From regenerative retreats and visionary brands to the changemakers shaping conscious travel, Insider’s Guide to Spas curates the standout people, places, and products from Synergy Bali—and offers a glimpse into the future of transformational wellness experiences.
Top Properties: Standout Destinations from Synergy Bali
From sacred healing retreats and pioneering medical sanctuaries to regenerative resorts and next-generation wellness escapes, these properties are shaping the future of transformational travel.
The new Vitality Centre at Revīvō
Tucked into the serene hills of Bali, Revīvō Wellness Resort is a sanctuary for transformative wellbeing, rooted in sustainability and local craftsmanship. Host of the third annual Synergy –The Retreat Show, Revīvō curates a deeply immersive experience, from organic, garden-to-table dining to bespoke collaborations with artisans like Gaya Ceramics and Fields of Yarrow, a Bali-grown clean skincare brand. I experienced an outstanding facial using this line at the property’s Remissio Spa. Dian, my esthetician, thoroughly cleansed my skin a number of times and used a turmeric scrub and a rose and mulberry mask. The facial involved 15 minutes of Balinese-style acupressure and 15 minutes of the best gua sha I have ever experienced. The resort just unveiled its thoughtfully designed Vitality Centre—a pioneering facility where advanced diagnostics, longevity therapies, and integrated wellness programs designed to nurture beauty, vitality, and optimal health in perfect harmony with nature are on offer.
Amid South Africa’s scenic Western Cape Winelands, Santé Wellness Retreat & Spa offers a luxurious sanctuary for those seeking deep rejuvenation. Surrounded by the majestic Drakenstein mountains, Santé blends uncomplicated elegance with high-tech and high-touch wellness through its Health Optimizing Royal Retreat, pioneering Bio-Energy Centre, and expansive wellness facilities. Guests can customize stays starting from two days, enjoying healthy cuisine, serene villa and suite accommodations, and restorative amenities including heated pools, fitness and yoga studios, and tranquil labyrinth walks. At Santé, cutting-edge health technologies meet the timeless power of touch, creating a space where the body’s natural healing processes are reawakened. Every visit—whether for a day, a retreat, or a longer immersion—is an invitation to nourish vitality, quiet the mind, and ignite a deeper sense of wellbeing.
Cradled by sacred springs in the Balinese jungle, Como Shambhala Estate remains a benchmark for transformative wellness. Thirty years since its founding, the Estate continues to embody a deeply personalized approach, moving away from group retreats to tailor each journey to the individual. Wellness Paths—multi-night programs rooted in prevention and holistic renewal—combine expert diagnostics, bespoke therapies, and the Estate’s celebrated Como Shambhala Kitchen cuisine. Designed in harmony with nature, the property features state-of-the-art facilities alongside sacred waters, with architecture that honors Balinese tradition while offering contemporary sophistication.
Founded in 2002, The Farm at San Benito is a true destination spa—and a pioneer in holistic medical wellness long before retreats became a global trend and longevity the word du jour. Set on 52 lush hectares south of Manila, The Farm blends science-backed programs with nature’s healing energy, offering doctor-supervised pathways for detox, disease prevention, and transformative wellbeing. Early to recognize emerging needs, The Farm introduced innovative retreats like Sleep Recovery and Holistic Cancer Care years ahead of the industry. Following the pandemic, it launched its Immune Intelligence Program to meet a new era of health challenges. With over 100 international awards and a team of eight on-site doctors, The Farm remains one of the world’s leading sanctuaries for integrated healing and renewal.
A serene treatment room at TIA Wellness Resort
Set along the white sands of Vietnam’s Central Coast, TIA Wellness Resort blends understated luxury with integrated wellbeing. Guests are invited to break from routine through Wellness Inclusive and Retreat Inclusive programs that pair daily spa treatments with breathwork, yoga, creative workshops, and personal wellness coaching. The resort continues to evolve with innovative offerings, from a science-backed beverage menu focused on gut health, collagen support, and stress reduction, to new therapies like Vietnamese cupping, Deep Tissue Leg Recovery, and Holistic Head & Neck Harmony. The Body & Mind Cleanse retreat introduces intermittent fasting and raw plant-based cuisine for deeper renewal, while WELL with TIA, a newly launched YouTube channel, extends the experience beyond the stay with yoga, HIIT, and breathwork classes. Private pool villas, lush wellness spaces, and proximity to World Heritage sites complete a setting where transformation feels both effortless and lasting.
