View from the Backs in Cambridge on a winter’s day. Photo: Getty Images
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https://scmp.com/magazines/style/well-being/article/3022777/6-gorgeous-travel-spots-best-eat-pray-love-holiday-your Wellness
6 gorgeous travel spots for the best ‘eat, pray, love’ holiday of your life
These destinations, as varied as Cambridge, Kyoto and Koh Samui, among others, offer plenty by way of great cuisine, rest and relaxation, and spiritual escape – the three fundamentals of a satisfying trip
Vikasa Yoga Retreat, Koh Samui. The Thai island has many meditation camps and treats to offer. Photo: Instagram/@thaijito.kohsamui
While the world may be your oyster, sometimes it can feel as if there is way too much to see. Are you planning your forthcoming travels and need some inspiration? Finding it tricky when it comes to agreeing on a destination that caters to everybody?
There is no one-size-fits-all itinerary but we have put together suggestions for quaint cities that offer travellers a well-spent, varied getaway that will help you balance your body and soul while indulging in fine food and plenty of R&R.
1. Cambridge, England
Around an hour by train from London, Cambridge – one of the oldest settlements in England and home to numerous galleries, theatres, museums and libraries – is the perfect place to enjoy an afternoon.
Art and culture
Lovers of art and culture, this is the place to go – it is the second oldest university in the English-speaking world. Start your afternoon by joining a guided tour around the campus, where you can learn all about where DNA was discovered and find out about the lifestyle of current students.
You can visit the Magdalene Bridge, which crosses the River Cam, where punting is a traditional activity of Cambridge students. Many of them will be more than happy to give you a little tour around the university, too, to see sights such as the famous Bridge of Sighs, the stunning Wren Library and the beautiful Mathematical Bridge at Queens’ College.
Leisure choice
Golf lovers will be pleased to know that Cambridge has some very serene golf courses such as the Cambridge Lakes Golf Course, and one of the best in England – Hanbury Manor Marriott Hotel & Country Club – if they are up for an afternoon round.
Practical tips: Cambridge is a small place and shops and restaurants may close early and others might not take bookings, so don’t be disappointed if venues are not open, especially on Sundays.
2. Kyoto, Japan
This old city is widely known for its stunning beauty. Visits to temples and shrines, relaxing walks in parks and a vibrant, yet far-from-frantic city life can all be found within the proximity of Kyoto.
A modern city getaway
If you want more than the usual sightseeing, and shopping in central Kyoto or near the railway station, then visit some Zen temples or meditation retreats at one of the city’s many shrines.
Sampling great quality Japanese food is never a problem when in Japan. Have lunch at the best food market in the city – Nishiki Market, and enjoy a cup of coffee at the coolest cafe – Café Bibliotic Hello!
The Zen traveller’s oasis
The oldest Zen monastery in Kyoto, Kennin-ji, which was founded in 1202 by the monk Eisai, is located in the historic district of Higashiyama. As the main temple of the Rinzai School, it is where Zen was taught for the first time.
Spend a few moments sitting quietly in the gardens and “be” in the moment. Or experience a sutra copying workshop at Ryosoku-in temple inside Kennin-ji in the morning. There is no better setting to find your Zen and inner peace.
If Zen temples are not really your passion, an alternative is to walk The Path of Philosophy, or “Tetsugaku-no-michi” in Japanese, along the canal in northern Higashiyama, that runs between Ginkaku-ji Temple in the North and Eikan-do Temple in the south. This beautiful pathway is named after professor Nishida Kitaro who managed to solve complex issues following a walk to refresh his mind.
Enjoying the beautiful ancient architecture of a pagoda or shrine among the greenery and flowers is a perfect way to escape the city for a while. We often need to recharge our batteries before returning to tackle life’s constant stresses, and Kyoto offers the perfect balance between a vibrant, modern city life and a peaceful countryside setting.
Practical tips: Online reservations are possible for taking part in the sutra copying experience, but you will have to arrive at the temple in the morning. Visits to some Zen temples might require advance bookings if you want to enjoy a proper retreat. A range of programmes are available which follow a daily schedule, from flexible to extreme.
3. Koh Samui, Thailand
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Thailand has some of the best places for an “eat, pray, love” getaway.
The island of Koh Samui, almost a household word among sunshine and beach lovers, has many meditation camps and treats to offer.
Beach and nature holidays
Rent a scooter to explore the island and hit the pristine beaches and chill out. One popular choice, Lamai, is easier to reach and has many food options nearby. If you go to a more secluded location, such as Thong Takian Beach (Silver Beach), then prepare some food to take with you.
An alternative to visiting a beach involves taking a jeep jungle tour to see the tropical forest and experience the grandeur of nature. Koh Samui has a large number of Buddhist temples featuring marvellous architecture, and a visit to Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha Temple) – if you have never been – is highly recommended.
City’s getaway
No trip to Thailand is complete without a pampering spa and massage treatment. Next to the beach at Wat Phra Yai is Baan Sabai, located in a compound with a tropical garden and Ayutthaya-style teak houses and salas. The Spa Resorts in Lamai also offers a variety of treatments and its vegetarian restaurant is among the top 50 in the world.
Practical tips: Koh Samui is hugely popular during peak season, so if you can schedule a trip during a quieter time you will enjoy a much better experience.
