Step into the Bee Cottage at Carneros Resort and Spa, where the buzzing of bees creates low-frequency vibrations that may reduce stress.
Courtesy Carneros Resort and Spa
Wellness Travel
How Health Retreats Are Redefining Wellness Travel
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Health retreats are continually gain in popularity in the travel space, but the way they are run has been restructured over the years. Once focused on weight loss, they now incorporate mental, physical and emotional health as well. One such example is Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat a week-long immersive health retreat in British Columbia, Canada, that’s been around for over 30 years. While many may initially sign up hoping to drop a few pounds or gain fitness, they quickly discover that the experience goes far deeper—transforming not only the body, but the mind and spirit as well.
“We call ourselves a health reset retreat,” says Katya Campbell, the new General Manager and Fitness Director at Mountain Trek. “We’re not just focused on lifespan, but on healthspan—that period of life when you’re healthy, vibrant, and living with intention. It’s about inspiring people to make small, sustainable changes that can drastically improve their quality of life.”
Campbell is a reflection of the retreat’s evolving philosophy. At 49, she represents much of the core demographic—70% of Mountain Trek guests are women, with an average age of 54. “There was a conscious decision to find someone who would resonate with our clients,” Katya notes. “Many of them are in perimenopause or menopause, and they’re craving connection, balance, and most of all—permission to care for themselves.”
That sense of permission is something Kirkland Shave, Program creator and co-owner, has seen shift dramatically in recent years. “At the core of it, two things are the hardest for everyone: knowing what’s authentic to them, and believing they deserve to take care of themselves,” he explains. “Especially women—they’re used to giving to their children, partners, parents. But here, they start to realize how powerful it is to give back to themselves.”
More Than a “Fat Farm”
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Mountain Trek’s reputation has evolved significantly. “We were once known locally as the ‘fat farm,’” Campbell admits. “It was a hardcore bootcamp—restrictive diets and punishing workouts. But people would go home and gain the weight back. We realized that wasn’t real change.”
Today, the program is radically holistic, rooted in five pillars: movement, nutrition, sleep, detoxification, and emotional well-being. “We understand now that weight is a symptom, not a target,” says Shave. “If cortisol is high from chronic stress, the body holds onto fat as a survival mechanism. So unless you address sleep, hormones, trauma—you’re just applying a Band-Aid.”
At the week-long retreat guests hike through stunning wilderness, eat nourishing food, learn about circadian rhythms, and engage in deep emotional work. There are lectures on menopause, classes on habit formation, and a lot of talk about what constitutes healthy eating.“This is not spa life with cucumber water and poolside naps,” Campbell laughs. “This is a deep dive.”
Why Guests Keep Coming Back
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That deep dive seems to be resonating. Roughly 30–40% of guests are repeat visitors, an unusually high rate for the wellness industry. “We may be hard to get to,” Campbell acknowledges, “but that’s part of the magic. You unplug. You slow down. You’re wrapped in nature, surrounded by people who live the lifestyle we’re teaching. There’s an authenticity to it.”
Many guests return not just because they enjoyed it—but because the program helped them through pivotal life moments: a divorce, job burnout, a major surgery, or the grief of losing a parent. “There’s usually a catalyst,” Shave explains. “A life event that pushes someone to finally say, ‘I have to make a change.’ Once they’re here, they remember how good it feels to be in their bodies again—and they want to keep that feeling alive.”
Campbell agrees. “A lot of our guests are dealing with overwhelm. They’re at that tipping point. We help them feel seen. Less alone. And we give them tools to shift—not just for a week, but for the long run.”
Small Group. Big Impact.
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Unlike many larger wellness destinations, Mountain Trek caps its groups at just 16 people. This intimacy is intentional. “It allows for deep connection,” Campbell says. “People open up. They cry. They support each other. And in that, they start to heal.”
Shave calls it “re-falling in love with yourself.” After a week of eating clean, hiking in untouched wilderness, and experiencing the aliveness that comes from connection and self-care, guests leave “10 years younger,” he says. “Their eyes shine. Their skin glows. Their step is friskier. It’s not magic—it’s metabolic science combined with emotional support.”
A New Model of Wellness
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Mountain Trek may have started as a fitness-focused program, but today it embodies something far more progressive: a retreat that understands the intricacies of modern midlife, especially for women. It acknowledges burnout, stress, hormone shifts, and the emotional toll of constantly giving to others.
