As more people pay closer attention to how they live, how well they sleep, move, eat and switch off, travel has started to reflect those priorities. A holiday is no longer just about ticking off landmarks; for many, it’s about coming home feeling better than when they left.
In Southeast Asia, that idea isn’t new. Long before “wellness travel” became a global trend, the region had already earned a reputation for resorts centered on long-standing healing traditions, practices that are deeply rooted and often woven into everyday life.
If you are planning a trip to recharge and find some me-time, we’ve rounded up some of Southeast Asia’s best wellness retreats, places where you can truly switch off, surrounded by nature and luxury, and return home feeling renewed.
Ananda in the Himalayas, India
Set in the foothills of the Himalayas, Ananda is located at the birthplace of both yoga and Ayurveda and is widely regarded as India’s most famous wellness resort.
Residing in the former Palace Estate of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal, it stretches across the 100-acre grounds, gardens and surrounding forests, alongside world-class wellness facilities and a chance to surround oneself with the peaceful solitude of nature.
The wellness concept here focuses on Ayurveda and holistic wellbeing, where guests typically select a program which focuses on diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. Days are spent doing yoga and meditation, emotional healing, and spiritual awareness, followed by personalised plans that offer healthy organic cuisine to restore balance and harmonise energy.
The spa itself is impressive, a beautiful and expansive wellness center that features 24 treatment rooms, hydrotherapy pools and more, all geared at offering you the most rejuvenating and pleasant experience possible, as well as a state-of-the-art gym to ensure guests can get their fitness fill too, if the many different classes and fitness sessions haven’t done the trick.
Chiva Som, Hua Hin Thailand
Chiva-Som Hua Hin remains one of Thailand’s leading wellness resorts and is marking 30 years of expertise this year. From the moment guests arrive, they are matched with a personal Health and Wellness Advisor who designs a tailored program drawn from more than 200 treatments and activities.
The experience centers on 16 specialized retreats, from Cell Vitality programs focused on recovery to Total Golf Enhancement, all rooted in the resort’s guiding philosophy of Traditional Thai Medicine. This year’s focus follows the “Four Elements” cycle, with particular attention on the Fire element, or Dhatu Fai, designed to support metabolic energy through targeted breathing practices and heated basalt rituals.
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary, Koh Samui
Kamalaya is a long-established wellness retreat on the southern coast of Koh Samui, set on a quiet hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Built around a centuries-old meditation cave once used by Buddhist monks, the property combines natural surroundings with a calm, retreat-style atmosphere.
The sanctuary focuses on holistic wellbeing, offering programmes that range from stress relief and detox to sleep improvement and emotional balance. Guests begin with a consultation and follow personalised plans that may include yoga, meditation, spa therapies and nutritional guidance.
With its blend of tropical seclusion and structured wellness programs, Kamalaya has built a reputation as a destination for those seeking rest, reflection and a deeper reset rather than a conventional resort stay.
COMO Shambhala Estate, Ubud, Indonesia
Set across 23 acres of tropical forest above Bali’s Ayung River, COMO Shambhala Estate is designed as a private retreat focused on long-term wellbeing. At its center is “The Source,” a natural spring that feeds the property’s mineral-rich vitality pools.
Guests follow personalized wellness programs tailored to goals such as cleansing, fitness or stress management, working with specialists that include Ayurvedic practitioners and experts in Oriental medicine. Accommodation is arranged in element-inspired residences, either Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Forest, each reflecting its natural surroundings.
Days can include everything from jungle hikes and circuit training to open-air yoga and traditional water blessing rituals. Each guest is also assigned a dedicated assistant to oversee their stay, creating a smooth and highly personalized experience.
