A Weekend of Wellness

Sometimes a 60-minute massage or fitness class isn’t enough to fully relax and restore our minds and bodies. In search of a stronger wellness boost? Try a multi-day sojourn into self-care, led with empathy by Four Seasons experts. Work with exercise physiologists to fine-tune your performance in California, reconnect with your inner self during a retreat in the French Riviera or discover a holistic approach to healing in Bali. Whether you’re looking to get in shape, change your eating habits or clear your head, these wellness experiences will help you establish new life skills to help you for years to come.

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A holistic twist on health

Unspoiled natural forests, stunning sea views, lush gardens: Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, offers an idyllic setting for establishing a healthy lifestyle. The Hotel’s new Mindfulness and Well-Being programs – upheld by the four pillars of exercise, relaxation, nature and healthy eating – make the most of the beautiful surroundings, with exercises and workshops specifically designed to help participants disconnect from the stress of everyday life and reconnect with themselves, says Spa Director Marie-Cecile Rousset. Enjoy relaxing open-air activities like hiking or cycling along the Mediterranean coast, or take the plunge into wellness with a lesson from two French freediving champions in using mindful breathing to relieve stress . Or cultivate your creative side with a range of hands-on activities that encourage introspection and mental clarity – the tactile experience of making pottery, for instance, is deeply relaxing. End your day with a culinary experience: join Chef Yoric Tièche in the Hotel’s kitchen garden to select fresh herbs and greens, then accompany him to the kitchen to learn how to prepare them with health in mind.

Plan your wellness retreat in Cap-Ferrat

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Deep dive into wellness

Get a jump-start on your quest for good health with help from the experts at Sensei Lanai, A Four Seasons Resort. “The ultimate kick-start to one’s journey, guests have the opportunity to meet Sensei Guides and expert practitioners for one-to-one sessions that may range from fitness, mindset or nutrition,” says Retreat Director Catherine Phillips. “Whether it’s peak fitness performance or a refreshed mindset, Sensei’s programs connect the three fundamental paths of the Sensei Way – move, nourish and rest – and align actions with intentions.” The Resort’s Wellness Deep Dive is a customized program tailored to your goals and based on biomarkers like heart rate variability and VO2 max analysis. Join a personal trainer for a one-on-one workout, try a forest bath in the lush Koele gardens, enjoy a lomi lomi massage in one of the spa hales, and fuel your body with meals made from fresh, local ingredients. You’ll leave feeling refreshed and renewed – and with an action plan for life at home.

Start your Sensei Journey on Lanai

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A lifestyle reset

Keep the focus on your fitness at Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village during a four-day, three-night retreat at the on-site Center for Health & Wellbeing. Guided by the holistic WellWest Method, experts like registered dieticians and exercise physiologists will help reboot your lifestyle using tools like body composition analysis; guided hikes and daily meditation; individual consultations in life strategies, fitness and nutrition; and cooking classes in the Wellness Kitchen. “Our integrated retreats teach guests how to discover this holistic aspect to well-being and apply these practices at home,” says Akram Al-Kawasmeh, Executive Director of Wellness. “A long weekend retreat with Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village can become transformative and life changing.” Choose from three focused retreats – Sustainable Weight Loss, Optimum Performance or Spa & Beauty – each uniquely tailored to meet your personal wellness goals.

Find fitness in Westlake Village

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A practice centred on gratitude

Discover the healing power of gratitude during a transformative retreat at Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan, where the Guided by Gratitude program helps guests restore inner peace and strength. “Our spa invites people to slow down through holistic treatments that go back to ancient remedies and traditional well-being practices,” says Regional Spa Director Luisa Anderson. “These retreats remind us to return to wholeness, experience peace and open to greater levels of consciousness.” Resident wellness mentor Ibu Fera – a former Buddhist nun – will lead you through activities like kirtan chanting, guided candlelit meditation sessions and chakra-balancing spa treatments, inspired by Ubud’s unique healing energy and traditional Balinese daily rituals of thanks. Don’t miss the Sacred Nap experience: A relaxing “air nap” in an aerial silk hammock, soothed to sleep by Fera as she shares the life story of Buddha. The retreat requires a minimum three-night stay, but can be personalized to fit your needs and schedule.

