Luxury travel agency Bluebird Travel has launched a sister brand specialising in luxury wellness holidays in the UK and abroad. 

Health Travel partners with leading hotels and experience providers to design bespoke retreats, nature-based itineraries and “adventurous” private tours. 

The agency can arrange multi-day kayaking and trekking expeditions through Chilean Patagonia; spirituality breaks with a Mayan shaman in Mexico; and stargazing in the deserts of Morocco. 

It also partners with science-led wellness resorts in Europe, including SHA Wellness Clinic in Spain and Grand Resort Bad Ragaz in Switzerland, and UK properties such as Grantley Hall and Gleneagles.

London-based Bluebird Travel, which was founded in 1970, said it created Health Travel after noticing an increase in wellbeing holiday bookings through lockdown, including detoxes in Switzerland and fitness retreats in the Maldives. 

The brand said it hopes wellbeing retreats and reconnecting to the natural world will help UK holidaymakers "reclaim their health and wellbeing" following the stresses of the pandemic and multiple lockdowns.

“We’re seeing an increased demand from our clients for more enriching and meaningful experiences, with many are asking where they can go to improve their fitness, or detox, or where can they simply escape to relax and meditate,” said Health Travel director Toby Watfa.

“We are here to help find untapped experiences around the globe. Wellness travel is in demand now more than ever. The pandemic has impacted all of us and reshaped our relationship with how we live and now how we travel too.

“Holidaymakers, whether wanting to stay in the UK or travel abroad, want more than just time in the sun - they want rewarding experiences that reconnect, teach and inspire. Our experiences are designed to achieve that through addressing the mind, body and soul."

Public Health England reported 29.5% of UK adults displayed clinically significant levels of physiological distress after the first lockdown in March 2020.

Meanwhile, Google Search Data reported a 21% year-to-year increase for online wellness-related searches since 2018, and a 2020 survey by Natural England highlighted over 40% of people now place greater importance on nature for personal wellbeing.