Euphoria, Greece
Ideal for: mental wellbeing, weight loss
This retreat in the Greek Peloponnese fulfils the promise of its moniker, as you’ll discover a mere day or two in when your blood pressure goes down, your posture straightens and you’re practically levitating from your bed with positive endorphins.
The very reason Euphoria exists is a tale of recovery. Forced to rethink her life after a cancer diagnosis, founder and the first female chairman of a Greek bank, Marina Efraimoglou, retrained in Chinese medicine and opened her ‘dream retreat’ last July. Everything here, from the architecture to the treatments, is based on the five elements of ancient Greek philosophy: water, air, fire, metal and wood, (try the Five Elements Balancing massage) as the foundation for healing and spiritual development.
Hotel Post Bezau, Austria
Ideal for: anti-ageing
Don’t be fooled by the Heidi-style chalet exterior: it may be chocolate-box charming, nestled at the foothills of Austria’s Alps with added cow-bell-tinkling sound effects, but this is no twee mountain cabin. Hotel Post Bezau is owned and run by skincare expert Susanne Kaufmann – who has developed the alpine retreat once owned by her great grandfather into a modern destination spa – and the focus is less gruelling detox, more rejuvenation retreat in slick, Scandinavian-inspired digs.
Since she launched her first product line in 2003 – and earned herself a cult following – Kauffman’s premise has always been about natural ingredients, holistic principles and highly-developed techniques to promote graceful ageing. Detoxes here are well thought out and swing from the activity-focused family and tennis packages to the more po-faced three- and six-day body detoxes run with some of Europe’s best doctors and experts.
The hotel, too, is based on what makes Susanne feel good, from the espresso down to the bed sheets and, while sugar is banned if you’re detoxing, the food is hearty and healthy, to be enjoyed after your forest hike, yoga class, sauna or plunge in the outdoor pool, all of which afford magnificent views of snow-dusted mountains.
For a full refresh try the TCM Detox which straddles the gamut of treatments, from liver wraps and lymphatic drainage to alkaline facials and personalised meals and exercise.