Renowned as one of the world’s best train journeys, The Ghan travels at an average speed of 85 kilometres an hour, giving you plenty of time to relax in your cosy cabin while taking in front-row views of the Australian outback. Opt for the full four-day, three-night itinerary from Darwin to Adelaide – which includes all meals and off-train activities – and revel in the tranquillity of this 95-year-old train route.

Check into the 12,000-square-metre wellness complex bio-hotel Stanglwirt and your options for downtime are abundant. Spa day, pool laps or horse riding? Take your pick. Just an hour-and-a-half drive from Munich Airport, this temple to wellbeing includes an on-site restaurant, nine pools (there’s also a giant water slide overlooking the Kaisergebirge Mountains) and a marble steam bath as well as weekly guided hikes. Plan as much or as little as you like, just keep the focus on you. 

This all-inclusive, adults-only resort takes slowing down and connecting with nature seriously.  Each of Naviva’s 15 luxury tents front the beach and back onto lush jungle behind. Complimentary activities – including hiking, meditating and swimming – are all on offer for when you’d like to embrace the great outdoors, while fresh seafood at the onsite Copal Cocina restaurant, a local mezcal lesson or a picnic on the sand cover all gastronomic bases.

This four-day adventure wandering through the coastal bushland of south-west Western Australia is a blissful way to experience the Margaret River region. The signature journey through this biodiverse hotspot features daily guided walks plus massages, vineyard tours, world-class dining, and – when you retire to Injidup Spa Retreat each night – dips in a private plunge pool overlooking the Indian Ocean.

Choose from one of seven accommodation options at this rustic ranch in the heart of Montana’s wilderness. With private access to hiking, horse-riding and mountain-biking trails, fly-fishing spots and river-rafting, you’ll find plenty to do – at your own pace – across the property’s 850 acres. In the evening, settle into the country-inspired saloon for a game of billiards beneath the antler chandelier. 

Nestled in the leafy hilltops opposite Nha Trang and only accessible by water, this Six Senses Spa property takes downtime seriously. The spa menu includes over 30 treatments – even a 90-minute in-room aura-cleansing and massage journey if you’d rather stay in – and there’s a dedicated sleep program for those needing extra shut eye. Each stay comes with an on-call Guest Experience Maker to enable whatever you dream of – but a hike to see the resident langur monkeys is an excellent incentive to head outdoors.

The architecturally-designed one-bedroom suites at Kittawa Lodge, perched on the rugged coast of King Island, are the ideal place to take stock and be taken care of. Enjoy meals made with locally sourced Tasmanian produce from the comfort of your secluded hideaway; wander the 750-square-metres of private coastline; soak in the concrete bath with only the stars to keep you company; or sit on your private deck overlooking the ocean as wallabies bounce by. 

Slow to a complete pause at Soma, a luxury wellness getaway in the Byron hinterland. Embark on a three- or four-day yoga or meditation retreat and chill-out between sessions with organic meals, forest bathing and laps in the freshwater infinity pool. Intimate group classes cover vinyasa, hatha, yin and kundalini practices, as well as soundbathing and breathwork. 

Witness a lioness and her cubs wander across the plateaus of Tanzania mere footsteps from your open-air jeep. &Beyond’s luxury safari tour takes you across expanses of Serengeti National Park, with an experienced guide tailoring the excursion based on what animals you’d like to see most (expect hippos, hyenas, elephants and more). At night, retreat to the nine-suite Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge and marvel at the local wildlife from the safety of your private plunge pool. 

Slow travel is rumoured to have stemmed from the slow food movement, which started in Italy. Honour that history with a week-long gastronomic adventure in Puglia with Stirred Travel, where you’ll learn to craft decadent meals – such as creamy mushroom risotto and linguine alle vongole – under the tutelage of local chefs on a 120-acre private farm. All classes, plus a restful stay in a gorgeously appointed suite at La Camursa, are included.