Top 10 Winter Spa Retreats: Our Love For A Thermal Journey
At this chilly time of year, facing bracing cold and bitter temperatures, there's only one thing that warms you 'to the bones': A truly good thermal journey. The perfect Winter Spa Retreat will incorporate hot tubs, saunas, steam rooms, tepidariums, aromatherapy steam rooms, hammams, rasul chambers, and salt inhalation. We love them all.
THERMAL JOURNEYS: GREAT FOR YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
Thermal journeys are especially great in Winter to help boost your immune system. This is thanks to the rising and falling of the core body temperature. Every time you use a sauna, steam room or thermal experience, you’re reinforcing your body’s defence mechanisms. The heat inside the sauna raises your core body temperature by 1°-2°C. This is like having an artificial fever, and all the cells in your body react accordingly. But the healthful effect of the sauna is not complete without the body cooling process which immediately follows – the complete cycle of alternating between hot and cold. This is where plunge pools or ice rooms come in to play. Regular use of a thermal journey can help strengthen your immune system.
So, yes - going to spa is GREAT for your health! We are spoilt in the UK & Ireland with some truly incredible spas, with impressive thermal journeys.
HERE'S OUR PICK: THE TOP 10 WINTER SPA RETREATS
SULA SPA, CO. MAYO
Located on the stunning west coast, in the heart of Co. Mayo, Sula Spa describes itself as a tranquil haven. The spacious sanctuary is designed for guests to relax and luxuriate in. With seven different experiences in the thermal journey. Experience detoxifying, soothing warmth of the specialised dry and wet heat cabins as you voyage between the rock sauna, steam room and aroma grotto before refreshing under the tropical rain showers or cool yourself with the ice fountain.
THE SPA HOTEL AT RIBBY VILLAGE
Situated in the beautiful Lancashire countryside, The Spa Hotel at Ribby Village is host to an award winning aqua thermal journey. The Aqua Thermal Journey is designed to take you, step by step, through a range of spa treatments, increasing in temperature gradually before ending with a refreshing cold treatment. The Aqua Thermal Journey is a two hour experience. You can pair it up with a memorable Natural Spa Factory rasul experience, dinner, afternoon tea - or maybe even a bespoke treatment.
You can try a rasul experience in the comfort of your own bath! Discover our Rasul Mud Face Mask, perfect for soothing and detoxing sensitive skin.
Discover The Spa Hotel at Ribby Village
THE SPA AT THE SHELBOURNE, DUBLIN
The perfect winter warmer experience! The stunning Shelbourne Hotel in the centre of Dublin has a winter spa break designed specifically for winter skin needs. You can try a Natural Spa Factory full body experience with the Winter Pear & Pumpkin Scrub. The Spa Team will pamper you with a specially crafted, indulgent Winter Pear and Spiced Pumpkin back and feet exfoliation treatment, completed with a therapeutic hot stone back, neck and shoulder massage. A great winter warmer for mind and muscles.
Discover the Spa at The Shelbourne
SOURCE SPA & WELLNESS - SAUNTON SANDS HOTEL
The new Source Spa at Saunton Sands has a truly unique thermal journey - which features a marine vitality pool, which is filled with mineral rich dead sea salt water. Perfect for winter spa escaping!
Begin your journey by showering in warm water to help open the skin pores. Next, it's time to relax and take in the gorgeous views across Saunton Sands and beyond in our beach-view marine vitality pool. Filled with mineral-rich dead sea salt water with powerful massage jets to work the whole body. It's seriously soothing for skin and muscles. Finish with a treatment that has been created in partnership with Natural Spa Factory - we love the Source Salt Bar. Choose your favourite scrub from an ever evolving selection to personalise your wellness journey.
Try an at-home scrub bar; select your favourite salt scrub from our ever evolving selection. For some winter skin love, we can't get enough of the Winter Pear & Pumpkin Body Scrub.
GALGORM RESORT & SPA, BALLYMENA
The Thermal Journey at Galgorm is almost never ending! One of the most breathtaking spas we've ever visited, the spa hotel is sat next to the River Maine. The thermal journey leads you outside where you'll discover an abundance of hot tubs, pools and saunas over looking the babbling river.
Discover a completely unique heat-based treatment this winter - a Christmas special, you can try the Natural Spa Factory 'Twas The Night Before Christmas Rasul experience, which includes warming, spiced rum and sweet vanilla. Good enough to eat - the perfect Winter Spa Retreat!
You can try the House Rum Scrub in the comfort of your own home - warming, dark and oaky spiced rum flecked with real orange zest. A great skincare stocking filler - and waaaay better than a Christmas bath bomb!
THE CONISTON ESTATE, YORKSHIRE
Spend the day exploring the extensive estate; you could try a spot of clay pigeon shooting, off road-ing in the fleet of Land Rover Defenders, or simply explore. For a vigorous warm-up, plunge straight in to the award-winning spa. The perfect place to discover a Winter Spa Retreat. A plethora of Coniston treatments, created in partnership with Natural Spa Factory are available - the signature facial will brighten and illuminate the skin.
Discover The Coniston Estate Hotel & Spa
ST MICHAEL'S RESORT, CORNWALL
Featuring an expert range of hydrothermal facilities, relaxation areas, and luxurious treatment rooms, all within St Michaels Spa. A well thought out range of bespoke treatments, delivered by a team of expert therapists and hydrothermal experiences work in synergy to create the ultimate sanctuary from which to immerse yourself in restorative bliss. We'd recommend the Rhassoul experience, created in partnership with Natural Spa Factory, to give your skin and body a detoxing boost.
NORFOLK MEAD HOTEL, NORFOLK
Named one of the top 100 British Hotels recently in the Sunday Times. Norfolk Mead — a cosy brick manor house in eight acres of private grounds — has a beautiful selection of individually appointed bedrooms. The restaurant is over flowing with flavour-laden, inventive British food. The Treatment Rooms reflect the passion for ingredients, with an ever evolving treatment selection with Natural Spa Factory products.
If you're looking for a cosy, foodie winter get away, with expertly delivered seasonal treatments, this one is for you!
SANCTUM SPA, LIMASSOL, CYPRUS
This is the perfect winter escape! If you're lacking vitamin D and in need of some winter sunshine, a trip to the Cypriot capital is an easy choice. Sanctum Spa is perfectly placed in Limassol Marina, and health and wellbeing is the centre of Sanctum's ethos. There's a state of the art gym - fitted with a TRX System. There's a sauna, steam rooms, and a well appointed spa, offering incredible, healing therapies. Discover the Sanctorium Signature Massage - a journey created by Sanctum to restore your balance and re-align energy flow.
WINTER SPA RETREAT AT LIFEHOUSE SPA & HOTEL, ESSEX
Discover the Hidden Sanctuary Spa Experience. Created in partnership with Natural Spa Factory, this 3 hour journey will transform your winter wellbeing. A hidden retreat for two. Your journey begins by entering your very own personal candlelit spa, complete with your own pool. You will be taken through to your private body scrub room to experience a relaxing head to toe body scrub. In addition, You also receive a nourishing hair treatment.
Therapists guide you both to your private warm pool where you will enjoy refreshments, the perfect time to relax and reconnect.
Finally, once ready, you will be taken through to your own softly lit double treatment room where you will enjoy a therapeutic full body massage. Enjoy an illuminating facial pressure points and warming scalp massage to fully relax your body and mind.
After your treatment, your journey continues with some well-deserved time to yourselves in your own private sleep retreat for an hour.
Discover the Lifehouse Hidden Sanctuary
