Wondering where in Hawaii you can get some island alone time? Kaua’i’s Kukui’ula is the magical Hawaiian vacation you’ve been looking for, with all the right touches to make it feel like your own private getaway.

I long for the Hawaii of my childhood. Barefoot all day. Outdoor showers. Bumping along dirt roads en route to hidden beaches. Cracking open liliko’i (passion fruit) picked right off the bush. I miss those carefree days where all I needed was the wind in my hair and the ocean at my feet. But I’m older now, and I look to a vacation for as much adventure as – if not more so – rejuvenation.

Not being the typical resort-type, I’m always on the lookout for unique residences that offer that barefoot-all-day, wind-in-the-hair feeling that relaxes my mind and rejuvenates my soul. Kukui’ula, on the island’s south side, delivers just what the vacation doctor ordered. It is the perfect Hawaiian marriage between land and sea.

The Farm at Kukui’ula

A recurring theme of your stay at Kukui’ula is to connect back to the earth. Open daily you’re invited to get (red) dirt-y and visit The Farm. Lean up against the giant ear pod tree and when you’re finished hugging it, look over the reservoir for a fresh new green perspective on life. Then channel your inner forager and get busy selecting the tender greens that Chef Ben Takahashi will serve you under the stars.

After a stunning sunset, twilight, moonrise, and finally a sky full of unending galaxies, you’ll wonder if stardust was the magical ingredient to a sublime evening that you don’t want to end. Interestingly, Lono, the Hawaiian god of peace, is also the god of growing things. Yet, another reason why it’s so important to connect with nature while on vacation. Get your sneakers dirty. At The Farm, you’ve got 13 acres to explore from the mountains to the shoreline.

Wellness Retreats

Kukui’lua and The Farm are so inspiring that plant-based lifestyle entrepreneur Matthew Kenney choose it to launch the premiere of his weeklong mind/body wellness program. Led by Kauai native Wellness Director Jacyn Fainby a yoga, fitness, and plant-based living expert, guests were treated to a daily routine of blissful yoga and meditation. Along with curated plant-based menus harvested from The Farm and daily adventures the likes of ocean paddleboarding, island excursions, surf lessons, lei-making, and Hawaiian inspired spa treatments.

“The program that Director Jacyn Fain has built utilizes talented yoga and meditation experts who will guide guests on their journey to peak mental and physical wellness,” Kenney explains. “Combined with a delicious and beautiful plant-based diet, we believe we are providing an integrated experience like no other in the world.”

Make the Walls Disappear

A throwback to yesteryear’s Hawaii, Kukui’lua brings you back to the elements. With a meditation garden, en plein air dining, outdoor spa treatments and beachfront fire pits for traditional Hawaiian storytelling, Kukui’lua is all about natural inspiration. Add in the sunset rituals and salt water infinity Makai pools and you might never want to hear the word “carpet” again.

In Hawaiian aloha means hello and goodbye. Which is the cycle of life. One door closes to open another. Yet, I believe that when we leave, sometimes we can keep the door open to come home to. Especially, at Kukui’lua.

Find Donna on Twitter and Instagram

Related on EcoSalon

5 Reasons San Diego is California’s Best Beach Town
5 Sailing Vacations Perfect for Beginners
Costa Rica’s Pura Vida Secret to Longer, Happier Lives

The post Kaua’i’s Kukui’ula is the Magical Hawaiian Vacation You Dream About appeared first on EcoSalon.

If you think such luxurious retreats are reserved for the elite few, you’d be wrong. These wellness retreats are incredibly affordable considering what they offer. You’re sure to find one fit to your fitness, health and relaxation goals.

The summer season brings with it an air of calm, as if the real world is lightly on pause. But before fall comes rolling around, dragging you into the trenches of  winter, gift your body, mind and soul with a retreat – a more marked break from the real world with these wellness retreats that are affordable and luxurious.

1. Paradis Plage, Monaco

Ringing in for about $1,000 for a 7-night stay, the Paradis Plage resort’s retreat in Monaco makes for an ideal getaway. Monaco is known to have the healthiest climate in the world. Pair that with surfing, yoga, mountain hiking and spa treatments, you have yourself a holistic health retreat that might as well be sent from heaven.

2. GI Jane Bootcamp, London

This isn’t exactly a relaxing retreat, but it will sure deliver results. The GI Jane Bootcamp will run for about £595.00 if you partake in a Monday-Friday course. The bootcamp requires participants wake up at 5:30 a.m. and start the day off with circuit training. After breakfast, the working out continues on in full force with Iron Man sprinting with ammunition boxes up and down a hill, exercising the butt and abs, running, boxing, power walking, netball and, alas, a lovely massage.

3. Ann Wigmore Institute, Puerto Rico

The Living Foods Lifestyle retreat pairs education with healthy living. The institute has 1-week and 2-week long programs, which offer you certification in raw food legend Ann Wigmore’s lifestyle philosophy. The program includes education on food preparation, proper eating techniques, growing your own sprouts and wheatgrass and the ins and outs of internal cleansing, food combining and composting. The program starts at $1000 and accommodation at $450/week.

4. Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat, Bahamas

Starting at only $73 per night for up to 6 nights, the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat on Paradise Island is an incredibly affordable option for those looking for natural beauty and relaxation. The getaway includes morning and afternoon yoga classes, morning and evening meditation workshops and two rounds of lacto-vegetarian buffet-style meals. The retreat is also kid friendly!

5. Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Massachusetts

Located in Stockbridge, MA, you don’t have to trek halfway across the world to go zen. The Kripalu R&R Retreat involves all-natural meals, daily yoga and yoga dance classes as well as use of a sauna, fitness room, private lakefront beach and walking and hiking trails. Midweek rates begin at $166 per person, per night.

Related on EcoSalon

25 Photos of Zen Retreats

Should You Consider Yourself a Silence Retreat

Cabin Spotting: 20 Perfect Weekend Retreats

Sitting Lotus image via Shutterstock

The post 5 Affordable Wellness Retreats Around the World appeared first on EcoSalon.