Have you been for a holiday recently? And when we meant by a holiday, we don't mean a rushed 5-days, 6 countries type of holiday which leaves you more tired than before you start your holiday!

No, when we say a holiday retreat, we mean a holiday that lets you become fresher and rejuvenated instead of being more tired after a holiday.

Holiday retreats has been popular for many decades. Basically, you land in one holiday spot and spend the next 1-2 weeks in the same spot; without having to rush from place to place or planes or trains to catch. Typical of these holidays are golf, spa, seaside, nature or sports retreat holidays.

Once the domain of the rich and famous, holiday retreats are now also popular with the ordinary population as more people seek to retreat away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

One of the newest type of holiday retreats are detox and spa holidays, which basically include a quiet holiday spot with additional holistic treatments that may include a health diet, spas, massage, medidation, exercises, detox, cleansing and accupuncture treatments. Most of the time, such holiday retreats are located by a sunny beach or a cool mountain top.

These holistic treatment holiday spots can be anywhere in the world but seem to be primarily concentrated in the Far East and can be found in Thailand, Indonesia, India, Maldives, Philippines, Australia and Goa.

Along with Yoga and massages, detox and cleansing treatment during such holiday retreats are also gaining popularity. Basically, you are given a healthy vegetarian diet throughout your holiday in a holistic retreat and subjected to various detox and cleansing treatments that can include colon cleasing, reflexology and accupuncture treatment, ear candling and suana and deep massages. There may also be Yoga or Tai Chi exercises to help you calm and clear your minds and soul as well.

It is believed that our bodies include toxins accumulated over the years due to the food we eat and the air we breathe. These toxins in our bodies cause us to become unwell, fall sick easily or feel stressed even if we do not exactly fall sick.

Detox and cleansing gets rid of such toxins in our body. With additional strict diet control, deep massages and healthy exercises; one invariably comes away clean, relieved, rejuvenated and refreshed from such holistic retreat holidays.

If and when you can, make time and budget for such a holiday. You will be surprised how much such holistic treatment can do for the good of your body and soul, especially if you come from a stressful work or home environment.

So, the next time you make plans for a holiday, do consider a holistic holiday retreat instead of the hustle and bustle of a guided tour or a city to city tour.