Location can be a large part of recovery. Where you are in the world will set your mood, provide you with the right nourishment and help you eradicate bad habits. The right location will offer you a cathartic release from negativity, give you a chance to reflect and learn, and help you slow down and process the challenging parts involved in recovery.
But the perfect healing place can be a tricky thing to find; by and large, these idyllic areas of the world are few and far between, despite how fundamental they are to our overall happiness and healing in life.
Here are 6 of the top natural healing places in the world.
1. The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Scandinavia is known for its natural healing remedies. Finland has saunas,1 Denmark has hygge2 and Iceland has mineral salt baths. For someone going through recovery, this part of the world has much to offer.
Iceland’s Blue Lagoon3 is healing at its finest. It’s a natural geothermic lagoon that oozes mineral-rich volcanic sulfur, which helps to exfoliate your skin and rejuvenate your mind.
Relax and learn how to become more present-minded while surrounded by Iceland’s glorious volcanic landscape. Be sure to visit the spa for a bathrobe, slippers and a cleansing mud mask, too.
2. The Healing Forests, Japan
Shinrin-yoku Forest Therapy4 is a real thing, and it’s helping many people get back to nature, slow down and ultimately, find a sense of peace. ‘Forest bathing’ (as it’s commonly called) was developed in Japan in the 1980s and has become a fundamental part of modern Japanese medicine.
Many people in Japan believe that, quite simply, if a person visits a natural area and walks in a relaxed way (unlike the agenda-driven walks of London and New York), there are calming, restorative benefits to be achieved. It’s about opening up your senses, taking in the beauty of your environment, and working on becoming more focused on the here and now. For those going through recovery, forest bathing might just be the thing needed to find the reset button.
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3. Mount Shasta, California
No, you don’t have to jet-set off to the far east to find a sense of spirituality, you can drive to the state of California and hike Mount Shasta, a mountain best known as the place where heaven and Earth meet.
Many people believe that they are called to Mount Shasta and that it is a ‘dimensional doorway to the frequency of love’. There are also guided meditations5 up the mountain helping you to connect your star seed lineage and find a sense of grounding.
When you come back down again, expect to be newly born again. This is natural healing at its finest.
4. Ubud, Bali
The jungle city of Ubud on the Indonesian island of Bali has long been known as a place of natural healing. Whether through cleansing rituals at Hindu water temples, yoga and ecstatic dance classes, or organic foods, Ubud offers visitors countless ways to reconnect with themselves.
Every spring, Bali celebrates an Indonesian Day of Silence6 where all distractions are removed and all noise stops. There are multiple wellness centers and tranquil areas to explore in Ubud, many of which are designed to help you progress along your journey to recovery.
[Be sure to explore our list of the best rehabs and wellness retreats in Bali, 2 of which are in Ubud. In the video below, we tour some of the top rehabs in Bali and explore what makes this island so special.]
5. Le Monastere des Augustines, Quebec City
A big part of the natural healing process is removing the distractions we surround ourselves with in everyday life, and Quebec City’s Le Monastere des Augustines7 is exactly the place to do it. This quiet hotel focuses on the mind, body and spirit, helping you form good self-care habits and rediscover balance.
Sleep therapy, spirituality, stress release and an appreciation for silence are all fundamental reasons to pay this hotel a visit, and outside its walls sits the small French-Canadian town of Quebec City, so you’re not entirely removed from some of the western comforts you might be more used to.
6. The Dead Sea, Jordan and Israel
Visitors from around the world come to the Dead Sea8 for therapeutic floats on its salty waters. This potassium-rich body of water is famous for its natural healing properties, and many people fly in to pay a visit to one of the resorts located along its shoreline.
The Dead Sea is the lowest body of water on Earth, and its natural healing powers include drawing out toxins from the body, soothing stress and reducing inflammation and swelling. Emerge with silky smooth skin and a calmed, collected mindset.
Natural Healing and the Journey to Recovery
Recovering from addiction and mental health concerns anywhere in the world is tough. Challenges will present themselves, but you are capable of moving through them. You don’t have to do it in a negative environment either. You can work through your recovery in a supportive, guided place, where natural healing aids your journey.
Discover our collection of luxury rehabs with access to nature and filter by price, location, insurance accepted, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About The World’s Top Places for Natural Healing
How does location affect recovery?
The right location will offer you a cathartic release from negativity, give you a chance to reflect and learn, and help you slow down and process the challenging parts involved in recovery.
What are some of the top natural healing destinations in the world?
The top natural healing destinations are scattered all across the globe:
• Iceland’s Blue Lagoon
• Ubud, Bali
• Japan’s Healing Forests
• The Dead Sea in Israel
• Mount Shasta in California
• Quebec City’s Le Monastere des Augustines
What are the benefits of visiting natural healing destinations?
Visiting natural healing destinations has a variety of benefits. It fosters relaxation, mindfulness, and connection to nature, which helps reduce stress and anxiety. Some of these destinations also offer activities that promote self-reflection, like yoga and meditation.
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Merz, Beverly. “Sauna Use Linked to Longer Life, Fewer Fatal Heart Problems.” Harvard Health, 25 Feb. 2015, https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sauna-use-linked-longer-life-fewer-fatal-heart-problems-201502257755
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Altman, A. (2016, December 18). The year of hygge, the danish obsession with getting cozy. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-year-of-hygge-the-danish-obsession-with-getting-cozy
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Welcome to blue lagoon iceland resort & spa. (n.d.). Blue Lagoon Iceland. Retrieved from https://www.bluelagoon.com/
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Rajoo, K. S., Karam, D. S., & Abdullah, M. Z. (2020). The physiological and psychosocial effects of forest therapy: A systematic review. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 54, 126744. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2020.126744
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Mt Shasta spiritual tours | Mt Shasta guide. (n.d.). Mt Shasta Spiritual Tours. Retrieved from https://www.mtshastaspiritualtours.com
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Balinese New Year – NYEPI – Bali.Com | A Day For Self-Reflection.” Bali.Com, 18 Aug. 2020, https://bali.com/bali-travel-guide/culture-religion-traditions/nyepi-balinese-new-year
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Le monastère des augustines | canada. (n.d.). Healing Hotels of the World. Retrieved September 14, 2022, from https://healinghotelsoftheworld.com/hotels/le-monastere-des-augustines-canada/
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Katz, Uriel, et al. “Scientific Evidence of the Therapeutic Effects of Dead Sea Treatments: A Systematic Review.” Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 42, no. 2, Oct. 2012, pp. 186–200. PubMed, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22503590/
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