Ananda in the Himalayas

Owned in part by Richard Branson's sister, Vanessa, El Fenn is a bright spot in a city that's already wildly colorful. Years ago, Vanessa and partner Howell James were walking through Marakkech looking for a home to buy when they came across a once stately riad that was desperately in need of a resuscitation. The pair restored it to its former glory, and transformed it into a gorgeously appointed hotel, which now has 41 guest rooms. It has a number of restaurants, bars, and pools, and it's within striking distance of most of Morocco's biggest hits (see our Marrakech guide).

This 84-room hotel spans over three timber houses and sits on the banks of a river in Wuzhen, China—a unique little water town steeped in history and charm. The Heal Town building is home to a spa which specializes in deep healing and relaxation, as well as a wellness-centric restaurant (each of the three houses has a unique eatery on premises). Once you’ve gotten your fill of traversing the picturesque bridges and windy canals of the city, take part in an on-site Tai Chi class or try your hand at traditional Chinese pottery, calligraphy, and silk painting.

Situated on the banks of the Kamogawa river and overlooking a cluster of mountains, the Ritz-Carlton in Kyoto provides all the swanky amenities (spa, fine dining, impeccable service) one might expect, plus a slew of unexpected extras. While it’s the perfect home base from which to venture out into downtown Kyoto and surrounding districts, the hotel’s roster of activities offers plenty of reasons to hang around the property. Here, you can try your hand at Japanese floral design, soap making, traditional origami, and more. Sake tastings, matcha tea ceremonies, and master sushi classes can also be arranged for anyone who’s interested.

First of all, this Belmond is on the Northwest coast of Mallorca. If that's not incentive enough to get on a plane, you can tour the coastline in one of the resident boats, hike, or ride Vespas around the island. Home to one of Spain's largest sculpture gardens, the arts are really the focal point of the resort. There are cooking classes for foodies, but the main draw are the workshops in sculpture, painting, and ceramics, taught by artists in residence.

Under the watchful eye of owners Lois and Bill Breckon, this Tuscan compound plays host to a bevy of creative retreats. Food prep and planning is completely taken care of and the picturesque property (including not one but two ancient mills and endless gardens) and surrounding hillsides serve as creative fodder for painting holidays. To keep the inspiration flowing, you and your easel will also be shuttled to neighboring towns for sightseeing and more painting. Fully immersive writing courses are held twice a year (the TV comedy and drama scriptwriting workshop is taught by veteran writer, Laurence Marks).

If you're into more of a vacation enclave with a farm-to-table bent then head to Baja California to check into one of the ten charming Culinary Cottages at Flora Farms: a twenty-five-acre organic working farm in the foothills of Sierra de la Laguna Mountains in San Jose del Cabo. Renters and owners can submerge themselves in harvesting the heirloom vegetables–and cooking meals in the fully equipped cottages. Although access to the private beach club, family pond, pool, and spas is exclusive to owners and renters, The Field Kitchen (where the ingredients are often picks minutes before they are served), Farm Bar, and Flora Grocery (which sells sustainably raised meats, handmade breads, and organic vegetables), are open to all, expanding its culinary experience beyond the cottages.

Buttermilk biscuits with a view. Equal parts luxury hotel, world-class kitchen, and working farm, this 4,200 acre foodie resort in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains is a slice of heaven for those hungry for rest, relaxation, good music, and, of course, incredible Southern cooking. Check their calendar before booking for events that may be of interest like truffle hunts, photography workshops, wellness weekends, and featured celeb chefs like Joanne Weir and Daniel Boulud.

For the better part of a decade owners Koos Bekker and Karen Roos lovingly worked on restoring a 300-year-old farm at the base of the Simonsberg mountains into a wine destination in its own right. There are only thirteen rooms (formerly farm-workers’ cottages) and each one is whitewashed and pristine with an open floor plan and modern furnishings from the likes of Kartell and Bourellec Bros. For those in need of something more generously sized, whether it’s for themselves or for a couples getaway, the five-bedroom Owner’s House is pretty special, and features checkerboard floors in the bathrooms, a soaking tub, and the farm kitchen with its own wood-burning stove. On property, an eight-acre walled garden informs much of the menu at its restaurant, Babel, which churns out deliciously fresh meals. (In the summer months, it's yellow tomatoes, apricots, and gooseberries, while a winter menu may feature, say, a slow-cooked lamb leg in a red wine sauce.) For a bit of pampering, spa treatments can be had in the bamboo pavilion, which also includes a Hammam. Guests can participate in the harvest, pruning, and picking (they provide trowels and gloves), and they also offer wine tastings, though Babylonstoren is also within easy striking distance of South Africa's other celebrated vineyards. If you’re in need of an expert to help you plan a longer Africa trip, consider Deborah Calmeyer, a trip-planning ace at ROAR Africa, who can set you up at Babylonstoren and beyond.

This stunning old-world spot in Oxfordshire is home to Raymond Blanc's two Michelin-star restaurant and an attached Cookery School. There, you can master macaroons and pistachio soufflés, or a fail-safe menu for a Spring dinner party. They also have tons of cooking classes for kids. Speaking of children: There are only thirty-two tastefully appointed guest rooms, and while this Belmond has the feel of a quiet English countryside manor, they go above and beyond to ensure that little ones are entertained too. There are bikes, bocce, buckets of toys, and video games on-site.

Experience firsthand what it’s like to live on a farm with the comfort of knowing you’re going home at the end of the weekend. Located in Gloucestershire, Daylesford is a real-deal working farm that focuses on organic, sustainable practices and passing on knowledge to anyone who’s interested. You get to stay at one of the adorably rustic cottages which are just steps from the Daylesford Farmshop (which you've probably seen scattered all over London) and ideally situated for classes at The Cookery School. You can also stay at their sister hotel, The Wild Rabbit —a modern inn, filled with country charm—located in the heart of the Cotswolds. Artisan bread making and quick and simple suppers are just a sampling of the inventive courses offered throughout the year. While there, stop by the on-site creamery, bakery, or market garden and load up on seasonal snacks for the trip back.

Spread across 400 bright green, undulating acres of farmland, this country house in rural East Cork looks straight out of central casting. Owned and run by the Allens–the reigning first family of the Irish food scene—Ballymaloe House itself is matriarch Myrtle Allen's former family-residence-turned-hotel. Staying here feels like coming home, the accommodations are supremely comfortable with Irish linen sheets, vintage wallpaper, and fresh vases of wildflowers delivered daily. The on-site restaurant features a menu inspired by the nearby world-renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School, and showcases the best of Irish produce, most of it sourced within a few miles of the house itself. The full Irish breakfast, including warm scones fresh from the oven and traditional delicacies like black pudding and kippers, washed down with several cups of strong tea, is a quintessential Irish experience not to be missed. We recommend booking in during the annual summer Litfest, a week-long food and drinks literary festival with industry speakers that have included Madhur Jaffrey, Alice Waters, and Francis Mallmann among others. Cooking enthusiasts will relish booking into the cookery school for workshops on everything from bread-baking to Asian cuisine, with all the ingredients foraged by the students themselves from the immaculate walled gardens and fields that surround the school and house.

