scent of a silhouette | hugo ferroux at trudon

Fasano Rio de Janeiro. Photography. Daniel Pinheiro

Everything lives its best life in Brazil. From the exotic flora to the surprising fauna to the Brasileiros, everything grows bigger and better here. For those experiencing the country for the first time, a dual-city trip, combining the drop-dead natural gorgeousness of Rio de Janeiro and the architectural wet dream of São Paulo, is a recommended introduction to this vast South American beauty.

When the ice-cold caipirinhas and ridiculously toned Cariocas become a little overwhelming, or you’ve craned your neck over-appreciating the Niemeyers, it will be time to retreat and recharge with a spot of double holiday wellness. The leading Fasano Group boasts prestigious design-led hotels in Brazil’s most desirable locations and neighbourhoods, with spas offering more treatments than a Hollywood rom-com. We opted for the signature ‘Bossa Nova Therapy’ at Rio de Janeiro and ‘Relaxing Orange and Lavender Therapy’ at São Paulo locations. 

Fasano Rio de Janeiro. Photography. Bruno Fioravanti

Located on Ipanema’s classy beachfront, Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro is a discreet enclave designed by Philippe Starck and close to celebrating its 20^th year. The bijou spa invites guests to lie back and let the wellness wave crash over them. Ridiculously indulgent, the 150 mins long Bossa Nova treatment is a mix of scrub, soak and massage, starting with an exfoliating black sand scrub. The Bossa Nova playing is a welcome and energetic alternative from the typical spa soundtrack. Giving a sense of place, the 1950s beat lets the mind wander, picturing the tropical beach just outside. 

A relaxing hydro bath is a stop gap, where you are served a fresh juice from a menu selected at the beginning of your visit (Brazilians are expert mixologists in the juice department btw). Returning to the massage table, stones mimic the samba of Brazil as they ‘rattle’ across the body. An uplifting May Chang oil makes you feel as relaxed as the music and everything switches off as Rio’s laidback chaos drifts away.

Spa, Fasano Rio de Janeiro

The Tokyo of South America, São Paulo is a monster city with the high-rises to match. Mixing mid-century with modern, it’s Brazil’s cosmopolitan beating heart as it endlessly sprawls into the distance. In the city’s more salubrious neighbourhood, Jardins, the Isay Weinfeld and Márcio Kogan designed Hotel Fasano São Paulo Jardins – so good they renamed the road after it – opens up behind an unassuming exterior to reveal a centrepiece bar. The spa is housed at the top of the hotel’s tower with the swimming pool a floor below, offering unparalleled views of the lush neighbourhood down to the famous Ibirapuera Park.

Spa, Fasano São Paulo Jardins. Photography. Matias Ternes

At an unrushed 140 mins, the Fasano ‘Relaxing Orange and Lavender Therapy’ treatment is also seriously indulgent. It starts with the choice of a sauna or steam adjacent to the hotel’s indoor pool, offering a time to reflect.  A dead sea salt exfoliation follows for an energetic cleanse. A delicate foot bath is prepared using natural flowers and oils featuring the signature lavender and orange scents. The intoxicating ritual places the focus on the feet and offers a grounding moment. An hour-long hot stone massage with a burst of orange and lavender at the end completes the series of treatments, leaving you singing like Brazil’s ever-present Bem-te-vi bird. Nossa!

Discover Fasano Hotels here.

words. Marcus Jaye
images. Courtesy of Fasano Hotels

The Ritual Space, Georg Roske.

There are only a few hospitality brands that have become destinations in their own right, and Scorpios is one of them. Since opening on a windswept peninsula in Mykonos in 2015, the concept created by Thomas Heyne and Mario Hertel has grown from a beach club into a cultural phenomenon. What began as an antidote to the island’s excesses – replacing all-night partying with long lunches, sunset rituals and community-driven gatherings – has steadily influenced hospitality across the Mediterranean. But while Mykonos remains its spiritual home, it is in Bodrum where the concept feels most complete.

Perched along Turkey’s north coast overlooking the Aegean, Scorpios Bodrum unfolds across a dramatic hillside above the sea. The first impression is one of scale: stone pathways weave through olive trees and native planting, while fun buggy rides shuttle guests between different corners of the sprawling property. It’s a surprisingly enjoyable detail that quickly becomes part of the experience, transforming simple journeys into miniature adventures across the jaw-dropping landscape.

Extraordinary views stretch across the water towards distant islands, while wooden decks and terraces seem to emerge directly from the rugged coastline. Unlike many luxury resorts competing for attention along the Turkish Riviera, Scorpios doesn’t rely on overt loudness. The suggestive architecture sits comfortably within its surroundings, allowing nature to do much of the talking and bring life to the geometric shapes of the structures.