Give thanks in Bali

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Discover ancient healing

Immerse yourself in the ancient Indian system of Ayurveda, whose focus on diet, exercise and sleep offers a transformational path to wellness. At Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru, work with Ayurvedic physicians, yogis, therapists and chefs during a seven-day retreat to harness health, happiness and harmony through a treatment plan tailored to your needs. Looking to extend your focus on self-care? Try a 14- or 21-day Panchakarma retreat, focused on removing deep-rooted stress and toxins to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. Or have the Resort’s experts plan a bespoke three- or five-day Yoga Therapy Course centred on topics like stress management, spinal care or addiction management. You’ll also receive a lesson in gratitude and an appreciation for the earth during the nightly Rahumathuge Vaguthu, or Earth Blessing: a daily ritual of gratitude celebrating the earth through song, dance and mindfulness.

Explore the power of Ayurveda

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Focus on peak performance

Channel your inner athlete during a three- or seven-day In Census retreat at Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues Geneva, created in collaboration with the prestigious Hôpital de la Tour in Geneva, a recognized Swiss Olympic Medical Center. The word incensus means “radiant” in Latin, and that’s how you’ll feel after a run along the shores of Lake Geneva, a hike up Mount Salève, a massage, a meditation session and a carefully prepared organic meal. Each retreat begins with an in-depth health consultation with blood tests, nutritional and osteopathic evaluations, and muscle strength and endurance assessments, and core programs include Detox and Weight Management, Muscle Development or Sports Performance. “My mission is to help you invest in yourself,” says Spa Director Margaux Poilvet. “In Census encourages participants to take care of their bodies and get back into shape, escape the stress of everyday life, and recover vital energy thanks to a 360-degree approach that encompasses both physical and mental wellness.”

Train for success in Geneva

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Ocean-based therapy

Four Seasons Resort Seychelles taps into the healing powers of the sea with its new two- and three-day Ocean Connection Spa Journeys. “There is no set itinerary,” says Spa Therapist Pamela Dewkee. “The idea is to allow guests to be able to enjoy the treatments and sessions over a span of days, so the essence of relaxation and rejuvenation is carried from one day to another.” Treatments include a sea smoothing wrap, crystal ocean facial, and yoga on the beach, where guests are encouraged to let emotions flow without judgment, just like the flow of water. A highlight is the nightly Starlit Serenity experience, on Le Syel Spa’s rooftop and overlooking Petite Anse Bay. As the sea breeze sings and the stars shine, a therapist will perform a Shell Serenity Massage using a shell-shaped object filled with marine minerals and sea kelp to warm and relax the body.

Relax and recharge in Seychelles

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

Where will your quest for wellness take you next?

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The Adventure of a Lifetime in the
Span of an Hour

From traditional Thai boxing in Koh Samui to floating in a hot-air balloon high above the Serengeti, these Four Seasons–curated adventures prove that the most gripping experiences can take place in the span of an hour. Whether your heart’s pounding from vigorous exertion or skipping a beat on account of incredible sights, one thing is certain: Your choice is well worth the time.

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Soar Above the Serengeti via Hot-Air Balloon

A lioness silently eyeing an unknowing wildebeest. A pod of hippos lolling in the muddy river. Ostriches running at full tilt. These are scenes that unfold by the minute in Tanzania’s vast Serengeti National Park, home to the kinds of animals most of us have only seen at the zoo. You’ve watched it on screen, but nothing – not even rumbling through the park in a safari vehicle – compares to the bird’s-eye-view.

Four Seasons Safari Lodge Serengeti has teamed up with long-time aerial outfitter Serengeti Balloon Safaris to take guests to a new level of wildlife viewing. You’ll float over an ocean of undulating savannah with no end in sight – the paradisiacal home of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebra, rhinos, lions, leopards and cheetahs. The trip is timed for dawn, when animals are most active and the rising sun casts a golden hue over the expanse below. Plan to arrive for the Great Migration in Central Serengeti (April through June and September through November) and you’ll witness one of the earth’s greatest primordial traditions, exponentially increasing your chances of seeing every one of the famous Big Five.

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Set Off on a Zen Hike in Scottsdale

Scottsdale’s Pinnacle Peak rises 600 feet (183 metres) above the Sonoran Desert, but it’s not the summit that matters here – it’s the journey. The Zen Hike offered by
Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale begins in a quiet corner of the Resort grounds, where a yoga instructor guides you through a sensory exercise designed to open you up to the sounds, sights and smells around you. You’ll stretch and breathe and also set an intention, a practice commonly done at the beginning of a yoga session in order to focus your mind and body on a goal.

A hiking trail conveniently connects the Resort to the base of Pinnacle Peak. Upon arrival, you’ll steady yourself in mountain pose while gazing up at the granite pile above. On the way to Grandview, the first lookout point, several more posture stops ensue, all designed to deepen the hiking experience both physically and mentally.