This week-long Yucatán cooking workshop is a great alternative to the boozy ragers normally associated with Mexican getaways. The school is located in beautiful Mérida, inside the home of late expat chef, David Sterling. Sadly, David passed away last year, however, the workshop lives on under the direction of his right hand-man, Chef Mario Canul. This is a fully immersive, hands-on experience, so expect to accompany the chef to the market for ingredients, which you will then prepare in a private (and perfect) kitchen. In addition to time spent cooking, you’ll be taken on tours of Mérida, the surrounding Mayan archeological treasures, and colonial Izamál. Additional trips to local farms and rum distilleries (in case you're looking to booze it up a bit) can be arranged as well. We recommend shacking up at either Coqui Coqui, or Rosas & Xocolate.

Though it offers incredible views of the Tuscan countryside and an excellent spa, the 12th-century castle-turned-hotel is really about food. The owner, Aurora Baccheschi Berti, is a world-class chef who specializes in Northern Italian cuisine (check out her cookbook here). In addition to whipping up a daily breakfast spread she holds cooking classes (fresh pasta making, for example) using organic ingredients grown right on property. There’s also a working vineyard and an olive grove where you can witness the harvests firsthand.

Hovering somewhere between a bed and breakfast and organic co-op farm, LA-transplant Calvin Zara’s refurbished four-bedroom Thacher house and its four private cabins is where you want to be for a fully-immersive, get away from it all experience (it accommodates no more than 20 guests at a time). If you stay here, be prepared to share the lush grounds with chickens and a family of goats, in addition to citrus and pomegranate trees and a garden. Needless to say, all the food served at the beautifully appointed dining room is sourced locally or from the Thacher House farm itself. Also on offer: classes in cooking, baking, olive-oil pressing, wine-making, and so much more.

A stone’s throw from Vancouver, Salt Island is something of a creative enclave for the culinarily inclined. Think impossibly picturesque, rugged setting where you’ll find vintners, cheese makers, and other creative types in residence year-around. It’s just that spirit that inspired Michael Abelman and Jeanne-Marie Herman to open Foxglove Farm, a 121-acre organic farm which holds cooking and gardening classes, plus mushroom-foraging and cheese-making courses. Its location, 1,200 feet above sea level, means they regularly grow everything from peaches, plus, quince, figs, cherries, plus a nourishing mix of veggies and legumes. (As a result their veggies have graced the table at the likes of Chez Panisse and Zuni Cafe, too.)

Focusing on safaris in Africa and Asia, this eco-tourism pioneer is the steward of 33 luxury lodges located in some of the most pristine parts of the world. As part of their mission, they preserve the land, protect rural, indigenous cultures, and safeguard the wildlife—and as a guest, you get to participate. Their tented camps in the Masai Mara look particularly stunning.

This discovery-minded travel company prides itself on consistently attracting return travelers and we totally get why: Groups are never more than 16 people deep and are often tag-teamed by a designated trip leader and knowledgeable locals. Along the way, depending on destination, you’ll stay at fine hotels, quaint B&Bs, and luxe tented camps. Itineraries vary from classic Galapagos Island sailing excursions on small yachts, to once-in-a-lifetime tribal expeditions where you’ll get to stay in remote villages, spend quality time with a hunting-and-gathering community, and explore game reserves.

As the name suggests, Mountain Travel Sobek made its name in trekking adventures. In fact, they pioneered organized travel to the Himalaya mountains some 40-plus years ago. These days, their repertoire has expanded to include kayaking in Alaska, snorkeling in Fiji, and a slew of safari destinations. But climbing excursion are still well-represented with guided hikes to Machu Picchu and Kilimanjaro, among others. Their other claim to fame is the high caliber of people attracted to the unique itineraries—so much so that you’ll be more than happy to spend time with fellow travelers well beyond the scheduled activities.

Right now is the time to see Cuba in its most authentic state, mainly because the recently loosened travel restrictions mean that people will soon flock. Cuba Explorations’ people-to-people tours are designed to offer the most immersive experience with guided sightseeing expeditions to architectural gems, culturally significant sights, and plenty of opportunity for interacting with the locals. Groups are small, so you won't get lost in the crowd, though they'll also curate a private trip to fit your taste.

Cox & Kings organized the first ever expedition to Mt. Everest back in 1922 (in fact, they've been at this for 255 years...as they arranged trips to India in the 1700s). Within the massive trip catalog you’ll find journeys of the romantic, family-friendly, and adventure varieties, but it’s the Escorted Discover Tours that are designed specifically with solo travelers in mind. Group sizes are kept to a minimum and itineraries offer the ideal down time to activity ratio. Destinations like Reykjavik, Iceland (evenings are spent hunting for the aurora borealis), Mongolia (live like a nomad, sleep in gers, ride camels), and Peru (spend four full days exploring the ancient city of Cuzco) take travelers off the beaten path without sacrificing security.

You might know Indagare as a great online resource for vacation planning—but they also put together trips of like-minded people. While you can click around to check out recommendations for free, membership has its perks (guaranteed upgrades, spa credits, VIP treatment pretty much anywhere you go). There are three levels of memberships: The middle tier offers custom-curated itineraries.

Usually, the mention of a cruise conjures up images of tiny, windowless cabins, overcrowded pools, and really sad buffets. This company is a bit different. For one, this family owned, eight-fleet-deep operation is super luxe: Every room has ocean views, there’s butler service, and the dining options are impressive to say the least (it’s an all-inclusive affair, so you can opt for room-service too). While each suite has plenty of breathing room, the common areas play host to all manner of guest lecturers and activities (pilates, gyms, spa). And since the ships are small, they can fit in just about any harbor, allowing for infinite freedom when it comes to choosing destinations (and not endless lines to get on and off). This is a good option for families with multiple generations, too.

We love Butterfield & Robinson's relaxed approach to group travel, particularly because their trips are done by bike or foot (you get to go at your own pace). The trips are really nice, though, so you'll have luxe accommodations at the end of every day at which to rest your weary legs. For cycling enthusiasts, there’s the biking tour of Tuscany (with frequent stops at wineries). There's also a walking tour of Vietnam that includes historic sites, markets, and authentic Vietnamese cooking classes, along with a stay at the Six Senses.

Ampersand is a U.K.-based luxury travel agency which focuses on really insane itineraries within India and Southeast Asia that revolve around the area's best hotels and lodges—Amans, Tajs, and the like. On the "If Tarzan Went to Sri Lanka..." tour, for example, there's whale watching, an excursion into Sri Lanka’s last virgin rainforest, and an overnight stay in a tree house. Meanwhile, the 14-day Gastronomical Tour of China offers a mix of exploring and eating: Sample incredible street food while wandering the historic neighborhoods of Beijing, feast on dumplings in Shanghai, and sip on green tea at a plantation in Hangzhou.

This buttoned-up, award-winning adventure travel company is the brainchild of Royal Geographic Society Fellow Jeff Willner: His team of destination experts and private guides exhibit almost obsessive attention to detail when mapping out the truly unique small group itineraries. The six-day Polar Bear Safari, for example, includes two full days of traversing the tundra via a tricked-out wildlife viewing bus. You'll probably spot the native arctic fox, snowy owl, and of course, polar bears, plus they arrange dreamy coastline hikes, and a visit to the Cape Merry polar bear jail (where bears who come too close to human settlements are kept safe until they can be airlifted north). The Explorer-in-Residence series provides a rare opportunity to shadow real-life explorers and researchers on exotic journeys. Past examples include a George Kourounis-inspired trek through Turkmenistan—home to the “Door to Hell” gas reserve field—or a Tea Horse Road odyssey through China with renowned author Jeff Fuchs.

