Wellness Travel Update: New Reviews, Retreat Offers & May Escapes
As we move from April into May, I’m seeing a real shift in how people are approaching their wellness holidays. It’s becoming less about “getting away” and more about properly resetting, looking after long-term health, managing stress, and choosing experiences that actually make a difference when you get home.
Recently I’ve been in Thailand with a few of my key partners, including Chiva-Som Hua Hin and RXV Wellness Village. I also took the opportunity to visit a couple of other potential partner retreats that look very strong online but didn’t quite deliver the same depth or consistency once I experienced them in person, so I wouldn’t be recommending those.
And that’s the reality with this space. A lot of places can look excellent on a website, but what matters is how it actually feels when you’re there, how it’s run day to day, and whether the experience holds up beyond the marketing.
That’s really the point of how I work. I don’t recommend everything, and I don’t base decisions on what looks good online. I go and experience places myself so I can tell you honestly whether something is worth your time, your money, and your energy or whether it isn’t quite there yet.
With that in mind, here are a few updates and retreats worth knowing about if you’re thinking about something this season or later in the year.
Featured This Month
Where to go for a meaningful Mother’s Day reset
New retreats at Aro Ha, including May and August programs
Introspective and Ayurvedic retreats with DATU
Limited-time offers at leading global wellness destinations
New first-hand reviews of Chiva-Som Hua Hin and RXV Wellness Village
New Set Date Retreats
BAWAH POWER: Nature Reset & Longevity Retreat
Bawah Reserve, Indonesia
4 to 9 June 2026
An intimate luxury wellbeing retreat designed for deep restoration, BAWAH POWER invites guests to reset the body, calm the mind, and reconnect with nature in one of Indonesia’s most breathtaking island sanctuaries.
Guided by Bawah Reserve’s expert wellness team, this five-day immersion blends longevity practices, restorative spa rituals, movement, nourishment, and adventure, creating a seamless rhythm for renewal, vitality, and sustainable wellbeing.
The experience includes luxury accommodation, return transfers from Singapore, daily personalised spa treatments and thermal rituals at Aura Spa, guided movement and meditation, longevity-focused dining, ocean swims, snorkelling, kayaking, forest walks, and island exploration.
Guests also receive two personalised one-to-one wellbeing sessions, sustainability and longevity workshops, opening and closing ceremonies, and dedicated on-site retreat support throughout the stay.
This is an incredible option for those seeking a high-touch wellness escape that combines luxury, nature, and meaningful restoration in a truly breath taking setting.
Aro Ha: New Facilitators and Upcoming Experiences
One of my favourites nature immersive retreats, Aro Ha in New Zealand continues to expand their retreat calendar with a thoughtful mix of returning favourites and new guest facilitators. These specialty programs give returning guests another reason to come back, and first-time guests a way to choose an experience that aligns even more closely with their goals. Set against Aro Ha’s alpine landscape, these retreats offer a powerful way to reset while creating practical tools that can be carried into everyday life.
Ritual & Resilience with Heidy Jameel
17 to 21 May 2026
Designed to build resilience from the inside out, this immersive experience combines sauna, ice bathing, guided thermal rituals, and nature-based recovery practices to support metabolic health, nervous system regulation, recovery, and lasting vitality.
Through expert-led workshops and embodied practice, guests explore both the science and spirit of heat and cold therapy, returning home feeling stronger, calmer, and deeply reconnected.
Signature Retreat with Kyah Seary
9 to 15 August 2026
Led by Kyah Seary, founder of Happy Bum Co., this retreat takes a practical approach to gut health, detox, and daily habits that support long-term vitality. It pairs naturally with Aro Ha’s core pillars of movement, mindfulness, and nourishment.
If you’re unsure which Aro Ha program is the right fit, I can help you narrow it down based on your goals and timing, simply email me at hello@thewellnesstravelexpert.com
DATU: Introspective Ayurvedic Retreats
Another incredible offering from DATU, as they continue to expand with a mix of deeply introspective and culturally grounded programs.
