13 of the most beautiful spas around the world for a relaxing wellness holiday

Designed by Shanghai-based architecture practice Neri&Hu Design and Research Office, the Sulwhasoo Dosan Flagship Store in Seoul works double duty as a popular spot for Korean skincare products and a luxurious spa destination.

The focus is on anti-ageing treatments and timeless well-being, combining modern skincare science with traditional remedies and Asian beauty rituals. Also incorporated into the spa’s wellness regimen are specialised tools and soothing materials such as jade and white porcelain.

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Aimed at adventurous travellers who yet appreciate comfort and luxury, the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle immerses guests in northern Thailand’s natural landscape, where activities include interactions with rescued elephants, spectacular mountain excursions, and trails through bamboo jungles.

After a long day of excursions, the open-air spa awaits guests back at the Bill Bensley-designed resort with a series of restorative treatments amid the lush greenery. Comfortable spa beds, luxurious bathing facilities and a tension-relieving massage menu can be found here, the latter offering a range of traditional massage techniques using select mountain herbs and local spices.

The most petite and intimate of the Como Uma lodges designed by Bali-based hospitality architect Cheong Yew Kuan, Como Uma Punakha sits on a hill in the west of the Punakha Valley, overlooking the Mo Chhu River in Bhutan. This is the perfect retreat for those seeking a Himalayan getaway, whether it entails high-stakes mountain exploration and whitewater rafting or just taking in the sublime scenery.

As for a relaxing spa experience, you can’t go wrong with a stop at the Como Shambhala Retreat, nestled in a hushed woodland glade with far-reaching views of the surrounding mountains. Here you’ll be treated to holistic massage treatments and body and facial care, as well as a signature Bhutanese hot stone bath. Refreshing yoga sessions and introspective meditation are offered for added relaxation too.

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Unmatched in its tranquillity, Cheval Blanc Randheli was designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy to immerse guests in a relaxing paradise in the Maldives, with the ocean at the doorstep.

The Cheval Blanc Spa is the resort’s revitalising oasis, offering the Maldives’ only Guerlain treatments through a range of sensorial rituals and personalised full-day immersion therapies. An infinity pool with mesmerising ocean views awaits you after your treatment.

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How about an outdoor spa treatment at the foot of the Grand Canyon?

Designed by architects Marwan Al-Sayed, Wendell Burnette and Rick Joy, Amangiri was built as a sanctuary in Utah’s vast desert landscape, overlooking canyons, mesas, ridges and gorges. A mix of modernist suites and tented pavilions immerse guests in the dramatic setting with easy access to some of the United States’ most incredible national parks.

The resort’s spa itself spans 25,000 square feet and offers Aman Resorts’ signature nature-driven therapies and immersive wellness programmes, as well as guided walks for mindfulness, and “yoga on the rocks” sessions with unmatched views of the landscape and the horizon.

One of Canada’s regions most renowned for its natural beauty, British Columbia is home to the picturesque mountain town of Whistler just north of Vancouver. Located here amid the old rainforest is the Scandinave spa, constructed by local architecture and design firm Murdoch + Company Architecture.

Spread over 25,000 square feet is a wellness journey through cycles of hot and cold water installations and soothing treatments, inspired by the Scandinavian drakkar explorations undertaken hundreds of years ago.

Other immersive therapies include gentle Swedish massages and therapeutic deep tissue treatments, the ideal preparation for mind and body in the lead-up to adventurous mountain explorations.

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If a luxury retreat is what you’re looking for, you won’t be disappointed by Garden Club, the wellness arm of Palm Heights on Grand Cayman. Designed by New York-based Dong-Ping Wong of Food Architects, this exclusive resort spa is infused with Caribbean glamour and reflective of the islands’ lush, sunny landscape.

The built areas are kept to a minimum to honour the natural surroundings, incorporating sustainably constructed green walls of Clusia hedges and richly textured travertine surfaces sourced from Italian quarries.

Book a wellness ritual inspired by early Caribbean healing practices, be it at the outdoor hammam, the infrared or classic sauna, the steam room, the ice room, the hot and cold plunge pools, or the private treatment rooms for something more tailored. Each programme is guided by natural elements and crafted to soothe the mind and body.

A geothermal oasis with scenic pools and subterranean caverns, Blue Lagoon is an unmissable gem on a holiday to Iceland. A visit encompasses multiple experience areas, taking guests on a wellness journey through natural relaxation rituals involving the lagoon’s signature geothermal seawater and nourishing volcanic earth treatments.

The pinnacle of the journey is undoubtedly the cavernous underground, made up of three interconnected chambers designed by Reykjavík-based Basalt Architects. Here you get to immerse yourself in the bioactive essence of the lagoon—a trinity of silica, algae and minerals—as they envelop you on all sides.

For a more luxurious and intimate experience, you can hide out in the Lava Cove, with its private mineral-rich lagoon, wood-burning fireplace, dining area, kitchen, and dedicated butler.

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Germany is known for its wealth of historic bathing houses and natural swimming destinations, with many travelling to small German towns and villages to reap the benefits of the local thermal springs.

The Palais Thermal is one such destination, first built directly over a thermal spring back in 1847 and recently renovated and expanded by architecture practice Kauffmann Theilig & Partner.

Moorish architecture and Art Nouveau come together within the evocative bathing palace amid the lush Black Forest, an oasis of wellness enhanced by rich detailing and timeless splendour.

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Indulge in a relaxing escape to the Austrian Alps, with views over the region’s sublime three-thousand-metre peaks. Healing mineral waters nourish your well-being with bubbles rising from a sulfur spring 6000 feet underground, infusing 12 thermal basins, perfect for both daytime wellness and introspective moonlight bathing.

This retreat invites you to find serenity as you float weightlessly and let the spring water rejuvenate your body and spirit. Inviting lounge areas complement the basins throughout the ultra-modern resort, with futuristic extension works completed by Holzbauer & Partner to further transport you into an ethereal water world.

Already a dream destination, Santorini becomes even more appealing when you’ve come across Katikies Kirini, with harmonious vernacular Greek architecture by Savvas Psathas.

Beyond its unmatched setting with divine views of the caldera, this fairytale hotel also hides an atmospheric, tranquil spa within its whitewashed walls, comprising glittering waters and a cavernous pool to unwind, reconnect, and savour the moment.

Blissful treatments invite you to surrender the senses to luxurious pampering, with specially crafted therapies from Ligne St. Barth and Grown Alchemist, high-end facials, and hot stone rituals.

The resort also includes access to the Zoe Wellness Centre. Designed by Yula Vourli, this is the first bio-regenerative wellness clinic in Greece, with a holistic approach to rejuvenation using “cutting-edge technology, innovative therapies, and tailored wellness programmes”.

The beauty of modern Morocco shines through at Amanjena, Aman Resorts’ luxurious stay in Marrakech, conceptualised by architect Ed Tuttle. The palatial resort’s design draws inspiration from the rose-hued buildings of old Marrakech, set within an expanse of lush gardens, shaded courtyards, quiet pavilions, and private pools, with views of olive groves and the High Atlas mountain range in the distance.

Offering soothing treatments such as massages, facial scrubs, wraps, and even manicures and pedicures, the spa facilities at Amanjena take care of their guests to restore calm and well-being. Two heated hammams are tucked away in a serene corner of the spa for treatments such as black eucalyptus sabon beldi soap cleansing, kiis scrub exfoliation, rhassoul clay full-body masks, and a refreshing cold eucalyptus shower to improve circulation.

The resort also invites wellness experts and specialists to provide additional treatments throughout the year, so if you visit at the right time, you may be in for a truly exclusive spa experience.

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