Known for planning one-of-a-kind, experience-centric trips, Black Tomato has expertly guided us in some of the most far-flung locations around the world, from Iceland to India to Vancouver Island. The idea for a luxury, fully customizable, all-bases-covered travel outfit came about when three friends, Tom Marchant, James Merrett, and Matt Smith, decided to parlay their collective travel experience into a full-time gig. The result is a well-oiled machine that churns out completely bespoke trips of varying lengths across a spectrum of interests (relaxation, romance, trekking, etc.).

Having recently undergone extensive renovation, this 1840s neo-Gothic hideaway—just thirty minutes from Shannon airport—sits on 842 acres of manicured gardens, lush rolling fields, and medieval ruins; it's reason alone to travel to Ireland's verdant southwest (although the dozens of nearby historical sites, lively pubs, and quaint villages don't hurt, either). Each individually designed room is palatial in size, decked out with authentic mahogany Georgian-era furniture, sumptuous fabrics, nineteenth-century artwork, and a roaring open fireplace to ward off the inevitable Irish chill. The generously sized marble bathrooms are finished in vintage wallpaper and include deep stand-alone tubs, many of which overlook the grounds. As far as dining goes, there are two solid options on the property, but the Oak Room is hard to beat. The elegantly appointed Drawing Room is the perfect spot for morning coffee or a pre-dinner aperitif by the fire, while the subterranean David Collins–designed, vault-ceilinged Tack Room is the spot for wine and whiskey connoisseurs (Guinness lovers, too) to retreat for a few drinks. Activity-wise, choose from golfing, fishing, archery, and horseback riding, alongside dozens of country hikes and cycle trails. The spa (stocked with 111SKIN) is a tranquil space to indulge and unwind after a long day, accompanied by the comforting scent of autumnal fig that pervades the entire property.

Even if you’re not in Cusco preparing for the journey up to Machu Picchu, this beautiful, cobbled city is well worth the visit. The Belmond Hotel Monasterio, a former monastery and now national monument—built in 1592 on the site of an Inca palace—turned luxury hotel brimming with character is, without question the most atmospherically beautiful spot to room in Cusco. The candlelit, cloistered courtyard is perfect for a pre-dinner pisco sour or morning coffee surrounded by trees. Be sure to wander into the restored Baroque chapel as you make your way to one of the hotel's two excellent restaurants nestled in the cloisters (Illariy is the Peruvian fine-dining option, while the more laid-back El Tupay hosts live opera a few nights a week). Besides visiting Machu Picchu, the hotel can arrange any number of activities, from white water rafting to cooking classes (Peru is a hotbed of culinary activity, after all). An additional draw is the live oxygen pumped into each room, a godsend for those adjusting to the altitude.

They say you get to know a culture best through its food. And no one knows food better than the chefs who make it. That’s the idea behind Tasting Notes—a bunch of high-end trips created by Black Tomato, in which you travel to Basque Country or Peru or the Lake District in England or any of a handful of places to eat, taste, and immerse yourself in that particular culinary world. The trips are incredibly luxurious, designed by chefs, and often offer access to the places and the kitchens that are closed to the public. Come curious, and come hungry.

Massimo Bottura’s flagship restaurant Osteria Francescana has three Michelin stars, but Bottura is probably just as well known for saving the Parmigiano Reggiano industry after the catastrophic 2012 earthquake. Now he and his wife, Lara, have extended the Francescana experience into the Emilian countryside. Casa Maria Luigia has just opened and is the Call Me by Your Name dolce far niente escape we spend most of the year fantasizing about. A restored country home with tennis courts, a pool, expansive gardens, and of course—Francescana. Dinner takes place in the carriage house and includes a nine-course tasting menu of all the Osteria’s greatest hits. After this feast to end all feasts, simply cross the courtyard, climb the stairs, and tumble into queen-size bed surrounded by contemporary art from the Botturas’ own collection.

At this point—several documentaries, World’s Best Restaurant awards, and multiple cookbooks later—chef Rene Redzepi of Noma fame is a cult figure in the food world. Despite several residencies from Oaxaca to Tokyo and a new restaurant with greenhouses, a roof garden, and a fermentation lab, Redzepi is still steadfast in his dedication to the New Nordic. The culinary practice is resolute when it comes to seasonality and indigenous ingredients which, given Denmark’s frigid winters, is no small feat. The new Noma splits the year into three menus—game in autumn, seafood in the winter, and vegetables in the summer. A table in the farm-style, nearly all-glass space is one of the most impossible seats to snag anywhere in the world. A few tips: Plan months ahead. Consider the number of food-obsessed friends you might have who will get on an international flight to eat with you. And stay at the design-forward SP34 hotel. Then prepare to eat the most creative, delicious (and expensive) meal of your life—with wine pairings, of course.

The minute you set foot in Copenhagen and take a look around it’s obvious: The Danish know design. So it makes sense that the luxury travel company Indagare paired up with Architectural Digest to mastermind the perfect trip for the kind of people who know Eames is spelled with an E. The trip is six days long (September 16 to 21), and the itinerary includes touring the best design museums in Copenhagen as well as private design studios, visiting the archives of Georg Jensen, seeing the best of the city’s architecture by boat, staying at Hotel Sanders (one of the nicest in town), and did we mention the food? There’s room for only two dozen people, so get to it.

Casa Teo is an Airbnb that moonlights as a creative space for artists, chefs, and regular travelers. It’s also the latest culinary concept by chef Enrique Olvera of Mexico City’s legendary Pujol. This well-appointed, Scandinavian-style, two-bedroom apartment perched atop the former Pujol location in Mexico City’s achingly chic Polanco neighborhood, is a food lover’s dream. And as in many households, the action (and in this case, design focal point) centers around the kitchen—namely, a long communal kitchen table, where gorgeous breakfast spreads and elaborate evening tasting menus are prepared by an in-house chef. Prefer to go out? Who knows what kind of near-impossible dinner reservations the Casa Teo team might be able to snag for you.

A city redevelopment project of gargantuan proportions, this 10km stretch of green space along the city's Manzanares riverbank replaces the former M-30 freeway, which now runs underground. Its completion in 2011 brought local Madrileños back to the riverbed with a system of restored bridge monuments, new footbridges, or Cáscaras, an urban beach for sunbathers, 17 new playgrounds, and kayak docks. What's more, it's stitched neighborhoods like Arganzuela, Carabanchel, and La Latina—once dissected by the city's traffic—back together, making them all completely walkable. Rent a bike or stroll the riverbank to check out the park's features, such as the fruit tree arboretum recreating that of the formal royal palace, or the pine walk which is almost directly above the now submerged M-30. All of this is the work of an impressive, 4-year collaboration between the Dutch firm West8 and Madrid's own MRIO. Photo: © West8

If Napa is a pilgrimage for foodies and wine-lovers, then Meadowood in St. Helena—officially one of the world's best hotels—is most certainly the mecca. There's no better place to sleep off a day of wine tasting than in one of their cozy rooms by a roaring fire (unless you count the massage table at the seriously idyllic spa).

