From Bali to Phuket: The 7 best spa destinations around the world

Sometimes a vacation can prove to be as tiring as a work routine. If you’re looking for a holiday to simply relax and unwind, a mini-vacation at a spa or yoga retreat is just what you need to beat the blues.

Yoga retreats are not just about yoga classes, but offer an opportunity to travel the world, meet like-minded individuals, and discover what yoga means to you. So, get your friends together or plan a short romantic getaway with your partner and experience a memorable spa-cation.

Here are the top seven spa destinations around the world listed by Varun Gupta, CEO of travel tech company Goomo.

Bali, Indonesia

You are greeted with an overwhelming feeling of having stepped into a mythical land the moment you arrive in Bali and Ubud. Replete with dense rainforests and stunning waterfalls, this enchanting land seems just like a utopia. With a warm, tropical weather throughout the year, the island town of Bali is one big yoga studio surrounded by the ocean. A yoga or spa retreat here is the perfect way to appreciate the stunning landscape of Bali and spend a few peaceful days amid nature.

Kerala, India

Very few destinations in India can match Kerala when it comes to offering an unparalleled spa experience. Whether it is a luxury spa break or a budget holiday you are looking for, Kerala has something for everyone. Most spas offer a variety of Ayurveda treatments as well as yoga centres with trained instructors to help guests on their path to spiritual and mental renewal. What’s more - with its gorgeous backwaters, lush, green hills, tea estates, and coffee plantations, there are enough reasons to visit Kerala even if you want to ditch the spa and the yoga and immerse yourself in the lap of Mother Nature!

Whether you want to lie back and admire the architecture or relax in the octagonal pool when in Budapest, the choice is yours. (Shutterstock)

Budapest, Hungry

The Romans first took advantage of the city’s thermal waters almost two millennia ago and the city still sits on a patchwork of almost 125 thermal springs. Though, no baths still operating date back to Roman times but some are a legacy of the Turkish occupation, others are Art Nouveau marvels and there are even spic-and-span modern establishments boasting all the modern conveniences. Whether you want to lie back and admire the architecture or relax in the octagonal pool, the choice is yours.

Phuket and Krabi, Thailand

Phuket and Krabi, the island destinations in Thailand have some of the most beautiful shorelines that you won’t ever get over. This peaceful island also offers an opportunity to add celebration to your yoga retreat with its monthly full moon parties, which are regarded among some of the best parties around the globe.

Dead Sea, Jordan

Jordan’s Dead Sea attracts visitors from around the world, thanks to its therapeutic properties. Its water and mud are rich in minerals and make it a very popular spa destination for its unique and soothing treatments.

From Istanbul to Cappadocia, there are so many varieties of spa options that you just can’t keep count. (Shutterstock)

Istanbul, Turkey

Turkey, without a doubt, is among the best spa destinations in the world. From Istanbul to Cappadocia, there are so many varieties of spa options that you just can’t keep count. Indulge in relaxing therapies at the cave hotels and resorts or at any of the luxury hotels along the Bosphorus River. If you are looking to be pampered, Turkey is the ultimate place for a spa vacation where you can put your feet up and feel like a queen/king

Bora- Bora, French Polynesia

Bora Bora is the most famous and photogenic of French Polynesia’s Leeward Islands. Wide land covered with coconut forests, beautiful colourful villages, jagged green peaks, white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise water as far as the eye can see. Bora Bora is a magical place and among the most scenic islands in the world to go for your spa-cation.