ROYAL BUSH SPA – ZAMBIA
Wellness on the Edge of the Mighty Zambezi
Set within the breathtaking grounds of Royal Zambezi Lodge, the Royal Bush Spa is one of Zambia’s premier bush spas, blending minimalist luxury with the raw beauty of nature. Perched above the Zambezi River, the spa’s open-air pavilions and private treatment rooms offer sweeping views of the water, with the sounds of snorting hippos and the cries of the African Fish Eagle providing a natural soundtrack to your wellness journey.
At the heart of the experience is a highly trained therapist offering a curated menu of massages, beauty rituals, and skincare therapies. Many treatments incorporate indigenous African ingredients, celebrating the healing gifts of the land. The Royal Bush Spa is also the Zambian flagship for the world-renowned Dermalogica brand, ensuring every treatment combines local wisdom with globally acclaimed skincare innovation.
From the moment the scent of burning candles greets you to the final moments of post-treatment relaxation in the spa’s serene lounge, every detail is designed to restore balance, peace, and connection with nature. Here, wellness is not only a ritual—it’s a profound immersion into the soul of Africa.
ORIGINAL BEER SPA – PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
A hops-infused experience unlike any other
Only in Prague could soaking in beer be both a historic ritual and a luxury pastime. At the Original Beer Spa, tradition meets whimsy in the most indulgent way. Guests are invited to bathe in oak tubs filled with the natural ingredients used in Czech Krušovice® beer. These components are not only symbolic but potent, known for promoting skin regeneration and relieving stress.
The experience, of course, comes with unlimited consumption of chilled Czech lager straight from your personal tap beside the tub—a detail that sets this spa apart in the most refreshing way. Between soaks, guests can recline on beds of wheat straw, absorbing vitamins and minerals while cocooned in rustic comfort.
It’s lighthearted yet deeply therapeutic, fusing folklore with wellness in a way that only Prague can deliver. For travelers seeking the unexpected, the Original Beer Spa pours serenity by the pint.
GLEN IVY HOT SPRINGS – CALIFORNIA, USA
A Southern Californian oasis for holistic rejuvenation
With over 160 years of wellness history, Glen Ivy Hot Springs in Temescal Valley, California is a sanctuary where timeless natural therapies meet contemporary well-being. Nestled against the Cleveland National Forest, the resort offers a tranquil escape through mineral-rich waters, lush gardens, and thoughtful spa rituals.
Guests are invited to explore a variety of immersive experiences, from soaking in geothermal pools to indulging in The Grotto—a signature subterranean treatment where the body is painted in a warm blend of aloe vera, coconut oil, eucalyptus, shea butter, and lavender before relaxing in a gently heated cavern. After rinsing under cascading showers, visitors unwind in a cool chamber with fruit, tea, and water.
Another beloved feature is Club Mud, where spring water and red clay come together for an invigorating full-body exfoliation under the open sky. Whether basking in sun-dappled serenity or dining on nourishing fare at Ivy Kitchen, Glen Ivy offers a rejuvenating retreat grounded in nature and refined by decades of expertise.
From yoga in palm-shaded gardens to customized skin therapies, guests experience wellness as a lifestyle, not a moment.
ONSEN HOT POOLS RETREAT – QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
Where water meets wonder
Perched high above the Shotover River, Onsen Hot Pools Retreat offers one of the most scenic soaks on earth. Private cedar hot tubs overlook the rugged mountains of Queenstown and the rushing turquoise river below, creating a panoramic backdrop that shifts with the seasons.
Each pool is filled with pure water sourced from the surrounding mountains and heated to a perfect 38–40°C. As day fades into night, a retractable roof reveals a sky blanketed with stars, transforming the experience into something cosmic. For an even more enchanting experience, book the Onsen by Lantern Light to soak under the starlit sky after sunset.
For those seeking deeper relaxation, the retreat also offers luxurious spa treatments in its tranquil rooms, ranging from deep tissue massages to traditional Japanese rituals.
Onsen Hot Pools Retreat is serenity at its most cinematic—a destination where the elements themselves seem to conspire for your renewal.
GEOSEA – HÚSAVÍK, ICELAND
Where Arctic serenity meets geothermal magic
Perched on the edge of a cliff in North Iceland, Geosea is more than just a spa—it’s a surreal encounter with Icelandic nature at its most breathtaking. This geothermal bathing sanctuary channels mineral-rich seawater warmed by subterranean heat, offering a rare and elemental experience under the Arctic sky.
The infinity-style pools appear to spill into Skjálfandi Bay, giving bathers front-row seats to dramatic sunsets, migrating whales, and, if lucky, the elusive northern lights. Geosea’s seawater is naturally replenished and chemical-free, making it as gentle on the skin as it is striking to the senses.
Rooted in Húsavík’s history yet designed for modern tranquility, Geosea delivers a serene, elemental soak like no other. Whether you’re fresh from a whale-watching tour or simply seeking stillness in one of the world’s most unique locations, this is nature’s spa in its purest form.
A NEW STANDARD OF STILLNESS
These five destinations challenge the idea that a spa must be traditional to be transformative. Whether you’re surrounded by wildlife in Zambia, sipping lager in a warm tub in Prague, or unwinding under the Southern stars in Queenstown, one thing is clear—serenity is no longer just about silence and solitude. It’s about immersion, imagination, and the freedom to unwind on your own terms.
As travel continues to embrace experiences that restore the soul, the modern spa is no longer an afterthought—it is the destination. In these extraordinary sanctuaries, serenity isn’t just found. It’s redefined.