Tucked in the heart of Chilean wine country, Viña Vik is a hideaway just two hours south of Santiago. The ultra-modern design, which offers wholly uninterrupted views of your surroundings—amidst some 11,000 acres of unspoiled land—is reminiscent of Frank Gehry. Winemaking is the primary focus here, and the Vik family (which also has Estancia Vik and Playa Vik in Uruguay), but the organic garden, which cultivates more than 250 different varieties of fruits and vegetables (kale, mint, lavender, peaches, and avocados, among them) is equally notable. There's a dedicated culinary education program for guests around harvesting and cooking the produce. Come December, well-known Argentinean pastry chef Osvaldo Gross will host a series of classes for guests, too.

Safaris have gotten a real makeover in recent years as travelers have become more discerning about the environment and welfare of the land, the animals, and the people who safeguard it . Chobe Game Lodge in elephant-rich Botswana is Ecotourism-certified by TKTKorganization, and despite being a five-star operation (Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton honeymooned here), sustainability and the delicacy of the ecosystem is taken very seriously. Accommodations are absolutely stunning—even standard rooms have private terraces overlooking the landscape with binoculars to spot the giraffes among the treetops, four-poster beds made up with local textiles, and deep tubs for late-night soaks. Emissions-free, electric game drives start early, when the lions, leopards, and crocodiles are still hunting (hot coffee and warm throws for your shoulders make these cooler sunrise drives extremely pleasant), while solar-powered boat safaris are best in the early evening when herds of elephants come to the river to drink. In between, head to the lodge with a book, cool off in the pool, or wander the gardens and get acquainted with the monkeys.

Kin understands that seasoned travelers care about sustainability, cultural sensitivity, and offsetting their carbon footprint. Kin Travel’s trips (it offers itineraries in Kenya, Wyoming, Cape Cod, and Haiti) are varied and a tad unusual. The Haiti trip is maybe the most remarkable: It takes guests off the grid to the beaches along the northern coast reachable only by boat. Travelers sleep in a camp designed to soak up as much of the natural beauty as possible, hike to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of La Citadelle Lafferiere (a fortress from the 1800s), and take a boat to see reef restorations up close. This also comes alongside swimming, snoozing, and yoga, of course. Proceeds from trips go toward funding eco-sanitation throughout Haiti and community health in isolated villages, plus building access to education. Any carbon footprint generated is offset by Kin Travel with Terrapass.

Laikipia, a county in central Kenya, is vast. Stretching across millions of acres between Mount Kenya and the northern deserts, it’s not necessarily a game park, but many ranchers have removed fencing and barriers to allow the wildlife to roam free. Reachable by plane—a small prop plane—this trip, led by Pelorus who excel in planning experiential expeditions is an educational one. Rather than spending days in a four-by-four, hoping to catch sight of the big five, you’ll bear witness to elite antipoaching operations and conservation efforts led by the people who live in Laikipia. From there you could fly down to Amboseli National Park in the shadows of Kilimanjaro, trek with the Maasai, and experience firsthand their efforts to safeguard the endangered elephant herds native to the region.

Every spring hundreds of whale sharks swim to Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula to feed off the nutrient-rich plankton in the area. The site is incomprehensible: dozens of gently curved, grey, polka-dotted whale sharks, most the size of a school bus, churning up the clear blue water. It's a playground of gentle giants—and it's safe to join. Whale sharks aren't a threat to humans—only to plankton—which makes swimming with them not only safe but a truly transcendental experience. And because the species is facing extinction, it sadly may be a fleeting one. The Blue Sphere Foundation, a nonprofit that advocates for oceanic health and endangered marine life, hosts dive expeditions off Isla Mujeres: You can see the whale sharks from the boat or snorkel among them.

&Beyond is an eco-tourism company that operates twenty-nine of the most luxurious safari camps in Africa. Since 2013, &Beyond has been involved in an ambitious attempt to save South Africa’s rhinos from extinction through poaching. In partnership with Rhino Force and Great Plains Conservation, the company has been translocating white rhinos from their South African game reserves to Botswana’s safer, relatively poacher-free Okavango Delta. &Beyond now offers visitors the opportunity to sponsor these translocations and witness the complexity—rhinos are carefully sedated and tagged to ensure their well-being before being transported to neighboring Botswana—of the operation. While the process of finding and tagging the rhinos can be extreme, accommodations on the Phinda Camp are incredibly luxurious, and the feeling of helping safeguard this vulnerable species for the next generation is something that stays with you forever.

Habitat for Humanity was among the first to make volunteer travel what it is today. And not only did Habitat make it viable; the company made the idea of using your vacation to bring good to the world a more attractive option than just: Get on a plane; land on an island. The ethos of the company is to provide housing for low-income families, and to do that, it relies on volunteers. The Global Village trips are relatively short—a week to ten days—and are available in dozens of countries all over the world—Paraguay, Zambia, Kenya, Cambodia, Mexico, and Nepal. Decide where you want to go, explain what skill sets you bring, and go make the world a better place. After one trip, you’ll almost certainly plan another.

Much like Marlon Brando fell in love with Tetiaroa while filming Mutiny on the Bounty (he purchased the land for him and his wife Tarita in 1967), guests are instantly charmed by the island’s coconut palm groves and white-sand beaches. To further his commitment to sustainability, Brando enlisted the help of hotelier Richard Bailey to build the world's first ever post-carbon resort. Though by no means cheap (the all-inclusive rates start at $2,700 per night) The Brando’s lengthy list of activities (snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding) and indoor/outdoor accommodations—complete with sleek decor, plunge pools, and outdoor bathtubs—mean the pricetag makes sense. The island’s restaurants serve dishes comprised of ingredients plucked from the resort’s own organic fruit orchard and veggie garden.

Beyond the high-tech camping fabrics and unglamorous tents, this is our pick for the most design-worthy camping site out there. Located about an hour west of the park’s boundaries, beneath Lone Peak, this collective of beautifully built canvas tents is roughing it at its best (and to say roughing it is a stretch). Each teepee-like tent is outfitted with chic, rustic furniture, a plush king-sized bed, and tribal decor. To make the entire camping experience pretty much labor-free, the full-service company schedules farm-to-table breakfasts and dinners cooked on site by a nearby chef.

The relationship between the Fogo Island Inn and the beautiful community and physical landscape in which it exists is pretty incredible. Conceived as a social enterprise to support the tiny, yet sturdy outport community on the island, it provides jobs, celebrates local cuisine, and donates all of its proceeds to community programming. The inn itself is a gorgeous, simple, modern building that juts out in juxtaposition to, yet somehow at harmony with, the rocky outcroppings of the landscape. For visitors, the quaint quality of the place inspires plenty of hand holding: In the summer and fall, you can hike the idyllic trails in search of wild berries and local wildlife, like caribou, foxes, puffins, and migrating whales—in the winter, you'll find ice fishing, picturesque snowfall, and plenty of cozy fires. The décor (not surprisingly, all of the furniture was built by the locals) is modern but cozy, with Scandinavian-feeling wooden shapes and warm, hand-made quilts. As you might expect, the views out of the wide, modern windows are nothing less than jaw-dropping.

Born from the imagination of James Bond novelist Ian Fleming, GoldenEye is rooted in such cultural lore, it’s hard not to feel like you’re playing a part in a glamorous spy story. It was here Fleming penned all fourteen Bond books (the author’s home, the Fleming Villa, can be reserved separately), and this is also where Bond’s cinematic debut, Dr. No, was filmed. But if these cultural muses don’t inspire a trip, consider that the collection of villas was also constructed by an all-star cast. Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, enlisted Ann Hodges, one of Jamaica’s most noted architects, to produce the property’s supremely comfortable accommodations, fitted with hardwood floors, outdoor showers, and lush, secluded gardens. Go for one of the six lagoon cottages, which were built to hover above the tranquil water and have private docks for midnight swims and morning paddleboarding. In the spare, octagonal bedrooms, louvred windows welcome natural sea breezes to replace air-conditioning.

