ToursByLocals Blog Posts
Top Ten Travel Wellness Experiences for 2025
Jan 10 2025
Travel recharges us. Whether it’s a simple change of scenery, new conversations, exploration or just pure relaxation, it clears the mind. And there’s little doubt that many of us are craving the sparks of joy that come with a vacation. As we enter the new year, why not add a deliberate dose of “wellness” to your trip planning? Spend an afternoon taking care of your mental, spiritual and physical well-being and super-charge the benefits of travel on a weary psyche.
Whether it’s yoga on a beach in the south of France, forest bathing in sacred woods, or soaking in the healing properties of a Finnish spa, these top wellness experiences will allow you to take care of your mental, emotional, and physical health. Put your favourite one on your list for 2024 travels!
What are the secrets to long life? A part of it involves something called "Chimugukuru", an Okinawan word meaning the beautiful heart, and a mutual understanding of one another. If you take guide Tomiko’s Blue Zone tour in Okinawa, she’ll explain this concept to you, and show you how to experience aspects of Chimugukuru for yourself in the small Japanese village of Ogimi.
Experience deep relaxation by bathing in the thermal waters of Papallacta during a day trip from Quito to a Thermal Spa. Papallacta sits nestled in a valley in the Andes mountains, at 12,500 ft above sea level, and its mineral waters are renowned for their healing properties.
Experience the art of yoga first-hand in the country where it’s been practiced for over 5,000 years. Learn how to connect your soul, mind, and body during guide Raj’s Yoga tour in Rishikesh, India. This city on the banks of the Ganges river is considered the yoga capital of the world, and you'll find countless ashrams and yoga classes scattered throughout its streets.
Guide Terri knows just how to make you feel relaxed as you practice mindfulness in the mountains in Jasper National Park. Instead of walking on a nature trail in order to reach a final destination, you’ll be gently guided to stay in the moment on a (partly) silent walk with special attention to noticing the sights, smells, sounds, and feel of your surroundings. You’ll also have a chance to practice yoga moves with a certified yoga instructor in a stunning setting.
The Blue Lagoon was closed for a couple months due to nearby volcanic activity (such is the life of a thermal spring!) But as of the end of December 2024, it's re-opened to visitors. A full-day tour with Guide Bjorn includes a rejuvenating trip to Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon, after exploring the lava landscape of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Instead of simply checking off this must-see location from your bucket list, you'll take-in the geothermal areas and other natural surroundings to get the full experience.
Originating in Japan, forest bathing is the practice of wandering into the woods, breathing the fresh air, and exploring the forest mindfully in order to reconnect with oneself. It is a meditative experience from Japan, embraced wholeheartedly by local guide Maile, and her environmental biodiversity researcher husband. With Maile, you can explore the Unesco World Heritage site of the Foreste Casentinesi, then eat authentic and typical farm to table food made in the Valley in a restaurant surrounded by giant trees.
The limestone cliffs and coves of the Calanques are a natural wonder nestled between Marseille and Cassis in the south of France, with sparkling water and finely pebbled beaches. With your guide, hike through pine forests to coastal vistas, before enjoying a meditative session of yoga on the beach. Return at the end of the day feeling refreshed and invigorated by both the beautiful scenery, and calming physical activity.
You may be familiar with saunas as part of an overall self-care experience, but do you know the history behind the sauna ritual that is an integral part of Finnish culture? What better place to feel rejuvenated than a picturesque sauna setting that also includes a visit to the famous Tammerkoski rapids and beach-time. By the end of your experience, you'll have a deep appreciation for why the sauna is so widely loved in Finland!
If you’d like to enjoy a slightly more active wellness experience, this foraging and herbal tea in Lithuania tour will first have you out in nature hugging trees, eating wild berries, and safely picking mushrooms. Next, you’ll take a breather while you make and drink herbal tea. And finally, relax around a campfire while you cook and eat the fruits of your labour.
Bali's nature is lush and seems to almost sing with life. With local guide Agung, you'll embark on a soul retreat and holistic healing in Bali's lush forest. You may feel as though you've traveled back in time to ancient Bali, where you'll experience a lovely blend of tranquil nature hikes, morning forest meditation, Balinese ceremonies, and the feeling of cleansing your mind while wrapped in Bali's healing aura.
