The best wellness retreats in Asia

From Delhi: Ananda in the Himalayas

At this palace estate  overlooking the Ganges River Valley in northern India, guests are invited to pack light: they’re provided with simple white kurtas to wear. Over 80 treatments are available in the 24-room Ayurvedic-influenced spa. Each stay begins with an initial consultation with an Ayurvedic doctor, including evaluating the nadi (pulse), and a determination of one’s dosha (body type). During their stay, guests enjoy wholesome gourmet meals customised for their health profile. Goals vary from relaxing rejuvenation and basic detox to intensive programmes of stimulating and purifying therapies, along with daily yoga and meditation. 

From Bangkok: Chiva Som Hua Hin

Serious detox is delivered with Swiss precision at this beachfront retreat  , three hours’ drive from Bangkok. Guests begin by meeting with a wellness advisor to undergo a physical analysis to personalise the programme around individual goals, incorporating activities like pranayama breathing and cooking classes. To kick-start weight loss, many opt for a seven-day cleanse of juice, wheatgrass shots, potassium broth and delicious liver-detox tea. Therapies include lymphatic drainage and chi nei tsang stomach massage, plus a packed daily schedule of classes: 7am tai chi, boot camp sessions, Thai boxing, fruit carving, Pilates and sound therapy. 

From Chengdu: Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain

In a pristine bamboo forest outside Chengdu, stone paths and meandering streams crisscross this bucolic resort-cum-wellness retreat, surrounded by major Taoist shrines. Get to know the grounds by joining a walk with Master Yang, who introduces walking meditation – a practice designed to stimulate internal energy naturally while calming the mind. In the Six Senses Spa, the indigenous green tea scrub with natural pearl rice and honey revitalises skin, while traditional therapies like cupping, acupuncture and gua sha boost circulation. For deeper restoration, indulge in one of the three-hour packages like Shen, meaning “spirit” – which includes a herbal bath, tui na (Chinese therapeutic massage) and a jade stone facial to promote lymphatic drainage, reduce dark circles and tone facial muscles.

From Phuket: Kamalaya Koh Samui

The views are enough to soothe frayed urban nerves at this palm-filled hillside sanctuary perched above Laem Set Beach. But guests also come to Kamalaya for the customised detox, yoga, stress management, fitness and weight loss programmes. The spa offers massages, though acupuncture and tui na are also recommended – especially as the co-owner is an expert in traditional Chinese medicine and works alongside exceptional practitioners. Holistic fitness unfolds from dawn to dusk, with a full schedule of aerobic, yoga and meditative exercises. Structural Revival courses aim to improve posture, reduce tension and rehabilitate injuries, all while soothing the mind and spirit. Nutritional food is served generously, as well as fruit juices and smoothies.

From Colombo: Ulpotha

This retreat  amid organic red-rice paddies forgoes electricity, though guests barely miss it in rooms fitted with ultra-comfortable beds, open-air showers and aromatic bath amenities. In a simple mud spa hut, Ayurveda experts identify bodily imbalances with a thorough consultation that involves blood pressure readings and an extensive examination of the tongue. Guests can also enjoy doctor-prescribed programmes including warm oil massages and relaxing herbal baths, alongside elimination therapies such as inhaling oil to clear sinuses. Twice daily yoga sessions are led by visiting international instructors. Open from November to March and June to August, this retreat operates as a traditional rice-growing village during the off-season. 

Shanghai: The Peninsula

The Peninsula ’s Art Deco-inspired spa blends innovation with Asian healing practices, featuring treatments like the Bamboo Harmoniser massage – a technique using bamboo sticks rolled along the body to stimulate the flow of qi. Meanwhile, traditional Chinese medicine specialist Tony Wu is renowned for his foot reflexology and manipulation of 62 pressure points. The extensive spa menu also includes the Botolift Age Reversal Facial Treatment performed with collagen face masks from Margy’s Monte Carlo and specific massage techniques, promising to deliver visible results of improved elasticity after just one session.

Bali: Como Shambhala Estate

Singaporean lifestyle maven Christina Ong enlists her personal healers, Pilates teachers and life coaches at this Bali property designed by her favourite architect, Cheong Yew Kuan, with minimal impact on the rice terraces north of Ubud, along the holy Ayung river. Treatments are optimised to benefit the heart, mind and body, while a  menu of energy-giving dishes like vegan lasagna with almond cream and braised tempeh stew eases the detox. The activity schedule features four daily classes, including meditation, rice paddy treks and circuit training.

Hong Kong: Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Wellness seekers on the go can fill their schedule with yoga, Pilates and personal training classes at this centrally located hotel ’s sunlit studio – currently operated by its sister property during renovations. For those who prefer to take their wellness lying down, an extensive menu of therapies includes the Bastien Gonzalez Duo, a unique manicure and pedicure combination of extensive cleaning, sanding, buffing and shaping of a traditional French pedicure médicale with the pampering and aesthetics of a luxe spa treatment.

From Phnom Penh: Six Senses Krabey Island

From its organic Khmer cuisine to Cambodian spa treatments, wellness has always been one of Six Senses Krabey Island ’s main focuses. Guests seeking a deeper experience can explore one of five wellness programmes focusing on fitness, sleep, yoga, detox and weight management. Each uses smart tech to analyse your condition before tailoring your wellness treatments and activities for the next few days.

Bangkok: Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort

This urban resort , cosseted by tropical foliage along the Chao Phraya river, is home to Anantara Wellness – an integrated retreat focusing on everything from longevity and sleep to men and women’s health. State-of-the-art diagnostic tools provide assessments for your nutrient intake, DNA, skin and more, before tailoring an itinerary of remedies such as moxibustion, non-invasive skin treatments, and IV therapies to meet all your wellness needs.

Aside from going on vacation for a much-needed break, it’s just as important to be mindful of your wellbeing wherever you live in Asia. The only VHIS plan that rewards Asia Miles, Cigna VHIS Series – Flexi Plan (Superior) is now offering double the miles for a total of 6,000, up to six months of premium discounts and up to HKD8,000 per person insured per year in tax deductions when you enrol, until 31 August. Find out more in the link above about how your plan can help fill the gaps in the medical coverage provided by your workplace, assist in medical emergencies abroad and cover a wide range of medical expenses.

This article was originally published in May 2019 and updated in August 2025.