A private, guided “slack-country” ski itinerary that’s tailored to you? That’s the Parom Camps calling card. One or two weeks, off-piste or touring—the choose-your-own-adventure vibe is exactly what Finnish transplant Inka Haapala’s epic ski-guiding company offers. The incredibly knowledgeable guides are powder chasers at heart; they go where the best snow goes—or, in Japan, where the Japow (that’s local for powder) dumps day in and day out. That means skipping out on the crowded resorts in search of that impossibly perfect, untouched terrain. Take over the lodge with your crew or tuck into one of the cozy cottages in the woods near some of the best backcountry in Niseko—Parom Camps will hook you up with lodging, transportation, and suggestions for where and how to après like a local. Which, if you’re doing it right, means soaking for hours in a traditional onsen (hot spring), slurping up the richest miso ramen Hokkaido has to offer, and washing it all down with a glass of Yamazaki whisky.

For a beginner mountaineer, Kilimanjaro has many advantages. The mountain’s proximity to the equator makes for a tolerable climate (serious storms are rare). The 19,000-foot climb will take you through rain forest, tundra, and desert—and the crescendo is the snow-capped glacier above the clouds. Be prepared: Catching your breath becomes harder as the oxygen decreases and the air thins out; experts recommend a nine-day climb to adjust. The Machame route is the most scenic (admittedly with a few steep climbs), while the Lemosho route is the least traveled for those craving solitude and quiet. Abercrombie & Kent is an expert tour operator that caters to small groups only (no more than twelve) and climbing with one of its teams comes with helpful luxuries like chefs, porters, and guides who know the mountain better than anyone else. All you’ll need to carry is a backpack of essentials—lip balm, a camera, sunscreen, maybe some toilet paper—to summit Africa’s tallest peak.

Some trips are so far off the grid that just a little advance planning doesn’t quite cut it. Take Mongolia. Cazenove+Loyd are pros at crafting bespoke experiences in the far reaches of the world, and there is no team better equipped to get you acquainted with the Mongolian wilderness. You’ll set up camp and sleep in comfortably outfitted gers (traditional yurt-type structures) complete with memory-foam mattresses, wood-burning stoves, bathrooms, and exquisite, handmade Mongolian personal-care products. Getting up close with the Mongolian steppes means roughing it, but the mobility of the set-it-up-anywhere ger ensures a warm night’s sleep accentuated by spectacular vistas and the odd rustling bird. If you decide to venture into the wilds of the Gobi Desert, Three Camel Lodge has got you covered. The Cazenove+Loyd team will handle every detail, from saddling up the horses to procuring local delicacies, like mutton dumplings, for supper under the stars.

If you were to drum up an image in your mind of what an Old West homestead should look like, you’d probably conjure up The Ranch at Rock Creek. And for good reason, as it was one, dating back to its original function as a mining claim in the 1800s (nearby Philipsburg was home to a major silver boom). It was homesteaded in the early 1900s and has been a working cattle ranch since, though it now doubles as a luxury guest ranch—and it is really, really well done. Though it’s been tastefully rehabilitated, much of the main lodge is original, and the log homes and tent-style accommodations that dot the valley seem like they could have been from that era as well, thanks to period-appropriate (though cushy) fixtures, and an incredible body of photography, all sourced from the state archives in Helena (19th century boy with pet bear? Check.). It’s all-inclusive here, and you can pick from a range of activities every morning, so if your kid falls in love with a particular horse, he can ride that horse everyday. (As a nice extra, they accommodate more advanced riders, too, which means you can actually get out and run.) There’s fly fishing, paint ball, shooting, archery, an on-site spa, and a rodeo every Tuesday night—they can also arrange for rafting, helicopter trips to Glacier or Yellowstone, or heli-hiking into the back country (those cost extra). And the food? The food is the perfect balance between comfort ranch and modern healthy— and all as locally sourced as possible. There’s a weekly post-rodeo barbecue, an evening of cooking outside in Dutch Ovens (a neat culinary trick that the chef, Josh Drage, picked up from his grandmother), interesting spins like sweet potato sandwiches, and the occasional night of wine pairings and fancy food.

This is another Chris Blackwell property (the other is GoldenEye), and as the founder of Island Records, Blackwell keeps the walls of these white wooden cottages lined with an array of historic rock-and-roll memorabilia. (This is the place Bob Marley chose as an escape when he faced threats to his life in the mid-1970s.) It feels like a secluded mountain village tucked high in the contours of Jamaica’s Blue Mountain Range, over 3,000 feet above sea level. The nineteenth-century Georgian architecture has a sophisticated, laid-back charm, matched by hand-dyed batik linens and four-poster beds with billowing drapes. And it’s almost a magical experience to stroll through the morning mist in the private gardens before breakfast. The hikes (led by expert staff members) give you a real sense of what the interior of the island is all about; afterward, unwind with an aloe wrap at the spa. But our favorite thing to do was to take in the views—every last heart-stopping one of them.

Everything about this safari camp is achingly chic (to the extent that it's Michael Kors' favorite vacation destination), from the leather and canvas washed interiors, to the long pool. Of course, that's kind of just a side note to the fact that it's in the middle of South Africa's Kreuger National Park, meaning that you get to take your laps in the morning to the sound of giraffes tussling nearby. There are also incredible views of the N'wanetsi river. While they allow kids over 10, keep in mind that a safari isn't for those who don't want to wake up early in the morning (or hate being confined to a car for most of the day). Rates include two game drives per day, walking safaris, and all meals and drinks (there's a great wine cellar).

Tavarua is the island you see when you daydream about the South Pacific: sand as fine as confectioner’s sugar, a break that looks like the cover of a surfing magazine, and good god, so much blue. This tiny island in Fiji is home to one resort (which itself is home to a pool, hot tub, spa, fitness center, and Ping-Pong table), and caters to a very specific kind of traveler—the one who likes the quiet that you find at the edge of the world. Actually, it also caters to surfers, tennis players, and people who want to be in beautiful tropical places. We also love it because Tavarua puts a huge emphasis on sustainability, from a rain-catchment program to locally sourced food.

Nothing but you, a few friends, a family of elk, and a bald eagle. That—plus a lot of fresh air in a series of jaw-dropping locations—is the general idea of this trip. While MT Sobek offers excursions and hikes and adventure travel all over the world, not much can beat a view of the Rocky Mountains from 10,000 feet. You’ll hike up to a dozen miles a day and raft for about eleven miles—but this isn’t the kind of Outward Bound–style trip where you have to pitch your own tent and kill your own dinner. (You stay in a hotel every night.) After a week, you’ll come home a stronger, fitter, more well-adjusted human.

We have it on good authority that Zion Mountain Ranch is a total gem. Go here for canyoneering, night campfires, and horse back riding, as well as the incredible, life-changing landscapes and scenery. In fact, this National Register of Historic Places member is the only place to stay within the confines of Zion National Park. Top-notch restaurants and modern amenities are above and beyond what one might expect from such a remote location.

