There’s taking a break… and then there’s removing yourself from the group chat entirely.
I’m talking about the kind of retreat where your shoulders drop two inches the moment you arrive, and you remember, “Oh. This is what calm feels like.”

If you’ve been craving a reset that feels grown, grounding, and a little bit luxe, these three retreats around the world are the ones to know- the ones that are actually worth the flight, the PTO request, and the gentle auto-reply that says, “I’ll circle back when my spirit does.”

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1. Soneva Jani – Maldives

If your idea of self-care involves more than a scented candle and a face mask, then Soneva Jani in the Maldives might just be your spirit animal. Think overwater villas that float above crystal-clear lagoons, sunsets that deserve their own Instagram filter, and wellness experiences that make you go, “Yes…this is how humans are meant to live.”

Need-to-Know

• Location: Medhufaru Island, Noonu Atoll, Maldives
• Nearest Airport: Velana International Airport (Malé) – 40 min domestic flight + 20 min speedboat
• Currency: Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR); USD widely accepted
• Best Time to Visit: November – April for sunny, dry weather

Wellness Experiences You Can’t Miss

• Sunrise Yoga & Meditation: On your villa deck, with the lagoon as your soundtrack.
• Spa Treatments: Local ingredients, personalized wellness therapies, massages that actually melt you.
• Mindful Nature Walks: Explore the island, its gardens, and the starry skies at night.
• Lagoon Adventures: Snorkeling, kayaking, or floating for zero-effort relaxation.
• Soneva Wellness Rituals: From guided breathing sessions to bespoke mindfulness activities.

Even if tea isn’t the main event, it’s a small luxury you can enjoy:

• Start the morning with herbal tea on your villa deck while the sun rises.
• Afternoon tea rituals are available, often with local or organic blends.
• Ask the resort staff to create custom wellness teas for your stay (think calming or energizing blends).

Dining & Mindful Eating

• Farm-to-table dining with organic, locally sourced ingredients.
• Healthy, gourmet options designed to complement your wellness experience.
• Tea-friendly snacks and mindful sipping moments built into your day.

Booking & Contact

• Website: Soneva Jani
• Email: reservations@soneva.com
• Tip: Book 3–6 months ahead for overwater villas or peak wellness experiences.

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2. Gaia Retreat & Spa – Australia

If your soul has been whispering “I need a reset” but your calendar keeps yelling “absolutely not,” Gaia Retreat & Spa is the place that snaps you back into alignment. Think lush Australian hinterlands, misty mornings, and wellness experiences that make your nervous system unclench on contact.

This is the kind of retreat where you show up tired… and leave with a glow that makes everyone else suspicious.

Need-to-Know

Location: Byron Bay Hinterland, New South Wales, Australia
Nearest Airport: Ballina Byron Gateway Airport (25 min) or Gold Coast Airport (1 hr)
Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
Best Time to Visit: September – May for warm weather and golden light

Wellness Experiences You Can’t Miss

Morning Yoga & Breathwork:
Stretching under eucalyptus trees? Yes. Deep inhales of rainforest air? Also yes.

Gaia Day Spa:
Award-winning treatments rooted in ancient healing and modern techniques. Expect facials that bring you back to life and massages that feel like an apology from your past self.

Naturopathic Wellness Sessions:
Personalized check-ins with experts who take your stress levels very seriously.

Guided Rainforest Walks:
Lush forest, grounding energy, and a vibe that feels like nature is giving you a hug.

Mindful Movement & Fitness:
From Pilates to strength classes – everything curated with intention and serenity.

Tea Moments Made for You

Because of course you’re sipping tea here.

• Start the morning with herbal infusions featuring Australian botanicals like lemon myrtle, eucalyptus, or wild mint.
• Enjoy detox blends during spa days or between wellness sessions.
• Ask staff for custom blends – they often craft calming, digestive, or uplifting teas based on your goals.

Tea here isn’t an afterthought. It’s part of the healing.

