30 Amazing Spa Resorts and Wellness Retreats for your Bucket List

Amangiri is a remote spa resort built into stunning canyons in a protected Utah valley.  Expect sweeping views of canyons, dunes, plateaus and mountain ridges, framed by spectacular sunrises and sunsets.  Sign up for adrenaline-fuelled outdoor adventures over the resorts 600 acres, or opt for peaceful wellness rituals.  Guest wellness experts include yoga instructors, nutritional experts, hiking guides, and more.

The resort’s Aman Spa focuses on Native American hózhó rituals, which means beauty, harmony, balance and health in Navajo.  The Spa is deliberately expansive at 25,000 square feet. Its pavilions, treatments rooms and terraces provide a variety of treatments including massages, scrubs, wraps and flotation therapy and all incorporate the elements of Earth, Wind, Fire and Water.

Neither the impossible beauty of the drive beside the West Fork of the Dolores River, the road perched above haunting beaver ponds nor the dancing light through the aspen groves prepares you for the first sight of Dunton Hot Springs.  A Ghost Town so lovingly restored, so honestly weathered, nestling beneath the glistening snow fields of the San Juan peaks.

Each of Dunton’s guest cabins is an authentic, nineteenth century, hand-hewn log building, restored by local and Native American craftsmen who specialize in traditional building techniques. Although no two are alike, each bears a distinct individual character and history.    All are less than five minutes walk to the bar, dining area, and adjoining conference facility of the saloon, the hot springs in the teepee and bath house, massage and yoga rooms in the Pony Express Spa, the bank of the West Fork of the Dolores, the waterfall, and the library.

The resort subscribes to a farm network that gathers meats, fruits and foods from every corner of the Colorado Plateau. Plentiful produce is also grown onsite at the farm and vineyard, and wild mushrooms, chanterelles and boletos are gathered,. Everyone dines on farm-to-fork fare at long, old tables, or enjoys packed picnics for fishing trips, hikes, and horse expeditions.

Sir Richard Branson’s Moroccan Retreat, Kasbah Tamadot, was purchased by him in 1998 during one of his famous ballooning expeditions.  The retreat is a one hour drive from Marrakech, located near the village of Asni at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains and 1,320m above sea level and overlooks a valley whose river ebbs and flows with the seasons.  The retreat is ideally located for exploration of the mountains by foot, bike or mule.

This Moroccan retreat is ideal for rest and relaxation.  The Asounfou Spa, meaning “to relax” in Berber, offers a full range of treatments for both men and women using exclusive products chosen for their pureness and quality. For a true Moroccan experience try a Hammam, where the skin is deeply cleansed, purified and softened with the traditional weekly Moroccan cleansing ritual.

A number of Guided Excursions are available to keep you busy — spend the day in Marrakech and explore the city’s main attractions such as the Jemma El Fna Square and Koutoubia Mosque and Minaret.  On Cinema Nights, visitors to Kasbah Tamadot can now watch a selection of Moroccan-inspired films in the open-air under the stars.  While families with children are welcome during select weeks during the year, the bulk of the seasons are adults-only to foster a relaxing and quiet environment.

Monastero Santa Rosa is a luxury hotel and spa on the Amalfi Coast of Italy, floating high over the coastline of the Gulf of Salerno.  Stunning vistas, arresting historically significant architecture, thoughtful amenities, and bespoke inclusive services all contribute to a spa destination unlike any other in Europe.

Don’t miss the Spa Suite — “spa within a spa.” This area reserved for 2-4 guests is perfect for girlfriend getaways, bridal parties, couples or other small groups. It offers a Rasul, Steam Room with mosaic tiles that form individual seating, two wet treatment tables, two dry treatment beds, relaxation area accommodating manicures/pedicures and foot baths, and a private dressing and grooming space. The area also offers a private garden terrace with loungers, a table for light lunches and views of the coastline and the sea.

The magnificent five star Ashford Castle is set in 350 acres, on the picturesque shores of Lough Corrib. Dating back to 1228, the castle is now part of The Red Carnation Hotel Collection. It offers 82 spectacular rooms, suites and a Hideaway Cottage, seasonal ingredients from the West of Ireland and an extensive wine cellar for a gourmet experience, a wealth of activities and plenty of thoughtful touches to ensure guests enjoy Irish hospitality on a grand scale.

The Spa at Ashford Castle sits in a fairytale setting with a striking bronze conservatory and uninterrupted views stretching across Lough Corrib.    State-of-the-art facilities include five exceptional treatment rooms, an invigorating Hammam, relaxing steam room and a beautiful terrace area with serene views over the tranquil waters of one of Ireland’s largest lakes, all of which have resulted in multiple awards naming Ashford Castle one of the Best Spa Resorts in Ireland.

Located in New Zealand’s ethereal Southern Alps, Aro Hā is designed for the rejuvenation of the human spirit.  Ideal for solo travelers, couples, or friends, this retreat offers physically stimulating programs to sculpt the body and mind, including sub alpine hiking and vinyasa yoga. Wellness services and techniques include nutrient dense vegetarian cuisine, healing bodywork, and daily mindfulness practice.