This Rosewood-managed property is located in Hawke's Bay, deep in the heart of New Zealand's rich wine country—which, geographically speaking, looks as if one took the rolling hills of the Napa Valley and set them down on the edge of a dramatic seaside cliff. The internationally known golf course (which meanders its way along the aforesaid cliffs) is part of the draw here, but guests also spend their time exploring the 6,000 acres of pasture—The Farm is actually a working sheep and beef operation, and touring around by foot or on a four-wheeler, to see the full acreage and get a glimpse of the sheepdogs at work, is highly recommended. The architecture features worn wood panels on the inland side and glass, view-facing windows on the other, achieving a barn-like effect that's tempered by modern features like a sleek infinity pool. Interiors echo the modern farmhouse vibe, with cozy wooden fireplaces in every room, rustic beams crossing the vaulted ceilings, and curtains done in soft blue French ticking. The owners have two other properties in New Zealand (Matakauri, a lakeside retreat a short drive from Queenstown, and Kauri Cliffs, which has beach access in Mauri Bay), so if you're making the trek from the United States, it's worth hitting more than one over the course of the trip. P.S. Everyone's obsessed with the chocolate chip cookies from the kitchen here, for good reason.

With an emphasis on holistic wellness, this stunning retreat calls upon certified specialists in yoga, Pilates and qigong, to personalized mountain biking, hiking and circuit training guides. In the Estate's main kitchen, you can design your own three-course menu (go for an authentically Indonesian dish) to cook with chef. During your stay, you’ll likely live at Glow, an all-day restaurant/café serving pressed juice, organic salads, and fresh Mediterranean fish.

Three hours from Bangkok along a beachy stretch of coast, the Chiva-Som spa staff greets you with lemongrass tea, a cold towel, and a garland of jasmine and roses. You can relax here. This wellness retreat opened nearly 30 years ago, and it remains one of the world’s best.

We’re not the only ones who get that making profound connections, spiritual growth, and emotional well-being are all things that modern men crave. We started goop Men. Lucas Krump started Evryman. This B Corp’s mission is simple: to help men connect. Connect to what? That’s where it gets a bit more complex. In connecting to the wilderness through intensive guided retreats and expeditions to spiritually charged places like Joshua Tree and Yellowstone, men forge deeper connections to themselves. There’s meditation, overcoming physical feats, sleeping outdoors, yoga, group work, and much more. Back home, by attending weekly groups, they develop bonds with peers to support and nourish and maintain their hard work in a totally destigmatized environment.

This is the perfect place to decamp with a group of friends: The spa is fantastic (treatments involve local and endemic ingredients), the food is even better, and the scene—the northern edge of New Zealand—couldn't really be more spectacular. A lot of golfers stay here, though there's plenty to do that doesn't involve a set of clubs: Horseback riding, surfing, fishing, and mountain biking are all easily accessible (though it's also the kind of resort where they make wishes into realities, so if there's something you're dying to do, just ask). And starting in November, you can book your own private four-bedroom enclave.

Tucked into the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Miraval Arizona is a one-stop shop for all things wellness. This 400-acre desert retreat is the kind of place you can go on a girls' getaway or a solo journey—and return home feeling totally reset. The guest rooms and villas have recently had their own reset, of sorts—the design weaves in the fabric of the surrounding Sonoran Desert with natural fibers, wood and stone textures, and big French doors that take full advantage of the views. In early 2018, Miraval is launching the Retreat—a collection of 22 residences equipped with indoor-outdoor showers, a private pool or spa—each designed for larger groups traveling together, or those seeking a bit more living space. The rugged, cacti-dotted terrain is the backdrop for a host of activities, including horseback riding, hiking, and botany-focused tours. The spa, with its army of healers, wellness practitioners, and massage therapists—is obviously the main draw. And all programs are fully customizable: Guests can begin their morning with reiki, try an aerial yoga session in the afternoon, and wind down with a hot stone massage in a temperature-controlled outdoor tent.

They call him the “Tarzan” of today. But MovNat founder Erwan Le Corre’s real-life MO? Getting back to nature—specifically, helping people move instinctively in nature. You can think of his workshop as a next-level workout, except that it’s in the wild. Bouldering, scaling rocks, climbing trees, deep-sea swimming, lifting fallen logs—it’s the kind of stuff you can’t do or find even in the most tricked-out gym. His challenging weekend and weeklong retreats—held all around the globe in jungles, on beaches, near mountains—are for adventurers; designed to get you out of your comfort zone, back to nature, and back in your body.

This old whaling island off the coast of Cape Cod is where you go if you want time to slow down—but not necessarily stop altogether. A day can be as mellow or as active as you wish: Pick a beach to lie out on or pick up a SUP; wander aimlessly through the immaculate little streets on a self-guided architecture tour or wander into the Nantucket Historical Association to learn a thing or two. With eighty-two miles of coastline to wade through, countless secret beach dunes to climb, three authentic New England lighthouses to gawk at, and one goop MRKT to work your way through, there’s no risk of getting bored. For a home base, choices are limited (the island is small), but the ones that exist—like the White Elephant (a landmark property right in the center of the harbor), Greydon House (designed by Roman and Williams) and a sprinkling of idyllic bed-and-breakfasts—are all perfect in their own uniquely Nantucket ways.

Sitting on 3,000 acres of ancient sacred grounds at the foot of Mount Kuchumaa in Tecate, the ranch has been welcoming those seeking a head-to-toe reboot since the ‘40s. Unlike a hardcore medical spa, the focus of a basic seven-day retreat is on spiritual wellness and gentle de-stressing by way of diet (there’s an organic farm and a cooking school on site), rigorous physical activity, mindful meditation, and a slew of world-class treatments performed at one of three stunning organic spa complexes. For more intense healing, there’s acupuncture, chiropractic services, Craniosacral therapies, and more.

Somewhere in the Gulf of Thailand, there are three islands called Koh Phangon, Koh Yao Yai, and Koh Chang. The three of them comprise Santhiya Resorts & Spas. And the natural beauty of the islands can’t be overstated—the perfect beaches, the perfect views, the perfect jungles. You’ll feel like you’re in an Alex Garland novel—only with sunrise yoga, farm-to-table meals, Ayurvana facials, and your own private villa overlooking maybe the entire ocean. The resort is an eco-luxe resort, which means that your bed may be made of reclaimed wood, but your sheets will have very high thread counts.

What sets this spa apart is its range: People come looking for help with sexual health, long-term cognitive ability, better skin—and somehow SHA does it all. SHA was established to put guests on the road to optimal well-being. The founder rebounded from chronic health problems after aligning diet, natural therapies, and contemporary medicine, and the marriage of all three remains part of SHA’s core philosophy.

Dr. Joshi's clinic is one of our first ports of (detox) call in London. In addition to colonics, Dr. Joshi also offers a pretty in-depth list of other wellness-centric services including personal training, massage, Endermologie, and his signature twenty-one-day nutritional plan, which are all designed to help detox. The clinic also offers a spectacular Moroccan riad retreat for the weary.

When you find yourself reaching for your iPhone to check emails in the middle of the night, it's time for The Ranch. This weeklong boot camp in Malibu encourages you to power down, let go of stress, and break less-than-healthy habits. Every day starts with several hours of hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains, and guests clock up to 60 miles a week. That has benefits for the body, yes. And if you’d like, the practitioners here will do a cholesterol check and body scan at the beginning of your program and again at the end. But all that physical exertion is mentally and emotionally cathartic, too.

