9 Top Destination Spa and Wellness Resorts in the World: The Private Traveller’s To-Go List
Have you ever wanted to visit a health and wellness resort? If so, read on to find out more about 9 of the best that I have found throughout the world. I have been to Champneys in the UK a few times for short breaks (twice to Henlow as well as Tring and Springs) but never anything for a longer period or more targeted towards a certain health and wellness programme. It’s something I have always wanted to do (and I mean the whole experience for say 7 days with a calorie-restricted diet) but I know I could never get ‘Mrs’ The Private Traveller to go for this. He’s quite happy to visit wonderful locations with amazing spas (and might, if persuaded and have it booked for him, take the very odd treatment) but the idea of using vacation time for such a specific health/wellness focus would be beyond comprehension!
Wellness Journeys by The Private Traveller
With my having such an interest in spa treatments, I did recently take the opportunity when he was working over a weekend to get myself to Switzerland to visit the iconic Bürgenstock Resort. I really enjoyed the spa focus and my four days away - endless treatments and therapies without having to put up with the sighs and frustration by not doing more things other than wellness related. The idea of a calorie-restricted/focussed diet plan would not be seen as acceptable either, so definitely something I will need to do solo! I love writing about these experiences, and you can read all about the exceptional experience I had at Bürgenstock on my website.
(1) Bürgenstock Resort, Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Even though I have already visited Bürgenstock, I couldn’t not include it within this exceptional list. The facilities were amazing and whilst not a dedicated health resort per se, the extensive list of treatments and therapies available at their Alpine Spa, in conjunction with the Waldhotel (more medical focussed) spa, makes this resort more than eligible here in my book. I definitely want to return, and having been there in summer, I think it would be good to trial a different experience in winter.
Burgenstock Resort Contemporary Hotel
“Spanning over 60 hectares, The Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne is a luxury resort destination hosting guests from all over the world over-viewing majestic sceneries of Lake Lucerne and the Alps.”
Fast Facts for the Bürgenstock Resort
Address - Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne, CH-6363 Obbürgen, Switzerland
Website - https://burgenstockresort.com/en
Group Website - https://burgenstockresort.com/en/spa/buergenstock-alpine-spa
Contact - alpine.spa@burgenstockresort.com
Instagram - @burgenstockresort @burgenstockcollection
Nearest airport - Zurich International (ZRH) 84km
Opened - 1873 (of the original Grand Hotel) refurbished/redeveloped 2017
Number of rooms / suites - 211 total (135 rooms, 76 suites) - Burgenstock Hotel (Contemporary & Heritage Wings)
Programmes - No specific programmes but a wonderful choice of treatments and therapies at both Alpline and the Walhotel Spa
Indicative Cost - Treaments and therapies variously priced, plus accommodation
(2) Chenot Palace Weggis, Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
Chenot Palace Weggis first came onto my radar, being only a few km away from where I was staying at the Bürgenstock Resort recently, across the lake near Lucerne in Switzerland. As much as I enjoyed Bürgenstock it did remind me that I have always wanted to experience a dedicated health and wellness resort. Bürgenstock was definitely an amazing hotel (well, two hotels actually) with two incredible spa facilities, but it was also indulgent in terms of food and drink options.
There seems to be three main programmes at Chenot Palace Weggis, all of which are based on a selection of treatments and therapies across 6 days, for a plan where you stay 7 nights. As well as the location in Weggis, there is also another (Chenot Palace Gabala) in Azerbaijan. Chenot Palace is the umbrella for the full experience wellbeing facilities, Chenot Espace where you can have the same detox and reset transformation journey but in a hotel setting (Italy & Montenegro) then Chenot Spa in hotels in both Malaysia and Morocco.
Chenot Palace Weggis Switzerland
“Introducing Chenot Palace Weggis - the leading health wellness retreat of the well-known Chenot brand. Chenot Palace Weggis is located at the foot of the Swiss Alps and is surrounded by picturesque Lake Lucerne. This flagship property is designed and equipped to offer the unique 7-nights Chenot wellness programmes and treatments. It features a medical spa facility of 5 000 sqm with state-of-the-art diagnostics and cutting-edge medical screening tests.”
