I’m lying face-down on a massage table in the middle of a jungle arena. A horse is breathing down my neck; his hot exhale and purring blow making the hairs on my nape tingle. The massage therapist is gently kneading my back when I feel the course hair of a tail whip my legs. I’m totally present in this moment, attuned to every touch, sound and smell. There are four of us in this space, and only two of us are human. I’m one of the first guests to test out the new horse massage treatment at Nihi Sumba on this wild, rugged Indonesian island that’s just an hour from Bali. Today, “retired” horses Danny and Hana are joining me for the hour-long experience.  

 
The Sumba Island resort’s Nihi Oka spa is famous for its half-day spa safaris that take place in a private jungle retreat overlooking Sumba’s hypnotic coast. Having retired some of the older, less mobile horses from the resort’s main Sandalwood Stable, the equine team have moved a handful of them up to a small arena at the spa, where they’re involved in some of the more low-impact wellness offerings. Nihi’s equine program is pioneering, with reiki and massage involving the horses now offered alongside their equine retreats and horse yoga. The theory is that the animals are, by nature, empathetic and their presence creates an energy of calm that connects us more deeply with nature and ourselves. I can vouch that it’s not a gimmick. 

 
During my massage, Dutch-born stable consultant and equine welfare advocate Evelien Akerboom is on hand throughout the experience to assist with the horses. “Danny has drank all your foot bath water,” Evelien laughs as I sit down on the massage table. Indeed, Danny did, and he’s now having a field day with the bowl, knocking it about on the ground. Both horses are present during my treatment, and when I flip over, I have a strong urge to keep my eyes open to see what’s happening.  
 
At one point, they’re both rolling about the ground like excited labradors. I relax again, until I hear one approaching. Danny is standing directly over the table now, his muzzle near resting on my head. Next thing I know, he’s nibbling on the bed. Evelien comes over to gently coax him off. He promptly ignores her and turns his attention to the thin blanket that’s covering me, softly nibbling on my stomach and hips like a corn on the cob. I laugh and quickly shove to one side of the table. 
 
Evelien determines it’s probably time for Danny to leave, and she escorts him out of the arena. It’s just Hana and I now. She’s about a metre from me and breathing heavily, her lungs constricted due to a long career as a racehorse. My mind typically races a million miles an hour during massages, but I’m so deeply focused on her that all the noise is gone. I’m fixated on her chocolate brown eyes. We stare deep into each other’s souls for the last few minutes. And in the hours after, I feel like a sadness that I have been carrying in me for months has lifted.   
 
https://nihi.com; villas from USD 1,795 per night; massage with horses from IDR 2,000,000
 

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More than ever before, travelers are choosing destinations that not only promise memorable experiences but also enhance their mental and physical wellbeing. Wellness tourism is at the top of everyone’s mind with people booking far-flung, nature-rich retreats that offer a plethora of holistic treatments and adventures, from the rise of hydrotherapy and chromatherapy to neurofitness programs and forest bathing excursions. And the latest travel trend gaining popularity among wellness-minded jet-setters is visiting desert retreats.

Oasis hotels and resorts, situated right in the quiet heart of the world’s most renowned arid landscapes, are reinventing what wellness means with their restorative design, personalized spa and treatments, and breathtaking views. Tom Marchant, co-founder of travel agency Black Tomato, believes this rise in popularity stems from the fact that many of these destinations offer experiences vastly different from most people’s day-to-day life.

Marchant says, “Desert landscapes fundamentally reshape a rather moribund understanding of wellness. While coastal retreats offer rhythmic waves and forest bathing provides a gentle and peaceful rhythm, desert settings create a profound reset through their stark magnificence and absolute silence.”

The vast openness and complete lack of distraction lend themselves to more restorative qualities in the form of clarity. While you may be able to stargaze and meditate at other wellness retreats, the stillness and otherworldly beauty elevate those practices, making them feel more stimulating and rejuvenating. Marchant adds that the silence of these retreats also appeals to anyone looking to fully disconnect.

Marchant says, “In a world increasingly polluted by noise and bustle, it’s a rare luxury to find absolute silence. This is not about silent retreats, more, discovering peace and stillness in distant environs, with the goal being to truly recharge and experience the organic therapeutic effects of solitude.”

This desire for privacy and quiet has inspired some of the most anticipated desert hotels launches of the year, including the design-forward boutique hotel RESET nestled right near the entrance of California’s Joshua Tree National Park and Saudi Arabia’s Desert Rock that’s carved into the cliffs of the Red Sea region. These impressive digs add to the ever-growing roster of desert retreats promising an unmatched, one-of-a-kind wellness experience. Below, the desert hotels and resorts worth adding to your travel bucket list.

Kasbah Tamadot

Nestled in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, this reimagined Amazigh castle features intimate courtyards, quiet reflecting pools, and extraordinary antiques throughout each room. Beyond traditional rooms and riads, guests have the option to stay in 10 uniquely designed Berber tents overlooking the gardens and mountains. Marchant notes that the added elevated experiences, like the traditional hammam spa treatments and excursions into the arid landscape, make Kasbah Tamadot stand out.

