Do not disturb
Susan D’Arcy, The Sunday Times’s luxury and wellness expert, on the retreats offering wellbeing and wilderness
Quietcations, trips that focus on calmness, are becoming a thing as we seek an escape from our 24/7 always-on world and its endless crises.
But silence alone is not the solution. Quality quietude requires a soulful location. Somewhere like Borgo Santo Pietro, a 13th-century villa outside Siena. It’s exquisite inside but that longed-for stillness lies just beyond its gate: in the Valley of Serenity. Hike to the beautifully-preserved medieval hilltop town of Chiusdino and the romantic ruin of the Abbey of San Galgano. Or stroll along the ancient Via Francigena, which runs through the valley, and follow in the footsteps of pilgrims, Templar knights and even Saint Francis of Assisi who all trod this path en route from Rome to Jerusalem.
If you prefer a more playful placidness, Deplar Farm is a stylish retreat on a pristine Icelandic peninsula where many locals still believe in elves. The hotel even has its own elf hill, the perfect place for solitary contemplation. Probably the ultimate expression of Deplar’s quietcation credentials, though, is a sleepover at Ghost Farm. This cosy stone cabin is a four-hour hike from the main property through epic scenery. You have it all to yourself apart from a possible guest appearance by the northern lights.
The untouched Indonesian island of Sumba serves up a spicier cocktail of equanimity laced with adrenalin. Nihi Sumba, a cool resort backed by jungle and fronted by the Indian Ocean, is home to a world-class surf break. After riding the waves, jump on a horse and gallop through palm-tree forests, paddy fields and pretty villages to a clifftop spa pavilion. After excellent jasmine-scented treatments, you’ll be left alone with your thoughts and those ocean views.
These destinations are so precious, you’ll want to shout about them from the rooftops. Understandable but entirely inappropriate – you’re on a quietcation, after all.
SDP tip: ‘My top tip for members travelling to Nihi Sumba is to join the Sumba Foundation tour for a humbling experience like no other. You will get to witness first-hand how a luxury stay directly supports the local community in gaining access to clean water, education and healthcare, and being malaria-free. A stay at Nihi Sumba is truly transformative and purposeful.’ – Ying Ying Koo, Scott Dunn Private
Top: The view from the infinity pool at Borgo Santo Pietro; Above: The Pool Suite bathroom at Borgo Santo Pietro
5 brands that are kind to you and the planet
- Seed to Skin Tuscany: Borgo Santo Pietro’s own skincare brand, made with organic and wild ingredients sustainably-sourced from the hotel’s farm, are so hydrating it's like being hosed down by the fire department. seedtoskin.com
- Dune Suncare: These clear-gel sun creams use plant extracts and SPF chemical actives that are good for your skin and the environment offering not just protection, but presidential-style security. dunesuncare.com
- Bamford: Luxury skincare that seeks out sustainable natural ingredients including fruit-derived AHAs and natural retinols for products that provide a wholesome glow to those in the know. bamford.co.uk
- Laurel Skin: A pioneer of slow-farmed beauty, these products are made from organic, raw, unrefined whole-plant ingredients that contain hundreds of antioxidant variations, vitamins and nutrients and deliver results fast. laurelskin.com
- Handmade Heroes: Malaysia’s cult skincare range has a small-batch philosophy, uses clean formulas (so no naughty preservatives or paragons) and has a cruelty-free stance that has gained it fans including Emily in Paris star Lily Collins. handmade-heroes.com
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