So, what is a wellness retreat exactly? And what do you even do at one? In this guide, we’re going to look at the basics and outline all the essential info you need…
Hi! I’m Caroline, your wellness retreat travel guide. I’ve worked in the wellness industry for 15+ years & been lucky enough to stay at amazing health resorts around the world. Let’s get you inspired & prepared to go on your own retreat…
What is a wellness retreat?
A wellness retreat is a type of experience or destination that focuses on wellbeing. Retreats typically involve a structured itinerary of activities designed to aid wellness, such as yoga, meditation, journalling, nature hikes, or mindfulness. They can vary in duration from a single day to a week or more.
Wellness retreats usually involve a range of holistic activities designed to enhance physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. They tend to combine relaxation, education, and practical elements. A package will typically include accommodation, meals, and wellness activities.
Types of Wellness Retreat
There are lots of different types of wellness retreats that people can participate in. The most popular way to categorise retreats is by their primary activity…
- Yoga retreats
- Fitness retreats
- Pilates retreats
- Tai Chi retreats
- Spa retreats
- Meditation retreats
- Mental health retreats
- Emotional healing retreats
- Fasting retreats
- Weight loss retreats
These are just a few of the types of wellness retreat you can go on, but it’s not an exhaustive list. If there’s a specific area of your wellbeing that you’d like to work on, there’s likely a retreat that can help!
You can also categorise wellness retreats by the types of participant they’re aimed at. For example, solo retreats, couples retreats, corporate or team building retreats.
What do you do at a wellness retreat?
So, what happens at a wellness retreat exactly? Well, a retreat typically combines structured activities, group meals, and free time.
They are designed so that you have time to rest and recuperate from the demands of daily life, while also actively working on your own wellness. There may be workshops where you can learn a new skill or technique, classes where you can practise, and free time where you explore or simply chill out.
Retreat activities that are popular include…
- Yoga classes
- Meditation or mindfulness practice
- Breathwork sessions
- Nature walks
- Journalling
Sessions might be in lesson format where you learn the theory behind a technique, a workshop that combines theory and practical elements, or a class that’s all about practising.
Here’s a typical one-day wellness retreat itinerary that’ll give you an idea of what to expect…
- Morning – arrive and register, then spend the morning participating in structured activities like workshops, yoga classes, and meditation sessions.
- Lunch – group lunch where you get to socialise while enjoying healthy, nourishing food.
- Afternoon – more structured activities based on the retreat’s theme.
- Depart – most day-long retreats end around late afternoon allowing you plenty of time to travel home.
Multi-day and week long retreats follow a similar daily structure but over an extended period…
- Arrival – check-in and registration then head to your room, unpack, and change if needed.
- Mornings – some retreats involve early morning activities before breakfast whereas others will begin around 9am.
- Lunches – enjoy a meal with the rest of your retreat group where you get to know each other..
- Afternoons – you may be participating in other workshops and activities, or have free time to use the retreat’s facilities or explore the local area.
- Dinners – residential wellness retreats usually include group meals in the evening too (which differs from a wellness resort or hotel where you eat at individual tables) before you have more free time or get to enjoy an early night!
Here’s an example wellness retreat itinerary that’ll give you a sense of how multi-day experiences can be structured…
Why people visit wellness retreats
People visit wellness retreats for a variety of reasons. Some of the most popular ones include…
- Improve your wellness
- Opportunity to reset and recharge
- Learn new wellness practices
- Easy solo travel option
- Explore new places
- Enjoy some ‘me time’
- Experience local culture
- Luxury wellness experiences
- Actively relax
- Less touristy travel experiences
Learn more about the benefits of attending a wellness retreat.
So, now you know exactly what a wellness retreat is and what happens at one. If they sound like something you’d be interested in going to, then take a look around our website! Check out the other articles on our blog to learn more about choosing the perfect retreat for your needs.
Do you have questions about attending a wellness retreat? Get in touch using our contact page or message us via social media – we’d love to hear from you!
