THE BEST DETOX HOLIDAYS
Chiva Som, Hua Hin, Gulf of Thailand +66 3253 6536
With seven acres of lush tropical gardens and sandy stretches of private beach, it’s easy to feel relaxed by surroundings alone. Chiva Som is a place to come for total mind and body detox. Programs such as A Taste of Chiva Som is perfect for first timers and allows guests to dabble in many different treatments such as the kinesis studio, watsu pool, naturopathic consultation, and a diet full of organic fruits and vegetables grown on the property. Prices start at $4457 for a 7 night retreat in a garden room and includes all meals and some treatments and exercise programs.
COMO Shambhala Parrot Cay Retreat, Providencials, Turks and Caicos Islands +1 649 946 7788
Located in the British West Indies, Parrot Cay offers an amazing experience for those wanting to participate in a group detox with friends. Choose to stay at Tamarind, the estate’s secluded 3-bedroom villa complete with private pool and beach. Pilates and Yoga Retreats are a speciality and include fifteen hours of either over six days, as well as a private consultation and accupuncture or shiatsu massage. The area also offers exceptional diving and the effects of the sun can be counteracted with the COMO Shambala Sun Soother treatment. Rates vary depending on the time of year.
Les Sources De Caudalie, Martillac, Bordeaux, France + 33 557 888383
A detox in wine country seems like a bit of an oxymoron, so let’s just say this is detoxing the “French” way. Located amongst the vineyards near Bordeaux, with a Michelin star restaurant on hand, the retreat puts the theory that ‘French women don’t get fat’ to the test. Treatments at the Vinotherapie spa include a red wine bath, merlot wrap and crushed cabernet scrub, proving there’s more to do with grapes than drink them. It also houses the newly decorated Lile Aux Oiseaux suite by Maison Martin Margiela. Prices start at $600 per night.
Kangaroo Island Health Retreat, Emu Bay, South Australia +61 8 8853 5374
A retreat frequently lauded for its emphasis on intimacy and exceptional results in minimal time. The retreat takes only six people at any one time and promises to aid in weight loss, eliminating toxins and improving sleep patterns. A five-day detox will cost you $2700 and includes all meals, colonics, massage, facials and return flights to Kangaroo Island.
COMO Shambala Estate, Ubud, Bali +62 361 978 888
Set in one of the most stunning locations you could ever imagine, this lush rainforest in the hinterland of sacred Ubud offers the perfect environment for detox and relaxation. The Estate offers various Wellness programs that last for 3, 5 or 7 nights, including Cleansing, De-Stress, Get Fit, and Ayurvedic. They all include body treatments, delicious organic meals made with produce all grown on site, and a personal assistant. For the ultimate experience stay in the Como Suite at Umabona. Rates vary depending on the length and type of program.
Kalari Kovilakom, Kerala, India +91 4923 263929
A retreat not for the faint hearted. This place is a culmination of a spa, palace hotel, ashram and ayurvedic hospital. The shortest retreat is Mahashanthy (Stress Relief) and is undertaken for fourteen days, whilst the Anti-Ageing retreat is a mind bending 28 nights. Days are filled with yoga and ayurvedic treatments whilst nights comprise of chanting and hymns. All food is ayurvedic vegetarian and the accommodation is 18 heritage suites that hark back to British colonization. Rates are all inclusive and start at $5719.
SHA Wellness Clinic, Playa Del Albir, Alicant Spain +34 9 66 811 199
If your wedding day means everything to you, read on. SHA offers a Brides Program; a four-day series of treatments to get you looking your very best for the big day. Inclusions for this package are a consultation with a nutritionist, flotarium session that simulates the benefits of the Dead Sea, hydrotherapy, and hair repair treatments using Queratine. Of course the obligatory manis and pedis are also on the menu. Cost is $1500 for the four day program plus $1068 for four nights stay in a room with panoramic sea and mountain views.
Thermia Palace – Danubis Health Spa Resort, Piestany, Slovakia +42 1 33 775 61 11
Set on an island (Pistany’s ‘Spa Island’) in south-west Slovakia, the spa at Thermia Palace has access to thermal mineral waters heated to 69 degrees celcius by the earth’s energy. The Anti-Stress program includes lab tests to check metabolic rates as well as a diet of light, vegetarian focused foods. However, the real magic of Thermia Palace lies in their exclusive salt cave. Built from natural salt from the Red, Dead and Black Seas, the high concentration of salt increases blood flow to major organs and makes a 45-minute treatment equate to 3 days by the sea; who needs a tropical island holiday?!
Lion in the Sun Retreat, Malindi, Kenya +25 442 213 0066
A beautiful blend of wilderness and island life, this Kenyan retreat offers the best of so many worlds. The six day retreat includes daily massage, hydro-jet treatments, phyto-mud therapy and meals that focus on a bio-light diet, consisting of organic and locally sourced produce that is mainly meat-free and fibre rich. A trip on the retreat’s private cruiser, Kaliffa, is a must do – it’s perfect for seeing the coral reef in the nearby Malindi Marine Park.
Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand +66 77 429 800
Another award winning Thailand detox resort, nestled around a sacred monk’s cave. Kamalaya offers the Comprehensive Detox program, which includes regular colonics, holistic fitness and specially catered meals. These will impress even the most expert detoxer, and for the first timers – you couldn’t be starting out on a better foot. They also offer various programs for yoga, stress and burnout, and fitness and weight control. There is a range of breathtaking accommodation to choose from, including luxury beachfront villas that range from $4,253 – $30,100 depending on how fancy you’re feeling.
By Carla Seeto