“In many ways, menopause is a clarifying force,” Campbell reflects. “Our tolerance goes down—but that’s a good thing. It forces us to reevaluate what we truly want. And when women finally prioritize themselves, not only do they thrive—they become even more powerful caregivers, leaders, and community builders.”
With its focus on small, lasting changes and a genuine commitment to transformation, Mountain Trek doesn’t just focus on a week-long break from life—but rather a reset for a better one.
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A spa day can do a body — and mind — good. There’s something about feeling pampered that offers a respite from the demands of everyday life. Massages, facials and body treatments have long been go-tos; however, unique wellness experiences around the world are providing more inspiration to travel and changing how we reboot and recharge.
According to the 2025 Tripit travel report, as Americans age, the need for relaxation ratchets up, with 77 percent of boomers surveyed stating most of their travel is geared toward relaxation. From decompressing to the rhythm of bees in California wine country to water treatments at a Hawaiian hotel and an energy exchange with horses in Mexico, here are a medley of unexpected wellness experiences that might motivate you to pack your bags and take off for a revitalizing reset.
Buzzy Napa Valley
The benefits of honey are well known, but the “Get Buzzed at Carneros” immersive experience focuses on the perks of spending quality time with some prolific pollinators. Akin to a sound bath, the Bee Cottage at Carneros Resort and Spa is located in the Northern California resort’s apiary. The cabin features beehives underneath a relaxation bed (don’t worry, it’s screened for the safety of guests and the bees); the buzz creates low-frequency vibrations, from 200 to 400 hertz.
“This is within the range of human hearing and also has therapeutic effects, which allow for reduced stress in the nervous system,” says Edward Costa, managing director at Carneros Resort and Spa. “As guests are exposed to vibrations in the cottage, they can expect lowered anxiety as their cortisol levels drop, in turn promoting relaxation and overall well-being.”
Additionally, the air in the cottage is enriched with propolis, a compound bees produce, and beeswax, which may support respiratory health and boost immunity.
Castle Hot Springs, located north of Phoenix, is known for its warm mineral water.
Courtesy Castle Hot Springs
Stretching your limits in the desert
There’s a certain magic that engulfs your psyche as your body slowly lowers into the warm mineral water at Castle Hot Springs. Located an hour north of Phoenix in the Bradshaw Mountains, the resort hosted its first guests, who arrived via stagecoach, in the late 1800s. Names such as Rockefeller, Roosevelt and Kennedy grace the hotel register. While hydrotherapy put the resort on the map, no water is required for the property’s Adventure Ready Massage, a sports massage chock-full of assisted stretches.
Wellness Travel
Qatar Exclusive Zulal Wellness Resort Sets The Benchmark For Wellness Travel With The Radiance & Glow Retreat Offering A Complete Rejuvenation Experience
Friday, July 18, 2025
Zulal Wellness Resort, Qatar’s afirst and largest wellness destination, has set a pioneering new wellness benchmark with the introduction of its bespoke Radiance & Glow Retreat. Be whisked away for this rejuvenating seven-night experience- perfect for the traveller who is on a mission for more than just relaxation; the Luxe Escape offers skin revival, internal vitality, and overall wellness. Located in a peaceful coastal haven, the Radiance & Glow Retreat melds the most advanced aesthetic treatments with the traditional holistic practices to craft an authentically transforming experience for those in search of reclaiming their natural radiance and achieving long-term health.
Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som, the world’s first, full-immersion wellness resort to blend health and well-being for all, brings to launch the Radiance & Glow Retreat, the first and only immersive seven-night experience that creates a path for renewing vitality and embracing a radiant self. Nestled in the tranquil environs of Zulal’s coastline, this retreat combines premier beauty treatments with traditional wellness techniques, providing an awakening and restoring experience for guests to revitalize their inner and outer beauty.
A Sanctuary for Rejuvenation
The Radiance & Glow Retreat is an exclusive offering designed for those wanting luminous skin, youthful radiance and great vitality. At Zulal Wellness Resort, wellness and luxury meet all the way through each tailored aspect of your retreat as you are embraced by an environment to support your sojourn in tranquility. The peaceful surroundings of the resort offer an idyllic setting for the transformative experience, allowing for an escape that takes place on all levels.
