The best wellness resorts and retreats in Asia

Located away from the hustle and bustle of Manila, The Farm at San Benito is a tranquil oasis set on the banks of a lake within a serene garden dotted with ancient bodhi trees and local flowers. Visitors come here for a holistic approach to healing all sorts of health concerns. The tried-and-true medical programmes address an array of health concerns, from fertility and cancer to weight loss. Integrative healing begins with consultations with a doctor and nutritionist who tailor the programme to the guest’s needs. The programmes blend advanced medical science with local Filipino holistic therapies such as immune-boosting IV therapy, myotherapy, and Dolphin microcurrent Electro-acupuncture. Most patrons opt for a detoxification program with a juice or light vegan meal plan, while others dine on a nutritionist-recommended meal plan.

Time Out tip The Farm is family-friendly, and you’re encouraged to bring your pets

In 2023, the world-renowned RAKxa Wellness opened a sister property, RXV Wellness. The luxurious holistic retreat integrates medical treatments at its riverfront location in the Nakhon Pathom Province, about an hour from Bangkok. Bespoke treatment plans are prescribed following a consultation with an anti-ageing doctor who confirms it’s suitable for you to partake in treatments which include colonics, cryo sauna, and myofascial with INDIBA. Unlike many health retreats, RXV Wellness is family-friendly.

Time Out tip Time Out Asia contributor Lola Méndez recommends booking the RXV Belly and Gut Massage before the Colon Hydrotherapy to maximise benefits.

GDAS BALI Health and Wellness Resort idyllic location amongst Ubud's rice terraces would be enough to soothe frazzled urbanites, but its comprehensive Medispa retreat has guests leaving rejuvenated. Medical wellness treatments offered at the idyllic location amongst Ubud’s rice terraces include cryotherapy, high oxygen levels for enhanced detoxification, salt therapy, IV drips, and contrast therapy. Personalised wellness programmes cater to guests' needs, from detoxification to rejuvenation. Dive deep into healing by adhering to the retreat’s vegan and alcohol-free regimen to support holistic detox and rejuvenation.

Time Out tip While in Ubud, partake in local healing modalities by having a water cleanse at Mengening Temple, which locals believe can help heal ailments.

Hone in on healing in Southeast Asia's largest surviving rainforest, Southern Cardamom National Park which is home to tigers, elephants, and gibbons. Shinta Mani Wild is an eco-friendly luxurious tented wellness retreat which utilises natural local Khmer medicine. Here you’ll learn self-healing techniques using locally foraged ingredients to make medicines from spices, plants, and herbs. Other medicinal treatments include thermal healing and Traditional Chinese Medicine healing practices of acupuncture and Qigong.

Time Out tip The spa treatments are unlimited, so try as many healing modalities as possible during your stay.

For healing in a luxurious setting look no further than TIA Wellness Resort - the first spa-inclusive five-star resort in Da Nang, Vietnam. TIA offers guests an in-depth wellness programme that includes several medically backed healing modalities such as Acupressure massage to stimulate circulation, Vietnamese cupping for detoxification, and lymphatic release massage. Guests can choose from two 80-minute treatments daily to build a customised wellness programme during their stay at TIA Wellness. The beach-front property offers raw plant-based cuisine and intermittent fasting with an eight-hour eating window (breakfast isn’t until 11 A.M.). 

Time Out tip Each villa has its own private plunge pool where you can unwind between treatments.

Aman Kyoto is the place to go if you want to focus on Eastern wellness philosophies. Surrounded by a lush garden at the base of Hidari Daimonji Mountain, Aman Kyoto is a true sanctuary of wellness steeped in Japanese tradition and luxury. Guests can experience Kyoto's ancient healing traditions at Aman Kyoto for integrative healing and personalised care through bespoke therapies such as shiatsu, a Japanese massage technique similar to TCM acupuncture that improves muscle tone and stimulates blood and lymph circulation. Acupuncture is also available. 

Time Out tip Experience traditional Japanese healing by taking daily soaks in the private onsens, natural hot mineral springs.

Some of us want to live forever – at The Chi Longevity Clinic, that might just be within reach. Located at the Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, this is one of the newest medical clinics in the region. Its treatments focus on slowing the biological ageing process. It even has advanced equipment to detect early cardiac risk markers. Treatment plans are customised to you and you only, determined via advanced diagnostics that include blood tests, cognitive tests, continuous glucose monitoring, psychosocial assessments, and genetic profiling to develop personalised intervention plans to optimise health. The customised programmes focus on slowing the biological ageing process, preventative care, repairing cellular damage, and optimising organ function.

Time Out tip The Four Seasons Hotel Singapore also has an on-site spa that offers holistic healing treatments, such as pink Himalayan salt baths.