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Learn From a Muay Thai Master in Koh Samui

Thailand’s native sport is more than just boxing. In Muay Thai, a close-contact pursuit dating back centuries, the human body becomes a multifaceted battle machine – hands act as swords, shins and forearms become shields, elbows serve as heavy hammers, legs and knees are the axe and staff. Also known as the “art of eight limbs,” it’s an exhilarating workout, whether you’re facing an opponent or simply honing the skills.

Built into a hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, the outdoor ring at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui offers an exquisite opportunity to try the sport or improve your practice. Your coach, a professional Muay Thai boxing master, tailors the tutorial to your experience level. Want more? Upgrade to the Mini Boot Camp, which begins with a Rocky-style run on the beach and ends with a specially designed restorative massage, or the Ultimate Muay Thai package, including VIP seats for a pro fight at Chaweng Boxing Stadium.

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Go Dogsledding in Megève

An unmatched base for slaloming the French Alps, this debonair ski town recently acquired another reason to visit: In 2018, Four Seasons Hotel Megève took on its own pack of sled dogs, who reside with their professional musher steps away from the Hotel. The captain and her huskies will pick up your group at the Hotel’s front door, and you’ll embark on a jaunt over the snow-covered hills of Golf du Mont d’Arbois, a veritable winter wonderland framed by the not-so-distant Alps. Commemorate the outing by inviting a professional photographer  to join in. She’ll bring her camera and deliver what is sure to become the most coveted holiday card in the stack.

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Conserve Coral Reef in Seychelles

Since 2012, Four Seasons Resort Seychelles has partnered with marine conservation group WiseOceans to support the Resort’s natural surroundings and introduce exclusive experiences to guests. The crescent beach fronting the Resort is home to a reef recovering from toxic algae bloom and bleaching caused by warmer-than-usual waters.

In 2015, WiseOceans and Four Seasons Resort Seychelles launched the Petite Anse Reef Restoration Project with the goal of restoring 10,000 square metres of limestone reef. Researchers collect broken coral fragments and monitor them in an on-site aquatic nursery until they’re ready to be fastened to steel rods around the reef, a safe way to foster further growth. During a guided snorkel, you can adopt their own fledgling bit of coral and watch as it’s placed on the reef. Along the way you’ll encounter parrotfish, angelfish, eagle rays, squid and octopus, all navigating this vibrant undersea neighbourhood.

The unforgettable can happen in one day, one hour or even one minute. Find your Daily Discovery.

Your Journey Begins Here

Where will you seek adventure next?

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How to Island-Hop Your Way Through Hawaii


Adventure travellers Dan Moore and Mitch Oates spent two weeks chasing thrills while soaking up the distinctive beauty of four Hawaiian islands.

“Hawaii was much more diverse and adventure-filled than we had expected,” Moore says. “Every island has its own style, different from the next – including the landscapes. We don’t think you have truly experienced Hawaii until you have visited at least three islands to get fully immersed in what it has to offer.”

From home bases at Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina, Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea, Four Seasons Resort Lanai and Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, the pair paddled, swam, dived and hiked their way through paradise – taking time out to unwind and savour the delights of their temporary island homes.

In the slideshows below, each photo is labelled with one of three adventure ratings: “Easy does it” for low-key activities, “On the move” for moderate-energy experiences, and “Off the charts” for adventures boasting the highest adrenaline rush.

Paddling low, climbing high on Oahu

Moore and Oates’ first stop was Oahu, where they relieved jet lag with a little pool time. Refreshed and ready for island life, they dialled up the action with canoeing, hiking through secluded areas of Kualoa Ranch and pursuing the ultimate underwater ocean adventure.

Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina

From poolside to countryside on Maui

When figuring out what to do in Maui for the 24 hours they had, Moore and Oates decided they wanted to experience as much of the island as possible. With a guide, they took a 12-hour photographic journey to some of Maui’s most scenic locations. “The drive through the island was just as picturesque as the waterfalls and taro farms we visited,” Oates says. “Simply breathtaking.”

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Exploring Lanai on foot, by horseback and with wheels

“Lanai is the adventure island, with anything you want to do,” Moore says. During their stay, the pair tackled horseback riding, freediving, hiking, and mud-running in an ATV and a jeep. “Even the golf course offers motorized skateboards that you can put your clubs on instead of a golf cart,” he says. “Everything about this island is amazing, from the brand-new, tech-savvy Four Seasons Resort Lanai to remote areas that almost look like you are in an episode of Survivor.”

