Health and beauty destination: Chintamani Bali Retreat & Spa

I’ve made a point of making my way to a spa and/or wellness retreat on a regular basis if I can over the past ten years, and have been lucky enough to experience the likes of Thailand’s Chiva Som, the Evason Hideaway at Zighy Bay in Oman and Queensland’s Gwinganna, amongst other beautiful properties.
One I’ve just heard about that is absolutely up there on my wish list is Chintamani Bali Retreat & Spa, which has a focus on wellbeing but is also extremely low-pressure if reports are to be believed – my idea of heaven!
Opening in April, Chintamani is set on a hectare of landscaped hillside gardens, alongside the Laing River Valley on the west coast of Bali, 30 minutes from Ubud and 45 minutes from Seminyak. Set amidst sprawling tropical gardens, lush paddy fields and lotus ponds, it even has its own purpose built yoga centre, a 20x8 metre swimming pool and a smaller pool set in a private courtyard alongside an authentic Balinese Rice Barn. It's the brainchild of ex-barrister Wendy Matthews, whose vision was to combine the pleasures of a luxury resort with a carefully planned wellbeing program. There are only six bales - or villas - catering to a maximum 12 women, and the all-inclusive, week-long packages offer daily scheduled activities like yoga, meditation and spa treatments, but guests set their own agenda and there’s always time for a trip round the shops or a gin by the pool! Self improvement, perfecting the art of doing nothing or a clever combination of the two - the choice is all yours.
Sound as good to you as it does to me? Check out the website here, start dreaming and maybe I’ll see you there!