World’s Best Wellness Retreats 2025: From Italy to the Maldives
- GSS Staff
- Sep 30
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 1
Wellness retreats are no longer side notes in travel — they are destinations in their own right. On 23 September 2025, the World Spa Awards announced its annual winners. Palazzo Fiuggi in Italy retained the title of World’s Best Wellness Retreat, with nominees spanning alpine medical clinics, tropical sanctuaries, and urban lifestyle escapes. Together, the list reflects how wellness travel now defines the heart of hospitality.
1. Palazzo Fiuggi — Italy (Winner)
Palazzo Fiuggi was awarded World’s Best Wellness Retreat 2025 for the second consecutive year. The property integrates medical wellness, spa therapies, nutrition science, and luxury hospitality within a historic Italian palace. Its dual recognition across both medical and wellness categories highlights its ability to bridge clinical health with restorative retreat experiences.
2. AWAKEN Wellness at Atlantis The Royal — Dubai (Nominee)
AWAKEN Wellness is part of Atlantis The Royal, a flagship resort in Dubai that has placed wellness at the center of its design. Its nomination reflects the rising role of wellness programming in mainstream luxury hotels, offering guests tailored treatments alongside destination-scale entertainment.
3. BodyHoliday — Saint Lucia (Nominee)
BodyHoliday is recognized for making wellness accessible through a wide range of daily activities, spa treatments, and nutrition programs. Its model is less about exclusivity and more about structured, inclusive wellness. The nomination shows how all-rounder resorts can still meet global standards of excellence.
4. Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat — Australia (Nominee)
Located in Queensland, Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat emphasizes natural rhythms, plant-forward food, and immersive lifestyle education. Guests are guided through stress management, fitness, and mindfulness programs. Its recognition highlights the value of retreats that focus on behavioral change and lifestyle reset.
5. JOALI BEING — Maldives (Nominee)
JOALI BEING in the Maldives integrates wellness architecture with ocean and island ecology. Programs combine holistic therapies, nutrition, and movement in a luxury setting. Its nomination demonstrates how natural environments—especially fragile marine ecosystems—are becoming central to high-end wellness design.
6. Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve — Indonesia (Nominee)
Mandapa, located in Ubud, Bali, incorporates Balinese healing traditions and spiritual practices into its programming. The retreat pairs cultural immersion with modern wellness facilities. Its selection confirms the global interest in destinations that honor local knowledge while delivering international standards.
7. Miraval Austin — Texas, USA (Nominee)
Miraval Austin is part of the Miraval group, known for mindfulness, experiential learning, and integrative wellness. The Texas location offers equine therapy, outdoor immersion, and resilience workshops alongside spa and nutrition services. Its nomination shows that U.S. retreats can stand alongside international leaders in this space.
8. Santé Wellness Retreat — South Africa (Nominee)
Santé Wellness Retreat combines medical input with restorative therapies in a South African natural setting. The property emphasizes nutrition, detox, and holistic health approaches. Its recognition reflects the spread of wellness retreats across Africa, with programs tailored to both local and international travelers.
9. SHA Mexico — Mexico (Nominee)
SHA Mexico extends the SHA brand’s reputation for integrative wellness, combining clinical diagnostics with mind-body therapies and nutrition. Its nomination highlights how Latin America is building visibility in global wellness tourism through sophisticated, medically aligned retreats.
The 2025 list underscores a broadening definition of wellness travel. Palazzo Fiuggi’s repeat win affirms the model of combining clinical credibility with luxury hospitality. Meanwhile, lifestyle retreats such as Gwinganna in Australia and Miraval Austin in the U.S. show how behavioral reset and mindfulness education hold equal standing alongside palatial medical clinics and island sanctuaries.
For travelers, the message is clear: wellness retreats are not one-size-fits-all. The best are those that align personal health goals with setting — whether detoxing in the Italian hills, restoring balance in the Maldives, or cultivating resilience in Texas.
