Wierd And Unusual Retreats Around The World
In the ever-evolving world of wellness travel, a new wave of retreats is capturing the imagination of adventurous souls seeking the extraordinary. From crying retreats in remote locations to unconventional therapies like laughter yoga and vinotherapy retreats. Such offbeat escapes invite travellers to step out of their comfort zones and explore wellness in ways they never imagined. These retreats offer a one-of-a-kind journey into the unexpected. Let’s discover these unique and unusual retreats around the world that promise extraordinary experiences and profound transformation.
Halotherapy or Salt Therapy
This is gaining popularity as a wellness retreat experience, offering a natural approach to enhancing respiratory and skin health. These retreats often take place in salt-rich environments, such as salt caves or rooms lined with Himalayan salt. By breathing in tiny salt particles which are believed to cleanse the airways, improve lung function and reduce inflammation. Halotherapy is also touted for its relaxing and detoxifying effects, making it a sought-after treatment for those looking to alleviate conditions like asthma, allergies and stress. As part of a holistic wellness retreat, salt therapy provides a unique way to rejuvenate both the body and mind. “SALT of Palmar” in Mauritius is an eco-friendly wellness resort offering a holistic experience that includes halotherapy sessions in a specially designed salt room. Guests can relax and breathe in the mineral-rich air, believed to cleanse the respiratory system and enhance skin health.
Crying Retreats
This unique wellness experience designed to help participants release pent-up emotions through the therapeutic act of crying. These retreats create a safe and supportive environment where individuals are encouraged to express their deepest feelings, often through guided emotional exercises, group discussions and somatic therapies. The goal is to achieve emotional catharsis, which can lead to healing, stress relief and a sense of renewal. One would engage in workshops that include emotional storytelling, watching tear-jerking films and even professional crying sessions led by facilitators. Such retreats highlight the cultural understanding that crying can be a powerful tool for emotional balance and mental well-being.
Laughter Yoga Retreats
A Laughter Yoga Retreat is an experience focused on the therapeutic benefits of laughter, helping participants relieve stress, boost mood and improve overall well-being. These retreats typically incorporate laughter yoga, group laughter exercises and playful activities designed to trigger spontaneous laughter, fostering a joyful and carefree environment. The idea is that intentional, prolonged laughter can have profound positive effects on both mental and physical health, promoting happiness. The “Laughter Yoga Course”, where participants engage in daily laughter yoga sessions, along with other wellness practices like meditation and breathing exercises, offering a holistic approach to well-being, with laughter as the central tool for healing and rejuvenation.
Vinotherapy Retreat
A Vinotherapy Retreat is luxurious wellness experience that harnesses the antioxidant-rich properties of grapes and wine to rejuvenate the body and skin. These retreats offer treatments like wine baths, grape seed scrubs and massages using wine extracts all aimed at promoting relaxation, detoxification and anti-aging benefits. Vinotherapy is rooted in the belief that the polyphenols found in grapes can help protect the skin from environmental damage, improve circulation and enhance overall vitality. At “Caudalie Spa” in Bordeaux, France, located in the heart of a vineyard, guests indulge in signature treatments like the “Crushed Cabernet Scrub” and “Merlot Wrap,” combining the healing power of grapes in a wine country escape. This retreat offers a unique blend of wellness and indulgence, making it a perfect destination for those looking to pamper themselves in an extraordinary way.
Ecstatic Dance Retreat
These are vibrant wellness experiences where participants explore self-expression and emotional release through freeform, uninhibited dance. Unlike structured dance classes, ecstatic dance retreats encourage individuals to move freely to rhythmic music, allowing them to connect deeply with their bodies and emotions in a judgment-free space. This practice is often accompanied by mindfulness exercises, breathwork and group sharing sessions, fostering a sense of community and personal liberation. The “Ecstatic Dance Festival” in Goa, India is set on beaches which combines ecstatic dance sessions with yoga, meditation and live music, creating a holistic environment for participants to explore movement, release stress and connect with like-minded individuals. This retreat is celebrated for its transformative energy, offering a unique way to experience joy and freedom through dance.
Psychedelic retreats
These are immersive wellness experiences where participants use guided, therapeutic sessions involving psychedelics, such as psilocybin mushrooms or ayahuasca to explore deep psychological and spiritual insights. These retreats are facilitated by experienced guides or shamans who create a safe, supportive environment for participants to journey inward, confronting emotional blockages, healing past traumas and gaining new perspectives on life. The process is often integrated with practices like meditation, breathwork and nature immersion, enhancing the overall transformative experience. “Rythmia Life Advancement Center” in Costa Rica offers guided ayahuasca ceremonies led by indigenous healers, combined with holistic therapies like yoga, massage and nutritional counselling. Participants are supported throughout their journey with integration sessions to help process and apply their insights, making it a comprehensive retreat for personal growth and healing.
Unf*k Yourself Retreat
This is a bold and unconventional wellness experience designed to help participants break free from negative patterns, self-doubt and limiting beliefs. These retreats use direct, no-nonsense approaches to personal development, combining intensive workshops, challenging physical activities and raw, honest group discussions. The goal is to empower individuals to take control of their lives, shed the emotional baggage holding them back and adopt a more authentic, fearless approach to living. Along the lines of the bestselling book Unfu*k Yourself by Gary John Bishop, these types of classes and retreats offer a mix of tough-love coaching, mental resilience training and practical tools for personal transformation, all delivered in a straightforward, often provocative manner and ideal for those ready to confront their inner obstacles head-on and make significant, lasting changes in their lives.
Cold therapy retreats
Although not so unusual anymore, cold therapy retreats focus on harnessing the power of cold exposure to boost physical and mental well-being. Typically involving activities like cold water plunges, ice baths and breathing exercises designed to help participants adapt to and benefit from extreme cold temperatures. The practice is known to improve circulation, reduce inflammation, enhance immune function and promote mental resilience and experiencing a deep sense of invigoration and clarity. The “Wim Hof Method Retreat” in Poland is led by Wim Hof himself, also known as “The Iceman.” This retreat teaches participants the Wim Hof Method, which combines cold exposure with specialized breathing techniques and mindset training. Participants take part in activities like ice baths and snow hikes, all while learning to control their body’s response to the cold. This retreat is celebrated for its transformative effects on both physical health and mental strength.
