Location: Hendaye, at the gateway to Spain, nestled between ocean and mountains.
The goal: Restore physical, mental, and emotional balance while integrating healthier lifestyle elements. This preventive and curative program draws on holistic Ayurvedic medicine to help you realign with your unique "dosha" or temperament.
The protocol: 18 individual treatments (6 hydromassage baths with essential oils, 6 revitalizing seaweed wraps, and 6 Ayurvedic treatments at the Carita Spa: Panchakarma massage, Abhyanga massage, Shirodhara massage, Kansu bowl foot massage, Marmas point massage, and Vedic scrub body with precious spices) + 1 mindfulness meditation session, 1 yoga initiation session, and 1 Ayurvedic assessment at the beginning and end.
Meals: Indian-inspired organic cuisine, with a daily Ayurvedic herbal tea, organic fruit at the bar, and a fresh fruit juice cocktail prepared each day.
What we loved: The cutting-edge facilities of the Serge Blanco thalassotherapy center, founded over 25 years ago by renowned rugby player Serge Blanco. The expertise of the practitioners (special mention for the meditation initiation). And the seamless blend of nutrition, yoga, meditation, and dosha-personalized care. We departed soothed, regenerated, equipped with practical advice to sustain the benefits, and already planning our return.
Accommodation: Beachfront at the elegant Serge Blanco **** hotel, with direct access to the thalassotherapy center.
Nearby: Admire seafront villas by architect Edmond Durandeau, explore the stunning Abbadia castle-observatory, or take the shuttle boat to Spain for pintxos—the local take on tapas. More info: Hendaye Tourisme, tel: 05 59 20 00 34, www.hendaye-tourisme.fr.
Book now! From €1,686 for the 6-day/6-night Ayurvedic Encounter in half-board, with free unlimited access to the marine spa and fitness area, www.thalassoblanco.com. Also available in 4-day format.
Find Thalasso Serge Blanco at the Salon des Thermalies, the premier event for health and well-being through water, February 1-4, 2018, at the Carrousel du Louvre, www.thermalies.com.
