Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Awards 2024 Winners

This year’s Condé Nast Traveller Wellness & Spa Guide was launched on Monday 29 January at London’s iconic Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in front of an audience of health and wellness experts, property owners and spa enthusiasts from across the globe.

Featuring only the world’s very best spa retreats, boot camps, medical clinics, yoga retreats and detox & weight loss programmes, here’s a look at some of the night's big winners:

Live Your Best Life - SHA Wellness Clinic, Spain

It’s a rarity indeed to find a Spa that is just about to celebrate 15 years at the very top of its game, but then this is SHA Wellness Clinic we are talking about. They are used to being trailblazers, the head of the pack, being leaders and innovators and always at the forefront of what the wellness traveller seeks; cutting edge techniques, programmes that deliver big, and the very best experts in the business. It is no wonder SHA has such a high percentage of repeat guests, this speaks volumes for the efficacy of its treatments - guests take a pilgrimage for their annual MOT or go to lose weight, to detox or to get fit, and they know they will get the results.  No health subjects are taboo at SHA, they are constantly on the lookout for the next scientific innovation that will effect real and lasting change to people’s lives. 

Ultimate Reboot - Absolute Sanctuary, Thailand

If you are partial to small but brilliant spa hotels, then this Koh Samui hideaway is one to hole up in. We have been visiting Absolute Sanctuary for over 15 years and not only does it offer brilliant wellness and fitness programmes, but you can get a week’s stay here, including flights from the UK, for less than what many European spas charge for a long weekend! It excels at Reformer Pilates, yoga and detox, as well as weight loss. The teachers are dynamic and adept at getting the most out of their pupils, with the classes varied, fun and gut-busting. The food, from their Love Kitchen, is also exquisite – zingy fresh salads, ceviche and spring rolls, chilled soups and curries – with all ingredients locally sourced. They are also red hot on checking the credentials and provenance of all of their meat products, so you can be sure they are organic and hormone-free.

Euro MediMagic - Lanserhof Sylt, Germany

Located off Germany's North Sea coast on the popular holiday island of Sylt, the ultra-luxurious and uber-stylish Lanserhof Sylt is the latest addition to the award-winning Lanserhof Group's stable of medical clinics. Designed by the internationally renowned architect Christoph Ingenhoven, no expense was spared in creating this state-of-art medical spa, which blends seamlessly into its surroundings and uses only ecological and health-friendly building materials in its construction. Its breathtakingly beautiful setting and stunning architectural design aside, the main reason that people are drawn to Lanserhof Sylt is Lanserhof's world-renowned LANS Med Concept, which combines the Mayr Cure, traditional naturopathy and the most advanced medical techniques. 

Family First - Forte Village Resort, Italy

You want to travel with your family in tow, to somewhere where the children have plenty to keep them occupied, to a place that caters for toddlers and older kids alike, but you definitely don’t want to compromise on your holiday - one that offers sumptuous food, a great spa and ample time for you and your loved ones to reconnect. Is this a pipe-dream though? Can you really find such a place that will tick all the family boxes? You sure can, and a good place to start is Forte Village Resort in Sardinia - luxury accommodation, healthy food options, a great spa for Mum and Dad, a brilliant kid’s club that will amuse and comfort the toddlers, and babysitting on tap. A place that will also satisfy the older kids with world-class sporting activities, fun games and plenty of time away from their parents with like-minded new friends.

Forever Icon - COMO Shambhala Estate, Indonesia

There are few places on earth that match the dramatic setting of the recently refurbished COMO Shambhala Estate – a private sanctuary in the middle of a jungle, perched high above the rainforest looking down to the river below, and just a short journey from Bali’s spiritual centre of Ubud. Nature reigns supreme here; the energy is palpable and it immediately feels therapeutic. The Wellness Retreat is equally profound, with top-notch facilities as standard, ahead-of-the curve treatments and programmes, and the very best practitioners on site. There are Ayurveda doctors to sort your doshas, nutritionists to help your sluggish gut, and some brilliant TCM practitioners to calm your adrenalins. COMO Shambhala Estate is as good as it gets - come for complete relaxation and restoration, to be healed and nurtured, and leave with a long-term spring in your step.