4. Siena, Italy
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About an hour away from Florence, this charming Italian city, which has attracted many yogis over the years, will delight history lovers.
Since 1300, Siena, the centre of which is recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site, has hosted the twice-a-year Palio Horse Race at the shell-shaped piazza del Campo. As one of the biggest medieval squares in the world, everything starts from here.
Historical route
Start your afternoon walk here, between the piazza and the cathedral, the Baptistery of San Giovanni, the Torre del Mangia, the Duomo of Siena – all historic landmarks that offer astonishing architecture and are not to be missed. Via Banchi di Sopra, the main shopping street, is where you will find a variety of boutiques, while Via Pantaneto will offer stores selling local handicrafts.
Best Tuscan cuisine
Gastronomy fans will find all sorts of Tuscan Italian food and wine to whet your appetite; there are also great vineyards and olive groves to visits if you enjoy wine. In an afternoon, you can head over to La Lastra organic farm, for a wine tasting educational experience about the Italian wine Chianti, which is combined with a home-cooked Italian meal.
Head back to the city and stop for pasta at the Osteria Le Logge, set inside an old pharmacy and herbalist's shop. Not that hungry? Head to the delicatessen Gino Cacino for a cheese-filled panini, dubbed by locals the “King of Parmesan and Pecorino”. As long as you visit Via Camollia, there will be no shortage of cosy little places offering affordable hearty Tuscan food.
A yogi’s paradise
For a proper detox experience, choose a mini yoga retreat; take a class at The Yogi Cat for an afternoon. Imagine that mind-body detoxing few hours out in nature …
Practical tips: Driving is the easiest option, but fear not if you don’t drive. Trains and buses run regularly from Florence and Pisa, but always remember to validate your ticket by getting it stamped in the machines before getting on board, otherwise you might risk facing a huge fine.
5. Ibiza, Spain
The stunning, unspoilt beaches of Ibiza, in Spain, are one of the not-to-be-missed attractions of the year-round holiday destination.
Contrary to its summer party reputation, the Spanish island of Ibiza is a year-round destination – and has a much quieter and spiritual side to it. Because Ibiza is one of the most magnetic places on Earth, the energy has a really positive vibe.
As one of the oldest urban environments in the western Mediterranean, the mesmerising natural scenery, nurturing ocean and the grounding beaches were attracting many people, including spiritual hippies and yogis, artists, writers, philosophers, celebrities and visionaries long before tourism boomed.
Rich island history
There are so many things you can do when visiting Ibiza. If you are a lover of the great outdoors you will find crystal-clear waters, pristine beaches and caves all around the island, or you can relax in the soft Mediterranean sun, go kayaking, cliff jumping or take a hike around the island.
For city and history lovers, during an afternoon, have a wander in the old town area of island’s same-named city, a Unesco heritage site since 1999, where you will find the best-preserved coastal fortress in the Mediterranean, Dalt Vila’s acropolis and the Phoenician remains of Sa Caleta in San Josep.
You can also indulge yourself at Hacienda Na Xamena for a spa treatment, and head over to Sa Punta on the seashore for seafood or the private members club Los Patios Ibiza for a locally sourced organic lunch.
Nature at its best
For nature and photography lovers, the mystical Es Vedrà is not to be missed. Legend has it that it is the tip of the lost sunken city of Atlantis. The beaches of Benirràs, Punta Galera, Ses Salines and Port d’Es Torrent are also not to be missed.
Practical tips: Getting around Ibiza, which is small island with lovely scenery, is easier if you can drive. Pick one side of the island and explore that area if you have only an afternoon to spend.
Taxis won’t be extremely expensive, but it is not the easiest place to find one, especially during summer season. Go during quieter times, when it is more enjoyable after all the partygoers have gone and the clubs have closed.
6. Lugano, Switzerland
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All nature lovers will agree about this: Swiss cities are serene. The quality of the nation’s landscapes are at another level. Despite using its own currency and putting a very expensive price tag on everything, Switzerland is well worth visiting. In fact, a trip to the country can be very therapeutic, with the natural scenery helping to calm you down and recharge your batteries.
Lugano, a small lake city in the Italian quarter, in the Ticino region, is, like many other Swiss destinations, quaint and quiet. An afternoon spent there will feel as if you’ve been there for a whole day because the pace is slow and the vibe so chilled.
It is usually considered a holiday city for the Swiss and Italians (think Lake Como). Surrounded by mountains, this third most important financial Swiss hub, with its traffic-free historic city centre, is beautiful all year round.
Nature’s best
In an afternoon, the best nature and photography tour starts by taking a nice walk along the lakeside promenade where you will find the Belvedere Gardens, or a boat trip on the lake, or by stopping at one of the charming small villages around the lakes, such as Gandria, for a mini excursion.
You can also hike up the local “sugarloaf” Monte San Salvatore from the shores and take the tram to reach The Peak for breathtaking scenery looking out over the lakes and up into the Alps. If time allows, take a funicular train ride up to Monte Brè on the opposite side and slowly descent via the romantic Brè Village back to the lakes.
Practical tips: Check the boat timetables carefully because the operating hours are rather short. If you don’t plan to spend a night in one of the villages across the lake, make sure you leave enough time for that little adventure, or take another route back.