Many of the luxury holidays I book for my clients are to spa hotels – resorts that offer a range of treatments, pools and other facilities to enhance the guest experience. A wellness retreat is different – it’s 100% focused on your health and wellbeing, from the food to the scientific-based treatment options. I’ve experienced this at the beautiful Euphoria Retreat in Mystras, Greece, and it absolutely changed the way I think about my health.
From my point of view, the difference is clear. A wellness retreat is a fully-immersive experience, where the focus is on the things that matter to you – so that you come away feeling that you have been physically, spiritually and emotionally renewed.
For me, that starts with the environment. You can find wellness retreats in stunning locations around the world – places where nature works it magic as soon as you arrive. Mystras is a fantastic example of this – a UNESCO landscape in the heart of the Peloponnese, with lush pine forests and the clear, refreshing waters of the Eurotas river.
For UK travellers, this is a fantastic option – an easy flight to Kalamata takes under four hours, and then a pre-arranged transfer to Mystras is just another 45 minutes.
What can you expect from a wellness retreat?
Like many people who’ve never been to a dedicated retreat resort before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Many guests are solo travellers, and it may feel a bit daunting to turn up on your own – but actually, it’s wonderful. The resort’s mealtimes are based around community tables, where everyone gets to know each other, and can get together for group activities as well as individual treatments.
It’s not an exaggeration to say that you feel the cares of the everyday world melt away when you arrive, and the more you embrace the philosophy and offerings, the more you will get from your stay.
Treatments, activities and meals are designed around what you want to get out of the retreat, and by a proper assessment of what’s right for you. Here are just some of the things I experienced:
- A wonderful early-morning group walk in the Taygetos mountains before a delicious, healthy breakfast.
- A superb massage – the best I have ever had – focused on what was right for me.
- Breathing classes and yoga classes which were so good that I signed up to yoga classes as soon as I got home!
- Fantastic group dynamics, with lots of conversations, but also plenty of opportunities for time out and reflection.
All the guests at Euphoria Retreat have complimentary access to its outstanding facilities:
- Indoor–outdoor swimming pool with hydrotherapy jets
- Relaxation area
- Kneipp therapy (Waterwell)
- Finnish sauna
- Experiential showers
- Herbal steam bath
- Cold plunge pool and cold ice mist
- Tepidarium
- Gym
And, like many other wellness retreats, you can book onto a dedicated programme – everything from detox and de-stress to advanced weight loss and mindfulness. In addition, there are medical-focused programmes, all devised and run by medical experts, to help with issues such as sleep and immunity issues.
One of the best things about my job is visiting extraordinary places and seeing just how wonderful the experiences are. It helps me to put together the very best programmes for my clients, in the certain knowledge that they will come back refreshed and rejuvenated.
The easy way to book a wellness retreat
From your flight to the perfect wellness programme, I can book you a beautiful retreat experience anywhere in the world. Using my network of wellness providers, alongside my in-depth knowledge of resorts and travel options, you can either book a dedicated retreat, or make it part of a wider journey – adding other stops and locations to broaden your trip.
No hassle, no worries and no extra fees. Nothing to find – except yourself.
As a Personal Travel Consultant, I am able to organise fantastic holidays all over the world that are completely ABTA and ATOL protected. Also being part of the Hays Travel Group, I have the backing and resource of the largest independent travel group in the UK – meaning great service and prices!