Gorgeous Spa Retreats For Total Relaxation

In need of some R&R to restore the batteries? With so many types of spa experience on offer, the mind can boggle when it comes to choosing whichis right for you – where, why, what and who with are just some of the deciding factors. Then there’s how long – spa retreats can span a weekend or even two weeks, depending on what you’re looking to get out of them. For a cosy and restorative girls’ weekend with buckets of British charm, Dormy House in the Cotswolds has a tasty treatment menu, with comfort food and drinks to match. Those who need to get back in touch with their spiritual side – and soak up some much-need vitamin D – should look at Six Senses Zighy Bay in Oman with its yoga packages, outdoor activities and boot camps. For serious results witha thorough detox and overhaul of your digestive system, Lanserhof Tegernsee in Germany will tailor a medical and holistic wellness programme to suit your needs – you really can’t ask for more ‘me time’ than that…

SIX SENSES ZIGHY BAY

MUSANDAM, OMAN

The lowdown A spa with soul nestled in rugged mountains.

Best for Yoga bunnies and sporty types in search of a reboot.

No sooner do you set foot in Zighy Bay than your shoulders drop a few inches – it’s sandwiched between beach and mountain ridge, whichgives the resort an instant off-grid feeling.

Then there’s the village-style villas, built with natural stone and wood and plumped up with colourful cushioned living areas.

Part of the Six Senses group, the main focus ofthe resort is its spa menu and programmes. Highlights include the yoga package and the signature Wonders of Oman wellness package, which incorporates fitness activities like kayaking, yoga and village jogging, as well as spa treatments such as traditional hammam rituals. Six Senses Zighy Bay also has visiting guest practitioners, whose specialities range from reiki to sound healing.

Book itYoga detox package from £1,042.

DORMY HOUSE

WORCESTERSHIRE, UK

The lowdown An intimate retreat with sprawling country views.

Best for A relaxed weekend bolt hole filled with pampering treats.

Dormy House is a winner. Accolades like Best Spa Hotel and Hotel of the Year have come thick and fast since its multi-million pound renovation in 2013 – and it’s not hard to see why.

Tucked among the Cotswolds’ hills, the hotel is a 17th-century farmhouse that’s been revamped in the most stylish of ways by design company Todhunter Earle.

Alongside oak beams and slabs of Cotswold stone, you’ll find geometric wallpaper and custom fabrics, tablets in every room (with a meal or massage a few taps away) and basically everything a girl could ever want in a spa. Infinity pool? Check. Champagne nail bar? Check. The scent of local lavender drifting through the air? Oh yes, indeed.

Start off your weekend with a Vital Energy massage. It will leave you feeling rejuvenated and utterly content – the best 90 minutes you’ll ever have spent. Finish at Dormy House’s own pub The Potting Shed, which serves seasonal, classic British fare among worn leathers and stripped back flooring. Dishes such as cottage pie with Marmite mash, Hereford rib-eye steak or the 18-hour slow-cooked pork belly with a Cheeky trifle to follow are a darn tasty way to end the day.

Book itFrom £230 for a double room and breakfast.

LANSERHOF TEGERNSEE

GERMANY

The lowdown Holistic meets medicinal to restore mind and body.

Best for Complete cleansing, inside and out.

Located on the shore of Lake Tegernsee in Bavaria, Lanserhof’s strikingly minimalist style is not purely for aesthetic reasons.

Designed by award-winning architect Christoph Ingenhoven, the monastic space is a stress-buster in its own right, centred on a beautiful, light-filled cloister with an open fire and elegant butter-soft suede seating.

Treatments are based on the LANS Med Concept (conceived by Austrian physician Dr F X Mayr) and focus on four main principles – rest, cleansing, training and substitution. Sounds scary? Don’t be put off – it’s a thorough detox, but one that’s finely tuned to each individual.

And it comes with treats too – baths, body wraps and massages are included – as well as Energy Cuisine: nutritious meals that don’t scrimp on taste. To reset and restore your digestive system, the recommended minimum stay is seven days.

Book itA seven-night package costs from approx £2,807.