Fast Facts for the Chenot Palace Weggis
Address - Hertensteinstrasse 34, 6353 Weggis, Switzerland
Website - https://www.chenotpalaceweggis.com/
Group Website - https://www.chenot.com
Contact - info@chenotpalaceweggis.com
Instagram - @chenotpalaceweggis @chenot_official @chenotpalacegabala
Nearest airport - Zurich International (ZRH) 65km
Opened - 2020
Number of rooms / suites - 97
Programmes - Advanced Detox, Recover & Energise, Prevention & Ageing Well
Indicative Cost - 7 nights CHF 5,300 - 6,900 (£4,700 - £6,200, $6,000 - $7,800, €5,500 - €7,200) plus accommodation
(3) Villa Stéphanie at Brenners Park, Baden-Baden, Germany
Baden-Baden in Germany, meaning ‘The Baths in Baden’ , is a spa town in South West Germany, and one of the 11”Great Spa Towns of Europe” and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s somewhere I’ve had on my radar for such a long time, but haven’t yet been.
Brenners Park Hotel & Spa, part of the Oetker Collection, has been their flagship hotel for over 150 years. Their Villa Stéphanie Spa and Wellbeing destination is where you can experience recuperative, preventative and luxurious treatment in spectacular surroundings. There is a whole range of accommodation types in this hotel resort, but there are also dedicated Villa Stéphanie spa rooms (Superior & Deluxe) along with three exclusive corner suites with a private spa. The Medical Care facility focuses more on integrative holistic medicine, aesthetic dentistry, physiotherapy & medical fitness, aesthetic medicine, and nutrition consultations.
Villa Stéphanie at Brenners Park
“Baden-Baden is one of the world’s most famous spa towns, and there is no spa more comprehensive or professional than in our Villa Stéphanie Spa & Wellbeing, a spa where guests enjoy recuperative, preventative and luxurious treatments, in glorious surroundings.”
Fast Facts for Villa Stéphanie at Brenners Park
Address - Schillerstraße 4/6, 76530 Baden-Baden, Germany
Website - https://www.oetkercollection.com/hotels/brenners-park-hotel-spa/villa-stephanie-spa-wellbeing/
Group Website - https://www.oetkercollection.com
Contact - information.brenners@oetkercollection.com
Instagram - @villastephaniebadenbaden @brennersparkhotel @oetkercollection
Nearest airport - Frankfurt International (FRA) 168km
Opened - 2014
Number of rooms / suites - 15 (105 guestrooms Brenners Park)
Programmes - Integrative holistic medicine, aesthetic dentistry, physiotherapy & medical fitness, aesthetic medicine, and nutrition consultations
Indicative Cost - e.g. 7 days Detox & Weight Loss CHF 5,070 (£4,500; $5,700; €5,300) plus accommodation
(4) SHA Wellness Clinic, Alicante, Spain
SHA Wellness will have three locations, the one featured here in Spain (near Alicante) but also in both Mexico (due to open in Costa Mujeres, Quintana Roo in December 2023) and Emirates due to open in 2024-25 at AlJurf, the Riviera of the Emirates. The Spanish location has been there for 25 years, and benefits from 300 days of sunshine (on average) every year.
There are suites and residences, with a focus on their wellness clinic offering a wide range of treatments, nutrition in their SHAmadi Restaurant, fitness (state-of-the-art machinery and outdoor space to improve performance and flexibility), relaxation (Zen gardens) and leisure/learning with activities for lasting wellness like talks, healthy cooking classes and mind-body sessions.
The Health programmes are varied with specific focus areas like Rejuvenation, Stress Relief & Corporate, Weight-Control and Detox, or Wellness. Programme lengths vary from 4 to 21 days and they have a great comparison tool on their website to be able to compare and contrast what different programmes offer in their specific goals. The programme cost includes full board but accommodation is additional where you can choose your preference (a choice of suite - Deluxe/Superior/Grand/Presidential or Penthouse/Premier/Garden residence). I really liked the detail of the website, when drilling into an individual programme you will see what each of the days looks like and all the medical services, healthy nutrition, natural therapies, wellness and mind/body inclusions are.