The Beach House, Georg Roske.

The Beach House, Georg Roske.

Days naturally revolve around the Beach House, where a slower rhythm takes hold. Guests move between the sea, soft sunbeds and the restaurant space, often lingering for far longer than intended. Short boat excursions depart directly from the property, offering another perspective on the coastline and reinforcing the sense of escape that defines the experience.

Food plays a central role throughout – why wouldn’t it? The Beach House menu leans into Scorpios’ signature Eastern Mediterranean approach to communal dining, where long, leisurely lunches unfold over vibrant seasonal dishes, grilled seafood and an abundance of mezze. Crispy sourdough arrives with tahini, while plates such as whipped feta with yoghurt, honey and truffle dressing, baked feta with fermented honey and grilled grapes, and cherry tomato salad with Turkish goat’s cheese showcase the kitchen’s skill for elevating simple ingredients. Freshly grilled fish and seafood feature heavily too, from calamari à la plancha and sea bass ceviche to lobster orzo cooked in a saffron bisque. For vegetarians, the standout was the zucchini linguine Alfredo. Finished with fresh mint, lemon zest, crumbled feta and crisp breadcrumbs, it was a deceptively simple dish that captured exactly what summer dining should feel like: bright, fresh and deeply satisfying without ever feeling heavy.

The Ritual Space, Georg Roske.

What separates Bodrum from many coastal destinations, however, is the emphasis on wellbeing. At the heart of the property sits the Ritual Space, a striking 1,300-square-metre structure designed around movement, reflection and connection. During the visit, guests can take part in several breathwork sessions led by practitioner Rodhø (Rodolfo Escalante), founder of Alchemy Rewire, whose approach combines pranayama techniques with CO₂ training and guided nervous system regulation.

Participants moved through breath holds, activation exercises and periods of stillness designed to create greater awareness of physical and mental states. In collaboration with neurotechnology company Mulabs, some experiences even incorporate real-time brainwave monitoring, allowing guests to observe how their nervous system responds throughout the practice.

The programme continues throughout the summer with a series of dedicated retreats and immersive experiences. Highlights include the Neuro-Alchemy Retreat (17–19 July), a three-day exploration of nervous system optimisation that combines neuroscience, brain mapping, meditation, breathwork and holistic healing practices. Earlier in the season, Immersive Wellbeing Days on 20 and 27 June bring together breathwork, strength training and recovery techniques led by David Boot, incorporating cold exposure, contrast therapy and movement-based rituals designed to build both physical and mental resilience.

Access to the Ritual Space and wellbeing programme is available through several tiers, ranging from day passes and weekly access to the Agora Pass membership, which offers monthly or seasonal access for guests seeking a deeper connection to the Scorpios community.

The Ritual Space, Georg Roske.

The Restaurant, Georg Roske.

The contrast between the Ritual Space and the energy of the terrace is part of what makes Scorpios compelling. One moment you’re immersed in deep breathwork beneath concrete walls illuminated by shifting natural light. A few hours later, you’re watching the sunset with hundreds of people gathered for one of the venue’s celebrated music rituals.

Music remains fundamental to the Scorpios identity. This season’s programme includes names such as Adriatique, Dixon, Damian Lazarus, Bedouin, WhoMadeWho, and Gordo, with performances carrying late into the evening as the sun disappears behind the Bodrum coastline.

As Bodrum continues to evolve into one of the Mediterranean’s most compelling destinations, Scorpios offers a different way to experience it. Less concerned with being seen and more interested in how people feel once they’re there. 

The Restaurant, Georg Roske.

Discover more here.

photography. courtesy of Georg Roske
words. Gennaro Costanzo

Yoga, COMO Point Yamu

Phuket is, in every sense of the word, a true paradise for visitors. Long sold to tourists for its beaches, sunshine and spectacle, the island also offers a quieter luxury that is often overlooked; the ability to slow the pulse, calm the mind and evoke a sense of serenity. Far away from the bustling markets and beach clubs, you can find a more refined beauty in Phuket that is ambrosia for the soul.

The island has leaned into its image as a relaxing paradise by pairing serious spa credentials with restorative movement, intelligent treatments and food options that balance nourishment with indulgence. All of this combines effortlessly against Phuket’s tropical backdrop.

Pool, COMO Point Yamu

the resort | COMO Point Yamu

Thoughtfully nestled on the tip of Cape Yamu, COMO Point Yamu is one of Phuket’s most polished expressions of contemporary wellness travel. This pristine resort brings together the cinematic views of Phang Nga Bay with an enchanting lifestyle offering: restorative spa experiences, design-led spaces and a strong dining programme. It earns pride of place not because it does one thing well, but because it handles the full experience – how you eat, how you move and how you recover – with unwavering coherence.

