A new era of wellness travel
Wellness has always been part of travel, but in 2025 (and into 2026), it’s becoming the main reason many people pack their bags. Travellers are looking for more than a holiday; they’re seeking opportunities to reset, recover, and reconnect with themselves.
For retreat organisers, this means understanding these shifts and knowing how to design programmes that feel relevant, modern, and truly restorative for your clients.
Sauna rituals and thermal practices
Heat therapy isn’t new, but the way it’s being reimagined is. Sauna rituals are making a comeback in the form of guided experiences that combine heat, cold exposure, and breathing practices. Instead of a quick sauna session, guests are looking for structured rituals that feel immersive and therapeutic.
For retreat leaders, incorporating these kinds of sessions can add huge value, whether as a daily wind-down, part of a recovery day, or a guided group practice.
Sleep retreats and circadian health
Good sleep has become the ultimate luxury. More travellers are booking experiences that help them improve rest and reset their body clocks, with retreats focusing on sleep hygiene, light exposure, and pre-bedtime rituals. From blackout spaces to evening meditations, sleep-focused travel taps into one of the most fundamental wellness needs – rest.
This trend highlights how important it is for retreats to think beyond the daytime schedules and consider the whole 24-hour cycle of guest wellbeing.
Holistic and integrative approaches
In 2025, wellness is less about extremes and more about balance. People are looking for experiences that combine movement, nutrition, mindfulness, and recovery in a way that feels integrated. A day might start with yoga or functional training, continue with nourishing meals and workshops, and finish with breathwork or a sound bath.
It’s the combination – not just one element – that makes modern retreats feel meaningful and transformative.
The importance of space and setting
Another big trend is privacy and the environment. Travellers are increasingly seeking venues that allow for both community and solitude. That means enough space for group practices, but also private spaces to rest and reflect. A retreat venue that feels crowded or impersonal won’t deliver the same impact as one that feels exclusive, spacious, and designed for flexibility.
What this means for retreat hosts
For anyone planning a wellness retreat, it’s clear that guests in 2025 and through to 2026 want experiences that are restorative, thoughtful, and holistic. They’re drawn to rituals that feel authentic, spaces that feel calming, and schedules that support both movement and rest.
Venues like The Sanctuary Marbella make these movements in the industry easier to bring to life, with the facilities and flexibility to support everything from sauna-based rituals to sleep-focused programmes. But wherever you choose to host, the key is to design retreats that reflect how people are really travelling now – not just how they did five years ago.
Final thoughts
Wellness travel is only going to keep growing, and 2025 is showing us that travellers don’t just want activities – they want transformation. At The Sanctuary Marbella, we’ve created a space where these private retreats can come to life. With 14 en-suite bedrooms, a private spa with sauna and hydrotherapy pool, yoga and spin studios, and dining designed around wellness, retreat hosts have everything they need to design programmes that feel both modern and deeply restorative.
Add in our concierge service to arrange private chefs, therapists, or excursions, and you have more than a venue – you have a complete wellness destination for up to 32 guests.
To book The Sanctuary for your private retreat venue in 2025 and 2026, get in touch with our team today.
