IMAGES: ELLIOT COOPER; HEALING WITH HORSES; GETTY
GRIEF RETREATS hWhereealingbegins
From equine therapy in Califnornia to ancient funeral wails on a remote Scottish island, these grief getaways help you build resilience and release pent-up emotions when times get tough. Words: Zoey Goto
Grief, it seems, is no longer the private journey it once was. Today, travellers are signing up for a new batch of grief getaways that mix age-old rituals to everything from talking therapy to cold-water healing. And it’s a growing trend. A 2025 Global Wellness Institute report notes a surge in grief rituals and forecasts the global grief-counselling market will reach about $4.52bn (£3.36bn) by 2029 — up from an estimated $3.67bn (£2.73bn) in 2025 — as demand for support around loss and bereavement grows. This points to a broader societal shift, one that brings emotional wellbeing and mourning out of the shadows. While bereavement is a common
reason to attend, Sabine Wensink of Surf Therapy Travel notes that sorrow can take many forms. “Some guests are mourning a loved one; others are navigating major life transitions or feeling overwhelmed by the pace of modern life.” One thing is certain: all of these transformative journeys offer countless ways to process and reflect — whether surfing emotional waves in Portugal, exploring Gaelic grieving rituals in the Inner Hebrides, or plunging into cold water in Sweden.
38 1 Gather the Keeners Inner Hebrides, UK
BEST FOR: Reclaiming keening, the ancient funeral cry WHY GO? Held on the Isle of Eigg, a Hebridean island off Scotland’s west coast, this women-only retreat explores grief as a shifting landscape rather than a problem to be solved or swept under the carpet. Drawing on the ancient practice of keening — a vocal expression of sorrow once common at funerals in Ireland and the Scottish Highlands — the gathering connects with Gaelic grief traditions. The week-long retreat is led by
Jude Lally, an artist whose work focuses on the pre-Christian roots of keening rituals. Using motifs and myths, she guides group keening circles, alongside meditations held at nearby sacred sites. There’s also time for walks, storytelling and crafting traditional dolls linked to Scotland’s folkloric ancestral mothers, offering symbolic ways to honour loss. HOW TO DO IT: There are three retreats this year: in May, July and August, priced £1,499 per person, including accommodation at the Glebe Barn Hostel.
pathoftheancestralmothers.com
NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL 2 Mending Hearts Retreat Koh Samui, Thailand
BEST FOR: The broken-hearted WHY GO? The aftermath of a romantic break-up can be a lonely, disorienting time. For those seeking a community of like-minded people, this gathering offers a nurturing space to process the emotional fallout, all in the soothing setting of the tropical island of Koh Samui. The six-night retreat is held at the beachfront Santiburi Koh Samui, a high-end resort surrounded by lush gardens dotted with lotus ponds. Recognising that emotional
anguish can disrupt appetite, sleep, focus and mood, the schedule encourages realignment of the body, mind and heart. The focus is on self- compassion and reflection via trauma- informed therapy, group sharing and ocean-side yoga. There are also plenty of opportunities for walks beneath palms or hikes to nearby waterfalls. HOW TO DO IT: The next retreat is this May, with a Marrakech edition following in September. Prices start from £3,750 per person, which includes accommodation, a programme of activities and meals.
mendingheartsretreat.com
3 Tears of Amber & Gold Bohuslän, Sweden
BEST FOR: Cold-water healing with a splash of Norse mythology WHY GO? For those wanting to get far, far away from it all, Tears of Amber & Gold in Sweden’s remote Kärlingesund Retreat Center beckons. Held each February by wellness company Leaves of Lien to welcome the new seasonal chapter, this six-day grief ritual draws on the restorative power of the nearby archipelago, treating it as an active participant in the process of mourning and renewal. “The retreat centre is a five-minute
walk from the ocean,” says mentor Lien De Coster, noting that a nearby stream is treated as a ceremonial altar and that guests can also take cold-water plunges. The Norse goddess Freya, whose tears were said to turn to gold on land and amber in water, looms large at this retreat. “As a closing ritual, we return the harvested water, now salty with our tears, back to the ocean,” Lien adds. HOW TO DO IT: Workshops start from £294 per person. Accommodation and meals are booked separately.
leavesoflien.com
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