Exquisite outdoor wellness retreats and adventures for a refined summer reset.
As modern life becomes increasingly digitised, there is a quiet yet undeniable pull drawing us back outdoors, to the wild, the untouched, the elemental. This summer, escaping the scorching desert heat to the most luxurious indulgence may be not a spa appointment or a gourmet meal, but the opportunity to stand barefoot in a forest clearing or plunge into a glacial lake.
Across the British Isles (home to 250,000 Brits based in the UAE), a new wave of outdoor wellness experiences invites us to reconnect with the natural world, away from the hustle and bustle of the city, and into a more profound connection with ourselves – these spots are the perfect antidote to overwhelming desert city life.
From Nordic-inspired forest saunas to candlelit glamping havens and elegantly curated nature festivals, these elevated escapes combine the healing balm of nature with thoughtful design and sensory depth. This is wellness in its most refined form: restorative, immersive, and exquisitely slow.
Here, our Insider editors present some of the most sublime outdoor wellness experiences for summer 2025, selected for their abilities to soothe the senses and awaken the spirit.
1. Wild Swimming with The Wild Swimming Co.
Best for: Intrepid spirits and cold-water aficionados
There is something elemental and almost sacred about immersing oneself in open, unspoiled waters. Whether slipping into the stillness of Loch Morlich beneath the Cairngorms or diving into the shimmering glacial pools of Snowdonia, wild swimming offers a return to the raw beauty of the natural world. The Wild Swimming Co. curates lifeguard-supported retreats across the UK’s most majestic landscapes, with expert guidance in cold-water acclimatisation, breathwork, and recovery rituals. In these crystalline waters, one finds not only a thrill, but a profound kind of calm. It’s the ultimate cure for Dubai summers, where even your pool begs for ice cubes just to keep its cool.
Brave the chill and connect with nature in some of the region’s most stunning seas and lakes.
2. Treetop Sauna, Aqua Sana at Sherwood Forest
Best for: Connoisseurs of heat therapy and forest tranquillity
High among the ancient canopies of Sherwood Forest, Aqua Sana’s treetop sauna offers a rare and poetic wellness experience. Here, enveloped in aromatic heat and gazing over a cathedral of trees, one may surrender to stillness. The experience is elevated quite literally with thermal pools, quiet zones, and a multisensory approach to relaxation. Forest bathing meets Scandinavian ritual, creating a retreat that feels both primal and deeply luxurious while being the antithesis of Middle Eastern heat and frenetic energy.
The green forest’s fecundity is enthralling, equalled only by the lush spa facilities.
3. Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire
Best for: Those who believe wellness should include both silence and song
Set within the lyrical landscape of Cornbury Park, Wilderness Festival is more than a music event; it is a celebration of intentional living. The wellness offering is as thoughtfully curated as the headliner lineup, with forest meditations, cold plunges, creative workshops, and sunrise yoga set to birdsong. One may oscillate between lakeside stillness and the spirited joy of barefoot dancing beneath the stars. A rare blend of reverence and revelry with something to enchant every city-dwelling Dubai resident looking for an escape from the hustle.
Expect high jinks, activations, glamping, and a connection to nature at this high vibe fun festival.
4. Glamping at The Quiet Site, Lake District
Best for: Modern nomads seeking nature without the discomfort
Far removed from the clichés of soggy tents and cold beans, The Quiet Site reimagines outdoor living with whimsy and elegance. Nestled in Ullswater, its eco-pods, Hobbit Holes and glamping cabins offer modern comfort with minimal environmental impact (expect WIFI and en-suites.) Here, the Lake District unfolds as both backdrop and balm, best enjoyed beside a flickering campfire, beneath a blanket of stars, with the rustle of leaves as your lullaby. Only deep in the Dubai desert would you find such peace and solitude – just without the luxury eco-cabins.
The Quiet Site has been welcoming visitors to Ullswater for more than 50 years.