Top Wellness Experiences For 2025
1. Learn secrets to longevity in Japan's "Blue Zone"
What are the secrets to long life? A part of it involves something called "Chimugukuru", an Okinawan word meaning the beautiful heart, and a mutual understanding of one another. If you take guide Tomiko’s Blue Zone tour in Okinawa, she’ll explain this concept to you, and show you how to experience aspects of Chimugukuru for yourself in the small Japanese village of Ogimi.
2. Bathe in thermal waters in a mountain valley near Quito, Ecuador.
Experience deep relaxation by bathing in the thermal waters of Papallacta during a day trip from Quito to a Thermal Spa. Papallacta sits nestled in a valley in the Andes mountains, at 12,500 ft above sea level, and its mineral waters are renowned for their healing properties.
3. Practice yoga in Rishikesh, India
Experience the art of yoga first-hand in the country where it’s been practiced for over 5,000 years. Learn how to connect your soul, mind, and body during guide Raj’s Yoga tour in Rishikesh, India. This city on the banks of the Ganges river is considered the yoga capital of the world, and you'll find countless ashrams and yoga classes scattered throughout its streets.
4. Take a meditative hike in the mountains of Jasper National Park, Canada
Guide Terri knows just how to make you feel relaxed as you practice mindfulness in the mountains in Jasper National Park. Instead of walking on a nature trail in order to reach a final destination, you’ll be gently guided to stay in the moment on a (partly) silent walk with special attention to noticing the sights, smells, sounds, and feel of your surroundings. You’ll also have a chance to practice yoga moves with a certified yoga instructor in a stunning setting.
5. Soak in Iceland's Blue Lagoon
The Blue Lagoon was closed for a couple months due to nearby volcanic activity (such is the life of a thermal spring!) But as of the end of December 2024, it's re-opened to visitors. A full-day tour with Guide Bjorn includes a rejuvenating trip to Iceland’s famous Blue Lagoon, after exploring the lava landscape of the Reykjanes Peninsula. Instead of simply checking off this must-see location from your bucket list, you'll take-in the geothermal areas and other natural surroundings to get the full experience.
6. Go "Forest Bathing" in Umbria, Italy
Originating in Japan, forest bathing is the practice of wandering into the woods, breathing the fresh air, and exploring the forest mindfully in order to reconnect with oneself. It is a meditative experience from Japan, embraced wholeheartedly by local guide Maile, and her environmental biodiversity researcher husband. With Maile, you can explore the Unesco World Heritage site of the Foreste Casentinesi, then eat authentic and typical farm to table food made in the Valley in a restaurant surrounded by giant trees.
7. Try some yoga on the beach in the south of France
The limestone cliffs and coves of the Calanques are a natural wonder nestled between Marseille and Cassis in the south of France, with sparkling water and finely pebbled beaches. With your guide, hike through pine forests to coastal vistas, before enjoying a meditative session of yoga on the beach. Return at the end of the day feeling refreshed and invigorated by both the beautiful scenery, and calming physical activity.
8. Experience deep relaxation in a Finnish Sauna
You may be familiar with saunas as part of an overall self-care experience, but do you know the history behind the sauna ritual that is an integral part of Finnish culture? What better place to feel rejuvenated than a picturesque sauna setting that also includes a visit to the famous Tammerkoski rapids and beach-time. By the end of your experience, you'll have a deep appreciation for why the sauna is so widely loved in Finland!
9. Forage for wild mushroom and berries in Lithuania
If you’d like to enjoy a slightly more active wellness experience, this foraging and herbal tea in Lithuania tour will first have you out in nature hugging trees, eating wild berries, and safely picking mushrooms. Next, you’ll take a breather while you make and drink herbal tea. And finally, relax around a campfire while you cook and eat the fruits of your labour.
10. Experience spiritual rejuvenation in Bali
Bali's nature is lush and seems to almost sing with life. With local guide Agung, you'll embark on a soul retreat and holistic healing in Bali's lush forest. You may feel as though you've traveled back in time to ancient Bali, where you'll experience a lovely blend of tranquil nature hikes, morning forest meditation, Balinese ceremonies, and the feeling of cleansing your mind while wrapped in Bali's healing aura.