Cal-a-Vie was designed to look like a rural French village—and it does a pretty convincing job. This wellness resort on the northern side of San Diego is made up of a collection of villas with terra-cotta tiled roofs, citrus groves, lavender fields, and hundreds of acres of quiet. The focus here is on wellness—and visits are organized into three-, four-, and seven-day packages. In addition to hiking, tennis, yoga, and an incredibly comprehensive, seasonal food and nutrition program, the spa has over 150 treatments—some of which you’d expect (detox wraps, rejuvenating facials) and some of which you couldn’t possibly (Hydrorider, say, or Piloxing). However long you stay, you’re basically guaranteed to leave feeling better than you did when you arrived.

We’ve heard great things about this recently revamped spa, which comes complete with onsite Japanese gardens: If possible, you'll want to check-in for a full week, and accordingly, a full reset, thanks to a daily menu of exercise and spa treatments. Styled after a Japanese “ryokan” or inn, the rooms here all resemble traditional Japanese houses—with an impressive collection of art and antiques from the 18th century to match. The decorations are simple, with sliding doors, dark wood, and Asian-influenced accents. While weight loss isn’t necessarily the goal of a stay, bring running shoes, as there’s a packed schedule of hikes, yoga, and fitness classes to choose from. The Golden Door is meant to be place for detoxing both mind and body, and the food is accordingly local, organic, and healthy—so much so, that you may even spend time in the vegetable garden picking your own greens.

Chill out surrounded by lush, tropical gardens at this historic Maui compound and learn to live Aloha for a while. Here you can practice mindfulness, learn to meditate, take an aromatherapy class–or learn about the land through their horticulture programs. The beauty and serenity of the island attracts yogis of all disciplines and from all over the world to practice, so check the calendar for upcoming retreats and workshops. You'll leave feeling completely refreshed.

A week-long holistic retreat on the beach, The Pearl offers guests a luxurious way to detox and decompress with daily hikes, yoga, and restorative massage, as well as introductions to new practices like Tai Chi or chakra balancing. After a week of clean eating, days full of exercise, quality time in nature, and lots of sleep, you'll leave here feeling lighter in every sense of the word.

When Larry Ellison bought the Hawaiian island of Lanai—the red clay, mountains, mist, palms, and Cook pines make it unlike anywhere else in Hawaii—he partnered with doctor and biomedical researcher David Agus to turn the island’s inland Four Seasonsinto a spectacular destination spa, Sensei.

Less is more when it comes to this detox program in Desert Hot Springs, California. Check in for three, six, eight, or more days and prepare for many, many beverages (green drinks, fresh juices, hot tea, soups, detox drinks, and water), along with colonics and massages every day. Read a book or relax by the pool while your body cleanses and recalibrates. There are yoga classes, sound baths, Reiki, nutrition classes, and more on the roster. And if you'd like, you can add a bit of therapeutic pampering to your stay with a mud wrap or lymphatic stimulation. Though there's also nothing wrong with just taking a lot of naps and hanging out in the infrared sauna.

Though a weekend at Canyon Ranch is arguably about exercising restraint, there’s nothing spare about this wellness retreat, which is situated in a gorgeous, fully-restored 19th-century manor nestled in the Berkshires. The understated rooms here are designed to be relaxing, and to that end, there’s not much to distract you from your weekend of centering and healthy living. That’s no problem, though, since you won’t be spending much time in them: Days at Canyon Ranch revolve around the spa, working out, and a wealth of activities, including cross-country skiing. There are about 50 classes on the roster, along with myriad pools, a full gym, and assorted extras like a ropes course and squash courts. When you’re not working out, you might be taking a cooking class or learning how to diagnose your dreams. The food is healthy, but it’s also delicious—and all-you-can-eat.

Situated on a lavish estate outside downtown Miami, the Pritikin has all the creature comforts of a luxury hotel, which is good considering you’ll likely find yourself beat after a day packed with exercise classes, lectures, nutrition demonstrations, and spa visits. The one- and two-week programs are popular choices for those looking for an intense overhaul. Meanwhile, the Family Health Camp gets the whole family involved, and the center also offers nutrition-centric programs that focus on teaching healthy cooking skills.

Shou Sugi Ban House is the kind of destination spa—on three acres of lush Hamptons woodland—that you visit to skip the socializing and reset. The programming here is relaxed: Guests bounce between thermal pools and enjoy a lengthy menu of massages, scrubs, wraps, baths, and facials. There’s a roster of wellness treatments focused on present-moment awareness and healing emotional wounds. A roster of visiting holistic experts and healers keeps the programming fresh, and the property blends so discreetly into the surrounding landscape, you can barely tell it’s there—which is entirely the point. And the restaurant is so good, we wouldn’t bat an eye if someone told us they came for the food alone.

If you’re looking for an escape to a luxury spa, you may want to look elsewhere, but if you're up for a rustic retreat that really lets you focus on resetting your well-being, Canyon Ranch in Tucson is an excellent choice. They have wonderful roster of in-house experts—from spiritual gurus, to fitness instructors—and a varied weekly schedule of group classes and events--everything from spinning, yoga, circuit training, mind-body-soul workshops, etc. Canyon Ranch has a casual atmosphere—you won’t need to bring much beyond your workout gear, and when you get there, the absence of bells and whistles is refreshing. The Arizona desert locale is vast and serene. There’s a two-mile loop of the campus, which you can walk or run (best early in the a.m. before the day heats up) that shows off the area’s incredible array of desert plants. If you want a guided nature tour, they have morning walks, hikes on the surrounding trails, and river-path bike rides. We suggest having a packed schedule so you can go to bed with that all-over, deep-good-tired feeling. While the food program isn't the most revolutionary of its kind, you won't go hungry.

The same way the spiritual vortex of Sedona draws seekers, it draws healers—and you can work with the best of them at Mii Amo. For 3, 4, 7, or 10 days—no more, no less—visitors follow personalized programs designed by a guide. Depending on a guest’s needs, a journey might include traditional spa offerings, like enzyme wraps and lymphatic facials, as well as specialty services, like shirodhara and Reiki healing. Spiritual treatments—meditation, hypnosis, past-life regression, and more—can be emotionally intense and incredibly cathartic. During downtime, you might explore intuitive watercolor, hikes in the canyon, dry sauna, or private pickleball lessons.

Forty minutes from downtown on a particularly spectacular bend in the river, Lake Austin is as amazing a day spa as it is an overnight retreat. Either way, you can use all the spa facilities, the restaurant (many ingredients come from an on-site organic garden) and participate in daily fitness activities from water yoga in the stunning, barn-enclosed warm pool, paddle boarding, and hikes to river-based workouts). There are more than 100 services on the extensive mind- and body-nourishing spa menu—everything from standard Swedish to Chinese-medical cupping treatments—with specific options for mothers-to-be, couples, and groups. The facials are particularly incredible: herbal enzyme peels, fractionated laser treatments, and luminizing vitamin C therapies, plus specific options for mothers-to-be, couples, and groups. Post-treatment, you can lounge by the series of swimming pools in the large hillside garden.