Positioned at the forefront of sustainable luxury, Red Sea Global is reshaping tourism along Saudi Arabia’s west coast with a portfolio of responsibly developed destinations. Three standout resorts with strong wellness pillars include Equinox Resort AMAALA, where sports, fitness, and high-performance living meet the art of rejuvenation; Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, an architectural homage to Nabataean heritage set against sweeping desert landscapes; and Clinique La Prairie Health Resort AMAALA, the Swiss pioneer’s first global expansion, blending cutting-edge longevity science with ultra-luxury hospitality. These wellness-driven retreats represent a bold new chapter for sustainable travel in the Middle East.
Blending historic grandeur with contemporary wellness, Boringdon Hall is a five-star manor retreat overlooking the Devon countryside. Its award-winning, adults-only Gaia Spa offers natural, restorative therapies—ranging from Crystal and Raindrop Therapy to chakra-balancing rituals using Gaia Skincare. Wellness retreats center around yoga and mindful restoration, while guests seeking a deeper sanctuary can stay in the Wellness Suites, “Apollo” and “Hypnos,” designed for pure rejuvenation with private outdoor spa baths, rain showers, and organic Gaia amenities. Michelin-starred dining at Àclèaf, serene manor accommodations, and countryside views complete Boringdon Hall’s uniquely refined retreat experience.
Toja Spa at Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape
Rooted in a vision of travel as a force for good, Banyan Group continues to lead with purpose, sustainability, and community connection. Their newest gem, Buahan, a Banyan Tree Escape, redefines barefoot luxury with just 16 open-air villas tucked into the Balinese jungle. Designed for escapists, wellness-seekers, and adventurers alike, Buahan offers soul-nourishing experiences—from zero-waste, earth-to-table dining and foraging expeditions to Moon Yoga and the deeply spiritual Soul Freedom Journey at the resort’s private waterfall. With nature-immersive design, holistic healing at Toja Spa, and a strong commitment to local culture and regenerative travel, Buahan embodies Banyan Group’s future-forward spirit while honoring its founding principles of embracing the environment and empowering people.
At Joali Being, the Maldives’ first dedicated wellbeing island, the journey toward “weightlessness” begins with the Four Pillars: Mind, Skin, Microbiome, and Energy. Built on biophilic design principles, this 68-villa sanctuary invites guests to rebalance through five- to ten-night programs focused on vitality, hormonal balance, sleep recovery, and digestive health. Seasonal retreats, intimate by design, offer personalized pathways to renewal, while elemental therapies unfold across the Discovery Sound Path, hydrotherapy hall, herbology center, and yoga pavilions. Guided by in-house wellbeing experts, herbalists, culinary artisans, and a tea sommelier, Joali Being creates a rare and transformative island experience.
On Bali’s unspoiled east coast, Hotel Komune and Beach Club brings together barefoot luxury, wellness, and surf culture at the famed Keramas break. Designed for active escapes, Komune’s Health Hub offers premium facilities for yoga and fitness retreats, daily classes, and plant-based dining, while the Joglo Spa delivers traditional Balinese therapies. Family-friendly accommodations, a lively beachfront, and three stunning yoga studios create a dynamic retreat setting where surf, wellness, and community converge against the backdrop of one of Bali’s most iconic waves.
Located in Australia’s mineral-rich Daylesford region—home to the largest collection of mineral springs in the Southern Hemisphere—Samadhi RetrEAT is a sanctuary where healing waters, sacred landscapes, and transformational journeys converge. Created by Wayne and Annah Mirananda, Samadhi is purpose-built according to Feng Shui principles, offering bespoke retreats that blend natural stillness with dynamic personal growth. Programs such as the Inner Peace and Transformation retreats draw on meditation, energy healing, and mindfulness to help guests move beyond emotional turbulence and rediscover balance, resilience, and self-acceptance. Private accommodations, lush gardens, and quiet spaces complete this refuge, where peace is the signature sound and renewal unfolds in the lap of nature.
Changemakers in Healing, Travel, and Connection
Wayne and Annah Mirananda of Samadhi Retreat; photo by Robert Marnika
From healers and retreat curators to creative travel pioneers, these individuals are helping to reshape the way we experience wellbeing, connection, and exploration.
