4 of the Best Walking Retreats to Improve Your Wellbeing

A wealth of research shows that walking has significant benefits to health and wellbeing. Walking is a free aerobic activity that increases the heart rate and burns calories. In this article, we look at four of the world’s best walking retreats and the unique opportunities they offer to connect with nature.

1. One Human Inner Peace Transformation Retreat, Colombia

Situated in Cundinamarca, Colombia, this five-star retreat incorporates a range of luxury facilities including: tennis courts; a spa, pool, and Jacuzzi; a golf course; private gardens and terraces; satellite TV and Wi-Fi; a large coal barbecue and numerous dining areas; and stunning mountain, lake, and river views.

As well as one-day hiking treks, the venue offers a variety of health and wellness activities, including group work sessions; writing and self-reflection; breathwork; life coaching; yoga; dynamic meditations; and counselling sessions. The retreat also offers a variety of therapies at its nearby spa.

Venue highlights include spectacular views of the surrounding Apulo Mountains, as well as the nearby river and abandoned railroad, complete with heritage bridges. The resort’s stunning terraces and private gardens provide tranquil spaces where guests can relax and unwind. Rich in wildlife, the retreat is popular with bird watchers and nature lovers, with wild peacocks, small foxes, iguanas, and hawks frequently spotted.

2. Spiritual Wellness Journey, Bhutan

This wellness tour provides guests with the unique opportunity to experience the magic of the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. Its spectacular allure captivates visitors as they traverse a country steeped in history, holy sites, and breathtaking landscapes. The tour is presented by Klara Glowczewska, Travel Editor for Town and Country. Glowczewska is accompanied by Yoga Teacher Mala Barua; Yoga Instructor Jahnavi Sheriff; and local guides.

Guests are invited on a life-changing journey wandering through rhododendron forests; picnicking in green valleys; hiking to some of the world’s most sacred sites; and attending evening prayers at Buddhist monasteries. Venues incorporated within the journey offer complete relaxation, with visitors listening to the rush of streams and flutter of prayer flags as they breathe in the pure mountain air.

The Spiritual Wellness Journey lends itself to mindful exploration of individual spiritual yearnings. It offers guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the history, culture, legends, and ancient traditions of Bhutan.

3. Yoga and Walking Retreat, Spanish Pyrenees

This venue offers a variety of health and wellness activities. These include wild swimming in local rivers and pools, as well as hiking across the dramatic mountain landscape of the Spanish Pyrenees.

Although a somewhat active vacation, it offers plenty of downtime for guests to attend yoga classes and nutrition and meditation workshops, as well as enjoy optional massages and vegetarian meals. Specializing in raw food diets, the venue also offers power drink workshops, with meals cooked in the Pyrenean style, incorporating plenty of organic, locally grown produce.

The retreat incorporates guided treks through the Ordesa National Park. Alongside the Picos de Europa, this is Spain’s joint-oldest nature reserve, protected since 1918. The spectacular limestone Pyrenees dominate the four valleys of Pineta, Escuain, Ordesa, and Añisclo. The region is home to Monte Perdido, the third-highest peak in the Pyrenees, with a summit 3,335 meters above sea level.

Featuring mountains, rivers, pasturelands, and woodlands rich in pine and beech, the sanctuary is home to a variety of different species, including 65 bird species and 32 different types of mammals. Some of the rarest and most famous creatures found in the region include the lammergeyer, stoat, brown trout, marmot, Pyrenean frog, and chamois.

4. Jetwing Kaduruketha, Sri Lanka

Nestled within Sri Lanka’s southeastern foothills, the resort of Jetwing Kaduruketha is focused on agriculture, celebrating a sustainable, ecofriendly way of life that has shaped the nation for centuries. It is nestled in the village of Wellawaya. Modelled after traditional village homes, accommodation is rustic with a touch of luxury, invoking the spirit of Sri Lanka.

Perched amongst Wellawaya’s lush paddy fields and rolling hills, the resort enjoys a secluded, yet conveniently well-connected location within reach of the island’s most important attractions. Inspired by ancient architecture, the spa offers a variety of treatments and therapeutics.

The resort builds on a long history of sustainable tourism, providing a rural home-away-from-home in spectacular surroundings. The resort offers guided treks, including village walks, nocturnal wildlife trails, and a tree trail. There are also dedicated bird watching experiences and a variety of other outdoor excursions.

For visitors seeking to immerse themselves in nature, Uda Walawe National Park is close by. The region is well-known throughout Sri Lanka for its wild buffalo, extensive elephant population, and spotted deer. Another hotspot for observing wild elephants is the nearby Hadapanagala Tank. In addition, Yala National Park, a short car distance away, is renowned as one of the best locations to spot the elusive Sri Lankan leopard.