Tailored Wellness Experience
From the minute guests arrive, it d o provides a customized, integrative approach to health and beauty. You will be welcomed by 7 nights of indescribable rest and peace. GEVERST – Every day of the retreat is fed 3 wellness meals formulated to nutrient the particular body and be good for skin and health inside the long term. The resort’s culinary masters craft each plate with health-forward, locally-sourced ingredients, ensuring guests receive a hearty dining experience that doesn’t sacrifice wellness for decadence.
A one-on-one health and wellness consult when you arrive on the retreat to make sure certain elements are specifically catered for your needs. A personalized nutrition plan is tailored to ensure guests embrace sustainable eating habits that leave them with vitality and beauty at their core. Moreover, each room will be furnished with a restocked wellness minibar (refill rate to be determined), filled with nutritious snacks reflective of the guests’ nutritional objectives.
Comprehensive Wellness Support
Complementing the nutrition based aspects of the retreat, guests will also have full access to modern wellness faculties at Zulal Wellness Resort, including a gym, hydrothermal experiences and wellness center. These features add value to the experience, which lets visitors to revitalize themselves physically and emotionally. If you are into group exercises the retreat also provides access to daily group sessions focusing on mindfulness, wellness and holistic living.
To really make your stay stress-free, daily laundry of 3 pieces of sportswear is also offered so you always have some clean clothes to get your day started.
Handcrafted Exclusives for Youthful Glow and Turn Of The Clock Fill-Up
Central to the Radiance & Glow Retreat are the luxury treatments that help restore natural beauty. The customized roster of treatments is specific to and only available at Gansevoort and promises to balance the body and mind from the stresses of the city. The treatments include:
VISIA Skin Analysis Consultation – in-depth skin analysis of the individual’s skin health and needs
Two Jet Peel Skin Rejuvenation Sessions (For Men & Women): 2 sessions of this sophisticated facial to hydrate, rejuvenate and lift your skin.
Bio Plasma Therapy: Designed to stimulate healthy skin regeneration and rejuvenation to look years younger.
Spectra Laser Facial: This non-invasive treatment refines skin texture, tone, and coloration.
Mesotherapy: A rejuvenating treatment, where vitamins and nutrients are administered to the skin.
Black Diamond Facial: A luxury facial that removes impurities and helps skin appear more radiant.
Filler Treatment: For fine lines, and loss of volume.
Traditional Hammam: An ancient ritual of Cleansing to detoxify and soothe the Body and Soul.
Hair/Nail Treatment: A selection of restorative treatments for your hair and nails, enhancing your overall wellness.
Every treatment is focused not only on the way it makes your skin look, but how it makes guests feel inside and out and encourages overall well-being.
Holistic Wellness and Mindful Living
At Zulal Wellness Resort, we take a 360-degree approach to wellness – and you can ensure that every element of the Radiance & Glow Retreat is designed to help you restore unity with your mind, your body and your soul. Here, guests are encouraged to reinvent the sense of empowerment that comes from a healthy and well-balanced life. With personalized treatments, daily activities and cuisine thoughtfully curated to soothe and revive the body and mind, the retreat creates an all-encompassing experience aimed at nurturing guests’ health and beauty.
Incorporating mindfulness and wellness regularly into one’s daily life is key to the retreat, so that guests can make lasting changes to support their consistent well-being and vibrant health. Fostering self-care habits beyond the retreat, the programme provides guests with the necessary tools to further their wellbeing journey from the comfort of their own home.
A Transformational Wellness Escape
Zulal Wellness Resort’s Radiance & Glow Retreat is not only an indulgent escape, but a restorative wellness emersion that serves to support and reveal your inner vitality and radiant self. Set within Zulal’s serene environment and picturesque coastal sanctuary, the retreat harmoniously combines expert-led treatments with restorative wellness cuisine and immersive well-being journeys to deliver beauty, relaxation, and rejuvenation.
Whether looking to regain youthful glow or purely an indulgent wellness escape, Zulal Wellness Resort is the ideal setting for transformative rejuvenation. Every aspect, from the crafted treatments to the serene environment, is specifically designed to enhance the experience of the individual, guaranteeing a radiant return to life.
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