Dining & Mindful Eating

Gaia’s food is what happens when wellness and flavor finally become best friends.

• Seasonal, organic, and grown in their own gardens
• Light but flavorful dishes that support detox, digestion, and energy
• Thoughtful plating that makes every meal feel like a ritual
• Snacks that pair perfectly with your tea-sipping, robe-wearing main character moment

Booking & Contact

Website: gaiaretreat.com.au
Email: reservations@gaiaretreat.com.au

Tip: Gaia fills up FAST around holidays and wellness festival seasons (book 3–5 months in advance) for premium rooms or specific healing programs.

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3. Aman Kyoto – Japan

If you’ve been craving a place where your mind finally settles and your spirit gets a moment to breathe, Aman Kyoto is that kind of retreat. It sits inside a quiet forest on the edge of the city- a setting that feels intentional, steady, and deeply calming.

This is where you go when you’re ready to slow down and actually hear yourself think.

Need-to-Know

Location: Takagamine, Kyoto, Japan
Nearest Airport: Kansai International Airport (KIX) – 90 min drive
Currency: Japanese Yen (JPY)
Best Time to Visit:

• Autumn: bold colors and crisp air
• Spring: gentle sun + cherry blossoms
• Winter: quiet, peaceful, snow-dusted pathways

Wellness Experiences You Don’t Want to Miss

Forest Bathing (Shinrin-Yoku):
A guided walk through cedar trees, moss gardens, and stillness. It’s simple, grounding, and strangely powerful.

Aman Spa Rituals:
Warm oils, slow movements, and Japanese healing techniques that release tension you didn’t know you were holding.

Meditation in Forest Pavilions:
Small wooden pavilions tucked into the trees – perfect for breathwork, journaling, or catching a moment of clarity.

Traditional Tea Ceremony:
Held in a quiet stone tea house. The pace slows down. The mind follows.

Bathhouse & Soaking Rituals:
Large soaking tubs inspired by traditional Japanese onsen. The heat does the work. You walk out lighter.

Tea Moments You’ll Appreciate

Aman Kyoto takes tea seriously.

• Morning sencha with views of the forest
• Afternoon matcha whisked slowly, the traditional way
• Herbal brews made with Japanese botanicals
• Quiet corners where tea becomes a small daily ritual

It’s simple, warm, and steadying.

Dining & Mindful Eating

Meals here honor the seasons and the land.

• Fresh Kyoto vegetables and mountain herbs
• Balanced meals that leave you energized, not weighed down
• Simple, thoughtful flavors
• Plating that feels intentional but never overdone

Every meal feels like an invitation to slow down.

Booking & Contact

Website: aman.com/resorts/aman-kyoto
Email: kyoto.reservations@aman.com

Tip: Autumn and cherry blossom season book up quickly — reserve well ahead if you want the forest-view rooms.

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There’s a habit many of us fall into.
We wait.
We wait for the “right time,” the perfect season, the special occasion. We tell ourselves we’ll take the trip when life settles down… but life has a way of staying busy.

If I’ve learned anything from years of traveling, sometimes with more enthusiasm than planning- it’s this:
I never regretted a single experience that took me to a new corner of the world. The money was spent, yes, but the memories stayed. And over time, those memories became some of my richest possessions.

Today, at 39, most of my days are devoted to building Tea Kulture. It’s meaningful work. But every now and then, a travel memory rises up – a street I wandered, a country that surprised me, a moment I didn’t know would matter- and it reminds me how valuable those experiences truly were.

They taught me something simple and important:
Tomorrow isn’t promised. And the “right moment” rarely shows up on its own.

Sometimes you have to create the moment.
Sometimes you have to say, “This is the day,” and step into it.

So if your heart’s been nudging you toward a new experience, a new place, or a reset for your spirit… consider this your reminder.

Don’t wait for life to slow down.
Make the moment now.

Your future self will be glad you did.

XO Lili