Away and Exclusive: Wellness retreats are the new luxury holidays

In August this year, Alekha Advani Jain hosted the first international edition of Harmony by the Sea—a seaside wellness festival and community platform curated by her company, Way Well—at the scenic Heritance Aarah resort, located on a private island in the Raa Atoll of the Maldives. “We brought together movement, yoga, breathwork, sound healing, food, music, HIIT, workouts, dancing, art and different creative experiences in one environment,” says the wellness events curator and entrepreneur. “We’ve taken that philosophy into destination experiences like the Maldives, where the setting itself becomes such an important part of the experience, being by the ocean on the sand, slowing down, practising together, eating well and actually connecting with the people around you.”

A Cornell University graduate, with a professional background in hospitality, Advani Jain was drawn to wellness even before she considered it a career. Her personal interest revealed a gap in the space, between the clinical nature of wellness on one hand and its pursuit as a lifestyle on the other. Way Well emerged in this space. “I wanted to create something that made wellness feel enjoyable, social, beautiful and accessible in a way that people would actually want to return to,” she says. “People don’t want wellness to feel like homework anymore. They want to go for a workout and then have breakfast with their friends, discover a new practice, attend a sound healing session, spend time outdoors or make wellness part of a holiday.”

Indians are in their wellness era, particularly the affluent and the upwardly mobile, propelled by a booming market and evolving perception. It is not simply about a medical approach or healing. Nor is it about the occasional a spa ritual or a once-and-done wellness retreat. Wellness is a lifestyle choice, conflated with healthcare, self-love and leisure. When time is a precious commodity and navigating anxiety and stressors is an everyday way of life, what can feel more rewarding and indulgent than ensuring one’s well-being?

In this milieu, holidays and getaways—intrinsically meant to offer a break from the humdrum of daily living—have assumed new significance. Wellness tourism is booming in India; according to Mordor Intelligence, it is projected to grow up to $30.95 billion in 2026 and reach $43.74 billion by 2031, drawing both international and local consumers.

The luxury hospitality sector is making the most of this potential, integrating wellness into an elevated guest experience. The Indian Hotels Company whose portfolio includes Taj Hotels, has operated J Wellness Circle—a holistic wellness platform—since 2023. Think spa rituals and therapies, but also an immunity-boosting wellness cuisines (curated in collaboration with Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal) and painting sessions.

Earlier this year, The Leela announced an expansion of Aujasya by The Leela—a holistic wellness programme launched in 2022. Anupam Dasgupta, Senior Vice President – Operations, North and Head of Wellness, The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts observes that one of their goals has been to extend the purview of wellness beyond the spa. “A treatment can offer a beautiful moment of restoration, but wellbeing is ultimately shaped by the choices we make throughout the day—how we nourish ourselves, how we move, how we rest and how we create moments of stillness,” he says. The programme’s offerings include Sampoorna—a curated menu spanning homestyle meals, as well as anti-inflammatory, detox and high protein plans. The dining experience, is flexible and pleasurable, “allowing guests to personalise their experience according to what they want to achieve.”

The expanded Aujasya programme also includes a new signature ritual, as well as the first dedicated Aujasya by The Leela Spa at The Leela Palace Jaipur. “This evolution has been deliberate. The programme reflects our belief that wellness is not one-dimensional; it can be expressed through food, movement, sleep, mindfulness, restoration and connection with culture,” Dasgupta adds. “For us, the opportunity is therefore not to add wellness as another layer to a luxury stay, but to weave a sense of wellbeing naturally into the experience of being at The Leela.”

Luxury hotels and retreats across the country are taking a similar approach. Located at the foothills of the Himalayas, close to Rishikesh, Ananda in the Himalayas established the earliest benchmark for a luxury destination spa in India and continues to rank among the world’s highest-rated retreats two decades since it opened. Its immersive treatments are renowned and so its is wellness cuisine; this year saw the launch of The Healing Plate, an Ayurveda culinary book published by Roli Books for readers to try more than 100 recipes from the Ananda kitchen in their own homes. Sitara Himalaya, a Relais & Châteaux destination, is a newer property. Conceived by Amita Lal—founder of the Indian luxury brand Good Earth—it is imbued with the spirit of saukhya in every detail. One of its highlights is the Paro Svasthi, situated at the highest point of the property—featuring a spa as well as a yogshala named Shantih with a hot water plunge pool, an infra-red sauna fitted with Himalayan salt bricks and a fragrant steam room. Yet, its address is just as seductive—located in the Kothi village of Himachal Pradesh, where guests can walk through forests and enjoy spectacular views of the Himalayas.

Elsewhere, in Maharashtra, a few hours drive from Mumbai, Dharana at Shillim is equal parts wellness destination and eco-retreat nestled in the Western Ghats’ Sahyadri mountain range— guests can check in for immersive panchakarma treatments and weight management, spanning several days. But the experience doesn’t end in the treatment rooms; it is also expressed in natural trails and the pursuit of spiritual harmony, in sound healing and emotional well-being.

Along with spas and experiential destinations, the hospitality sector is also incorporating new technologies into its wellness offering. At Fairmont Mumbai, Blu Xone is posited as a one-of-its-kind longevity suite. The focus is on curation and personalised guidance—first time visitors receive a consultation spanning their health history, lifestyle, wellness goals and other parameters. Those seeking longer-term solutions may also undergo body composition analysis and recent blood-test reviews among more detailed assessments. “We believe longevity is multidimensional, so our offering has been carefully curated around different aspects of wellbeing from recovery and vitality to resilience, healthy ageing and overall health span. Rather than simply creating a large menu of treatments, we have been intentional about selecting experiences that each have a distinct purpose and can complement one another,” says Dr Rashmi Ambastha, Director of Spa, Wellness & Recreation, Fairmont Mumbai.

Apart from hotel guests, Ambastha adds that they are also seeing an interest from Mumbai residents seeking access to such experiences. “What makes the offering particularly special is the environment in which these experiences are delivered. We bring advanced wellness technologies together with the comfort, privacy and personalised hospitality of a luxury hotel,” she adds, noting that the setting and service quality is as crucial as the technologies on offer. “For us, that is an important part of the new definition of luxury; having access to sophisticated wellness experiences, but also having the time, space and level of care to truly focus on yourself.”

Whether it is a conglomerate or a niche boutique property, wellness is no longer an add-on. Rather, it is integrated into operations and experience design as a key component. At The Leela, Dasgupta observes that the response to the Aujasya programme reinforces how wellness is now a way of life. “Guests are increasingly seeking experiences that leave them feeling restored, energised and more in balance and, importantly, experiences that offer something they can carry with them beyond their stay,” he says. “What is particularly interesting to us is the way luxury itself is evolving. There is an increasing appreciation for experiences that give something back, a greater sense of vitality, calm or connection, rather than simply offering a moment of indulgence.”

Advani Jain may be inclined to agree. “When luxury and wellness come together well, one enhances the other,” she notes. “It’s about beautiful surroundings, great food, thoughtful service and experiences that leave you feeling better than when you arrived.”