One of the most anticipated days of 2025 was Feb 16, the night The White Lotus Season 3 aired and became available for streaming on HBO Max. Fans of Mike White’s hit dark comedy knew it would take place in Thailand – as much a hub for decadent partying as for Buddhist temples – and that it had its work cut out for it after the tragi-comic climax of Season 2 in Sicily. The demise of Jennifer Coolidge’s Tonya, the loopy, lonely heiress in search of wellness and spiritual clarity who ultimately fell prey to the worldly trappings of wealth, status, and privilege, is at the heart of The White Lotus’ incisive writing.
With the pursuit of inner harmony forefronted in Season 3 of the hit show, by Parker Posey’s idealistic daughter and Walton Goggins’ fraught plan for a soul-cleansing purge of pater familias, it was more than fitting that The White Lotus Thailand staff enforced a digital detox on day one – one of the hottest travel trends of 2025. Liberated from smart phones, the albatross of modern life and its mind-numbing distractions, marketing algorithms, and doom scrolling, guests were coaxed to pursue mindfulness.
In true comic fashion, at the season’s conclusion in the Amor Fati episode, most of the characters head home no closer to any degree of enlightenment. Le Sigh… if only The White Lotus Thailand guests had been able to truly unplug, touch grass, and float in healing waters…
In the spirit of traveling for wellness and mental health, these well-appointed Hilton properties in Iceland, the Bahamas, Bali, Fiji, and Uganda are designed for digital detox and immersion in the healing, cleansing, and rejuvenating properties of mother nature. They offer a stylish dose of eco-luxury that will keep travelers balanced and mindful, with all the promise of a buzzy adventure – minus the drama.
Highland Base KerlingarfjöllEnsconced in Iceland’s remote central highlands, this modern Nordic alpine lodge offers several seasonally immersive experiences to unplug and experience the island’s unique, untamed landscapes of volcanic plateaus, glacier-fed rivers, and striking peaks.
All rooms are free of televisions, while many include open-air Highland Baths, where guests can take cold plunges while gazing at the Northern Lights for a full detox experience. The property is powered by sustainable energy and includes a protected nature reserve setting for full eco-travel vibes.
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland
For travelers looking to totally evade the grid amidst ancient lava fields and steamy blue waters with an extensive menu of restorative spa services, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon will feel like Mecca. Without TVs in suites or shared spaces, and an intentional no-phone policy throughout the 2,300 square meter subterranean Retreat Spa, digital detox is a feature, not a bug or a whim.
The signature three-step spa ritual of mineral salt, algae, and nourishing oils, is recommended in tandem with float therapy, in-water massages, and mindfulness rituals sourced from the property’s geothermal spring water. Day passes for a quick restorative visit between other destinations are available, as well as a skincare line formulated with The Retreat’s geothermal waters and botanicals.
The Bahamas – Tiamo ResortThe Tiamo Resort at South Andros Island is located on a secluded beach on the tranquil South Bight of the Tongue of the Ocean only accessible by boat or seaplane.
Guests are invited to embrace a digital detox with endless water sports near the Kamalame Cay, home to world’s third-largest barrier reef, or to relax with a book in the well-curated resort library. With only 11 villas and 2 rooms, all the solar powered accommodations offer direct access to the beach for a private slice of paradise.
Turtle Island, FijiOne of the many small plots of coastal lands dotting the South Pacific ocean that comprise the Fiji archipelago is Turtle Island.
The secluded, private eco-resort designed to make unplugging effortless veritably floats amidst miles of untouched azure waters. The resort limits Wi-Fi to a single shared location and eliminates screens to foster disconnecting from devices and reconnecting with nature and one’s companions. Local adventures include horseback riding at sunrise and nightly kava ceremonies, while the more leisure-inclined can enjoy candlelit dinners on pontoons in the Blue Lagoon.
With just 14 couples on the island at a time, the experience is as intimate as it is grounded and restorative.
Gorilla Forest Lodge, A&K Sanctuary – Bwindi National Park, Uganda
For those inspired by Jane Goodall’s remarkable legacy and touched by her recent passing, a trip to the deep forests of Eastern Africa for which she raised global awareness, Gorilla Forest Lodge, A&K Sanctuary offers the opportunity to experience nature’s stillness and wildlife. Tucked deep within Uganda’s Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, this luxury resort’s aesthetic combines African crafts and commitment to sustainability in its accommodations.
The retreat teaches mindfulness and reconnection to nature with every step, be it on hikes to mythic waterfalls and even more mythic guerilla-sighting treks.
Alila Seminyak – Bali, Indonesia
On a long pristine stretch of Bali’s southwest coast, Alila Seminyak epitomizes the look and feel of eco-chic travel. The beachfront property offers both luxurious accommodations and amenities and an immersion in native Balinese culture.
Before dipping in the infinity pool, guests are invited to start the day at the in-house Segara Temple, a sacred space to craft vibrant offerings rich with meaning and intention and participate in a Melukat water blessing to purge negative patterns and reclaim clarity and peace of mind.
Happy Travels! Be well!
