Wellness travel is back on the rise. Defined as travel associated with maintaining or enhancing one’s personal well-being, travelers are paying more than ever to channel Zen energy.

The most recent report from the Global Wellness Institute shows the wellness economy reached a record $5.6 trillion worldwide compared to $4.6 trillion in 2020. Wellness is up as industry leaders forecast spending to hit $8.5 trillion by 2027.

Stats aside, the overarching theme when taking a deeper look at the numbers is people are being intentional about their peace and health. Wellness travel is proactively maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reducing stress, and preventing diseases.

Treat wellness travel as more than a trend. It should be just as crucial as your two cleanings at the dentist. After all, prevention is better than a cure. Here are several of the top wellness capitals in the world and how to explore them.

St. Lucia

St. Lucia has a long history of rejuvenating and restorative treatments that begin with its natural landscape. It doesn’t take much to find wellness in its nature. There are at least 1,300 wild flowering plants across its botanical paradise. The volcanic mud is popular for its therapeutic capabilities. There are refreshing waterfalls and hot springs at the Sulphur Springs, which date back to the 1700s. The springs were built to access the therapeutic waters of the volcano.

St. Lucia also boasts a variety of spas, wellness retreats, relaxation classes, and more. One of the best wellness offerings on the island can be found at the Landings Resort and Spa. The resort recently launched the region’s first program dedicated to female wellbeing. Each product used during the custom treatments is carefully selected to address various concerns.

Another great resort is The BodyHoliday, where staff help people guests enhance their Zen. The wellness center is home to Pavitra, the only genuine Ayurvedic temple in Saint Lucia.

Opatija, Croatia

The majestic coastal town in the Adriatic Sea has long been hailed the “Queen of Wellness.” Since the 1800s, it was declared a health resort for the aristocracy and dignitaries of the time.

Nestled between the foot of Mount Učka, a popular place for hikers, and the beautiful sea views, Opatija is surrounded by nature. Its nature is vital for wellness, where health professionals say the aromatic herbs and natural iodine in the water are beneficial in recovering the body and spirit.

Regarding wellness in Opatija, it’s not a matter of what to do but rather how much because there’s plenty to explore. Inside Hotel Mozart, a wellness oasis, features a new spa, fitness, and beauty center, allowing people to recharge their batteries and restore harmony to their lives. The wellness center inside Hotel Savoy offers a Finnish sauna center, reflexology foot massages, and classic treatments such as facials, manicures, and pedicures.

Sedona, Arizona

Sedona is America’s top wellness destination and one of the top places in the world for people looking for a wellness retreat. Arizona’s desert oasis has long been regarded as a place that’s sacred and powerful. Known for its stunning red-rock buttes and canyon walls, Sedona has a reputation for being filled with healing energy in its landscape.

A vortex is one of the most popular experiences people look for in Sedona. The special sites are believed to be a particular spot on the Earth where energy either enters into the Earth or projects out of the Earth’s plane. Sedona’s vortices are popular for their unique geological and energetic phenomenon that affects people’s physical, emotional, and spiritual states. People often venture off to a vortex for healing, meditation, and self-exploration.

Four sites are said to be the strongest in Sedona: Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock, and Boynton Canyon. Each one has its own energy.

Outside of Sedona’s curative landscape, Sedona boasts wellness retreats, including the Sedona Mago Center for Well-Being & Retreat, Sedona Soul Adventures, The Arabella Sedona, and more.

Ubud, Bali

It’s no secret that people looking for a tropical oasis with fantastic food and stunning views head to Bali. Bali is synonymous with relaxation and serenity. However, location is everything in Bali. Seminyak, for example, is an excellent area for people looking for high-end shopping, restaurants, vibrant nightlife, and beach clubs.

Ubud, on the other hand, exudes all things wellness. It’s both the culture capital and the wellness capital of Bali. There’s a reason why the film “Eat, Pray, Love” takes place in the region.

Bali’s Ubud region is an excellent place for variety. Wellness travelers can take courses on how to meditate – a practice embedded in the Balinese’s daily lives. Another top wellness activity is a soul cleanse at the Pura Tirta Emplul. It’s a Hindu Balinese water temple that visitors come to for its holy spring water.

Wellness travelers can also try different variations of yoga in Ubud. In a majority Hindu society, yoga is practiced in Hindu texts to control the senses and, ultimately, the mind. There’s yoga for beginners, aerial yoga, sunrise yoga, sunset yoga, Hatha yoga, Vinyasa, hot yoga, Kundalini yoga meditation, and so much more.

Marrakesh, Morocco

Morocco was named the top spa destination in Africa. Even though Marrakesh is known for its chaos, Zen can be found as the Red City is known for its hammams and spas.

Hammam, or Turkish bath, is the practice of cleaning the body through a steam bath. In just one hour, a Hammam experience can do wonders for softening the skin, opening the pores before a deep cleansing, and relaxing the mind.

Marrakech isn’t Africa’s top spa destination for the hammams alone. There are plenty of spas and wellness centers to choose from.

The Oberoi is a stunning property with a holistic well-being program: SAHA. The program uses methods based on ancient alchemic wisdom and treatments that evoke physical, sensory, energetic, and emotional sensations.

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