5. Forest Bathing with Forestry England
Best for: Urban minds who need more grounded serenity (most us, to be frank)
Derived from the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, forest bathing is less about exertion and more about presence. Forestry England’s guided sessions, in locations such as Thetford Forest, Forest of Dean and Wendover Woods where they invite participants to surrender their senses to the symphony of the forest. Enhanced by sound therapy and breathwork conducted by qualified specialists, these meditative walks are medicine for the mind and nervous system: a recalibration of sorts, back to stillness, back to self. You’ll return to the fast-paced city and overflowing inbox with ease after this immersive retreat.
A soul-soothing ritual of slowing down and mindfully immersing yourself in the forest.
6. Roots and Seeds Kitchen Garden Café, Cirencester
Best for: Culinary purists with a penchant for pastoral charm
Wellness begins on the plate, and at Roots and Seeds, it is elevated to an art form. Set within a flourishing kitchen garden, this Cirencester café celebrates seasonal, locally grown ingredients with unpretentious grace. After a gentle countryside ramble or garden wander, guests are invited to dine beneath the trees, savouring dishes that speak to both body and soil. Earthy. Honest. Nourishing. It’s impossible to eat anything as farm-to-table-fresh in the desert as at this authentic country dining spot.
Their on-site kitchen garden aims to source 75% of their own produce on their menu by 2025.
7. Dovecote Barns, Yorkshire
Best for: Lovers of literary landscapes and bucolic ease
At Dovecote Barns in the heart of Yorkshire, pastoral luxury finds its ideal expression. These meticulously restored eco-barns offer an invitation to slow down: long breakfasts in private gardens, evening barbecues under the stars, and the melodic hush of the countryside all around. With optional fine-dining by a Michelin-trained chef and the historical riches of York nearby, this retreat is where rustic elegance and cultural refinement coalesce. It also has the bonus of being eco-friendly by using only renewable energy and it’s friendly to all your four-legged friends.
There’s a variety of accommodation on offer, all combining luxury with traditional features.
8. The Lakes by Yoo, Cotswolds
Best for: Design-savvy travellers seeking immersion in nature
This architecturally ambitious wellness enclave in Gloucestershire merges minimalist design with natural grandeur. The Lakes by Yoo – conceptualised by Philippe Starck – offers sleek woodland cabins, lakeside lodges, and curated experiences including paddleboarding, meditation, and holistic spa treatments. Every detail speaks to a commitment to tranquillity and taste, with nature not as a backdrop, but as the essence of the experience. Family-friendly and just 90-mins from London, there’s a multitude of reasons why the Cotwolds is the ultimate hot spot for celebs and aristocrats alike. You’ll leave with your shoulders lower, your soul lighter, and your out-of-office mindset so firmly set, even your inbox will whisper in lowercase.
Situated on an 850-acre sustainable estate in the Cotswolds, this location is crying out to be visited by those craving wellness with a side of chic.
9. Belmond Britannia Explorer: Spa on Rails
Best for: Discerning travellers with a taste for novelty
Luxury need not be static. The Belmond Britannia Explorer introduces the UK’s first rolling spa; an opulent train journey where treatments are administered amidst pastoral panoramas. With its private wellness suite, steam shower, and yoga carriage, this experience redefines “train travel” as a deeply restorative journey. One boards for the views, but disembarks transformed. Watch the stunning local nature stream by as you recline in luxury accommodation and your off-train experiences promise soothing treatments focusing on circadian principles to promote healing. By the time you roll back into reality, you won’t just feel well-travelled, you’ll feel wonderfully recharged, ready to return to work with clarity, calm, and perhaps a newfound obsession with locomotion.
Indulgent cabin amenities with plus double beds and en-suites – we’ve never see wellness done so well.
Whether it’s the thrill of a cold-water plunge or the quiet power of forest stillness, this season’s most profound escapes are rooted not in the virtual, but in the visceral. Reconnection is the new luxury, and after immersing yourself in nature’s embrace, even Dubai’s shimmering skyline feels a little more serene.
