A wellness holiday is a practice in rejuvenation, self-care, and balance. There’s nothing better than escaping the hustle and bustle of daily life and giving yourself the space to renew your mind, body, and soul. These serene tours are more than just a vacation; they’re designed to recharge, reset, and restore your well-being so you’re ready for whatever life throws at you next.
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Unlock the Splendours of Japan for true tranquility
In this 13-day tour of Japan, you’re invited to embrace stillness. Even in bustling Tokyo, where you’ll start the tour with a visit to Sensoji Buddhist Temple, the city’s oldest temple dating all the way back to 628! You’ll also visit other amazing temples, like the Zentsuji Temple in Kagawa, birthplace of high priest Kobo Daish, one of the most revered figures of Japanese Buddhism. These temples instil a deep sense of calm, making Japan perfect for a wellness holiday of stillness and contemplation.
These temples symbolize the serene, subtle beauty of Japan. You’ll also find this while we explore the country’s small rural villages, like Oshino Hakkai. The sky is so beautiful here, especially when its reflected in the natural spring water ponds made up of melted Mt. Fuji snow. Another place is the sleepy mountain village of Gokayama, where you’ll get to experience washi paper workshop. Here you’ll see how Japan’s mindful approach to life and work is something you can take away for your own wellbeing. Who better to learn this from than a professional Tea Master in Kyoto, who’ll show you how to prepare Japanese matcha in a Tea Ceremony influenced by Zen Buddhism.
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You can meditate on all of these incredible things you’ll learn throughout the trip as you relax in Japanese hot springs, like in the mountain village of Kotohira. Here you’ll stay in a traditional Japanese ryokan and feel at peace in a relaxing soak in the onsen (hot spring) bath.
Unlock Japanese serenity on Splendours of Japan
See Scenic Scandinavia and its Fjords for fairytale charm
While Japan instills a sense of still, subtle peace, Scandinavia’s epic fjords are a lesson in awe-inspiring humility. When faced with the vast Nordic power of the fjords, your worries become minuscule, slowly melting away. On Scenic Scandinavia and its Fjords, you’ll get just that. Top highlights include the legendary ‘King of the valleys’ Gudbrandsdalen, with incredible mountains, mighty rivers, and lush forests. Plus UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord, where you can sit back on a relaxing cruise and take in the snow-capped mountains, powerful waterfalls and tiny villages that have inspired painters for centuries. Let’s not forget the epic vistas surrounding the villages of Geiranger and Stavanger too.
Couple this thundering power of Norway’s nature with the cute, quaint, progressive culture in Scandinavia and you’ll find a complex feeling of wellbeing that’s difficult to replace. This quaint Scandinavian culture is summed up with the word Hygge. This Danish and Norwegian word describes a ‘cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality.’ Think thatched cottages, fairytale villages, fluffy rugs and rustic fireplaces.
You’ll get a healthy dose of Hygge on your 14-day tour, especially with villages like Dragør in Denmark. Cute cottages and a sleepy harbor surround you as you wander through tiny cobbled roads and snack on traditional Danish treats. You’ll find a similar fairytale charm in Odense, birth place of Hans Christian Andersen, and in the Stockholm neighborhood of Gamla Stan, where little has changed since the 16th and 17th centuries. The charm doesn’t stop there; it’s the people who really make it come to life. No-one exemplifies this more than the Øvre-Eide family, who’ll host you for a Be My Guest Dinner on their livestock farm in Norway, which has been a working farm since the 1500s.
My story begins just outside of Bergen in Norway…on a beautiful farm owned by the Øvre-Eide Family. This was the destination for our “Be My Guest” Dinner on our “Scenic Scandinavia and it’s Fjords” trip with Trafalgar in May 2019. The farm has been worked by the same family for five generations. My husband David and I were two of the lucky twelve that had the privilege of dining down in their 500 year old meat and food cellar! If you are ever asked to volunteer to “dine in the dungeon” do it! You just might be pleasantly surprised! It was truly special. We both came away saying “what an absolutely amazing, once in a lifetime experience!” Thank you to the Øvre-Eide Family for making our visit to your home so memorable. – Leith S.
With awe-inspiring nature and a fairytale charm, Scandinavia is the perfect place to visit for a more adventurous wellness holiday.