SHA Wellness
“SHA was born as a result of the personal experience of someone who, after suffering from health problems for more than thirty years, recovered his quality of life thanks to an adequate diet and different natural therapies, together with the latest advances in western medicine”
Fast Facts for SHA Wellness Clinic
Address - Carrer del Verderol, 5, 03581 L'Albir, Alicante, Spain
Website - https://shawellness.com/en/locations/sha-spain/
Group website - https://shawellness.com/en/
Contact - info@shawellness.com
Instagram - @shawellness
Nearest airport - Alicante (ALC) 83km
Opened - 2008
Number of rooms / suites - 92
Programmes - Leader’s Performance, Rebalance, Healthy Ageing, Intensive | Optimal Weight and Advanced Detox, Advanced Detox, and Optimal Weight
Indicative Cost - e.g. Leader’s Performance 7 days from €6,800 (£5,800 or $7,400) plus accommodation
(5) Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
Bad Ragaz in Switzerland, which seems to have more than its fair share of exclusive and incredible spas (as I found out recently with my visit to the Bürgenstock Resort on Lake Lucerne, has always been on my radar too since really developing a love of spa and wellness. Being a huge fan of the BBC TV programme, Amazing Hotels - Life Beyond the Lobby (more so with the Monica Galetti and Giles Coren dynamic), I only discovered recently that we had missed an episode back in Series 3 (episode 3) featuring the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz. The resort is part of Leading Hotels of the World (always a favourite of mine) as well as being part of Virtuoso too. There are two key spas here - the hotel’s Thermal Spa (such an incredible looking facility) but there is also the Tamina Therme (a public thermal spa) featured in the TV programme with Monica.
This is such a classic resort with their thermal waters, and it was so interesting seeing the programme where they showed where the waters came from; how they used to get to the resort and how this has evolved over the years with science and technology. Their ‘NEWYOU Method’ has six pillars of healthy living - being Harmony, Wellbeing, Exercise, Food, Nature & Beauty. Packages range from 3 to 7 days, or you can create your own bespoke (tailored to you) package if nothing fits your requirements. Again here the standard packages are very well explained on the website with a detailed PDF brochure for each along with an example of the daily itinerary too. Accommodation again is over and above here.
Bad Ragaz Grand Resort
“The true source of health & vitality. Since 1242. We create a place of sanctuary where you can enjoy peace, relaxation and deep regeneration. For renewed strength and vitality. For a healthy life.”
Fast Facts for Grand Resort Bad Ragaz
Address - Bernhard-Simon-Strasse 20, 7310 Bad Ragaz, Switzerland
Website - https://www.resortragaz.ch/en/
Group website - https://www.resortragaz-gruppe.ch/en/
Contact - reservation@resortragaz.ch
Instagram - @resortragaz
Nearest airport - Zurich International (ZRH) 87km
Opened - 1868 (Hotel Quellenhof is built in Ragaz)
Number of rooms / suites - 233
Programmes - Various NEWYOU packages, or a package can be bespoke
Indicative Cost - e.g. 7 nights Detox & Health Cleansing CHF 7,650 (£6,800; $8,700; €8,000) plus accommodation
(6) Chiva-Som, Hua Hin, Thailand
Probably the one which has peaked my interest for the longest time, also having such a love of long-haul travel and Thailand as such an amazing unique country, is Chiva-Som. This has been on the go for almost thirty years, tying in with the age at which I really started to travel more to longer haul destinations, as well as my discovery of spa treatments and more of a focus on my own personal health and wellbeing. Located in Hua Hin, actually not an island but on the Thai mainland, about a two-hour drive south from the capital Bangkok. Although there is a Hua HIn airport, this doesn’t seem to be particularly well serviced so a likely route would be to fly into Bangkok before going by road to Chiva-Som.
As well as the original resort in Thailand, as of March last year (2022) they opened a second property, Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, in Qatar. North of the capital, Doha, which would be exceptionally well serviced by Qatar Airways (a OneWorld alliance and one of my top airlines of anywhere in the world - QSuites are phenomenal!), less than a 90-minute drive (about 116km) the Zulal Wellness Resort I could see would be a great starting point for a two-centre wellness experience. I’ll focus here in this post on Thailand, but with very regular flights from the UK (various airports, including at least one daily flight from Edinburgh) and Bangkok being an easy-connection onward flight, I would love to compare and contrast on the same trip the two facilities, and see how cultural and geographical influences shape the experiences.
