We all need a break occasionally from the hustle and bustle of daily life – whether it is a seaside escape or a retreat in the mountains. However, this is not always enough to reset your biological clock. A growing trend to achieve this is wellness travel that promotes health and well-being, both physical and mental, through activities during the trip.
Asian Trails has seen an increasing demand for wellness and health travel. Educational with a healthy dose of mindfulness, our latest ‘healthy’ packages combine all the ingredients to spice up your travel and make your vacation an adventure to feeling better in both body and mind. These are in addition to our expanding portfolio of products that help you rejuvenate.
Smiling Gecko: Social, sustainable project in Cambodia
Located at Kampong Chhnang at the southernmost tip of Tonle Sap Lake, the Smiling Gecko project envelops sustainable practices that elevates mind, body and soul. Funds derived from the project goes towards helping the local people find sustainable ways to lift themselves out of poverty.
Spend two nights in a traditional Khmer stilted wooden house equipped with modern amenities. Guests go on a farm tour to meet the locals and learn more about Smiling Gecko. There are yoga, meditation and personal workout sessions with a renowned former athlete. Lunch is at a restaurant with food prepared from locally-grown products.
High mountain holistic retreat in China’s Yunnan province
China and wellness are deeply-rooted in its history. The country’s expansive breath-taking landscape dotted with scarcely-populated regions has been the source of yoga inspiration. Snow Mountain Retreat Centre at the foot of Yulong Mountains, just outside Lijiang’s town of Baisha, is the first holistic retreat centre in China.
Asian Trails China has teamed up with the retreat centre to create a four-day programme. Activities include yoga, meditation and Chinese-themed ceremonies to transport guests into a world of spiritual relaxation. There are also trekking and outdoor sports. Accommodation is in dormitory rooms. The locally-sourced meals are devoid of chemicals or preservatives.
Rejuvenating at Malaysia’s Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat
Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat is a secluded sanctuary near Ipoh in the Malaysian state of Perak. Spread over a 22.7-acre valley surrounded by age-old limestone hills, cascading waterfalls and geothermal hotsprings, it is an award-winning hideaway for the health-conscious.
Asian Trails Malaysia, in collaboration with the retreat, is offering a four-day package designed to bring balance to the mind, body and soul. It includes detoxifying treatments, as well as holistic exercise disciplines like yoga, qi gong and tai chi. Rejuvenate in the hotsprings dipping pools or simply immerse in a state of enlightenment and inner peace in the meditation cave.
Detoxing at Thanyapura Health and Sport Resort in Phuket
Thanyapura Health and Sports Resort in Phuket, Thailand, with its extensive facilities and specialised therapists is emerging as a world-class destination for travellers looking to incorporate health in their holidays.
The resort’s four-day programme is a body-cleansing package that focuses on detoxification through rest, meal plan high in alkaline foods and IV therapies. There are also medical consultation, fitness assessment, health and wellness advisor consultations, mind training, yoga, massage and more. All are designed to eliminate toxins and toxic build-up in your body, gut and brain. At the end of the programme you will leave Thanyapura feeling healthier and lighter.
Wellness and nature at Laos’ first botanical garden
Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden, outside of Luang Prabang, is the first botanical garden in Laos dedicated to plant conservation and sustainable agriculture. As part of an extensive programme to maintain a balance in operating sustainably and preserving nature, the garden has incorporated new wellness programmes to its portfolio.
The full-day tour, guided by a local conservationist, takes guests on a walk through the 40-hectare garden to explore the various species of plants, trees and flowers. Lunch is an organic plant-based meal at the park’s café. There is also a choice of workshops or talks on plants such as orchids.
Spiritual encounter with Buddhism in Mandalay
Buddhism has long been associated with meditation and mindfulness. Myanmar’s second largest city Mandalay, with its countless monasteries, is the best example of where these principles are being practised.
The new full-day excursion with visits to holy sites aims to detox your mind. Conducted by one of our resident guides, it starts before sunrise with the trip to Mahamuni Pagoda to watch monks wash and clean the face and teeth of Buddha’s image. Other sites on the itinerary include Setkya Dita Nunnery where hundreds of nuns live and study and Kaung Hmu Daw Pagoda, famed for its big dome-shaped stupa.
