Immersive Retreats Are All The Rage And COMO Hotels And Resorts Just Dropped 5 For 2022

Put the phone down and step away, slowly. You’ve got this.

Travel has always had elements of escapism but lately, travelers yearn to find deeper meaning and have educational encounters on their holidays. Answering this call is luxury boutique hotel brand COMO Hotels and Resorts. The brand just added four new immersive retreats to its 2022 calendar across Asia and Australia. From clean beauty and sound healing in Australia to boxing in Bali, the new COMO Journeys are inspired by the culture and qualities of property locations while helping guests have fuller experiences. Perfect for couples, small groups, and solo travelers alike, each retreat combines education, spirituality, and fitness with the possibility to explore some of COMO’s finest beach, urban, and mountain hotels.

Learn from the Clean Beauty Pioneer (26-28 August)

With Australia now open to international tourism, this wellbeing retreat should be on your radar, not to mention the Perth Como defines the ‘sanctuary in a city’ hotel category. On the heels of her June success, thirty-year clean beauty veteran, wellbeing entrepreneur, and Sodashi founder Megan Larsen, will host a second retreat at COMO The Treasury. She draws from her experience in pharmacy, homeopathy, and organic skincare to teach guests ‘all things beauty.’ You’ll attend educational workshops such as oil blending masterclass and try treatments like face acupressure, learning the techniques to continue your wellness journey at home. Guests will be hosted on a full board basis, including a special four-course tasting menu with wine pairing curated by the hotel’s Executive Chef, Kim Brennan, and Megan Larsen to boost the mood and nourish the soul. The two-night retreat starts at AU$1,925 (per guest, based on double occupancy) – to book email reservations here.

Embrace Changes in Womanhood (9-11 September)

Yes, there’s more to being a woman than being young and bouncy. This retreat is for all ages, offering insights on the transitions women experience as they move through youth into maturity. This retreat will be co-led by yoga teacher, sound healer and art therapist, Renata Citrons, and naturopathic physician and homeopath, Dr Benita Perch, at COMO Point Yamu. Workshops designed to educate on life stages and teach about the female cycle in relation to nutrition, hormones and fertility by Dr Perch are alternated with sound healing sessions to cleanse the chakras, yoga sessions to improve posture, and mandala art therapy to release mental tension. During your stay, you’ll dine on nourishing and re-balancing COMO Shambhala Cuisine in the sea-facing La Sirena, COMO Point Yamu’s Italian restaurant, as well as attend an interactive salad-making class with the hotel’s chef and Dr Perch. Following the retreat and upon request, a 70-minute private session with Dr. Benita Perch can be arranged, to provide further recommendations and lifestyle adjustments to promote optimal health for the long run. The two-night retreat starts at US$1,124 (based on single occupancy) – to book email reservation here.

Boxing in Bali (9-14 October)

Boxing stimulates the mind as well as the body, so why not train under the tutelage of a world champion in Bali? Exactly. This six-day boxing fitness camp hosted by former World Champion, Darren Barker, and GB Boxer Ryan Pickard at COMO Uma Canggu, is the ultimate escape for those eager to learn the basis of boxing in a sociable beachfront setting. COMO’s boxing experience is aimed at releasing stress, boosting endorphins, learning techniques, and building strength. Comprised of a mixture of fitness activities including Rocky-style circuits, mindset morning meditations, and classes to improve balance and timing, the challenging Bootcamp will leave you sore but sated. As part of the retreat, guests will have the chance to train and fight in one of the most sought-after martial arts gyms, Bali MMA. After a day in the boxing ring, relax on a volcanic beach, enjoy one of a signature COMO Shambhala treatment, or grab a handcrafted drink at the COMO Beach Club. The two-night retreat starts at US$1,143

Capture Beauty in Bhutan (9-16 November)

If Bhutan has been on your list ever since watching a Yak in the Classroom, then this retreat is your inspo to book the trip. Reopening its borders in September, the Kingdom of Bhutan is a photographer’s dream, offering dramatic landscapes and unique architecture. In November, COMO Uma Paro and COMO Uma Punakha will team up with acclaimed American photographer and Kodak ambassador Michael Turek, to host an eight-day expedition to learn the art of film photography. An immersive itinerary covers the Paro and Punakha valleys, where budding photographers can soak up views of cultural and natural wonders. As analog photography encourages concentration and intentional shots, Turek’s teachings will not be limited to technical skills but will offer an opportunity for intense creative creation and self-awareness. Guests return from their daily outings to holistic wellness treatments and world-class cuisine at COMO Uma Paro and COMO Uma Punakha. The retreat starts at US$11,464 (based on single occupancy) – to book email reservations here.

Yoga with a Side of Art (26-28 November)

Yoga and art in Thailand sounds like the sequel to Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat, Pray, Love. Or the start of your memoir. This November, join internationally renowned consultant for wellness and wellbeing, Jolie Michelle Ow, at COMO Point Yamu in Phuket for three days of mindful activities, including an art therapy session to relax the spirit and illuminate the mind. Designed to counteract the physical effects of anxiety, stress, and trauma, the retreat incorporates grounding practices such as yoga, meditation with aromatherapy, positive affirmations, crystal sound immersion, alignment-based movement classes and art sessions. A quiet sanctuary above the Andaman Sea, COMO Point Yamu offers true escapism on the secluded and peaceful east coast of Phuket. The cutting-edge COMO Shambhala retreat sits at the tip of Cape Yamu and houses treatment rooms overlooking the pristine ocean and the limestone karsts of Phang Nga bay. For prices and to book, email reservations here.