In terms of Chiva-Som Hua Hin, there are a selection of different retreats, and the website is really good for being explanatory about what they include and online booking too. Unlike many wellness resorts, the retreats seem to be fully inclusive with all the treatments and therapies that each entail, but also accommodation (and three daily wellness cruising meals, laundry, etc.), health/wellness consultations, complimentary (optional) physical and skin analyses, daily fitness and leisure activities, unlimited use of water therapy suites (steam, sauna and Jacuzzi) as well as a complimentary daily spa treatment and post-stay wellness follow-up.
Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin Thailand
“The ‘Haven of Life’. A beautiful sanctuary where enrichment thrives and lives change.”
Fast Facts for Chiva-Som Hua Hin
Address - 73/4-6 Soi Moo Baan Nong Kae, Phet Kasem Road, Nong Kaw, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan 77110, Thailand
Website - https://www.chivasom.com/hua-hin/overview
Group Website - https://www.chivasom.com
Contact - reservations@chivasom.com
Instagram - @chivasominternational @chivasonhuahin @zulalwellnessresort
Nearest airport - Hua Hin (HHQ) 18km, Bangkok International (BKK) 229km
Opened - 1995
Number of rooms / suites - 54
Retreats - Many to choose including Spa Wellbeing, Optimal Performance, Nature’s Embrace, Immune Resilience and more
Indicative Cost - e.g. 7 nights A Taste of Chiva-Som from THB 247,170 (£5,600; $7,000; €6,500) including accommodation
(7) Lanserhof Tegernesee, Germany
In complete contrast to Chiva-Som, which as I said had been on my (spa/wellness) radar for such a long time, Lanserhof was made aware to me much more recently. With having interaction with Pepper & Seed, a boutique brand and communications agency in London; initially over one of their Sri Lankan hotel clients (Teardrop Hotels) but then on realising they also represent The Arts Club London, that was where I first found Lanserhof, who have their private wellness clinic in the building.
On further investigation and research, Lanserhof was firmly ensconced in my desired go-to spa and wellness list. With three properties across two countries, Resort Lans in Tyrol since 1984 (Austria) and their newest location at Sylt which has only recently opened in Germany (summer 2022); I’ve focused here on the original German location at Tegernsee, which opened in 2014.
In terms of programmes, Lanserhof seem to have the most distilled option, the Lanserhof Concept. With two options, the Lanserhof Cure Classic (7 days) or Advanced Cure (14 days) plus extra diagnostics and therapies available on both plans, these aren’t resorts which offer the flexibility of some others for shorter programmes. I’d be very keen to try a minimum of a week to start with, but wouldn’t be adverse (if time allowed) for a longer plan either.
Worlds Best Medical Spa Lanserhof
“The Lanserhof Concept is the result of years of research and development. It is a symbiosis of traditional naturopathy and the latest medical findings. This combination helps guests to regenerate physically, mentally and spiritually and get rid of unnecessary ballast. At the heart of the Lanserhof Concept is the Lanserhof fasting method: the thorough regeneration of the intestines to revitalise the vital forces.”
Fast Facts for Lanserhof Tegernsee, Germany
Address - Gut Steinberg 1-4, 83666 Waakirchen, Germany
Website - https://lanserhof.com/en/lanserhof-tegernsee/
Group Website - https://lanserhof.com/en/
Contact - info.tegernsee@lanserhof.com
Instagram - @lanserhof
Nearest airport - Innsbruck (INN) 59km or Munich (MUC) 72km
Opened - 2014
Number of rooms / suites - 70
Programmes - Lanserhof Cure Classic or Advanced plus extra diagnostics and therapies available
Indicative Cost - 7-8 nights Lanserhof Cure Classic €2,918 (£2,500 or $3,200) or 14 nights Lanserhof Cure Advanced €6,476 (£5,500 or $7,000) plus accommodation
(8) Clinique La Prairie. Montreux, Switzerland
We visited Montreux in Switzerland (Hotel Fairmont Le Montreux Palace) a number of years ago, which then put Clinique La Prairie onto my list. Undoubtedly the most expensive wellness resort in the list, but it does look amazing. The programmes are Revitalisation (or Revitalisation Premium), Detox, or Healthy Weight ranging from five to fourteen days plus there are Aesthetics, Epi/Genetics and Medical options too. The four pillars of the Clinique La Prairie philosophy are medical insight and care, nutrition, movement, and wellbeing.