What stands out here is the intention behind each experience. These are not high-volume retreats. They are designed for people who want space, quiet, and a more considered pace.
A Withdrawal into the Art of Introspection, Umbria
9 - 15 October 2026
Hosted at Eremito Hotelito del Alma, this program centres on meditative attention and solitude, set within a protected natural reserve long associated with contemplative life.
It’s a very specific kind of experience, best suited to those who feel ready to step away from noise and routine for a period of genuine stillness.
Coming Soon: Return to the Source, Goa
Expected August to September 2026
Set in Goa, this upcoming program explores Ayurveda in the place where it originated. Rather than approaching Ayurveda as a trend, this retreat is designed to reconnect you with its foundations, shaped by local environment, culture, and tradition.
Want to experience DATU sooner?
Autumn’s Return to Balance, Ayurveda Retreat
19 October to 23 November 2026
A more immediate option for those looking to restore balance through personalised Ayurvedic treatments and guidance, particularly as the seasons shift.
If DATU has been on your radar, I can talk you through which of these programs would suit you best!
Latest Retreat Offers
A number of leading wellness destinations are currently offering added value for upcoming stays. If you’ve been considering one of these properties, this is a good moment to look more closely.
Chiva-Som Hua Hin — Serene Getaway Offer
Chiva-Som is one of those places that continues to get the balance right. Structured when you need it, but never rigid.
The quieter months in Hua Hin can be an ideal time to visit, with a slightly slower pace that suits the overall experience.
Offer details:
Stay 5 nights and receive the 5th night complimentary
VIP fast-track service on arrival
Return airport transfers between Bangkok and the resort
Stay period: June to September 2026
RAKxa Integrative Wellness — Advanced Diagnostics Offer
If you’re interested in a more data-driven approach to your health, RAKxa offers one of the more advanced integrations of medical diagnostics and wellness programming.
These additional tests can give useful insight into how your body is currently functioning, particularly around stress and long-term resilience.
Offer details:
5 nights: Complimentary Cortisol and DHEA-S Diagnostic
7 nights: Complimentary Blood Age Diagnostic
Booking until: 31 May 2026
Stay until: 30 June 2026
SHA Wellness Clinic — Advance Purchase Offer
SHA is well suited to those looking for a more structured, results-oriented retreat, with a strong focus on longevity and preventative health.
Planning ahead here tends to work well, both in terms of availability and overall experience.
Offer details:
Save 10% when booking at least 60 days in advance
Minimum 7-night stay
Available in Spain and Mexico
Valid with a medical program
Where to Go in May: Mother’s Day and Beyond
May is one of the best times to prioritise a reset before the middle of the year picks up pace again.
Around Mother’s Day in particular, there’s a natural opportunity to step back and focus on rest, energy and overall wellbeing, whether that’s for yourself or someone close to you.
You can explore my full guide here: The Best Wellness Retreats for a Mother’s Day Reset
Healthy Habits for a Lifetime — With Michele Chevalley Hedge
A structured, results-driven retreat focused on building sustainable habits across nutrition, sleep, gut health and mental resilience at Aro Ha in New Zealand.
Dates: 3 to 9 May 2026
Ritual & Resilience — Aro Ha, New Zealand
A deeply restorative immersion into contrast therapy, combining sauna, ice and guided ritual to build resilience and support recovery. A good option if you’re looking for something both physically invigorating and mentally grounding.
Dates: 17 to 21 May 2026
THE PAUSE — Amanwana
A more intimate format, limited to just 12 guests. This retreat brings together movement, rest and sleep in a way that feels highly personalised rather than prescriptive.
Set in one of Indonesia’s more remote locations, it’s designed for a complete reset without distraction.
Dates: 4 to 9 May 2026
Limited availability remaining
Recently Visited: New Personal Insights
My recent time in Thailand included stays at RXV Wellness Village for the first time and experienced a full program at Chiva-Som Hua Hin.
You can read my full reviews below: