wellness resorts | MORAL COMPASS: Great Places to Go Where the Going Does Good

August is National Wellness Month and it’s an ideal time to plan a self-care getaway. Wellness seekers are constantly looking for the newest and most exclusive experiences, and these resorts, events, and packages are providing just that in some of the most beautiful, relaxing destinations in the world.

Ananda in the Himalayas goes global to the Maldives, Switzerland and Wales

World-renowned global wellness retreat, Ananda in the Himalayas takes its traditional wisdom and expertise around the world to these three destinations. From August 17-25, 2024, Ananda Wellness Residency at The Nautilus in the Maldives offers a transformative wellness experience that combines Ananda’s expertise in Ayurvedic therapies, Yogic energy work, and healthy gourmet cuisine with The Nautilus’s timeless hospitality offering. The Nautilus Maldives in the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, provides an idyllic setting in the Indian Ocean.

From August 28-September 1, 2024, at the Nira Alpina in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Ananda in the Himalayas offers Ananda in the Alps, a unique Hatha Yoga, meditation and Ayurvedic culinary workshop in the Swiss Alps led by Ananda’s Yoga expert and therapist, Reema Saikia and Executive Chef and Ayurvedic cuisine expert Diwaker Balodi. One of the most unique hotels in the Swiss Alps, Nira Alpina is located amidst the beautiful snow-capped mountains and glassy pure lakes.

From September 30-October 4, 2024, Dreams of Ananda combines the ancient Indian sciences of Ayurveda, Yoga, and Meditation from the foothills of the Himalayas to the enchanting Celtic lands of Mid Wales. Personalized wellbeing and facilitators at The Dreaming, a wellness retreat in Wales, work to bring harmony back to attendees as they practice yoga, meditation, and more.

Hotel Belmar offers new wellness experiences in Costa Rica

Carbon neutral Hotel Belmar, a family-owned luxury eco-lodge situated in Costa Rica’s renowned Monteverde cloud forest highlands, adds to its wellness offerings with new yoga programs and more. Arantza joined in April as a certified yoga teacher, breathwork and lightwork facilitator, gene keys student, and dedicated guide. With over five years of experience, she curates mindful experiences, blending traditional yogic practices, tantra, pranayama, and more. Arantza’s sessions, grounded in self-empowerment and love, invite guests to discover their dharma, embrace transformation, and connect with the elements.

The hotel now offers a new Wellness Enhancement add-on package to elevate any stays into a thematic self-retreat. This add-on package includes daily farm-to-table breakfast, daily yoga sessions, healthy juice smoothies, a relaxing massage, a private breathwork session, and immersive nature experiences—all for $220 USD. For corporate or group travelers, Hotel Belmar also has new wellness packages available for groups of 8 – 20 people.

Scenset invites travelers on an Indonesian island getaway

An exclusive itinerary prepared by Carl Junior, Senior Travel Curator for luxury travel-tech company Scenset, promises wellness, adventure, and luxury in the captivating Indonesian islands. Discover the perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and luxury on this exclusive journey to dream destinations including Bali. Indonesia invites travelers to rejuvenate mind, body, and spirit in a culturally rich environment that promotes relaxation, rejuvenation, and holistic well-being.

Whether it’s yoga in Ubud’s lush rainforests, exclusive spa retreats in Uluwatu’s cliffside havens, or Sumba’s pristine beaches, Indonesia provides a perfect backdrop for immersive wellness experiences. Top-tier resorts, beach yoga, wellness consultations, sunset horseback rides, and gourmet dining are all part of the itinerary — available here.

Las Catalinas welcomes XTERRA Costa Rica event

From August 23-25, 2024, the town of Las Catalinas will host its first ever XTERRA Costa Rica. The event is an off-road multisport endurance competition featuring a full distance triathlon (individual and relay) with a 1600 meter open-water swim, 28-kilometer mountain bike and 9-kilometer trail run. The sprint triathlon includes an 800-meter open-water swim, a 20-kilometer mountain bike and a 5-kilometer trail run and covers over 42 kilometers of trails, beaches, and waterfront. Las Catalinas has also been the home to the Tri Las Catalinas, one of Costa Rica’s most celebrated triathlons since 2013.

The town has become an ideal destination for training, wellness, healing and recovery. With trails, biking, and water sports all nearby, it’s the ideal destination to reconnect with nature and seek some rejuvenation. Find out more about the triathlon here.

Naya Traveler takes wellness seekers to Argentina’s Patagonia

Offering tailor-made experiential journeys to a curated selection of destinations, Naya Traveler invites travelers to the heart of a 50,000-acre working cattle ranch in Argentina’s Patagonia region where Tipiliuke Lodge puts wellness at the forefront, welcoming guests to indulge in a variety of relaxing experiences. Naya Traveler works with local hosts and expert guides to design a personalized wellness journey from the very start. Amenities like a nutritionist, wood-fired sauna, hot tub with stunning vistas, and yoga studio with views of natural beauty are all part of the package, helping guests reconnect with nature and themselves.

Personal treatments from masseuses, yoga instructors, physiotherapists, and osteopaths from the nearby town of San Martin de los Andes complete the wellness offer. End each rejuvenating day under a canopy of stars, savoring renowned Argentinian Malbecs around a fire. Learn more about Naya Traveler’s wellness journeys.

Calabash Cove Resort & Spa provides top-notch rejuvenation in Saint Lucia

Known for its commitment to sustainability and eco-minded practices, Calabash Cove Resort and Spa is one of the most popular all-inclusive, adults-only boutique hotels in Saint Lucia. Its 26 villas feature old Caribbean charm coupled with luxurious and modern resort amenities. The resort’s Ti Spa offers a wide range of treatments that combine European technique with St. Lucia’s storied tradition of using plant and food-based curatives. Treatments are designed to cleanse the body with locally produced coffee or papaya scrubs. The signature Spa Sampler features holistic treatments like hot stone massage, aromatherapy, and counter stretching among other techniques. Guests can also enjoy the resort’s diverse vegan and vegetarian menu. The resort is one of the only properties in Saint Lucia to offer a vegan menu.

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Many guest ranches today, in addition to offering horseback riding and a cowboy spirit, are base camps for a host of outdoor adventures, and some are going beyond, with new additions to their offerings of spa and wellness facilities and Mind, Body & Spirit programs.

SONOMA, CA – Gene Kilgore, one of the world’s leading authorities on ranch vacations, has launched a new website dedicated to spa and wellness ranches: https://wellnessranches.com/.

“This is the perfect moment to highlight the wellness work that some innovative ranches are focusing on,” said Kilgore. His new website shines the spotlight on 11 such ranches in North America that are breaking new ground in the wellness movement, a multi-billion dollar Mind, Body, Spirit phenomenon.

These properties in Arizona, British Columbia, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon, Montana and Wyoming represent the best of the best in both traditional ranch activities (life in the saddle) plus healthy wellness and spa-focused offerings.

He noted that the personal wellness movement is spurred on, in part, by the desire to recover from life under a pandemic and by a new-found appeal of America’s Wild West, its cowboys and ranch life, as evidenced by the popularity of Kevin Costner’s hit TV series Yellowstone.

Originally, ranches offered horseback riding activities for adults and families as the main focus of a ranch vacation, while ranches today are base camps for a host of outdoor adventures. But some are beefing up what they may have offered in the past with new additions to their offerings of spa and wellness facilities and Mind, Body & Spirit programs. Wellnessranches.com is organized into these categories:

In addition to exploring the wellness-related features each ranch offers, the website provides the following services to potential guests:

Check for Availability Form which is sent to ranches that match search parameters (budget, dates of stay, party details and preferred location). To begin the selection process, visitors to the site are invited to fill out the form with as much information as possible for ranch staff who have committed to respond the same or next day.
Personalized Concierge Service assists those who wish a little extra help in trying to choose the right ranch for themselves. Although not a booking service, no fees are charged for this assistance. The only goal is to give the user ideas that hopefully will assist them in finding one’s perfect “home on the range”. To use this service, visitors to the site can call 707-217-5205 or complete the online form provided.
Travel Advisor Center provides access to the website to professional travel advisors to help them expand their portfolios and business. There’s a simple interface for viewing select ranches, rates and more. Advisors simply log in or sign up via the online form to get started.

While there are a host of ranches to consider, here are four examples of properties that combine focused wellness programs matched with traditional ranch activities.

Bishops Lodge – https://wellnessranches.com/wellness-ranches/bishops-lodge: Near Santa Fe, NM, Bishops Lodge combines nature’s offerings, such as river floating and hiking, with outdoor mindfulness sessions. The Wellness Lodge offers relaxation massage, deep tissue massage, couples massage, EMF learning, aromatherapy massage, meditation, land dance, CBD massage, botanicals remedy, sound healing, sound healing facial, sacred sound massage, intuitive healing and energy medicine

Echo Valley Ranch and Spa – https://wellnessranches.com/wellness-ranches/echo-valley-ranch-and-spa: A small, eco-luxury ranch located near Clinton, British Columbia is known for its warm, sincere and anticipatory service. When guests are not on horseback riding the spectacular backcountry you may find them mountain biking, engaged in Yoga, bird watching, hiking, enjoying some archery, marksmanship, canyon tours, and meditation. Although a major draw is the spa offering relaxation massage, deep tissue massage, couples massage, scrubs, manicures, facials, and pedicures.

Bitterroot Ranch – https://wellnessranches.com/wellness-ranches/bitterroot-ranch: Near Dubois, Wyoming, Bitterroot Ranch retains its original commitment to making matches between riders, new and old, and their mounts. The ranch’s yoga program focuses on stretching and conditioning muscles that are most engaged when riding. Resident Yoga instructor Hadley Fox is a certified Vinyasa Yoga teacher and on set weeks offers clinics with instructor Marc Holzman, a certified Ayurveda practitioner with over 18 years of experience teaching Hatha Yoga and Meditation.

Rock Creek – https://wellnessranches.com/wellness-ranches/the-ranch-at-rock-creek. This ranch near historic Philipsburg, MT, offers yoga and golf along with such treatments at its Granite Spa as relaxation massage, deep tissue massage, rock treatments, couples massage, scrubs, manicures, facials, pedicures and its signature Saddle Sore Soak.

Kilgore also offers these other ranch and western lifestyle vacation-related websites to make the journey from research to booking as informed, fun and easy as possible:

RanchWeb – https://ranchweb.com/
Top50Ranches – https://www.top50ranches.com/

Kilgore (https://genekilgore.com/) began his ranch journey some 40 years ago and has spent most of his adult life and professional career taking the ranch message to the world.

“Our Ranch Vacations websites reconnect travelers with unparalleled natural beauty, hospitality and a goodness that weary city folks are craving,” Kilgore says. “The pandemic has only heightened this demand and for years to come ranches will offer this magnificent way of life for all to enjoy.”