He says, “Kasbah Tamadot high in the Atlas Mountains incorporates local ingredients like argan oil and rose water, while the hammam rituals are elevated by mountain views. Private yoga sessions on panoramic terraces and guided meditation walks through ancient valleys create moments of profound stillness, and in turn, silence.”

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RESET Hotel

Sitting on 180 acres of the arid desert right outside of Joshua Tree National Park, RESET Hotel is intentionally designed to feel as a seamless extension of the landscape rather than competing with it. Each of the 65 minimalist rooms, designed by Benjamin Uyeda and Gry Space, features wide glass doors that open onto a private patio with daybeds, fire pits, and platforms designed for stargazing. The newly opened hotel also offers a plethora of wellness features and treatments, including saunas, cold plunges, yoga, breathwork exercises, and a soon-to-launch outdoor sculpture park in the desert.

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Amangiri

You can’t talk about desert oasis escapes without mentioning Amangiri. Built into the 165-million-year-old sandstone mesas in Canyon Point, Utah, this remote Aman resort blends in with the natural landscape, with each of the 34-rooms offering panoramic windows with picturesque views. The sanctuary-like spa has everything a well-minded traveler may crave like elemental treatments (think: nature walks through the desert and yoga on top of rock formations), a water pavilion for every type of hydrotherapy, a full massage and facial menu, and even a detoxification program designed by tennis player Novak Djokovic. Plus, the concierge can happily arrange personalized adventures for each guest from hot air balloon flights and horseback rides through the desert to rock climbing Via Ferrata and interactive wildlife workshops.

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Dar Ahlam

One of Marchant’s personal favorites, this romantic desert castle, located in Ouarzazate, Morocco, rejects the norms of resort life with no traditional lobby or set hotel programming. The quiet hideaway only has 14 rooms in total, including seven kasbah suites and seven spacious standalone garden suites that overlook the Atlas Mountains and the property’s palm grove. Dar Ahlam customizes each itinerary matched to whatever its guests need, allowing them to interact with locals through hiking excursions across the Memory Road, camping in the desert near Iriki Lake, or simply lounging by with a cocktail made from local ingredients.

Marchant adds, “Dar Ahlam in the Skoura is a total oasis and focuses on mental restoration through isolation and experience. Private desert camps are set up for stargazing meditation, and they even have customized wellness menus with ingredients from their organic gardens.”

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The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain

Just a quick 30 minutes from Tucson, Arizona, the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain feels like another world thanks to its home nestled in a Sonoran desert canyon. The 253-room hotel has a little something for everyone in the family, from a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course for the athletes, a rock hike to see Hohokam petroglyphs for adventure seekers, and a waterpark for little ones. The renowned spa offers an array of nature-forward, holistic treatments, including a bee pollen body melt, a desert firming facial, and a hot stone massage.

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Desert Rock

A newcomer to the wellness resort scene, this Saudi Arabian desert hotel is carved into the weathered granite cliffs overlooking the Red Sea. Each secluded suite and villa features a private pool and outdoor space that puts guests right in the middle of the landscape to take in the quiet and beauty. Guests can enjoy a number of diverse experiences that include palm weaving workshops, twilight nature walks, rock climbing on the desert rocks, and hammam spa treatments. The dining scene at Desert Rock even has avant-garde mocktails at Mica, poolside treats at Wadi, modern Indian cuisine at Balsat, and farm-to-table, local dishes at Nyra.

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Tierra Atacama

This newly refurbished Chilean lodge sits in the heart of the Atacama Desert, surrounded by the Andean mountain range, staggering volcanoes, turquoise lagoons, and white salt flats. The modern architecture pays homage to the traditional craft and materials while prioritizing sustainability with solar panels and a self-sustaining water well. While Tierra Atacama’s holistic Uma Spa and seasonal, local dining menus are certainly a draw, Marchant says the magic lies in exploring the desert landscape. He adds, “At Chile’s Atacama Desert lodges, healing comes through moments of clarity—watching light play tricks on ancient rock formations, practicing meditation amid stillness, or stargazing in some of Earth’s clearest skies.”

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More than ever before, travelers are choosing destinations that not only promise memorable experiences but also enhance their mental and physical wellbeing. Wellness tourism is at the top of everyone’s mind with people booking far-flung, nature-rich retreats that offer a plethora of holistic treatments and adventures, from the rise of hydrotherapy and chromatherapy to neurofitness programs and forest bathing excursions. And the latest travel trend gaining popularity among wellness-minded jet-setters is visiting desert retreats.

Oasis hotels and resorts, situated right in the quiet heart of the world’s most renowned arid landscapes, are reinventing what wellness means with their restorative design, personalized spa and treatments, and breathtaking views. Tom Marchant, co-founder of travel agency Black Tomato, believes this rise in popularity stems from the fact that many of these destinations offer experiences vastly different from most people’s day-to-day life.

Marchant says, “Desert landscapes fundamentally reshape a rather moribund understanding of wellness. While coastal retreats offer rhythmic waves and forest bathing provides a gentle and peaceful rhythm, desert settings create a profound reset through their stark magnificence and absolute silence.”