Four Seasons Resort Lanai

To be so close to such beautiful creatures and have them interacting with us was definitely one of the highlights in our lives, that’s for sure. – Mitch Oates

Water sports and wildlife on Hualalai

On Hualalai, their last stop, Moore and Oates enjoyed a mix of thrills and relaxation. “We actually didn’t leave Four Seasons Resort Hualalai,” Oates says. “It literally has everything you could possibly think of, including turtles scattered along the beach and dolphins just off the beach.”

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai

See more of Moore and Oates‘ adventures in Hawaii

YOUR JOURNEY BEGINS HERE

mountain views at Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina

7 Ways to Work Out With a View in California

Who needs a stair machine when there’s a trail with a view to conquer? Why toil on a treadmill when you can surf the Pacific? California, blessed with diverse landscapes and pleasant weather year round, provides a natural backdrop for activities that cater to an exceptionally fit population. On your next visit to San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles or San Diego, stay active while taking in each city’s distinctive personality and sights during these creative workouts.

Surfing in San Diego

Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara, North San Diego, overlooks South Ponto Beach, which keeps surfers stoked with its cool breaks and wide strip of sand. The Concierge arranges your transportation, wetsuit, surfboard or boogie board, and two hours of individual instruction so even novices can try surfing in this popular spot.

Skyline stretch in L.A.


A rooftop yoga class at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles Beverly Hills

Rise far above Beverly Hills’ tree-lined avenues and offer a salutation to the sun as it rises with views of the iconic Hollywood sign and downtown LA’s skyline. The 17th floor helipad of Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills hosts private rooftop yoga, led by renowned West Coast wellness experts. For extra adrenaline, the Hotel partners with training company Blue Clay Fitness, which counts a number of celebrities among its clientele, to offer group fitness classes on the helipad too.

Hit the trail in the Santa Monica Mountains


A hiker treks along the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Make sure to pack your hiking boots when visiting Westlake Village. This year’s completion of the Backbone Trail offers visitors and locals alike a 67-mile (108-kilometre) uninterrupted path traversing the Santa Monica Mountains’ sandstone peaks and canyons. The trailhead is a 20-minute drive from Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village. A half-century in the making, this ambitious project connects two state parks – Point Mugu in Malibu and Will Rogers in Pacific Palisades – through mountainous terrain that will test your fitness and endurance.

Water sports paradise in Malibu


Yoga on paddleboards near Malibu offers two workouts in one.

Less than a 30-minute drive to the Pacific Ocean and under an hour to Malibu, Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, A Four Seasons Hotel provides an easy springboard to maritime adventures like kayaking and paddleboarding. “Paradise Cove in Malibu has great water sports,” says Honor Echlund, the Hotel’s Assistant Chef Concierge. The Concierge can also arrange a trip to Marina del Rey – just 30 minutes away, it’s home to the largest man-made marina in the United States – where you can paddle, surf or even join a yoga class on a stand-up paddleboard.

Coastal climb in the Santa Barbara mountains


A hiker absorbs the views near Rocky Pine Ridge in the Santa Barbara mountains, not far from the Cold Spring Trail.

Life doesn’t get much healthier – or beachier – than in Santa Barbara, the stylish coastal town 100 miles north of Los Angeles.

“I feel so fortunate to live here,” says Chef de Partie at Four Seasons Resort The Biltmore Santa Barbara, an avid runner who has completed 54 marathons. “Santa Barbara is a mecca for runners and cyclists, and you get to enjoy amazing trails year round.”

Bruno recommends hitting the nearby Cold Spring Trail, a path beloved by both hikers and cyclists that combines a variety of terrains leading to majestic views of the Pacific Ocean and Montecito Peak. The hiking trail loops alongside waterfalls and a bubbling creek as it rises from 600 to 1,200 feet (183 to 366 metres). Steep in some places and gently sloped in others, this woodsy walk beats any treadmill or stationary bike regimen.

Heights of San Francisco


The spiral staircase at San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center is one of many climbing opportunities that combine exercise with public art.

No need to limit yourself to a stair machine in a city full of picturesque inclines, such as the residential Outer Sunset neighborhood’s swirly mosaic stairs that reward with vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco cityscape. For another scenic walk, climb Lyon Street’s 244 steps that link gourmet enclave Cow Hollow with stately Pacific Heights. Both are within a few miles of the Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco.

Poolside workout in Palo Alto


The pool at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto.

Even when you’re in the world’s tech capital, it’s good to get outside and enjoy some fresh air and fitness with an on-site al fresco workout. If you’re here for just a quick business jaunt, the Hotel makes it easy to stay active and bask in the sun. Surrounding the rooftop pool at Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley at East Palo Alto are dedicated fitness cabanas where you’ll find stationary bikes and weight bars.