September is Self-Care Awareness Month, a timely reminder that looking after yourself need not involve an elaborate morning routine or drinking anything suspiciously green. Sometimes a change of scenery will do just as well. From rainforest retreats and Pilates beside the South China Sea to Mediterranean wellbeing without deprivation, these hotels make self-care worth travelling for.
Between Atlantic rainforest and Brazil’s Emerald Coast, Awasi Santa Catarina has introduced a Wellness Pavilion and five Active Wellness & Longevity pathways spanning metabolism, gut health, sleep and stress, women’s health and healthy ageing. Three- or four-day programmes combine movement, nutrition and recovery, tailored to each guest. The pavilion also offers La Mer treatments in the skincare brand’s only hotel collaboration in Brazil, with rainforest and ocean waiting just beyond.
COMO Shambhala Estate, Ubud, Bali
High above Bali’s Ayung River, COMO Shambhala Estate takes an immersive, highly personalised approach to wellbeing. Its multi-night Wellness Paths cover mindfulness, Ayurveda, fitness, gut health, detoxification and complete mind-body resets, supported by treatments, movement and nutrition. Add natural spring-water hydrotherapy, yoga, meditation and Qi Gong across 22 acres of jungle, plus private pool residences and open-air living spaces, and returning to reality may prove the hardest part.
Tanjong Jara Resort, Terengganu, Malaysia
On Malaysia’s east coast, Tanjong Jara Resort hosts its annual Sucimurni Retreat from 16 to 18 October. Led by STOTT-certified Pilates instructor and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach Joyce Shih, the three-day programme combines Pilates, meditation and breathwork with quieter moments by the South China Sea. The tropical setting and 17th-century Malay palace-inspired architecture make switching off feel considerably more appealing rather than another item to squeeze into an already crowded schedule.
Lily of the Valley, St Tropez, France
Perched above Plage de Gigaro on the Côte d’Azur, Lily of the Valley takes a refreshingly civilised approach to getting healthier. Its 2,000 square metre Shape Club merges fitness, nutrition and analysis with programmes spanning sport, detox, longevity and weight management, while recovery includes stretching, cryotherapy and targeted muscle treatments. The philosophy favours balance over punishment, with fresh, health-led cuisine, coastal scenery and plenty of pleasure still firmly on the agenda. Self-improvement looks rather better with St Tropez outside the window.
Chenot Palace Weggis, Lake Lucerne, Switzerland
For those who prefer their reset with more science behind it, Chenot Palace Weggis puts diagnostics at the heart of its approach. Its Recover & Energise programme combines medical consultations with treatments including photobiomodulation and HRV biofeedback, while a Sleep Cycles module tackles that less glamorous wellness essential: a good night’s sleep. Precise, clinical and highly personalised, it all unfolds against its Lake Lucerne setting, which softens the science rather nicely.
