In a surprise to no one, stress is the number-one issue for frazzled Aussies. To help unlock instant calm, we asked a travel expert to round up four of the globe’s best wellness offerings, from the jungles of Bali to luxe Phuket escapes.

Best for rebalancing

COMO Shambhala Estate, Bali

If you’re feeling the pressure, reinvest in yourself with COMO Shambhala Estate’s Wellness Paths program. Surrounded by jungle in Bali’s wellness epicentre of Ubud, the Estate’s Connect to Rebalance retreats focus on dialling down stress and restoring balance through immersion in nature and a range of holistic practices targeting everything from executive burnout and digestive issues to specific fitness goals and injury rehabilitation. Think three-, five- or seven-night customised retreats that include body composition analyses, daily guided meditation, yoga, hydrotherapy and breathwork.

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Best for overall wellness

Anantara Layan, Phuket

Once known as Thailand’s epicentre of debauchery, Phuket continues to reinvent itself with the newly opened multi-million-dollar Layan Life wellness facility at Anantara Layan Phuket Resort. Mindfulness for Life retreats range from three to 10 nights to help unlock strategies that outsmart stress in day-to-day life. Overcome mental exhaustion with tai chi and give your body some much-needed TLC with cryotherapy and colon hydrotherapy. Not ready for the latter? You can stick to more traditional personal training and targeted day-spa treatments.

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Best for purpose-seekers

Amankora Lodges, Bhutan

Looking for a mindfulness retreat that embraces the benefits of pilgrimage, culture and connection? Run, don’t walk, to the Aman Group’s A Quest for Happiness experience in Bhutan. Going beyond studio meditation and yoga, the 12-day retreats travel between five Amankora lodges, visiting statues of Buddha, along with temples, schools, monasteries and community centres. You’ll spend time with retired Buddhist monks, meet local farmers, hike and visit a meditation centre. Other soul-enriching opportunities include the chance to help teach English and improve access to drinking water. A guide and driver will be with you for the journey, which culminates in a pilgrimage to the famous Tiger’s Nest Monastery, built in the late 1600s at more than 3000 metres above sea level. Forget day spas; this is a spiritual journey for those seeking real change.

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Best for holistic health

Six Senses Vana, India

Slow a racing mind and calm your nervous system at Six Senses Vana in northern India. Upon arrival, your health will be assessed and a schedule created that best addresses your body’s individual needs. The thinking behind it? Each program centres on a combination of Ayurveda, yoga, Tibetan healing practices and therapies, including reflexology and physiotherapy. A stay also includes meals to suit your body type and wellness goals, with the aim of helping health-seekers continue good habits when they return home. The retreat features many complimentary activities with a fascinating selection of add-ons, such as a water treatment that involves being massaged and stretched while floating in a pool and raga therapy (aka music healing).

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