The Best Wellness Holidays To Take in 2026

You only have to mention the word Costa Rica to me and I immediately feel the dopamine effect! This island has been on my own bucket list for many years and must be one of the world’s best wellness destinations.

G Adventures has a super eight-day wellness tour with upgraded accommodation, meals and activities included, as well as a yoga session overlooking Arenal Volcano, a theraputic mud bath, and bathing in thermal hot springs.

If you prefer to go it alone, then don’t miss the Hotel Nantipa. Located in one of the five Blue Zones in the world, the local community here promotes daily practices linked to longevity and health.

There are numerous wellness packages available, but a three-night Blue Wellness Experience including accommodation, yoga and meditation each morning, a private surf lesson, a hike to the Montezuma waterfall, volunteering at non-profit coastal ranch CIRENAS, a local family visit, daily sunset cocktails, a private sunset dinner on the beach, and daily spa treatments would start from $3,485 for two.

6. Go All Inclusive at The Body Holiday in St Lucia

The Body Holiday is the ultimate all inclusive wellness hotel. You can enjoy a personalised schedule of spa treatments, fitness classes and water sports with celebrity fitness trainers and dancers, as well as meals and premium drinks – all included in the cost of your holiday.

The Body Holiday is ideal for solo holidays too as it dedicates the month of September to solo travellers, where there is no single supplement and the hotel is packed with singles!

7. Book a trip to Bali

Yoga, pilates and meditation gave Ubud its global status as one of the world’s best wellness locations, so if you are looking for the ultimate holiday retreat, Ubud in Bali is the place to go. There are numerous retreat holidays in Bali but Como Shambala Estate is hard to beat – they offer personalised wellness programmes and have a pilates studio on site. 

However, you will find wellness experiences all over the island. Hike Mt Batur to catch the sunrise, chase the countless waterfalls and combine these wonderful activities with some relaxing time on one of Bali’s beautiful beaches.

Read: Bali bucket list – top things to do in Bali

8. Learn a new skill in Morocco

Morocco has its fair share of wellness hotels, including the world-class Amanjena Hotel in Marrakesh, and with direct flights to Marrakesh and Agadir from Dublin, Morocco has never been so accessible.

However, learning a new skill or perfecting an existing one is wellness travel of a different kind. The cool Yogi Surfer Hotel in Taghazout bay has surfing and yoga retreats, while TDactive offers a four-night photography holiday that is provided in association with Dublin Photography School – you can capture Morrocco’s vibrant cities and souqs as well as its captivating desert on one short wellness break. Prices from €1099 including flights, hotels, meals and activities.

9. Experience Mindfulness in Madeira

Often described as the Hawaii of Europe, the Portuguese island of Madeira is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and health holidays.

Explore its stunning coastline, mountains, rain forests and waterfalls either at your own pace or on this seven-night guided walking holiday. 

Prices are available from €1239 per person including flights, meals and activities, or book flights with Ryanair and hotels and activities separately, if you prefer to book an independent trip.

10. Combine Skiing and Spa Treatments with the Canyonlands in Utah

A holiday in Utah epitomises wellness travel for me. You can ski in the largest ski resort in the US – Park City, explore the incredible Canyonlands and National parks, and stay in some of the best wellness hotels in America.

The Lodge at Blue Sky has been on my own wish list for some time – I hope to stay and ski here some day. It is a luxury boutique hotel with just 41 rooms on a ranch with 3,000 acres of land. As well as amazing skiing, there is a world-class Spa, Yoga classes and meditation with horses. 

For the ultimate luxury wellness holiday, combine your stay with Amangiri – a spectacular hotel in the Utah desert. Its luxury Spa has indoor and outdoor private pavilions, and wellness activities include mindfulness walks and Yoga on the Rocks – where guests hike to the top of a desert formation for panoramic views of the Canyon Country.

11. Get Sporty in Club La Santa, Lanzarote

With more than 80 sports facilities and 500 weekly activities, Club La Santa in Lanzarote is one of the best hotels for active holidays in Spain. 

Regardless of your fitness level, Club La Santa has activities to suit everyone, even children are catered for. Club La Santa is an all inclusive sports resort so all activities are included in the cost of your stay, but meals are not included. Top Tip: Room types vary, older accommodation is quite basic.

12. Feel Good in Fuerteventura

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Fuerteventura boasts some of the best beaches in Europe, along with year-round sunshine and relaxed resorts – after a recent holiday there, I think it’s a great choice for a wellness holiday in Spain. 

Azulfit is a Yoga and Pilates retreat that boasts world class teachers, delicious food and plenty of rest and rejuvenation – and judging from the reviews on TripAdvisor, its clients agree!

Read: Top 10 things to do in Fuerteventura and where to stay

13. Learn to Sleep in Miami

Did you know that sleep tourism is a new travel trend? Some luxury hotels have sleep concierges, and there are numerous wellness resorts offering sleep retreats to improve your sleeping habits. One such hotel is the in Carillon Wellness Resort in Miami.

