Travel as a means to rejuvenate is nothing new. In fact, for 70% of British travellers, relaxation and escape from routine is the main goal when travelling (YouGov, May 2024) . How that goal is achieved, from one individual to another however, is shifting in a truly enriching and meaningful way, giving rise to an era of bespoke wellness travel.
For many clients, a customised health retreat is more than just a temporary escape from routine; It’s the beginning of an ongoing lifestyle change, one that is maybe harder to kickstart amongst the distractions of day to day life. We’re seeing this particularly with clients who are seeking alternative or complementary treatments to modern medicine, in tackling specific health goals and concerns. For these clients, we work closely with wellness properties around the world, who offer health programmes designed entirely to aid certain ailments and conditions. Most commonly, sleep disorders, menopause, stress, anxiety, gut-health imbalance, weight-loss and compromised immunity. What we and our clients love the most about many of the programmes offered, is their holistic and personalised approach, consisting of education, tools and practices that span across nutrition, physical body work, exercise and mindfulness; All of which can be started on a retreat but continued long after.
Of course, for other clients, a tailored wellness retreat means something else entirely – those which aren’t based on set programmes but instead offer a means to discover the world of natural wellness. These clients seek out retreats which invite guests to partake in various activities, allowing them to explore at a comfortable pace, in a beautiful setting. Activities range from workshops around food and nutrition, nature walks, local cultural immersion, body work, fitness classes, coaching, meditation sessions or even art and DJ classes. Retreats designed in such a flexible manner are great for clients who want to unearth, or in some cases remind themselves of, activities that personally help them to alleviate stress and promote mindfulness.
Even amongst clients who book traditional tours or holidays, we’re seeing an increase in requests for wellness experiences to be incorporated into itineraries. It’s a telling sign that as more people seek out meaningful travel and natural treatments for specific health challenges, the world of bespoke health retreats will no doubt continue to flourish, and for many individuals will pave a life-changing path to turning their health around.
Amisha Patel is founder of Tailored Retreats. For more information, visit www.seedwellness.co.uk/amishapatel or www.tailoredretreats.com
