Royal Mansour (Marrakech, Morocco)

A list of the world’s best wellness hotels wouldn’t be complete without the Royal Mansour in Marrakech (the king of Morocco’s own hotel, FYI). Accessed through a citrus grove, the Royal Mansour’s distinctive spa is famous for its Pinterest-friendly aesthetic (think: a white lace-like atrium) and its hammam, which offers a luxurious twist on a traditional Moroccan purification ritual.

Take your wellbeing journey even further with one of the hotel’s signature three-, five-, seven- or 14-day themed retreats. Guests can pick from four programs – Immunity Boost, Rejuvenation, Rebalance and Weight Control – all of which blend activities, healthy meals created by Michelin-starred chefs and daily spa treatments.

royalmansour.com

Ryo Kan (Mexico City, Mexico)

After a day of taco-devouring and art-hunting in Mexico City, retreat to the unexpected serenity of Latin America’s first ryokan. Modeled after a traditional Japanese inn, each room at Ryo Kan is decorated with natural materials and neutral hues, and comes complete with tatami mats and sliding walls. Before returning to your room for a relaxing night of rest, head up to the roof, where you’ll find the hotel’s onsen – three circular tubs offering an inviting soak above the buzz of Little Tokyo. Once you’re done soaking in water, soak up some acoustics at Ryo Kan’s gong bath meditation, get a treatment at the hotel spa, or participate in a traditional tea ceremony.

ryokan.mx

Azure Palm Hot Springs, (California, USA)

Heading to Palm Springs to downshift in the desert is a yearly ritual for many Los Angeles residents. Follow their lead with a stay at Azure Palm Hot Springs, a hip resort known for having the largest mineral water pool in Southern California. After a morning hike in Joshua Tree National Park (or a sound bath at nearby Integratron, if that’s more your speed), slip into the hotel pool and let its mineral waters soften your skin and relax your muscles. Azure Palm Hot Springs also offers a monthly five-night yoga and juice fasting retreat for those who want to up the ante on their wellness break.

azurepalmhotsprings.com

Fivelements (Bali, Indonesia)

Rich with ancient healing traditions and rituals, ripe exotic fruits and lush rice paddies, Bali has long been a magnet for those seeking balance and wellbeing. There’s no shortage of luxurious wellness-focused hotels on this Indonesian island, but Fivelements stands out for its personalized retreats rooted in Balinese healing methods, sacred arts and plant-based cuisine. Wake up in your elegant jungle suite to the soothing sounds of the Ayung River, then take a yoga class and refuel with a superfood dragon fruit bowl. From there it’s a choose-your-own-adventure of traditional ceremonies and rituals that span everything from a fire blessing (a meditative fireside experience led by a priest) to a bathing ritual (picture an oversized bathtub full of floating petals and aromatic oils).

fivelementsbali.com

Niraamaya Retreats (Kerala, India)

If you’ve already reaped the benefits of yoga, you might be ready to explore its “sister science,” Ayurveda. This ancient healing system, which prescribes a holistic approach to each person based on their dosha, or constitution, has been used in India for thousands of years, and you can try it luxury-style at Niraamaya Retreats. Perched on a cliff and surrounded by palm-fringed Kerala beaches, Niraamaya Retreats offers its guests programs like the Ayurveda Stress and Strain Buster, a three-night program incorporating yoga, a consult with the resort’s onsite Ayurvedic physician, herbal medicines and a daily 90-minute Ayurvedic therapy, like the traditional abhyanga oil massage.

niraamaya.com

Kamalaya (Koh Samui, Thailand)

Nestled in the emerald green jungle of Koh Samui island, Kamalaya is one of Asia’s most famous and frequently awarded wellness resorts. A comprehensive range of retreats marry ancient Eastern healing traditions with Western medical research, allowing guests to restore their equilibrium and leave feeling revilitized. Since the pandemic, Kamalaya has introduced two new programs: Resilience & Immunity, which is designed to reduce inflammation and fortify the immune system, and Embracing Change, a mental health-focused retreat intended to help those suffering with grief and anxiety.

kamalaya.com