Their sleep retreat includes a four-night stay in a luxury apartment with a Bryte Balance™ Smart Bed with retreat breakfast and lunch included, as well as a 50-minute Pro Sleep Body Treatment, a choice of four Sleep Well Touchless Wellness treatments, and the book Sleep for Success! Everything You Must Know About Sleep But Are Too Tired to Ask.

This hotel also offers 75+ group weekly fitness classes, and access to one of the USA’s most expansive hydrotherapy experiences.

If Miami is too far to travel, the Six Senses Hotel in Ibiza has a Sleep Doctor on site, along with wellness therapies, nutrition advice, yoga and low-intensity training.

14. Live La Dolce Vita in Italy

Exploring the stunning cities of Florence or Sienna is enough to give me a sense of well being, but throw in Tuscany’s Spa towns and thermal baths and you have one of the best wellness destinations in the world. 

There are countless wellness hotels to choose from, including one of the Small Leading Hotels of The World – Fonteverde Lifestyle & Thermal Retreat. As well as its top-class thermal spa, holistic centre, and therapies such as Cryotherapy it boasts stunning views of Tuscany’s rolling hills. 

However, it is easy to visit Tuscany’s thermal baths and towns by staying in less expensive options. Top Tip: Don’t miss Saturnia’s Hot Springs which are free to visit!

Read: The Best Places to visit in Tuscany and Where to Stay

If you want to swap the rolling hills of Tuscany to seaside towns in Sicily, then check out the 5-star Hotel Principe di Fitalia Wellness & SPA. There are spa, fitness and wellness packages as well as entertainment for children, making it a great wellness holiday for families. 

Italy also has a week-long menopause retreat in the 5-Star Preidlhof Hotel in the South Tryol.

And last, but not least, one of my favourite regions in Italy, Puglia, is home to another hotel on my bucket list. The Don Totu Hotel offers complimentary daily yoga sessions, guided hikes, bike tours, and access to its Hamman, Turkish Bath and Gym.

15. Discover the Healing Powers of the Blue Lagoon in Iceland

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Iceland is one of Europe’s best wellness destinations and offers completely different experiences during the summer and winter. Enjoy 18 – 23 hours of daylight during the summer, and enjoy its hot springs, glaciers, fjords and waterfalls. The remote highlands and Westfjords are a paradise for hikers and let’s not forget its top attraction – the Blue Lagoon.

If your budget allows, go one step further and check into the Blue Lagoon Retreat. As well as a subterranean Spa and Michelin-starred dining, you have unlimited access to the Retreat Spa and the Retreat Lagoon – a private lagoon sourced from the same healing waters as the Blue Lagoon.

Read: Top Tips for visiting the Blue Lagoon

16. Go Tree-Hugging in Mauritius

With year round sunshine, white sandy beaches, and a centre filled with rainforests, wildlife and waterfalls, Mauritius offers a variety attractions for luxury wellness holidays. Most good hotels will have spa and wellness facilities, but the all-suite Heritage Le Telfair is one of the best 5 star wellness hotels in Mauritius.

The Wellness Bliss packages include forest bathing, coastal treks, and even tree-hugging! Choose from a selection of packages, or custom make your own with the onsite Wellness Ambassador, including detoxification, weight loss and improved sleep.

In addition to the Wellness Bliss, the hotel has complimentary Pilates, Tai Chi, Body Balance, Akwa Active water workouts and a selection of Yoga classes.

17. Find Family Wellness in Austria

Pardon the pun, but Austria does wellness so well. Whether you want an activity based holiday, a relaxing one, or a combination of both, Austria has destinations for all in abundance.

I have a passion for skiing. It is one of the few times when I can completely switch off – so I guess this is the perfect wellness holiday for me. However, I also enjoy gazing at the snowy mountains from an outdoor hot tub at the end of the day! There is something about crisp cold air and the child-like wonder that comes from seeing mountains and villages covered in snow. 

Austria is a super wellness holiday destination in the summer too. Ski resorts become a paradise for walkers, hikers and mountain bikers, and if don’t want to hike but still get the mountain views, the selection of lifts will allow you to reach mountain peaks easily. 

One of the most recommended wellness retreats in Austria is Forsthofgut – this is ideal for families as well as adults. The multi-award winning forest Spa has an adult-only area with a natural chemical-free swimming lake, as well as a family spa with a water slide and baby pool. Horse riding, Yoga, cycling and hiking are all available here, as is skiing during the winter months.

Das Edelweiss Salzburg Mountain Resort is another great hotel for family wellness holidays. As well as ski in – ski out facilities there is an indoor water park with 5 slides as well as a kids club. 

Read: My Top 10 tips for family ski holidays

The Sporthotel in St Johann has been a firm favourite with Irish holidaymakers for many years a – Topflight organise packages holidays here in summer and winter.

Lanserhof in Tirol’s has a team of medical doctors on site and offers 7, 10 and 14 day CURE packages with holistic approach and state-of-the-art medicine. Whether you want detox and regeneration, sleep medicine or a long-covid therapies, you name it, its here, but my understanding is that this is more like a clinic than a wellness retreat. 

There are many more wellness resorts in Austria to choose from, or you can simply relax in the thermal baths in one of the Great Spa Towns of Europe, Baden bei Wien – a town that was given UNESCO World Heritage status because of its medicinal springs. 

