Elite Retreats

Since ancient times, people have traveled to spas – which originally were just thermal springs – for their medicinal qualities. Today, destination spas offer much more. Not all of them source their water through natural springs, but each offers its own holistic approach to wellness with services that include yoga, meditation and healing body treatments. Many also offer personal training, wellness consultations, outdoor sports and excursions, and even alternative therapies like chiropractic and acupuncture. They also serve health-oriented and, in many cases, locally sourced, cuisine. And of course, they offer luxury accommodations in stunning settings.

Here are 10 such spa resorts, all of which have won awards from top wellness organizations, travel publications and guides:

Adler Thermae Spa & Relax Resort. Thermal pools fed by mineral springs are Adler Thermae’s hallmark. Set in Italy’s Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tuscany, the resort has an organic garden that supplies its spa and restaurant. A medical team provides check-ups and nutrition plans and fitness professionals provide personal training. There’s also a jogging trail and acres of hills and vineyards for hiking, biking and horseback riding, among other activities. Visit www.adlerthermae.com.

Aqua Wellness Resort. This secluded retreat on Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast features accommodations in low-impact treehouses with scenic views. Even its spa, which offers treatments that use ingredients like organic cacao and volcanic clay, is in a treehouse. Besides yoga and meditation, activities include fishing, boat cruises, snorkeling, kayaking, stand-up paddle-boarding, rappelling and surfing. And its beachfront restaurant serves hormone-free meats, locally caught fish and organic produce. Visit www.aquanicaragua.com.

Aro H. Everything about Aro H, near Queenstown, New Zealand, is low-impact. With just eight Zen-inspired accommodations, its low-slung structures are made of recycled timber, and the property is powered by solar and water energy. Crops are stored in cellars, and cuisine is vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free and enzymatically active. Among the property’s activities are strength training, hiking and meditation. Guests also can embark on educator-led, multi-day adventure excursions. Visit www.aro-ha.com.

Canyon Ranch Tucson. A desert oasis, the original Canyon Ranch in Tucson boasts a 100,000-square-foot spa complex with fitness facilities, movement studios, a cycling gym, racquet sports, an aquatic center and a footwear analysis center. The resort also has a Spiritual Wellness Center. Its restaurants use local ingredients, meats from humanely raised animals and sustainably caught seafood. Physicians and experts in exercise physiology, preventive medicine and other disciplines are on staff. And a plethora of activities includes hiking, biking, ziplining, horseback riding, a ropes course, metaphysical consultations and art classes. Visit www.canyonranchdestinations.com/tucson.

Chiva-Som International Health Resort. Upon arriving at Chiva-Som in Hua Hin, Thailand, each guest receives a wellness consultation and a personal program of services that includes diet, exercise, activities, rest and relaxation, inner-self work, and addressing physical ailments and emotional issues. The staff includes doctors, naturopaths and other professionals who provide services like acupuncture, acupressure, chakra balancing, hydrotherapy, laser skin rejuvenation and Botox therapy, as well as spa treatments and yoga, meditation and exercise classes. Visit www.chivasom.com.

Como Shambhala Estate. Resident experts at this resort on Bali in Indonesia include an Ayurvedic doctor who customizes a program that can include detox, body treatments, a special diet, and private yoga and meditation sessions for each guest. Guests stay in thatched-roof villas and dine in restaurants with cuisine that’s designed to maximize performance, increase concentration and energy, and calibrate blood sugar levels. Activities include pranayama meditation, qi gong, rock climbing, biking, and aqua therapy. Visit www.comohotels.com/comoshambhalaestate.

Les Sources de Caudalie. Wine is on the menu at this resort, which is set in the vineyards of France’s Bordeaux region – and not just in its bars and restaurants. Its Vinotherapy Spa, which sources water from natural hot springs, uses wine and grapes in several treatments, like the Crushed Cabernet Scrub and the Merlot Wrap. Local ingredients also are served in the property’s restaurants, one of which boasts two Michelin stars. Activities include walking and cycling tours, wine-tasting tours, horse-and-carriage rides and winemaker demonstrations. Visit www.sources-caudalie.com.

Maya Tulum Resort. Honoring ancient Mayan healing culture, Maya Tulum in Quintana Roo, Mexico, offers treatments like the Chocolate Nobility Treatment (exfoliation, cocoa balm wrap and 20- minute massage) and the Mayan Clay Massage. There is a big focus on yoga, with various types available. Guests, who stay in thatched-roof cabanas, also have access to eco-adventures like swimming, snorkeling, turtle watching (seasonal), and day tours to Mayan ruins and a nearby cenote. The restaurant serves vegetarian fare and fresh seafood. Visit www.mayatulum.com.

Rancho La Puerta. At 76 years old, Rancho La Puerta near San Diego in Baja California, Mexico, is one of the oldest wellness resorts. Accommodations are in freestanding garden casitas, and the property’s lacto-ovo (dairy and eggs) cuisine includes produce from the resort’s organic farm. Among the spa services are holistic therapies like craniosacral therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture and Ayurveda. Classes range from yoga and Pilates to cardio-drumming and hula hoop; and activities include hiking, birdwatching, golf, sand volleyball and pickle ball. Visit www.rancholapuerta.com.

Red Mountain Resort. Nature-inspired treatments at the Red Mountain Resort in Southern Utah use such items as agave and cactus gel. The resort also offers services including acupuncture, chiropractic care and cardiovascular metabolic analysis, as well as classes in yoga (including paddle board yoga and canyon-view yoga), tai chi on the rocks and burlesque dancing. Excursions include hiking, biking, golf, canyoneering, kayaking, rock climbing and adventures to Zion or Bryce Canyon National Park. Visit www.redmountainresort.com.