What is Wellness Travel?
I'm often asked - What is Wellness Travel? For me, it can simply be summed up by thinking of it as a holistic style of travel - one that incorporates health (mental + physical) and well-being into a travel journey, whether it be a weekend or year-long adventure.
Some travel journeys have a focus on sight-seeing and ticking things off the "bucket list", others may be filled with partying and drinking copious amounts of alcohol just about every night, where the next morning or whole day may be pretty lazy and hazy. While these styles of travel serve a purpose, Wellness Travel is traveling with a different, pure set of intentions.
These intentions I speak of will be different for each individual, although they may have a common theme - you may wish to travel with the intention to be more Mindful on your journey, soaking up a true appreciation for everything you see and experience, or to contribute beyond yourself through a volunteer program. Another common purpose for travel is Self-Discovery. Of course partying can still be on the agenda, but it is not your primary focus ;)
Who is this style of travel suited to?
Wellness Travel is perfect for first time or experienced travellers who wish to get more out of their travel journey by reconnecting with their true self. Whether you plan it yourself or have an experienced Wellness Travel Advisor plan it for you, Wellness Travel is a very individualized approach where certain practices, regimes, experiences and activities can be incorporated into your travel plan to ultimately transform you into a more connected, healthier, grounded and spiritual person. The following types of people would greatly benefit from Wellness Travel:
Those looking for direction/soul searching
Those looking to improve their mental health
Those wanting to live a more enriched, happier life
Those wanting a more cultural and/or spiritual travel experience, rather than just site-seeing
How can Wellness Travel benefit you?
Putting your health and well-being at the forefront of your travel journey is setting you up for a life-changing experience - it is taking travel to the next level. Listed below are some Wellness benefits you may experience while your are away and on your return, depending on what activities or practices you embrace on your journey:
Mental strength and clarity
A deeper sense of connection to yourself and your surroundings
Improved problem solving skills
Confidence within yourself and to also tackle new challenges in life
Self-discovery
A sense of contentment with yourself
Improvement in physical strength and stamina
What does a Wellness Travel Journey include?
As mentioned, this all depends on who plans your journey for you. For some, Wellness Travel could include adventure sports, a yoga retreat, volunteering or cultural experiences through language lessons or cooking classes. There could also be other areas of focus to tune into like Gratitude, Mindfulness and Meditation practices. Each of these elements will contribute to a holistic travel journey which can be truly magical when experienced overseas, out of your comfort zone, totally open to possibilities.
Where to go on your Wellness Travel Journey?
The possibilities are just about endless when considering a Wellness Travel destination. A good place to start is first thinking about what experiences you would like to embark on, for example a surf camp or a yoga retreat. Then consider your budget and how long you have to spend on your journey. The beauty is that Wellness can be incorporated into a weekend journey or a year long adventure!
Below is a handful of destinations with some points of interest to give you a taste of what each country has to offer in regards to Wellness. Keep in mind that I believe you can have a spiritual experience in any destination around the world, if planned correctly.
Bali - Wellness heaven! Perfect for cultural + spiritual experiences, yoga, endless choices for health, spa and beauty treatments, surfing and nature lovers, at a cheap price!
Portugal - a beautiful country with dramatic landscapes, ideal for surfing, cultural experiences, yoga and nature lovers
Spain - a stunning country rich in culture, perfect for yoga, adventure sports and nature lovers
Greece - an ideal location for cultural experiences, yoga, adventure sports and nature lovers - take your pick of which island/s to explore!
Canada - this country is perfect for adventure sports, yoga and nature lovers - these mountains are spectacular!
Mexico - so much to explore! Perfect for surfing, adventure sports, cultural experiences and nature lovers (beach heaven!)
Peru - this country is rich in culture - perfect for spiritual experiences, volunteering, nature lovers and adventure sports - discover the sacred land of the Incas!
Australia - perfect for surfing (beach heaven!), nature lovers and adventure sports
I hope this has given you a better understanding of Wellness Travel and even a touch of inspiration when looking into your future travels.
Much love + gratitude
Bel x
I never truly understood the real meaning of possibilities until I traveled. I thought life was this real average destination I was stuck on, where I was a passenger just going along for the ride. Eat, sleep, work, have some fun, feel good, feel OK, then feel depressed again. This is a normal life, right?
Boy, was I wrong.