Admit it: you’re still waiting, aren’t you? Waiting for the day when you escape from your rut, when you have the time to make some changes, when you finally become the person you really want to be.
Here’s the good news: making a change is easier than you think. In fact, all it might take is a holiday. But not just any holiday, of course. You need a trip that can help you embrace a better way of living, whether that’s being more active, being more mindful or simply bringing more joy and peace into your life. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available.
“A good holiday can be a bit like therapy,” says Sue Badyari from adventure travel company World Expeditions. “The minute people connect with nature, or push their boundaries, they start to look at their life differently. We often see that, for our guests, a trip with us is a catalyst for life-changing decisions.”
Ready to hit reset? Here are four relaxing getaways that’ll make you a better you.
1. Embrace the stillness
In a world where we’re immersed in noise and stimulation, finding a moment of mental calm can be challenging. But hitting the off switch is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Science shows the many benefits of mindfulness, from lowering blood pressure and reducing cortisol levels to stimulating brain growth.
Joali Being, the new luxury wellness resort in the Maldives, offers all sorts of ways to treat your body and soul, from aerial yoga and sound therapy to a cryo-chamber. Treatment facilities, including a herbology centre and a hydrotherapy hall, are scattered right across the picture-perfect island. Yet, even before your first consultation, you’ll find yourself breathing slower and deeper, thanks to the sound of the waves gently lapping the shore and the breeze riffling the palm leaves. Slowing down and delving deeper into yourself is a key part of any program at Joali, which is why there’s no Wi-Fi in the public area. (Don’t panic – you can still connect in your room.)
“When we put together an itinerary, we purposefully don’t overwhelm you with activities,” says Joali Being’s Susanne Fisch. “We give you time to breathe, to slow down, to hold a space so you can peel back the layers and share what you need to share.”
Or try this!
Yoga retreats are about a lot more than finally conquering the crow pose. While many people sign up for a retreat as a break from stress, Nadia Kudiarskyj, from Billabong Retreat outside Sydney, says that yoga retreats are designed to provide a connection to self. “It’s a moment to stop, reflect and reimprint a new way of living,” she says. “Throughout the retreats, in our workshops, our classes, in the treatments we offer, we’re inviting guests to reflect on what it is that’s bringing on that stress, and offering lots of resources and tools to address those root causes.”
2. Go green
With its soaring old-growth forests and its sparkling coastline, Margaret River in Western Australia offers no end of lush landscapes to revel in – and a host of wellness vibes. You can walk it, you can bike it, but if you really want to reap the maximum benefits from getting outdoors, Paul Brennan, co-owner of Jesters Flat Equestrian Farm, recommends you saddle up.
“The first thing is that your perspective changes on horseback,” he says. “Your head is about 2.5 metres off the ground, so you see a whole lot more. And if you have some previous riding experience, you can let the horse do the work and sit back and enjoy it.”
More importantly, he says that his team’s horseback tours – lasting anywhere from one hour to five days – follow trails that aren’t accessible to anyone else. “These very narrow, overgrown paths, you couldn’t get through any other way, so you’re really getting away from other people. We do one ride to the headwaters of the Margaret River, for instance, to these big pools where you can jump off and have a swim – and not another soul is there.”
Or try this!
The majestic Blue Mountains in Sydney are a favourite natural escape, but Andy Mein, from Blue Mountains Adventure Company, says you should dig a little deeper. “Our canyoning trips take you into a unique world – it’s about discovering the depths rather than the heights. These canyons are filled with untouched greenery. You’re not looking out at a vast view; instead you’re connected to the environment around you, with all of your senses heightened.”
3. Stretch yourself
White-sand beaches, gin-clear waters, coral reefs and deserted islands… Fiji ticks off every item on the tropical getaway list. Not every Fiji holiday is created equal, however. Opt for an adventure trip kayaking around the idyllic Yasawa Islands, and among all the memorable experiences on offer – think picnics on deserted islands, snorkelling over coral reefs, visiting traditional villages, camping on beaches where the waves provide a soothing lullaby – there’s one upside that you might not anticipate.
“The challenge is the thing,” says Sue Badyari from World Expeditions, which offers an 11-day sea kayaking trip in Fiji. “This unstructured sort of adventuring provides all sorts of challenges that you don’t get in your usually controlled lives. Even if you’re very health conscious, going to the gym, doing CrossFit or your favourite classes, it’s a controlled way of working your body.
“Kayaking is a very different experience because you’re out in nature. You’re clambering over rocks, or navigating a slippery trail; you’re using your body very differently.”
The blend of physical workout and serene surrounds is a powerful combination. “We see so often in our clients that this sort of physical adventure leads to a quite profound transformation, in their body, their mind and their soul.”
Or try this!
Prefer an adventure on two wheels? Bicycling has long been the preferred mode of transport for many Vietnamese, and it’s a great way to see this extraordinary country. Explore the old-school charm of Hanoi through country lanes and mountain passes, plus the World Heritage-listed town of Hoi An, the island- and lagoon-studded coast of Nha Trang and beyond. A trip like Intrepid Travel’s 15-day Cycle Vietnam will test your limits even as you drink in the enchanting scenery.
4. Get playful
Cats do it. Dogs do it. In fact, many mammal species incorporate play into their lives – and for good reason. Neuroscientists are finding that playtime can bring serious benefits, from releasing endorphins to improving brain function.
There are few places better to have a play than on the snow field, according to Rachael Milner, head of Cardrona Snow Sports School at New Zealand’s Treble Cone Ski Area. “There’s so much fun you can have up on the mountain,” she says. Whether you’re a beginner who’s learning to turn or ready to tackle a more difficult run, Rachael says that every part of the snow experience can be joyful, from the thrill of powering down a slope to the hilarity of a snowball fight. “Even being out in the bracing air makes you feel good,” she says.
Travelling with friends always ups the fun factor, and Rachael says hitting the slopes is a perfect group activity because everyone can find their own pace. “If you’re a beginner, you can go down a green slope while your friend, who’s an expert skier, can do the steepest slopes. You can then meet up for lunch and relive the experience,” she says. “People get such a buzz from it. Every run is like a little triumph.”
Or try this!
New Zealand has plenty of other places to get playful, but the Waitomo Caves on the North Island are hard to beat. Local operators offer all kinds of adventures here, from abseiling or zip lining through caves illuminated by thousands of glow-worms, to rafting underground rapids. For sheer laugh-out-loud wonder, this one is hard to beat.
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