Beyond the spa: a new era of wellness travel

Wellness & Soneva SOUL Festival 2024

As we continue to progress into 2024, wellness is often top of mind. Be it physical, mental or spiritual, we are all on our own trajectory towards goals of elevated wellbeing and happiness. And for many of us, travel is an integral piece of the puzzle.

Think of wellness and travel, and thoughts of endless hours in the spa come to mind. While we are definitely partial to a massage or two while on holiday, there is a new era of wellness travel that is on track to revolutionise how we choose to spend our vacation days, with a certain global hotel brand setting the pace…

Transformative wellness, unlocked

Soneva, a global collection of luxury resorts, has pioneered a transformative wellness concept that integrates ancient healing wisdom with the latest in science, innovation and technology. This one-of-a-kind concept allows guests to place their wellbeing at the core of their stay with bespoke, multi-disciplinary care plans designed to pave the way for a ‘lifestyle evolution’.

With a belief that wellness goes beyond the spa, guests who embark on a Soneva Soul journey are guided by a team of experienced therapists, medical experts and wellness specialists to co-create experiences that will enhance wellbeing across every aspect of their life. The seed for Soneva Soul was planted more than 25 years ago, with the launch of Soneva Fushi’s spa in 1995. Since then, the brand has been gathering knowledge and age-old wisdom from its destinations in The Maldives and Thailand to shape and refine its approach to wellness.

An island sanctuary

The beating heart of Soneva Soul is its wellness centres, found at both Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani. These multi-storey havens are surrounded by the island’s lush, natural beauty, making them the perfect place to rejuvenate, restore and relax.

It’s here that guests can experience signature therapies such as Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbalism and healing massage rituals alongside cutting-edge treatments of vitamin therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy and ozone therapy. Exercise experiences are delivered with the philosophy that blend movement with daily living and the natural environment, removing the barrier of fitness and engaging with people of all ages and abilities. From yoga champas and meditation pavilions to outdoor jungle gyms, Soneva Soul strives to nurture the physical-spiritual connection in all its guests with guidance from its residents and visiting instructors.

The ‘Future of Wellness’

An enriching, immersive exploration of health and wellness, SOUL Festival is returning to Soneva Fushi for its second year. From October 9 to 13, 2024, the resort will be welcoming guests alongside wellbeing visionaries, thought leaders and pinoeers for five days of discussion and discovery.

With wellbeing and transformation in mind, the festival will include insightful panel discussions, keynote addresses and engaging conversations alongside artistic expressions of music, art and  culture as well as nourishing dining experiences.

Crafted wellness journeys

Like anything, taking the first steps to prioritise wellness can be overwhelming. Soneva Soul’s collection of carefully curated 3, 7 or 14-day programmes are designed for guests who need a helping hand in starting their journey. Based on key pillars – Foundation, Sleep, Detox and Time Rewind – these programmes can be added on to any stay and feature daily itineraries that allow guests to surrender to the process knowing that each and every detail is taken care of.

Discover more about Soneva Soul here.