From countryside calm to city energy, these travel ideas put mental and physical well-being first
From countryside calm to city energy, these travel ideas put mental and physical well-being first
Steadiness in solitude
Tucked into Bhutan’s Punakha Valley, &Beyond’s Punakha River Lodge offers a luxurious retreat in nature. Distant Himalayan peaks and forests surround its suites, river house and family lodgings, all blending Bhutanese design with quiet elegance. Centred on wellness and renewal, the lodge encourages unstructured healing rather than itineraries that push guests into a fixed rhythm.
See also: Facing the mountain
Those seeking calm can learn from holistic practitioners through the lodge’s Wellness Masters in Residence programme, with complimentary 30-minute group sessions and optional one-to-one treatments available.
For May and December, &Beyond invites Vijaya Goyal (pictured, right) to guide guests through their transformative treatments. The lawyer-turned-wellness master honed her craft at destinations such as Aman, Six Senses, Soneva and Kamalaya and combines intuition with a variety of energy work such as Reiki, energetic facelift, access bars, rebirthing breathwork and sound healing.
Vijaya’s meetings serve as more intimate supplements to Punakha’s other offerings. Daily yoga and meditation sessions are held in the open-air studio, led by in-house instructors, while the on-site spa provides massages, facials and foot rituals. The most popular amenity is the traditional Dotsho hot stone bath, where heated stones are dropped into herb-infused waters to support physical restoration.
See also: Madras mix
Whether you’re seeking solo relaxation or a more personalised wellness journey, Punakha River Lodge invites guests to move at their own pace and restore a sense of inner balance. (andbeyond.com)
Hokkaido hikes
When planning a trip to Japan, cities like Tokyo or Osaka often feel like the obvious starting point. Rather than bumping shoulders with other travellers beneath the skyscrapers, a hike through the country’s serene countryside offers an alternative that’s just as unforgettable.
Travel company Walk Japan offers outdoor enthusiasts an experience off the beaten path up north in Hokkaido with the new East Hokkaido Trek guided tour. Experienced walkers can sign up for the nine-day, eight-night hike through the prefecture, following segments of the recently established Hokkaido East Trail.
Participants cover all 410km of the route, walking 11 to 18km a day. The trail threads through national parks and lush wetlands, skirts Japan’s largest crater lakes, Mashu-ko and Kussharo-ko, crosses the Unesco-listed Shiretoko Peninsula and climbs low mountain passes with sweeping views over the Sea of Okhotsk.
Travellers venturing into the northernmost parts of Japan are rewarded with fresh local food and soothing onsen baths, including in the remote Kawayu Onsen township, renowned for its revitalising geothermal springs.
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The next guided tour is in September, when the crisp autumn air starts to settle. It’s the perfect time for an intense yet eye-opening adventure. (walkjapan.com)
Urban haven
In the heart of the city, just off vibrant Notting Hill, London’s Whiteley — the city’s first department store — has been transformed into the new Six Senses hotel. Opening on March 1, it is the latest outpost of the luxury lifestyle resort group, which also operates across Asia, Africa and the Americas.
The accommodation comprises 109 rooms and 14 residences, with options for private terraces and views over the city or courtyard. Inspired by Art Deco architecture, the interiors complement the collonaded exterior and polished domes while maintaining a modern sense of elegance and lightness, expressed through spacious layouts, glass panelling and chevron wood flooring.
Just as impressive as its lodgings is the spa located on an expansive level beneath the building. Advanced technologies and intuition-focused therapies are combined to ensure a sense of relaxation and tranquillity, providing respite in an ever-hectic metropolis.
Guests can customise a wellness plan to suit their individual needs and interests. Each consultation begins with a non-invasive biomarker screening, followed by a movement assessment to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses and a sleep analysis using a tracker.
These personalised programmes blend spa treatments, fitness and cognitive exercises, using biohacking techniques such as compression therapy and instant tension release. Guests can also take a dip in the pool, relax in the recovery lounge, or try their hand at a skincare-making workshop. (sixsenses.com)
BUY + FLY
Easy picks to grab and go on your next vacation
Rimowa’s Essential Sleeve Cabin Plus in soft pastel green combines style and practicality for the modern traveller. With three separate compartments, it keeps your belongings neatly organised wherever you go. (rimowa.com)
From tossing in your swimsuit to stashing your sunglasses, Tumi’s Malta Pouch Trio is a colourful, multi-purpose holiday essential. Compact and durable, it slips easily into any bag while keeping your belongings organised. (tumi.sg)