Aro Hā  guests appreciate advanced eco accommodation, permaculture based self-sufficiency, and world-class results-oriented programming, all in spectacular surroundings on 21 acres on the South Island of New Zealand, with expansive views of Lake Wakatipu.

The Blue Lagoon is a unique geothermal spa where guests relax in warm geothermal seawater.  The geothermal spa’s state-of-the-art facility includes modern changing rooms and showers, an indoor pool, a conference room and a restaurant are on the premises. A geothermal beach, lava caves and silica mud are parts of the lagoon area. In addition to bathing in the lagoon, guests enjoy relaxing in a lava cave and geothermal steam bath.

The Blue Lagoon’s warm water has natural active ingredients: salts, silica and blue green algae.  White silica mud gently cleanses and exfoliates the skin and has revitalizing effects on the skin while the blue green algae nourishes and softens the skin.  Blue Lagoon Clinic is simply an incredible resource for people with psoriasis. A stunning treatment center and hotel, it provides a proven treatment that is natural and highly effective.

A visit to the Blue Lagoon is exclusive — pre-booking is required.  Opt for the VIP Lounge for Spa Treatments and from the moment you arrive, your VIP experience begins. You’ll be welcomed by an Exclusive lounge staff member – after which your only concern is to relax and enjoy. The lounge will accommodate 12 guests.

Southern Ocean Lodge is a luxury retreat on Kangaroo Island, located off the coast of South Australia.  Stunning vistas, an Eco-conscious ethos, arresting architecture, thoughtful amenities, and bespoke inclusive services all contribute to a destination unlike any other in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Southern Spa is a cliff-top refuge, and, like the rest of the Lodge, boasts commanding views of the ocean. Situated in a separate building for both privacy and calm, the spa fuses this unique landscape and its location with an Australian themed spa experience, including the Australian-made Li’Tya range of spa products.    The spa menu offers a diverse selection of treatments, a steam room, and a “chill lounge.”    Specialty services include body scrubs, wraps, hand and foot therapies, massage, facials, and themed spa packages to customize an Australian spa journey.

Banyan Tree Resorts’ signature property is a must-visit destination for travel and wellness enthusiasts. It sits near Bang Tao Bay on northwestern Phuket, and offers three villa communities across gardens, beaches and .  Banyon Tree Phuket Spa Sanctuary is the most idyllic — an adults-only boutique resort offering healthy cuisine, award-winning spa and wellness activities.  Guest stay in just one of 12 splendid private villas with traditional Thai architecture and local art, plus sink into personal pools in the villa, or relax in the massage pavilions. Special wellness courses are available, plus spa cuisine for health-conscious dinners, and plentiful indoor and outdoor activities ranging from casual to adventurous.  Use the complimentary bicycles to tour the landscape.

Earth Lodge is a sanctuary embracing a new era in luxury South African safari lodges. Sculpted into a slope of the earth, almost invisible in the landscape, the lodge uses texture, light and space to present a lodge like no other. Taking its cue from the surrounding environment, it has been described as the most environmentally sensitive lodge in Africa.

While on safari, escape to the Amani Spa at Earth Lodge and enjoy a luxurious facility that reflects the soul of Africa. Revel in a spa experience that is pampering and memorable, relaxing and indulgent. Every detail of the spa at Earth Lodge has been carefully considered. Natural elements and textures, a sense of peace, space and timeless beauty combine effortlessly with Amani’s holistic body, skin and beauty rituals, treatments and massages – all designed to stimulate the body’s innate healing processes and naturally inhibit the aging process. The perfect place to rest, relax and rejuvenate, this unique spa offers hydrotherapy, a couples treatment suite and a Zen meditation area for quiet and solitude.

Patagonia is a spectacularly beautiful region located at the southern end of South America, south of the Andes mountain range, and including deserts, steppes and grasslands.  The Patagonia crosses both Argentina and Chile.   In Chile, Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa sits on a bluff on the bank of Lake Sarmiento in the Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO protected reserve.  The hotel’s award-winning design pays homage and respect to its environs with unique architecture which lets the building emerge from a hillside and complement and flow with the geology of the region.

Uma Spa at the hotel features an indoor swimming pool with jets, cascading water features, and stunning views of the Torres del Paine through banks of windows.  Here, spa professionals offer many types of massages and skin care facials focusing on local minerals, stones and natural elements. Guests may continue relaxation in the Jacuzzi, sauna, steam bath, relaxation areas, and locker rooms, all beautifully appointed.