The interior design is guided by creative powerhouse Paolo Navone and is nothing short of inspired. Every space is purposeful and echoes the marine hues of the surrounding ocean. This design flows through the resort, from the lobby to the wellness facilities, including massage alcoves, sauna and steam rooms, yoga studios and the infinity-edge pool.

Nahmyaa, COMO Point Yamu

Dining here is central to the experience. The culinary line-up spans Italian, Thai and the hotel group’s health-focused COMO Shambhala Kitchen. Meals are served alongside sweeping bay views and built around local produce, seafood and bright flavours. La Sirena is the easy all-day choice, with wood-fired Italian cooking, seafood and generous breakfasts. Nahmyaa, by contrast, is where the mood turns more regionally specific, offering Southern Thai specialities in a bold, design-conscious setting.

COMO Shambhala at COMO Point Yamu

the spa | COMO Shambhala at COMO Point Yamu

Although the dining options at COMO Point Yamu are worth visiting on their own, the spa and wellness facilities are truly world-class. The COMO Shambhala facilities are extensive, encompassing eight treatment rooms, four massage alcoves, a gym, yoga studio, jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, alongside an infinity pool that keeps the sense of calm flowing long after a treatment ends. This is not a token hotel spa; it is a world-leading wellness environment designed for guests who want their stay to feel restorative in a meaningful way.

What makes the spa especially appealing is its tremendous breadth. There is the classic side of the experience that covers couples’ treatments, massages and the serene rhythm of a day spent moving between heat, water and bodywork. There is also a more future-facing approach, with newer additions such as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. Even without overcomplicating the menu, the message is clear: this is a place where beauty is approached as recovery, circulation, energy and skin health, rather than surface alone.

Phang Nga + James Bond Island, Six Senses Yao Noi

the beauty treatments | Six Senses Yao Noi

For beauty with a more personalised and sensory angle, Six Senses Yao Noi is a worthwhile inclusion. Its spa village is set in a Thai-inspired long house with individual treatment salas tucked into the tropical hillside, immediately shifting the experience away from conventional hotel beauty culture and into something more immersive and utterly charming. The focus here goes far beyond quick-fix glamour, offering treatments that reconnect skin, body and nervous system.

Beauty and wellness treatments are elevated by Six Senses’ tremendous customisation. Wellness experts use smart technology to assess your health markers, including movement and sleep patterns, allowing programmes to be tailored rather than prescribed generically.

Lobby, Twinpalms Hotels & Resorts

the wellness escape | Twinpalms Hotels & Resorts

Twinpalms Hotels & Resorts offers a more active interpretation of wellness that will resonate with travellers who like their recovery to come with a sharper edge. Across its Phuket properties, the group brings together sleek resort luxury with facilities that encourage movement, contrast therapy and low-key physical reset. At Twinpalms Surin Beach, the wellness focus includes a fully equipped 250 m² fitness centre with cardio equipment, toning machines, free weights, a studio area, sauna and steam facilities, plus access to a personal trainer.

Palm Fitness, Twinpalms Hotels & Resorts

For a more contemporary ritual, Twinpalms Tented Camp introduces a thoughtful hot-and-cold circuit. Here, the Fitness Pavilion sits within a wellness garden, alongside a central pool, massage offering, boulder-carved ice bath and custom-built wooden sauna. The central pool itself is framed by tropical flora and loungers, making it feel less like an afterthought and more like part of the recovery sequence: swim, chill, heat, repeat. It is wellness without preachiness and captures a true sense of recovery.

Bird’s Nest Pool Villa, Keemala

the holistic retreat | Keemala

Keemala oozes biophilic charm with its rainforest setting and quietly mystical atmosphere, making it one of Phuket’s most distinctive wellness destinations. Its strength lies in holistic programming that feels immersive rather than performative, weaving together yoga, meditation, bodywork and botanical therapies into longer-form retreat experiences, making it particularly attractive for guests seeking a softer, more inward-looking reset.

Among the standout treatments are the private yoga sessions, abdominal detoxification massages and VOYA organic seaweed bath rituals featured across Keemala’s retreat programmes. These are paired with therapies such as seaweed body treatments, facials, herbal steam rituals and reflexology, creating a menu that feels both elemental and results-driven. The abdominal detoxification massage adds a more targeted wellness angle, while the seaweed bath ritual brings a cocooning, skin-nourishing quality that is rejuvenating for the body and soul. Keemala’s appeal is that it does not separate outer glow from inner recalibration. Rather, it treats them as part of the same process.

Meditation Cave, Keemala

words. Anabelle Kemplen