Described as “paradigm shifters,” Wayne and Annah Mirananda embody a rare fusion of grounded wisdom and otherworldly presence. As founders of Samadhi Retreat (see above), they bring more than 40 years of healing practice into an integrated approach that balances Eastern and Western traditions. Annah’s journey—from the world of celebrity pop culture to spiritual healing—infuses her work with empathy, discretion, and nurturing grace. Wayne, a healer and counselor specializing in loss and transformation, channels intuitive, outcome-focused energy to guide profound breakthroughs. Together, they have built Samadhi as a sanctuary for personal renewal, carrying lightness, humor, and a kind of luminous authenticity that is as rare as it is unforgettable.
Chiara Mascarucci, co-founder of Blind Experiences, believes that true luxury today is “not having to choose.” Sparkling with life, creativity, and curiosity, Chiara brings an unmistakable Italian warmth to her work, shaping journeys where discovery is the destination. What began as a surprise honeymoon for close friends—where every stop unfolded through sealed envelopes—has evolved into a global concept of bespoke, secret adventures. Along with Andrea Lazzarini Viti and Fabio Prestijacopo, she crafts luxury escapes, family trips, and transformative journeys designed to reveal themselves moment by moment, inviting travelers to reconnect with wonder, spontaneity, and joy.
Sophie Benge, founder Meditation in Touch
After 25 years as a journalist, author (The Tropical Spa, 1999), and consultant in the international wellbeing industry, Sophie Benge experienced a profound awakening during a female sexuality workshop that changed the course of her work. Today, she is dedicated to helping women reconnect with their feminine energy through Meditation in Touch—a slow, sensorial massage designed for physical and emotional release. Moving sensitively across the abdomen, chest, neck, and face, Sophie’s flowing, poetic technique opens energy pathways and invites a return to one’s sacred feminine self. I experienced a powerful session with her at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay (more to come on that).
Mellini Monique, founder of Vocal Culture Garden, radiates presence even before she speaks. When she shares that there’s no such thing as an “authentic” voice, the statement feels immediately convincing—especially as she leads exercises to locate the voice in different parts of the body and notice how it shifts with emotions like anger or sadness. Her fundamental point: your voice is a creation. Understanding what you have created—and whether it serves who you are today—can be a powerful tool for healing trauma, strengthening relationships, building influence, and finding greater peace of mind.
Kornelia Schwitzer, a holistic wellness expert from South Tyrol, Italy, is the founder and managing director of SilberQuarzit Experience, a multisensory ritual developed between 2009 and 2011. A gentle yet powerful force, she emits an ethereal energy—ageless, timeless, almost haloed in light. Specializing in exclusive naturopathic healing rituals rooted in emotional intelligence and energy work, Kornelia has earned international recognition and collaborates with luxury hotels and venues around the world.
Quiet and gentle with a piercing intellect, Rajesh Ramani, co-founder, Mindfulness and Beyond, is a spiritual teacher and former monastic whose presence radiates calm clarity. Together with co-founder Smitha Jayakumar, he leads Mindfulness and Beyond, a heart-centered platform devoted to mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Blending ancient Eastern wisdom with contemporary Western psychology, their immersive retreats, online courses, and personal mentoring sessions guide participants through deep inner work and conscious transformation. At the heart of their methodology is awareness as a way of life—cultivating presence, shifting emotional states, and unlocking the potential for a more meaningful, purpose-driven existence.
Sallie Fraenkel (left) and Wendy Bosalavage (center), founders Red Bird House, with Mary Bemis at Synergy, The Retreat Show, Bali
Longtime spa and wellness aficionados, Sallie Fraenkel and Wendy Bosalavage are the co-founders of Red Bird House, a serene retreat space set on seven acres in the Catskills near Bethel Woods. The inspiration first came to Sallie during a corporate women’s retreat in the Dominican Republic, where a red bird encounter symbolized her journey from head to heart. With three decades in TV, film, wellness, and hospitality, Sallie now channels her expertise into retreats and community-building through Red Bird House and Mind Body Spirit Network. Wendy, a leader in spa, wellness, and hospitality for over thirty years, brings a passion for mindful living and retreat design, creating immersive gatherings focused on connection, wellbeing, and personal renewal.
Products: Purpose-Driven Wellness Essentials
From bio-fermented wellness coffee to sustainable capsule wardrobes and healing rituals rooted in ancient traditions, these standout brands are shaping a more mindful, regenerative approach to self-care.
ReSaltZ, created by Seoul-based entrepreneur YJ Kwon, draws on the longstanding tradition of salt therapy in Korean healing practices. Inspired by her own experience finding relief from chronic migraines through salt baths, Kwon developed ReSaltZ to modernize the use of mineral-rich salt from Bigeumdo Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve known for its exceptionally pure sea salt. Incorporating teachings from traditional Korean medicine and her family’s herbal remedies, ReSaltZ offers bath salts, skincare, and body care products designed to support detoxification, balance skin health, and restore the body’s natural equilibrium.