One difference here is that the prices do fully include accommodation, full board and a limousine transfer. The website again is very clear showing the difference in programmes, what’s included and you’re able to download brochures upon registering. There are of course different accommodation options, which would be an upgrade cost.
Clinique La Prairie Leading Health Resort
“Step by step, unfold your potential. Slow time, capture energy, preserve youth. Our holistic approach to health and wellness combines evidence-based medicine with unique wellbeing, nutrition and movement plans, in the highly stimulating environment of the Swiss Riviera, surrounded by the very best of nature.”
Fast Facts for Clinque La Prairie
Address - Rue du Lac 142, 1815 Clarens-Montreux, Switzerland
Website - https://cliniquelaprairie.com/clp/index.php
Contact - reservation@laprairie.ch
Instagram - @cliniquelaprairie
Nearest airport - Geneva (GVA) 90km
Opened - 1931
Number of rooms / suites - 50
Programmes - Revitalisation (or Revitalisation Premium), Detox, or Healthy Weight (ranging 5-14 days) plus Aesthetics, Epi/Genetics and Medical options
Indicative Cost - e.g. Revitalisation 7 days (6 nights) from CHF 29,200 (£26,200; $33,200; €30,500) including accommodation, full board and limousine transfer
(9) ATMOSPHERE by Krallerhof, Austria
Hotel Krallerhof in Leogang in the Salzburger Land, is one of the most renowned hotels in the heart of the Austrian Alps. This is more like Bürgenstock, which is a five star luxury hotel with an incredible spa where you can book treatments and therapies, as opposed to a dedicated wellness resort. Again, like Bürgenstock, it looks an amazing place and definitely somewhere I would like to visit.
ATMOSPHERE is a new full-service spa which includes an alpine Zen garden and an extraordinary water staircase, Infinity 50 which is a 50-metre long pool which is seamlessly integrated into the lake, sun deck and circular walk, cold-dipping pool, saunas, the blue grotto, whirlpool, yoga room, and a café. ATMOSPHERE by Krallerhof is an adults only area from the age of 15 years. In the designated family area at the natural bathing lake, younger guests are also welcomed.
ATMOSPHERE by Krallerhof
“The 5-star Hotel Krallerhof in Leogang in Salzburger Land, one of the most renowned hotels in the heart of the Austrian Alps, has always stood for innovation and the power of the new. With ATMOSPHERE by Krallerhof - an unprecedented iconic spa - the Krallerhof offers its guests a new dimension of relaxation, wellness and quiet luxury.”
Fast Facts for Hotel Krallerhof
Address - Rain 6, 5771 Leogang, Austria
Website - https://www.krallerhof.com/en/
Contact - office@krallerhof.com
Instagram - @krallerhof
Nearest airport - Salzburg (SZG) 69km, Innsbruck (INN) 126km or Munich (MUC) 172km
Opened - 1956 original hotel (state of the art ATMOSPHERE was added 2023)
Number of rooms / suites - 30
Programmes - Various water therapies, saunas and heat treatments, 17 treatment rooms for beauty and body treatments, massage and Ayurveda
Indicative Cost - Like Bürgenstock, hotel accommodation plus treatments.
Final thoughts on these top destination spa and wellness resorts
I’d love to hear what you think of this selection - have you been to any of them, or are there others that you think I should look at too. My original intention had been to post a collection of 19, but I’ve decided to post the first 9 then I will follow up with a second part for the remainder.
Please comment below to share your thoughts and opinions.
My interest and love of anything spa or wellness related has been a constant in my life for at least the last thirty years, and one thing that has always been of interest was to visit a destination health and wellness resort for either a week or two-week long programme.