A Restorative Summer of Self-Care

Indulgent and Rejuvenating New Experiences Range from Wildlife-Spotting Workouts in Kenya to Zodiac-Themed Spa Journeys in the Maldives

The sun is shining, temperatures are rising and out of offices are on… and what better way to relax and reset this summer than with one of the most spoiling new wellness experiences from across the Charlotte Rous Communications client portfolio?

Spa-lovers and wellness junkies who have tried it all (until now!) are set for a summer to remember thanks to a range of indulgent new experiences and treatments from around the world.

From zodiac-themed treatments in the Maldives to workouts with a side of wildlife watching in the Kenyan plains, there’s a treatment to suit every spa-lover this season. The new treatments are available year-round and include:

KENYA:

Workout While you Wildlife Watch at Great Plains’ ol Donyo Lodge

Great Plains, the iconic eco-tourism company founded by National Geographic explorer-filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, is proud to offer a wildly unique yoga experience at ol Donyo Lodge in Kenya. Yoga is the harmony of mind, body and soul and a stay at ol Donyo Lodge truly encapsulates this with a balance of movement, peace and nourishing healthy food while surrounded by nature.

Each guest room at the luxurious lodge comes complete with a Great Plains yoga mat to roll out next to its own plunge pool or on the private star bed deck at night, where guests can constellation-spot while they stretch beneath the crystal-clear Kenyan night skies. Here, guests can find their flow, either solo-style or under the expert guidance of the Great Plains team, to the sounds of birds chirping in the background and elephants slurping from the water hole below.

There are countless scenic spots for guests to choose, from the top of the Kopjies rocks overlooking the endless plains and Mount Kilimanjaro to the El Mau twin hills, which offer a panoramic view of the Mibirikani Group Ranch and Chyulu Hills. Here, yogis can enjoy a moment of calm and meditate to the sounds of the bush, connecting to themselves and the surroundings, finishing with a peaceful silent guided bushwalk.

Post-session, yogis can nourish the body both inside and out, with superfoods and healthy juices curated with care by Great Plains’ expert chefs for maximum health benefits. These include a brand-new herbal tea menu to aid digestion and provide a calming effect, and a range of new delicious plant-rich superfood breakfast options including a range of fresh juices and smoothies.

For a complete wellness experience, Great Plains’ talented therapists are on hand to deliver pampering treatments such as The Renewal, a spoiling treatment that encourages the releasing of past emotions while bringing mindful positive focuses to the future, all while enjoying a massage.

ol Donyo Lodge, which sleeps up to twenty in eight Deluxe Suites and a two-bedroom Sambuk family suite, is located on the Maasai-owned Mbirikani Group Ranch, comprising 275,000 acres of wilderness between Amboseli and Tsavo National Parks and bordering Chyulu Hills National Park.

The lodge is very remote, offering extreme privacy and a vast amount of activities to choose from – morning and evening safari drives, horse riding, bush breakfast and dinners, guided bushwalks, tracking, bike riding, conservation and community outreach programmes and sleep out star bed experiences.

A recent addition for ol Donyo Lodge is the lodge’s own helicopter, which is available for guests to enjoy on scenic flights through the incredible Chyulu Hills, Kilimanjaro and Amboseli area. The new Bell 505 helicopter is available for scenic flights with stunning views and air transfers to Nairobi.

MALDIVES:

Astrology and Zodiac-Inspired Wellness at Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

The Maldives’ original eco-luxury resort, Gili Lankanfushi, is set to delight astrology and wellness lovers alike with a new zodiac-themed signature treatment at its award-winning Meera Spa. The 150-minute ‘Rasi Pairing Journey’ takes place over two days and brings astrology and wellness together in a meaningful, grounded way.

The concept connects each zodiac sign to its natural elements – Fire, Earth, Air and Water – aligning it with carefully curated spa treatments, essential oils, healing crystals and wellness activities. With the name of the treatment derived from the Sanskrit term for zodiac sign and drawing inspiration from Ayurveda principles, the new offering invites guests to explore self-care through a deeply personalised lens of natural balance.

For example, Water signs Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio – known for their nurturing, emotional and intuitive personalities – will indulge in experiences ranging from crystal healing and Tibetan singing bowl therapy to meditation and yoga, while grounded Earth signs Taurus, Capricorn and Virgo will enjoy reflexology, hiking and more.

Gili Lankanfushi’s Meera Spa provides the very best in holistic healing within a spectacular overwater setting. Comprised of glass-floored treatment rooms, a sauna, steam room and plentiful relaxation areas connected by open-air walkways, the spa offers a range of global therapies that draw from age old cultures and knowledge.

From immersive, one- to five-day wellness journeys to new active programmes that combine surfing and scuba diving with tailored spa therapies, treatments range from the traditional to the cutting edge. Therapies utilise organic products by Voya and Meera, created using the finest oceanic and plant extracts including detoxifying seaweed baths.

Year-round yoga, meditation, reiki, crystal healing and ancient singing bowl sessions are enhanced by a rotating schedule of visiting practitioners, for a curated programme of world-class wellness experiences.

FRANCE

Plan Ahead for Winter: Snowga at Purple Ski’s Newly Renovated Chalet Inoko, Val d’Isère

Yogis looking to plan ahead for winter need search no further than the truly unique ‘Snowga’ offering at Purple Ski’s Chalet Inoko in Val d’Isère, which will re-launch fully refurbished for the 2025/26 season with a host of sensational upgrades. Thanks to a brand-new master bedroom offering enchanting forest views, the chalet will now accommodate up to 14 + 1 guests in 7 elegant en-suite bedrooms. The property also now boasts a beautifully appointed, spacious new ski room. Equipped with heated boot racks and plenty of storage, it’s the perfect place to prepare for an adventure on the slopes.

With a sprawling wellness area devoted to post-ski relaxation and entertainment, Chalet Inoko is the ideal destination in which to try Purple Ski’s ‘snowga’ offering. Available on request via Purple Ski’s concierge team, the snowga sessions will see a private instructor stretch and soothe guests’ tired muscles after a long day on the slopes and can take place beside the pool or in the sprawling living room. Post snowga, guests can unwind in the beautifully appointed wellness area, where they can warm up in the hot tub, ease sore limbs in the sauna, work out in the fitness room or simply relax by the large indoor swimming pool.

Overlooking Val d’Isère, Chalet Inoko’s location tucked away in the trees is immensely private and yet just a short, chauffeured minibus ride from the snow front and the resort’s famous shopping and restaurant scene.

Commanding splendid views and a snowy forest backdrop, Inoko seamlessly blends traditional Alpine touches with a modern design and state-of-the-art facilities. The stunning chalet comprises seven elegant bedrooms – two of which form a connected family suite along with an adjoining children’s bunk room – a sumptuous wellness area with indoor pool, sauna, massage and relaxation area, ski room, spacious dining and living areas and a TV room. Outside on the terrace, a sunken hot tub and seating area with fire pit offers the perfect place from which to admire the views.