Rediscover and connect with yourself

From weekend photography retreats to multi-day tours and retreat places, we’ve curated some of our most recommended wellness experiences to help you rediscover your more connected, purposeful self this year. Wellness is not just eating healthy and exercise, it’s mindfulness, finding joy, slowing down, and sleeping well.

Breathe deeply as you imagine finding time for yourself in places like Bali, Spain, Thailand and California, with these JourneyWoman Verified retreats from our Women’s Travel Directory.

1. Reconnect to Women in California, October 2022

JourneyWoman’s first-ever wellness retreat draws on the wisdom of 13 best-selling authors, life coaches, activists, award-winning photographers, entrepreneurs and travel experts to help women reconnect to their purpose.  In partnership with luxury women-only tour company Girls Guide to Prais, attendance is limited to 60 women at the 200-acre Mandala Springs Wellness Center from October 20-24, 2022. gGuests can connect to nature, glamp, camp or stay with friends in RVs for a more authentic experience.

“As guests of the world, we must make meaningful contributions when we travel,” said Doni Belau, CEO and Founder, Girls’ Guide to Paris and Beyond. “This is a unique opportunity to join a circle of powerful, wise women, be inspired by their courageous stories and become healthier, stronger, and more purposeful travelers.”

Learn more: Women’s Travel Wisdom

2. Find your bliss in Bali 

Want to explore Bali but don’t want to deal with big groups that can’t deeply experience the magic, people, and unique culture like a small group can? Then join renowned Bali expert Cathy Gotfried on the 25th Babes in Bali tour from October 23- Nov 6 as she WOWS you while exploring all her favorite and secret places! Culture, spirituality, spas, yummy food, divine shopping, ancient temples, glorious beaches, breathtaking snorkelling and gorgeous hotels.

Our trips are constantly evolving,” says Cathy, “and I not only organize the groups but I have the pleasure of personally escorting each one.  With my love of the beauty, culture and people of Bali, you know you’ll be in good hands.  Bali is a place of wonder (not to mention incredible shopping, spas and culinary experiences!) and I am confident that you’ll share this feeling after our first few days of exploring the countryside and enjoying the gracious hospitality of the people of this magical tropical paradise.”

Learn more: Babes in Bali

3. Rediscover your adventurous self in Thailand 

Cat Gert and Veronique Van Hoorick are the co-founders of Roots Journeys, which offers eco-friendly and mindful travel in Thailand, Bali and the Himalayas. Cat and Veronique have been organizing and leading small group tours in South East Asia and the Himalayas for the last 15 years and want to help women reconnect to themselves and Mother Nature in their journeys.

“Locally based tourism can bridge this gap and help to empower locals,” Cat says. “Women can make a difference by choosing a tour company that gives back to the community and pays their staff well. We put a lot of energy to choose nature lodges and resorts, where you can retreat and recharge. A safe space where you can withdraw from the hustle and bustle. We avoid working with shopping guides and choose local guides and partners who work from the heart and love sharing their culture and knowledge.”

From October 30 – November 11, Roots Journey is leading a 13-day Wild Nature Adventure in Northern Thailand, which includes a celebration of the festival of Light: Loy Kratong. Discover Thai culture in an original way, raft through the untouched jungle, interact with majestic elephants and stay overnight at different Hill Tribe villages to experience their daily life. Start every day with yoga and learn Thai cooking at an organic farm.

“We are passionate about our women’s adventures,” Cat says. “There is something magic that happens when women reunite and inspire each other. We empower women to travel by themselves.”

Learn more: Roots Journeys 

4. Try a Mindful Retreat in Mexico

Join Girls’ Guide to Paris and founder Doni Belau to start the new year off right. Discover what makes for a happier, healthier, more peaceful life with Caren Osten certified Positive Psychology Life Coach and Mindfulness expert in Todos Santos, Mexico, from January 8-13, 2023.

During our time together in gorgeous Todos Santos on the Baja peninsula we’ll discover the benefits of mindfulness and learn ways to increase positivity and resilience, reduce stress, and nurture relationships. We’ll begin our year with a toolkit of practical strategies, including mindfulness meditation, gratitude, boosting positivity, and self-compassion.

Todos Santos Mexico can be described as a “hippie-surfer-meets-yogi” kind of place where while sitting on the beach, you can see whales jump out of the ocean in celebration. The weather is picture perfect and the beach is stunning. There’s a lot of magic in the air in this spectacular oasis.

Get $250 off with promo code #JWTodos

Learn more: Joy in Todos Santos

5. Calling all Animal Lovers: Let’s Meet in Nepal

 If you’re a traveler who is looking to lend a helping hand, Expedition: Nepal might just be your cup of tea.  Join the founders of Animal Experience International (AEI) Nora and Heather, on a 10-day trip to Nepal from November 16-26, 2022. You’ll get to experience the joy of helping at two dog welfare programs. The morning will start with feeding, walking and playing with pups, while the afternoon consists of museums, temples, heritage sites, and the views of the Kathmandu Valley.

Learn more here: Expedition Nepal

6. One-on-One Coaching for Adventurous Women

In her early 30s, Shawna McKinley Robins was diagnosed with cancer, which changed the whole focus of her life and career. Today, she is a best-selling Amazon nuthor, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach and the CEO of Kaia Health and Wellness. Robins’ The Rest & Reset Academy brings together adventurous, well-traveled women who want to improve their health so they can continue doing what they love. The Rest & Reset Academy’s primary focus is to teach women how to improve their sleep, because without deep, restorative rest, the body and mind will break down quickly into chronic illness and disease. This program also focuses on improving mind-body connection, brain health, heart health, gut health, weight loss and developing a growth mindset.

“We can take back control over our bodies and our lives,” Robins says. “We can feel more vibrant, have more energy and feel good inside in our bodies again. I became a board-certified health and wellness coach so I would be in the position to work alongside medical professionals. My goal was to figure out if it was possible to reroute people’s health trajectory, stop disease and medical conditions before they took hold.”

Learn more: Kaia Health and Wellness

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