Why sexual wellness is the hottest travel trend for 2025

Exploring intimacy one trip at a time

Here’s why more people are embracing sexual wellness travel this year, and why a holiday focused on intimacy and connection can be life-changing. 

Wellness, as we live and breathe it, is evolving. What we used to regard as a reason to splurge on a green juice and annual gym membership, has now seeped into almost every aspect of our routines. 

Being ‘well’ is a multifaceted state of body, mind and soul, with our evolving approaches to fitness, health, nutrition – and now intimacy – reflecting our ever-increasing desire to achieve it. 

So, it should come as no surprise that the travel scene – one that has become flooded with wellness retreats in recent years – has also turned its attention to the power of intimacy and sexual wellness. 

According to Sexologist and Somatic Sex Therapist, Jessica Wade, the complementary partnership of travel and sexual wellness is one that is long overdue. 

“It’s so exciting to witness the rise of sexual wellness as a travel trend!” Says Wade, “Sexual wellness as a travel trend is definitely on the rise - I see it in my own work as a somatic sex therapist being located in Byron Bay where I literally have women flying up from Sydney to attend my workshops! More and more people from cities, and the corporate world, are seeking out these kinds of retreats and attending my workshops focused on intimacy and pleasure.”

Unlike other quick getaways people might book throughout the year to take a break, sexual wellness retreats or offer the space to reconnect with themselves, free from the daily grind, explains Wade. 

“Sexual wellness travel is a response to the growing awareness that pleasure, emotional connection, and self-care should be just as prioritised as our careers and routines. It's the perfect way to tap into deeper intimacy and reconnect to your sensual self, ignite those wildfires within,” the sexologist explains. 

Pleasure, emotional connection, and self-care should be just as prioritised as our careers and routines. Image: Pexels

Understanding the potential – and power – of sexual wellness

As opposed to a honeymoon spent tangled up in sheets, a holiday focussed on sexual wellness encompasses much more than just the physical act of sex, “It’s about reconnecting to your body, feeling good in your skin, and nurturing meaningful connections,” Wade says. 

“A big part of my workshops is to guide women through practices that are both somatic and soulful, helping them understand how to communicate desires, listen to their bodies, and embody their pleasure. And guess what? Travel amplifies this process!”

“Imagine being in a stunning location like Byron, engaging in practices that help you tap into your inner wisdom, regulate your nervous system and tap into the infinite access to pleasure you have within, this is what sexual wellness retreats offer: a full-body experience that goes way beyond the physical act.”

A holiday focussed on sexual wellness encompasses much more than just the physical act of sex. Image: iStock

Why it pays to focus on intimacy and connection

While most couples will agree there’s nothing like a long-awaited trip to the Greek Islands to spice up their sex lives, Wade says there are far less extravagant ways to embrace sexual wellness and intimacy while on holiday. 

“When you take a break from the constant hustle, and this could be as simple as a quick interstate getaway, you create space to nurture each other in a way that’s impossible in everyday life. You can rediscover intimacy, learn to communicate your desires, and create shared memories that deepen your connection,” she says. 

“A holiday focused on intimacy and connection can be downright magical for a couple! I’ve seen firsthand how couples who attend workshops, many of them coming from fast-paced lives in Sydney or Melbourne experience profound shifts in their relationships.”

As well as rekindling passion, intimacy retreats also give couples the tools to sustain intimacy long after they leave, “It’s like hitting the reset button on your relationship – and the results are always transformative.”

Originally published as Why sexual wellness is the hottest travel trend for 2025