, strengthening Pilates sessions. Yogis will also be able to take part in individual classes outside of the retreat’s carefully-curated schedule, as well as enjoying a daily healthy set menu at the Sunset Grill and a spa treatment. 

From £500 per night. 

Andronis Concept Wellness Resort, Santorini

Set on one of the highest points of Santorini, Andronis Concept Wellness Resort blends seamlessly into the hillside to offer a combination of exclusivity and privacy – so it’s unsurprisingly a hotbed for the Hollywood elite every year. This summer, the resort reopened following a top-to-toe transformation that’s centred by a ‘sleep well’ ethos, aiming to enhance every guests’ wellbeing and vitality during their stay. All 28 rooms are now equipped with Sleep Well mattresses, pillow and duvet menus to suit individual preferences, deep healing channels and wellness mini bars brimming with organic treats such as Greek herbal teas and products from Espa’s Restful Collection. 

Those booking the three-night Sleep Well package will also be served a thoughtful menu that’s been adapted to enhance rest and sleep. Expect sugar-free and predominantly gluten-free meals that are rich in magnesium to help switch nervous systems from active mode, to rest and digest. Back in your sea-view suite, unwind by tuning into the TV’s meditation channel, or recharge your energy with a rejuvenating yoga session using the in-room mat. Wellness has never looked so good. 

From £590 per night. 

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Accessible via a short transfer in one of the resort’s fleet of private yachts, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi offers those looking for an upmarket wellness experience an unforgettable holiday. Surrounded by the famed archipelago’s azure water, the resort features a range of accommodations, 11 distinct dining outlets, an expansive programme of activities and watersports, and a state-of-the-art spa complete with an Aqua Wellness Centre. For those with little ones in tow, the Children’s Concierge is on hand to arrange curated adventures for families, from a private yacht sandbank excursion to movies under the stars on the beach, and coral adoption with the resort’s on-site marine biologist. 

However, with healing continuing to be a buzzword in wellness, the Maldivian hotel is hosting Keralan-born holistic wellness coach Shree Devi until the end of September, offering a range of holistic therapies aimed at channelling positive energy, quieting the mind for stress relief and fostering inner peace. Hotel guests will be able to take part in tarot card readings, astrology, aura cleansing and chakra balances, as well as traditional Ayurvedic therapies such as Shirodhara, where medicated oil drips onto the forehead to induce a relaxed state of awareness. In addition, Devi will be providing past-life regression therapy – a hypnotic delve into past lives to address present challenges – as well as sound harmony and healing. 

From £2,753 per night. 

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