18. Find Paradise in the Maldives

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After visiting three islands in the Maldives I’m fairly sure that no matter where you stay, a holiday here will provide a feeling of well being! Being able to walk barefoot around your resort, and sleep in an overwater bungalow on some of the world’s most idyllic islands is a dream come true for most of us.

Read: My review of Kuramathi Island Resort

While most islands will have Spas and wellness facilities, some islands go a step further.

InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort‘s Silent Immersion package begins from the moment of arrival, where guests can spend their days in complete privacy though a dedicated wellness mentor. Boundaries surrounding communication are pre-agreed in advance and in-villa wellness treatments and sessions can also be provided upon request. A Digital Detox Days Package has also been introduced as a supplementary offering – involving yoga and meditation to promote inner peace and wellbeing.

The Residence Maldives is home to The Spa by Clarins which is located at the end of a jetty overlooking the sea. You can also book 3 – 7 day wellness retreats, including Ultimate Sleep and Beauty Retreat, a Vigour and Vitality Retreat and a Detox and Contouring Retreat.

And if your budget allows, check out the Blue Rate at the Ritz Carlton Maldives Fari Islands which offers a Wellness package that harnesses the restorative benefits of the big blue. A floating breakfast ceremony in your villa, a private dinner on board the Ritz-Carlton’s private yacht and a sandbank sunset ceremony with mindfulness practice are just some of the inclusions.

19. Be Transformed in Thailand

20. Get Pampered in Portugal

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Portugal has countless wellness hotels and activities, too many to mention, but there are two that have been recommended to me on numerous occasions. 

Pine Cliffs Resort is a regular winner of Portugal’s best wellness retreat at the World Spa Awards. As well as superb wellness facilities for adults and families, it offers year round wellness retreats for three, five or seven nights.

‘Explore Nature’ focuses on outdoor activities such as bike rides, bootcamp classes and massage, while ‘Serenity Retreat’ includes treatments drawn from diverse healing traditions as well as personalised nutrition plans, personal training and yoga. 

For anyone looking for unique wellness holidays, check out Quinta Carvalhas, a farm stay near the Ribatejo region of Portugal, an hour from Lisbon airport.  Private retreats can be custom designed to suit you and can include Horse Therapy Magic, Yoga, Reiki, Massage, Mindfulness sessions and more.

Titan Fitness Algarve is a fitness camp located in the town of Luz on the Algarve. Unlike most wellness holidays on this list you can choose to stay on or off site. Typical weekly packages include training hikes, water sports and breakfast and lunch each day. 

Much Better Adventures run a yoga, hiking, and SUP retreat that offers daily yoga sessions with hiking coastal trails and stand-up paddleboarding for a wonderful combination of land and sea activities.

21. Be Seduced by Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s most diverse countries. As well as wonderful wellness hotels it is packed with 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, wonderful wildlife, stunning scenery and beautiful beaches.  

Read: My Top 10 things to do in Sri Lanka

I highly recommend everyone to visit Sri Lanka, but if you are looking for a wellness or yoga holiday, look no further than Ulpotha Hotel.

Ulpotha has been voted the best destination spa in the world, and one of the best yoga destinations in the world, so you are in for a treat if you can manage to stay here.

This eco hideaway is located in a traditional working village and offers two-week yoga retreats with top international teachers, as well as free massages, forest walks, boating, swimming, cycling, and excursions to Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage sites.

22. Book Wellness Holidays with an Irish Host

When I asked on Instagram for wellness holiday recommendations I was amazed to learn about the amount of Irish wellness specialists who host health holidays abroad. There are so many that I couldn’t  include them all but the following were recommended on a few occasions.

Many of you may be familiar with Pure Results, Kathryn Thomas’ health and fitness retreats in Ireland, but did you know Kathryn also hosts retreats in Portugal twice a year too? 

Laura Carr runs 4 day wellness retreats in the Finca Monasterio in Sotogrande on the Costa del Sol. Activities include healing candlelit guided meditations, empowering workshops, crystal sound baths, and yoga sessions. All meals and snacks are included and foods are locally sourced and organic.  

TDactive run 3-night Yoga holidays in the Algarve with instructors from Moons Yoga Loft that are suitable for all levels. And you can use my code TTE25 to save €25 per person off the cost.

Sinead Kennedy runs a selection of yoga trips throughout the year in a variety of destinations including Morocco, Majorca and Italy.

Marian Dolan, owner of YogaforAll.ie runs retreats abroad every year in various destinations from Turkey to India.

Yoga and Meditation teacher Sarah Shannon runs Wild & Free retreats on the Algarve.

Health and Wellness speaker Dr Mark Rowe runs an annual wellness retreat abroad.

Seanie Clifford, AKA EatSleepTrailRun runs hiking and yoga trips throughout the year.

I hope this post on wellness holidays will inspire you to plan a health holiday soon. While every effort was made to ensure accuracy, prices, hotel descriptions and activities are subject to change. Some of the links in this post contain affiliate links, where I receive a small commission if a booking is made, but at no additional charge to you.