Since its unveiling in 2006 this masterpiece created by Frank Gehry to house the Hotel Marqués de Riscal has become a highly sought after contemporary, luxury vinotherapy spa retreat. Design, art, gastronomy, wine, wellness, and the lush landscape all combine to create a memorable sojourn.  The hotel is set in The City of Wine, an area of great natural beauty, and exploring its surroundings is easy on one of the hotel’s complimentary bicycles.  The hotel’s luxurious interior bears the unmistakable stamp of Gehry’s design. Tilted walls, zigzag windows, cathedral-height ceilings and a host of bespoke details create the impression of accommodation as a work of art in its 43 rooms & suites.

The hotel’s  Vinotherapie® Spa by Caudalie is the perfect place to relax and indulge in the health and beauty properties of the grape.  Specialist vinotherapists trained in the Bordeaux wine region employ wet and dry treatments based on the essence of the grape to cleanse, soothe and invigorate the skin. A unique Barrel Bath allows guests to soak in a bubbly mix of grape pomace as they gaze out over peaceful rows of vines disappearing into the distance. Other treatments include the popular Merlot, honey and wine body wraps and crushed Cabernet scrubs, both of which are designed to gently exfoliate and nourish the skin.

The Bulgari Resort Bali is located in one of the most exclusive destinations in the world, a veritable emblem of the tropical exoticism of the Orient, combining the breathtaking beauty of unspoiled nature with a sophisticated contemporary design born from the encounter between traditional Balinese forms and high Italian style. The quality of the services along with the views of the Indian Ocean offered by its magnificent position 150 meters over the sea are stellar.

At the Bali Spa Center, expect a luxurious treatment administered by a team of four therapists, including deep massage with exotic oils and herbs, and the placement of warm volcanic stones on the chakras, the body’s seven energy centers, providing total relaxation and a soothing anti-stress effect. Warm stones used in combination with aromatic oils to rehydrate the skin: the Spa’s menu is designed to offer a series of complete treatments that integrate Asian and European approaches: the Ayurveda Balinese ritual, facial treatments, body wraps and massages, all at the ocean’s edge.

High atop the cliffs of Big Sur, 1200 feet above the Pacific Ocean, sits Post Ranch Inn, a sanctuary for travelers.  This spectacular setting is ideal for relaxation or rejuvenation, solitude, or romance.  This Big Sur resort is the ultimate destination for a luxurious escape, or, bring  your loved together for the most beautiful wedding destination.   With natural architecture embracing the coast’s dramatic beauty, the 39 rooms blend rustic elegance, comfort and privacy with panoramic ocean or mountain views.

Guests can relax by the infinity pool, take a yoga class, or book a massage or spa treatment in the romantic couple’s spa suite.  Post Ranch Inn is one of the only spas in Big Sur where the treatment rooms are centrally located on the ridge top where redwoods frame views of granite peaks. This inviting setting offers relaxation in the heart of nature. Spa treatments can be enjoyed both in your room and the spa’s own treatment rooms, and massage can be enjoyed on the terrace of your lodge.

Primland, a pristine Blue Ridge Mountain spa resort in Virginia, offers 12,000 acres of space, sky and natural environment. Eco-conscious and thoughtfully developed, Primland is the ultimate retreat for world-class golf, spa treatments, refined dining and outdoor activities in an environment of rare natural beauty.

The Spa at Primland embraces the wisdom of American Indian healing as its theme and ethos, with treatments designed to embrace the concept of  the Native American Medicine Wheel, guided by seasons and cycles, and featuring natural ingredients and Essential Oils, and flora and fauna from the area.

While Primland celebrates the beauty of nature on Earth in as many ways as possible, it literally helps its guests observe and marvel at heavens, as well. Its altitude at 12,000 feet above sea level makes it the perfect setting for star gazing, and Primland has a telescope in an Observatory Dome.  Not just an enthusiast’s telescope — but a German Equatorial mounted astronomical telescope, observatory-class instrument, the largest optical system in its class.  Primland has astronomers who provide tours and lectures, and the telescopic images can be seen in all 26 suites, via closed circuit television.  The resort also schedules Star Master Weekend programs to coincide with celestial occurrences to provide guests with an exciting activity during their stay.

Lizard Island Resort is a secluded from the rest of the world, enjoying its position as the northern-most resort on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.  The resort is offers guests a setting of 24 powdery-white beaches, accessed from 40 luxurious bungalow suites. Guests take secluded picnics on private beaches, enjoy five star cuisine and rejuvenate with spa treatments. It’s no wonder this island consistently makes the Top 10 Hotels of the World list.

Essentia Day Spa at Lizard Island offers a range of treatments inspired by nature, and using La Biosthetique products. Using only the finest, natural, raw ingredients, La Biosthetique performance skincare ranges are designed to work in harmony with your own bio-chemistry.

Guides and planners are available to guests wanting to experience the natural surroundings of the Great Barrier Reef.  Complimentary activities for all guests include use of motorised dinghies, snorkelling equipment and lessons, glass bottom boat tours, tennis (day and night with all equipment supplied), picnic hampers for romantic and secluded beachside lunches, paddle ski tours, nature slide presentations, a gymnasium, and self-guided nature walks, and much more.