Wellness Hotels and Retreats Worth Traveling For in 2026

From surf retreats on Nicaragua’s Emerald Coast to a restored island fortress in Montenegro, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite wellness destinations around the world. The properties in this guide are all Manduka partners with a shared commitment to movement, nature, and intentional travel. Wherever you're headed, your practice travels with you.

Jump to a region:

North America

Open Sky — Utah

Best for: Luxury glamping and desert wellness

Set on 80 acres just outside Zion National Park, Open Sky is a luxury glamping retreat that takes the landscape seriously. Safari-style canvas tents are built for full immersion in the desert environment, with king beds, copper soaking tubs, heated tile floors, and unobstructed views of the red rock terrain. Yoga, breathwork, and private sound baths are offered on-site with local instructors; guided hikes into Zion and stargazing sessions extend the experience well beyond the property. Farm-to-table dining at Black Sage restaurant uses seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. For those who want proximity to one of America’s most iconic national parks without sacrificing comfort or intention, Open Sky delivers.

Islander Resort — Florida Keys

Best for: A coastal reset with the ocean as your backdrop

Stretched across 24 oceanside acres in Islamorada, Islander Resort is built for guests who want wellness woven into the everyday. Manduka PRO® mats are placed in every guest room, and access to a digital class library means your practice is ready whenever you are. Oceanside yoga, paddleboard sessions along the reef, two pools, and guided kayaking keep the body moving; fire pit evenings and the gentle rhythm of the Keys do the rest. The property also actively supports Reef Relief and runs the largest solar installation in Islamorada, so the commitment to the environment extends well beyond the mat. Whether you're coming for a long weekend or booking out a group retreat, the Florida Keys have a particular way of slowing everything down.

Central America

Playa Viva — Mexico

Best for: Eco-luxury with purpose and coastline views

On Mexico's Pacific coast, Playa Viva is a regenerative luxury eco-resort where community is at the center of everything. The property is built around a shared philosophy: slow down, connect to the land, and leave better than you arrived. The yoga studio is fully stocked with Manduka mats, blocks, and straps, and the open-air common areas — dining room, saline pool, beach palapas — create a natural gathering space for guests and retreat hosts alike. The property supports sea turtle conservation, uses solar energy, and sources food locally. Playa Viva is a favorite especially among retreat teachers, offering an immersive natural experience for deeper moments of clarity, presence, and connection.

Verdad — Nicaragua

Best for: Off-grid surf and yoga with boutique intimacy

Located above Playa Escameca, Verdad is the top-rated hotel along Nicaragua's Emerald Coast. Owners Marc Schultz and Dayna Winter designed and built the property themselves, and that personal touch runs through every detail: six casitas and two poolside rooms furnished by local artisans, fine linens, and uninterrupted ocean views. The SandBar Surf Academy is right on site, offering expert coaching alongside mobility and yoga sessions designed specifically for surfers. The surf here is world-class and largely uncrowded. Verdad is more than a resort; it's a home away from home on a coastline that still feels largely undiscovered.

Surf Synergy — Costa Rica

Best for: A full-week surf and wellness immersion

Named Travel + Leisure's #1 Destination Spa in the World, Surf Synergy sits between the rainforest and the warm Pacific waves on Costa Rica's central Pacific coast. The 7-night retreat format is intentional: expert 1:1 surf coaching pairs with daily yoga, breathwork, and recovery practices. Co-founder Rich Naha built this place after a health wake-up call led him to surfing and the idea that daily movement in nature could be the anchor for sustainable wellness. Vinyasa flows after morning surf sessions, restorative practice in the evenings, and genuine connection with fellow guests leave travelers with skills, a reset, and people they'll stay in touch with.

Europe

Mamula Island by Banyan Tree — Montenegro

Best for: Island seclusion with a rich cultural backdrop

A meticulously restored 19th-century fortress at the entrance to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Bay of Kotor, Mamula Island by Banyan Tree is one of those places that sounds too good to be true until you arrive. With just 32 rooms and suites, the island offers an intimacy that's rare in luxury hospitality. Days unfold at the pool, on the private beach, or out on the Adriatic by kayak or speedboat. The Banyan Tree Spa is a destination in itself: massages, holistic therapies, and restorative rituals shaped by the island's contemplative atmosphere. As part of Manduka's global partnership with Banyan Group, Manduka-affiliated visiting teachers lead curated retreats and residencies here throughout the year.

Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve — Portugal

Best for: Thalassotherapy, sea-view yoga, and breathtaking cliffs

Vilalara made history in the Algarve by opening Portugal's first thalassotherapy center, a 2,600 square meter facility that remains a benchmark for European wellness. The resort's shala is fully equipped with Manduka yoga mats and props, and its exclusive Wellness Suites go a step further, including a Manduka kit for private in-room practice. Guests can customize their stay with tailor-made programs combining yoga, meditation, sound healing, breathwork, Pilates, and anti-aging therapies. Five seawater pools, farm-to-table dining, and a private beach complete the picture. Vilalara is the kind of place that inspires both total rest and genuine transformation.

Engel Ayurpura — Italy

Best for: Deep Ayurvedic healing in the Dolomites

Nestled in the mountains near Carezza Lake, Engel Ayurpura is the second property from the Kohler family, a multigenerational hospitality lineage with roots in South Tyrol going back to 1892. The retreat is built around Ayurvedic healing and the philosophy of lightness: daily pranayama, yoga flows, nourishing meals, Ayurvedic consultations, and time to be still in one of Europe's most dramatic landscapes. The mountain setting, the pace, and the depth of the programming make this the destination for anyone who needs to genuinely slow down.

Oliveto Estate — Italy

Best for: Private group retreats in the Italian countryside

In the rolling hills of Le Marche, a region between Tuscany and Umbria but remains largely undiscovered, Oliveto Estate offers a nine-acre private sanctuary for groups of up to 22. Two luxury villas, each with their own pools, surround a purpose-built wellness studio stocked with Manduka mats and a full suite of props. Outdoor yoga under 400 olive trees, an on-site spa, truffle hunting, pasta-making, wine tasting, and hiking in the mountains or at the beach — the experience here is as curated or as unscheduled as you want it to be. Solar-powered and committed to local sourcing, the estate is as thoughtful in its sustainability as it is in its hospitality.

Suryalila Retreat Centre — Spain

Best for: World-class yoga in a breathtaking natural setting

Recognized as the Best Yoga Retreat Centre in Europe by Om Yoga Magazine, Suryalila sits in the foothills of the Sierra de Cadiz in Andalusia, surrounded by rolling hills, sunflower fields, and lakes in every direction. The Om Dome, Suryalila's iconic yoga hall, is a sacred geometry-inspired space that can hold up to 80 practitioners and overlooks olive groves, ruins, and open sky. The centre hosts over 100 retreats annually led by international teachers, alongside yoga teacher trainings. Guests can also visit independently, staying for the in-house classes, organic vegetarian food, and the landscape alone. Suryalila is where serious practitioners and curious beginners alike find exactly what they're looking for.

Asia

Xanadu Surf & Yoga Boutique Retreat — Indonesia

Best for: Boutique surf and yoga with Lombok's best views

Perched on a hillside above Kuta Bay in South Lombok, just a 25-minute flight from Bali, Xanadu Retreat was designed from the ground up with surf and yoga in mind. The infinity pool faces the ocean. The open-air yoga shala catches the sea breeze. The spa, the ice bath, and the restaurant all contribute to an environment where every detail supports recovery and connection. Weekly programs run year-round and blend expert surf coaching with daily yoga, cultural experiences rooted in Sasak traditions, and enough downtime to genuinely unwind. Co-founders Ola and Danielle built this space to reflect the balance surfing and yoga had given them, and the result speaks for itself.

Vikasa — Thailand

Best for: Transformation through yoga, community, and clifftop ocean views

Built atop a clifftop on the island of Koh Samui with some of the most dramatic ocean views in Thailand, Vikasa is part retreat, part yoga school, part philosophy. The facility was built around the idea that transformation isn't a by-product of the experience—it's the whole point. The Vikasa Method, rooted in traditional Hatha yoga, is practiced in the oceanfront White Prana Sala: slow, breath-led, and deeply intentional. Daily classes, teacher trainings, retreats, and mentorship programs draw a global community of practitioners at every level. The Vita Spa, healthy cuisine, and the pace of island life round out the experience.

Practice On, Wherever You Go

Every property featured here is valued Manduka partner, which means when you unroll a mat at these destinations, it's the same quality you trust at home. Our PRO mats, props, and accessories are chosen by wellness-forward hotels and retreat centers around the world who share our commitment to longevity, purposeful design, and a practice that lasts.

If you run a retreat, resort, or wellness space and want to bring Manduka into your studio, learn more about our Hotel & Spa Equipment Program.