Imunika Wellness Coffee
Cornell graduate Jinhu Park launched Imunika Wellness Coffee to bring the heritage of Korean fermentation to the modern wellness ritual. Inspired by a family legacy of award-winning fermentation and shaped by personal loss during the pandemic, Park developed a bio-fermented coffee naturally rich in immune-supporting mushroom beta-glucans. Crafted with whole beans that are low in acidity and smooth on the palate, Imunika offers a way to nourish immune health without disrupting daily habits. As Marina Grey, Director of Coffee at Bean Box, notes, Imunika is “like the coffee version of visiting a Korean spa—a very special, luxury coffee experience you just can’t find anywhere else.”
Rooted in the sacred wisdom of Korea’s Mt. Jiri—the country’s first designated national park—Jirisan Chung-Gang-Won was founded by tea master Yoon Kyung-soon, Korea’s first certified herbal tea master and a longtime practitioner of acupuncture and traditional medicine. Drawing on nearly three decades of expertise and the teachings of Dongui Bogam, she creates herbal teas that blend traditional healing with accessible daily rituals. In an era of technological advancement and increasing mental fatigue, her philosophy centers on restoring balance and addressing the invisible strains of modern life through nature’s remedies. Alongside her daughters, she continues to cultivate herbal medicines on the slopes of Jiri Mountain, with plans underway for a wellness retreat that will integrate tea therapy, energy healing, and holistic rest. At Synergy Bali, I sampled Elemental Harmony teas and experienced an energy reading through a bio-information device designed to match herbs to individual energetic needs—an early glimpse into a larger vision still unfolding.
Handmade in Britain using traditional methods—such as hand-blending, slow infusions, and small-batch production—GAIA Skincare is a natural wellness brand inspired by the Greek goddess of Mother Nature. Founded in 2016 by Diane Nettleton, owner of Boringdon Hall and Gaia Spa in Devon (see above), the line was created to bring greater integrity and connection to spa wellness. Each formula blends high-quality plant actives and essential oils, thoughtfully selected for their benefits to both body and mind. With signature blends like Awakening, Balancing, and Calming, GAIA supports wellbeing without the use of harsh chemicals or synthetic dyes. Standout products include a crystal-infused lip balm and a gentle, effective facial cleanser.
The cashmere wrap and tights are two standouts in Inu8’s capsule collection
Longtime friends Cassandra Carey and Karen Pethard created Inu8 Wellleisure to offer a refined alternative to conventional activewear: a thoughtfully designed eight-piece capsule wardrobe focused on holistic wellness, sustainability, and timeless style. Drawing on backgrounds in technical apparel construction and natural wellness, the founders designed Inu8 for women who value comfort, durability, and classic design. Crafted from sustainable and recycled materials—including recycled nylon, Coolmax® blends, and responsibly sourced down—the collection emphasizes fit, function, and longevity, with OEKO-TEX certified dyes used throughout. Designed to work seamlessly together, the capsule is really all you need to pack for your next retreat, and its versatile, elevated essentials make it a natural fit for spa retail.
The 2025 Synergy show will take place at Is Molas Resort in Pula, on the southern coast of Sardinia. Set between the Mediterranean Sea and Sardinia’s rugged landscapes, the resort will offer a peaceful, natural backdrop for connection, celebration, and the next evolution of Synergy.
For more information, email info@theretreatshow.com or visit theretreatshow.com.
Mary Bemis
Mary Bemis is Founder & Editorial Director of InsidersGuidetoSpas.com. An advocate for all things spa, Mary forged a vocabulary for spa reportage that is widely used by those who cover the issues today. Recently honored as a Top 30 Influential Voice Transforming Wellness by Medika Life, Mary is an inaugural honoree of Folio’s Top Women in Media Award. Her spa media roots run deep—in 1997, she launched American Spa magazine, in 2007, she co-founded Organic Spa magazine, and in between serving on the ISPA and NYSPA Board of Directors, she was on the launch teams of Luxury SpaFinder and New Beauty magazines. Named a "Wonder Woman of Wellness" by American Spa magazine, Mary was honored by the International Spa Association with the distinguished ISPA Dedicated Contributor Award. She is a special advisor to the non-profit Global Wellness Day.
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