More active vacation destination than full-on wellness retreat, Red Mountain Resort sits just a stone's throw from several national parks (the sweeping views of red cliffs and the surrounding wilderness from the mountain-view rooms are worth the splurge) and is ideal for anyone looking for a bit of adventure rather than an all-day spa deal. Retreat packages can be customized to address any number of needs, from boot-camp level ass-kicking, to daily gentle yoga, to consultations with a shaman. For sustenance, there’s Canyon Counter for quickie meals and room service, or Canyon Breeze restaurant, where the largely gluten-free menu is healthy but not detox-level (you’re free to have coffee at breakfast and wine with dinner). Also worth mentioning: the resort is famously welcoming to pets.

Joali Being, on its own private island in the Maldives, has a guiding philosophy of weightlessness. Here, that means letting go of your regular habits for a more intuitive way of life. It’s easier to sacrifice your attachments here, digital or otherwise, and it’s no mystery why: The island, covered in immaculate palm groves and dotted with modern Maldivian architecture, is so beautiful that you wouldn’t want to miss a moment. There’s an antigravity yoga pavilion, immersive wellness experiences, therapeutic and alternative healing therapies, an herbology center, a hydrotherapy hall that includes a sensory-deprivation room, sound therapy hall, and more.

Kamalaya, on the lush Thai island Koh Samui, combines Eastern and Western medical treatments for as full a reset as you want. When you’re not busy with past-life regression therapy, Reiki, sound baths, herbal soaks, and massages for everything (head, hands, feet, you name it), spend some time floating around the verdant grounds: You’ll find coastal yoga pavilions, cold-water plunge pools, otherworldly steam rooms, and a contemplation cave once used by Buddhist monks.

Located inside the ancient walled city, steps from the Mehrangarh Fort, this was once the home of a Rajput aristocrat. Built in the traditional Haveli style, with multiple stories constructed around a courtyard, the original carved stone panels and antique shrines of the thirty-nine suites and common areas, including a breathtaking pool, were carefully preserved during renovation. The elevated position over Jodhpur lends a panoramic view of both the old and new cities. For a complete reset, the Ila Spa at RAAS Jodhpur is an Ayurveda-centered healing retreat. Try the Ky Nye, a treatment meant to balance the five elements (earth, wind, fire, water, and ether), using five essential oils and a combination of massage and acupressure, while crystals and herbal poultices are placed along your meridian energy lines to ease tension.

A short flight from Delhi in Dehradun, India, each guest at Six Senses Vana is supported in developing their own wellness experience, incorporating aspects of yoga, sowa rigpa (traditional Tibetan medicine), Ayurveda, spa treatments, and exercise to reach a place of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. A big part of one's personal program could be simply to relax—if that's the case, definitely muster up the energy to stroll through the forests, gardens, and orchards; they are gorgeous.

The entire team of wellness specialists at Ann Wigmore’s eponymous Natural Health Institute in Puerto Rico is well-trained in her revolutionary approach, which lauds the use of wheatgrass and “living foods” (strictly organic, raw, plant-based, and nutrient-rich foods) for nourishing and ultimately healing the body. While the accommodations are comfortably minimal, the beachside grounds make for an idyllic setting for the one-week intensive and two-week immersive programs—all of which are supplemented by customizable treatment plans of colonics, lymphatic massages, and more. You’re likely to feel an instant transformation but the institute’s goal is long-term education, effectively preparing graduates of the program to maintain the lifestyle back at home.

Fun and cleansing don't have to be mutually exclusive. There are plenty of activities to keep your mind off the detox process during this week-long retreat in bohemian hot spot Sayulita, Mexico. The menu for the week is planned to ease you in and out of two days of a liquid diet so it helps to have a packed schedule with yoga, massage, hiking, Pilates, Crossfit, acupuncture, and clay treatments with breaks built in for juices, snacks, and meals.

Costa Rica’s Talamanca Mountains are home to two-toed sloths, vibrant pink hummingbirds, and hill after hill of coffee farms—and Auberge resort Hacienda AltaGracia. You could, if you wanted to, come here just to hang in the spacious casitas and enjoy the resort’s leafy, vivid-green surroundings. But we’d argue the real magic happens at the destination-worthy spa, The Well.

The only advice we have to those seeking to push themselves through the original back-to-basics boot camp? Stick it out. The seven days of crazy-long hikes, intense workouts, and a cleansing, vegetarian diet will be hard work, but it will also whip you into shape. Not for the faint of heart (or the fussy), this no-frills, no-excuses program is no less grueling (or cushy) than at its original location in Calabasas, California—but the fact that it's in Mallorca definitely makes it more palatable.

From the outside, this massive Swiss chateau looks pretty storybook, but inside, there's serious healing going on. The in-house doctors and therapists customize every wellness program—points of focus include everything from basic stress relief to careful post-op care—to revolve around taking in its prized, anti-inflammatory thermal spring waters—by way of pools, steam rooms, and saunas. They're pumped in from an ancient gorge and are said to ease everything from arthritis pain to eczema.

Step back in time and settle into a restored Byzantine mansion on an eighteen-acre estate perched overlooking the castle rock of Monemvasia in East Peloponnese, Greece. Log some serious hours in the Ottoman-style Hammam and try treatments that incorporate local olive oil, honey, and ingredients derived from grapes or fill your schedule with activities like hiking, biking, and wine tasting—depending on the time of year, you can even join the grape or olive harvest efforts. Or, there's also the very appealing idea of just doing nothing at all.

Leaning heavily on founder F.X. Mayr’s theories that diseases stem from imbalances in the digestive system, the custom tailored wellness programs at this SciFi-looking forest compound in Austria, all marry modern medicine with time-honored holistic methods, and center around intense detoxification (colon cleansing, lymphatic draining, even light psychotherapy). If it all sounds like serious business, that’s because it is—but so are the results: the programs are said to have life-changing regenerative effects. Thankfully, it’s all balanced by ample spa time for salt scrubs and massages, and custom meal plans that while skimpy, border on gourmet. In addition to the original, there’s a brand new, 70-room resort, Lanserhof Tagernsee, on Lake Tegern in Germany and a city outpost in Hamburg called Lans Medicum.

At Lanserhof, guests embark on an intensely challenging, doctor-guided protocol for cleansing the digestive system. It goes like this: You fast, drinking only tea and water. Then you detox, drinking Epsom salts to purge the system. And then you eat—at first, according to a radically restricted diet—and learn to chew properly. (Thirty to forty times for each small bite.)

People have traveled to Fiuggi for centuries just for the natural spring water, which, legend has it, is healing. At Palazzo Fiuggi, you’ll drink it, soak in it, and shower in it. But the real force behind this destination spa is the medical team, who will tailor your experience according to your goals and the health evaluation you take upon arrival. Your results inform the rest of your stay: Will you spend long mornings trekking through the countryside and afternoons in the thermal baths? Or will you spend the week detoxing, following your doctor visits with lymphatic massage and cleansing rituals in the hammam?

Beyond the perpetual unst-unst of Ibiza's club scene, at the northern tip of Cala Xarraca, there’s a destination for spiritual seekers and wellness lovers: Six Senses Ibiza, a deeply peaceful destination spa with panoramic views and gorgeous suites.

Take a breather in the name of beauty. Ila, the makers of the much-loved luxury organic skincare and spa products, teamed up with The Lakes, a new private residential estate created by Philippe Starck-led design group Yoo to create this retreat in the Cotswolds. Bunk by the lake, do yoga, hike the countryside, meditate, eat healthy, and most importantly, relax with four indulgent treatments during the four-day, three-night stay.