Discover the beauty of Scenic Scandinavia and its Fjords
Captivating Kerala is perfect for a wellness holiday
Kerala: a place where you can leave the world behind and wash your mind in the sounds of nature, the scent of local spices, and the feeling of gentle lapping waves around your body. In 6 days you’ll engulf yourself in nature so beautiful that it melts the worries away. Like the buffer zone of the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, where you’ll have a special lesson on Kerala wildlife with a Local specialist in the dense forest. You might even spot herds of wild elephant and bison taking a drink along the shores of Periyar lake.
As you explore more of Kerala, you’ll see how water is just as much a part of the local identity as the people. Filled with canals, backwaters and lagoons, you’ll uncover the beautiful nature of this part of India through the water. And that starts with boarding one of Kerala’s iconic Kettuvallams (houseboats) for a cruise across the backwaters. Here, you’ll see how the local culture connects with the natural surroundings. Villagers wave to each other from their wooden Shikaras (traditional boats). Life slowly trundles on by the palm-fringed shoreline. Cardamom, cinnamon, and clover lingers in the air. You’ll stop by the Kumily Spice Garden and learn about spice cultivation and the role of spices in the region’s heritage. Then top your wellness holiday off with a relaxing hour-long yoga session to melt into the tranquility of this gorgeous part of India.
Uncover the tranquil waters of Captivating Kerala
Indulge in Swiss Delights for your wellness holiday
Striking mountains and still lakes make Swiss Delight the absolute best tour for those who find peace in nature – and in refined delights.
The classy Swiss way of life is enough to fill anyone with wellbeing and joie de vivre. This 9-day escapade takes you to the fromage heartland of Switzerland, to the picture-perfect town of Gruyères. Stroll down the cobblestone streets and maybe stop by the sleepy 13th-century castle that dominates the medieval town. Don’t forget to sample the famous local cheese. Then we go to UNESCO-listed Lavaux for lunch with a local vineyard owner, sampling the best local wines, cheeses and breads while looking out into the Alps.
And it is, indeed, the amazing Alps that brings so many people a sense of wellbeing. That’s why, of course, we travel up to the Jungfrau, the ‘Top of Europe’, and up to Mount Titlis. With the once-in-a-lifetime experience of walking inside a glacier and seeing breathtaking vistas on the world-famous cable car ride, this is Switzerland’s most exciting mountain trip. You can also choose the optional experience of a delightful countryside tour in horse-drawn carriages. Experience the charm of Swiss mountain life for a day as you trot around the rural community and meet local farmers, en route to a rustic homestead where you’ll sample more local specialities.
Unlock the charm of Swiss Delight
Unlock nature’s healing in Iceland including the Blue Lagoon
On this 6 day tour through Iceland, you’ll see how visiting one of the most peaceful and progressive countries in the world fills you up with inspiration, positivity, and hope. That’s not even mentioning the thermal baths, volcanic landscapes and mineral clay, all which connect you to the earth in a way no other place on earth can. You’ll feel an inner sense of peace in the sleepy village of Reykholt, home of poet and medieval scholar Snorri Sturluson. Then the natural wonders of Deildartunguhver, Europe’s highest flowing hot spring, and Snæfellsnes Peninsula’s volcanoes, lava fields and glaciers will fill you with the kind of awe that you’d find in the Norweigan fjords – only a little more primal.
And who can forget the Blue Lagoon, where the turquoise geothermal waters are said to have healing powers. This is a hot spring like no other. Take it from us, the feeling of sitting in these baby blue waters heated from the earth’s core simply melts your troubles away. The sense of serenity and security lingers for days on end, making it the perfect finale for your wellness holiday. For an extra special treat, rub your body with the lagoon’s famous silica mud; your skin will thank you for it.
Discover the healing powers of Iceland including the Blue Lagoon
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In a world that often moves too fast, wellness tours allow you to slow down, recharge, and rediscover your inner harmony. On these tours, tranquility takes center stage. Whether that’s through the epic, thundering landscapes of Iceland and Norway, or the ancient mindfulness and serenity of Japan – and everything in between. These tours promise not just relaxation but a deeper connection to yourself. Your path to rejuvenation begins here.