Experiences
Activities
Wellness
Expert-led retreats at luxury hotels in 2025
Programmes worth packing a bag for
Not all getaways are about doing less. Sometimes, the best kind of holiday is the one where you come home with something new – not a fridge magnet, but a new skill, a shift in perspective or a really great risotto technique. These expert-led retreats at luxury hotels give you a chance to learn from the best, in places where the scenery is just a bonus. Here’s what’s on this year.
The Langham, London
Sauce cooking school
Michel Roux Jr. isn’t just on the wall in a portrait – he’s involved. Sauce is London’s first cookery school inside a five-star hotel, and it’s not your usual demonstration-and-applause affair. Classes are hands-on, friendly and a lot more fun than your average dinner party. Expect guidance from top Langham chefs, recipes that actually work at home and maybe a few new friends over a shared chopping board.
Dates: Ongoing
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort
Art classes with Anastasia Medvedeva
Not everyone comes back from holiday with their own handmade surfboard-shaped night light, but then not everyone learns epoxy resin art from Anastasia Medvedeva at InterContinental Maldives. She’s an international artist with a knack for turning marine life into shiny souvenirs. These sessions are surprisingly accessible – no degree in fine art needed – and give you a chance to get creative without needing to pack a paintbrush. The ocean views don’t hurt either, especially when you’re working on something that’s about to sparkle.
Dates: Until 3 May 2025
Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, Vietnam
Female wellness programme
Dr. Mindy Pelz is leading a series of retreats at Six Senses Ninh Van Bay designed specifically for women navigating hormonal shifts, especially during perimenopause and menopause. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all wellness week—it’s structured, scientific and rooted in functional medicine. Expect workshops on metabolic health, personalised spa treatments, breathwork, continuous glucose monitoring and more. It's a rare chance to tune in to what your body is saying, with someone who actually speaks the language.
Dates: Ongoing
Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel, Paris
Wine tasting with leading sommelier
Wine tastings at Hôtel de Crillon are a little different from the average swirl-and-sniff. Here, Head Sommelier Xavier Thuizat invites up to 12 guests at a time into the hotel’s Grand Cru-stocked wine cellar for 90 minutes of serious sipping. Five exceptional wines, five exquisite bites from the Executive Chef, and one very knowledgeable host. You’ll leave knowing your Burgundy from your Bordeaux – and possibly with a new favourite bottle to track down at home.
Dates: Ongoing
Santani Wellness Kandy, Sri Lanka
Movement, breath and energy workshops
Samanta Duggal’s summer residency at Santani Wellness in Sri Lanka is more than a yoga retreat – it’s a full-spectrum recalibration. Drawing on 20+ years of experience, her programme brings together yoga, sound healing, breathwork, meditative practices and movement in a beautifully remote setting. Expect laughter, stillness and the occasional sweaty moment. Samanta has taught around the world, from festivals to corporate boardrooms. Here, it’s all about reconnecting, with plenty of humour and heart.
Dates: 7 July – 7 August 2025
Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Regenerative wellness festival
The Alma Frequency retreat lands at Six Senses Crans-Montana this June, bringing together visionaries like James Nestor, Taryn Toomey, and Dr. Jess Shepherd for four days of movement, breathwork, big ideas and very good food. You’ll hike, meditate, eat, talk, and probably change your mind about a few things. It’s part festival, part retreat, and firmly anti-conference (no lanyards here). The setting? Crisp Alpine air, wildflower meadows and space to connect – with others and with yourself.
Dates: 5 – 8 June 2025