Wellness retreats have been soaring in popularity over the past few years, with resorts making use of increasingly fancy tools to kickstart your health journey (hyperbaric chambers or cryotherapy, anyone?).
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But that’s certainly not the only way to do things, as proven by Shanti-Som, the wellness retreat brand that first opened its doors in Marbella in 2011.
Now set to open a second resort in Portugal in February 2027, Shanti-Som Algarve will offer six structured programmes focused on different goals, with the aim that the healthy habits you learn are simple enough to keep up with long after you leave.
The new 22-room retreat, which is just a 20-minute drive away from Faro Airport, is set within a restored 19th-century farmhouse surrounded by four hectares of orange and almond orchards.
“We see Shanti-Som as a hybrid of a holiday, a private wellness club and a gym,” hotel manager Ophélie Acaris said.
“You can switch off completely and be looked after, but you also leave with real, practical ways to feel stronger, healthier and happier.
“Whether someone comes for better sleep, more strength, a reset or simply time away from everyday demands, the experience is shaped around what they need.”
Guests can choose from six programmes: relaxation, yoga, pilates, detox, strength and fitness, and burnout and nervous system recovery, with the latter two being exclusive to Shanti-Som Algarve.
Strength and fitness is aimed at those who are looking to focus on longevity, bone density and muscle strength as they are getting older, and includes one-on-one training sessions, reformer Pilates, guided hikes and a full health check with a nutritional consultation.
As for burnout and nervous system recovery, guests will instead spend their days doing breathwork, guided meditations, sound healing and hot-cold contrast therapy, alongside life coaching sessions.
Unsurprisingly, the property has an impressive wellness area, complete with an infinity pool, sauna, hammam, ice bath and gym, plus private treatment rooms for massages or facials.
Each of the retreats are full-board, and you can book in for as long, or as little time, as you need.
Outside of the resort, Shanti-Som Algarve is close to beaches like Praia da Falésia and Praia da Marinha, as well as Ria Formosa lagoon.