The best detox retreats: UK and abroad

The Clover Mill, Worcestershire

The Clover Mill Detox Retreat UK takes pride in its status as the UK’s first boutique Ayurvedic spa, adhering closely to the ancient Hindu tradition of nurturing the mind, body and spirit to prevent illness. It has good reason to be proud: the retreat boasts a cluster of five-star eco-friendly lodges, a converted mill and a luxurious spa set in acres of Malvern countryside. With bespoke 3-5 day retreats in a veritable haven of peace and tranquillity, it’s all about reconnecting with your ‘inner-self’.

Of particular interest is the ‘Rest and Digest – Healthy Gut Retreat’: a tailor-made plan for those suffering from IBS, gluten intolerance, energy spikes and slumps, anxiety and depression, and body image issues. The specially formulated meals of organic produce and probiotics are designed to rebalance the gut, while expert talks offer tips and tricks to maintain your healthy diet at home when you leave the retreat.

Vibe: laid back, rural nurture

£££

Simply Healing, West Sussex

With uninterrupted views of the South Downs, Simply Healing Retreat Centre is serious about the power of visual detoxification. Founder and self-professed healer, teacher and listener, Vivien, has years of experience in the art of holistic medicine and herbalism. She uses her own life experience in her teachings, and lives and breathes her long established detox programme – fresh organic juice elixirs, herbal supplements, colonic hydrotherapy, massages, and above all a good dose of tender loving care – ‘because it works’, she says. Simply Healing Retreat Centre is not glitzy, glamorous Instagram fodder, but an exceptionally, well-respected and homely rebalancing clinic for those needing a reboot.

Retreats last between five and 10 days which, cocooned under the wing of the inspiring mother figure of Vivien, seems five or 10 days too short.

Vibe: comforting and restorative

££

Lendrick Lodge Holistic Retreat and Spiritual Centre, Scotland

Lendrick Lodge is a veritable hub of spiritual learning and healing that rests on ancient Celtic land, purported to possess a magical energy. The vision of the heart-warming ‘Love your Body’ weekend retreat is to ‘inspire people to hike high in their life and dreams’. Based in the wilds of the Trossachs National Park, the detox retreat is designed to recharge the emotional as well as the physical health of its guests. The emphasis is on rejuvenation and healing – three teachers and two experienced therapists will help you ‘focus your body and mind for success’.

The Love your Body Detox is led by Stephen Mulhearn, a Shaman and Spiritual Master, and Victoria Mulhearn, a Spiritual Healer. The course includes yoga, meditation and massage therapy, as well as a session in the self-healing art of Qi Gong, and a colonic hydrotherapy treatment. Set vegetarian meals of organic produce are provided. The surrounding National Park is an added bonus: brisk walks are encouraged to refresh and calm over-frazzled brains.

Vibe: spiritual adventure.

£

The Elixir Clinic at Harrods Wellness Clinic

If your hectic work and social life simply doesn’t allow for a trip away, make a beeline for the Harrods Wellness Centre. The centre incorporates a mix of conventional therapies such as physiotherapy and osteopathy alongside facial aesthetics and beauty treatments.

For a quick detox fix, visit The Wellness Centre’s Elixir Clinic, which offers a range of hour-long detoxification treatments, administered in the form of IV Vitamin drips. The VitaDrip IVs profess to combat a multitude of minor health conditions including skin problems, flagging energy and thinning hair. For a general boost to overall health, opt for their DetoxVitaDrip, boasting a concentrated dosage of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Elixir Clinic claims that the potent mix of nutrients in their VitaDrips is ten times as absorbable as the vitamin pill varieties.

Vibe: quick fix for the time-short

£££

FX Mayr, Austria and Tenerife

The 40 year-old FX Mayr Clinic in Austria embraces purification, detoxification and renewal as the cornerstone concept of its practice. It is a trailblazer in the world of detox plans and is best known for its fasting retreat and conscious abstinence programmes, all conducted in a medically supervised environment. The FX Mayr Clinic focuses on correcting digestive illness and blends conventional medicine with a holistic approach.

Stays are typically seven or 14 days. On arrival, your assigned practitioner will conduct a scientifically approved diagnostic process to assess your current health status. This is not simply a box ticking questionnaire – it involves applied kinesiology; HRV heart rate variability, (to measure your stress coping mechanism); ultrasound scans to check the health of internal organs; and detailed laboratory analysis focusing on the state of the immune system. A nutritional regime (which can be undertaken as a silent eating programme to enhance mindfulness) is then formulated to suit your particular requirements. Massage therapies, exercise programmes, talking therapy and beauty and spa detoxification magic are also on offer to take your mind off your hunger levels. You will get results, but it’s not a retreat for the faint hearted.

FX Tenerife Hotel Oceana

For those who would like to combine their purge with the rejuvenating effects of sun and sea, try the FX Mayr detox formula as outlined above in the sun-splashed surroundings of Tenerife.

Vibe: slick, medically proficient, clinical

£££

The Banjaran Detoxification, Malaysia

This Malaysian ‘adults only’ retreat focuses on the detoxification of the mind, body and spirit, and offers a total of over 40 types of holistic treatments and purification therapies, ranging from organic detoxing facials to hydro baths. Particularly popular at this resort is the Longevity Programme, an alluring mix of relaxing therapies and antioxidant rich food – the idea is to cast aside stress and breathe in a new reinvigorated ‘you’. Yoga, jungle walks, and group or one-on-one tailored holistic exercise programmes are interspersed between meals.

Vibe: authentic Ayurvedic karma

£££

Revive Wellness, Bodrum Turkey

This Turkey-based detoxification retreat, run by Kate Marriot, a naturopathic nutritionist with a specialism in women’s health and hormone balance, offers a structured nutritional framework of just juice or raw food and juice. The regime is strict but meticulously planned: every 90 minutes, guests are offered a turbo charged glass of vitamins and minerals, which enter the bloodstream within 20 minutes. This ensures that blood sugar levels, and therefore energy levels, are kept stable. ‘The beauty of a juice fasting plan is that it gives the body a much needed rest, as digesting [the carb, protein and fat load of a regular meal] takes energy’, explains Kate. Also on offer are Intravenous Vitamin C, ozone and Vitamin B12 for those whose immune system is significantly impaired.

Yoga, organised exercise and spa treatments are available to fill in the gaps. Accommodation is simple but well appointed in sea facing suites – you get one to yourself. Kate is on hand throughout all retreats to guide you through your ‘revival’ journey. Guests will receive a nutritional one-to-one with testing protocols that will check hormone levels, gut imbalances and vitamin and mineral levels, to identify the root of their personal health issues.

Vibe: convivial and rejuvenating with one-to-one attention.

££

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali

One of the goals of an effective detox is to alleviate stress, which stimulates the production of harmful chemicals that negatively influence many bodily processes, from immune system and metabolism to ageing and digestion.

Perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, the idyllic Alila Villas both physically and mentally distance you from the typical pressures of everyday metropolitan life. This hotel now boasts one of the most luxurious wellness retreats in the world. There are personal butler services, daily aerial yoga sessions, an infinity pool and nutritious gourmet food on offer throughout the day. The seven-night Pampering and Wellness package also includes two personally selected spa treatments, a sound healing session and three privately tailored meditation sessions. You will leave with a feeling that anything is possible.

Vibe: serene sophistication

£££