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Bali digital detox? Check in to Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve’s Disconnect to Reconnect programme – or search Style’s recommended secluded resort stays in Thailand, Portugal or the Grenadines

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali offers a Disconnect to Reconnect programme, the ideal antidote to mobile phones, with art, sound and wellness classes. Photo: Handout

If you’ve ever gasped in horror at the amount of time you spend on your phone after receiving one of those screentime notifications, you’ve probably considered embarking on a digital detox. But completely going off grid for a few days – or in extreme cases, even just a few hours – is a nightmare for those who like to be constantly connected, taking a great deal of willpower and self-discipline. Going at it gently then, ideally starting with a wellness retreat in a tropical idyll, is a sensible approach.

When I first heard of the Disconnect to Reconnect programme at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the Indonesian island of Bali, I was intrigued. Unlike many other experiences of this kind, which range from strictly silent retreats to regimented routines to provide a perhaps much-needed shock to the system, this felt like just what I needed to take a short break from my busy city life without switching off completely.

Mandapa Three Bedroom Pool Villa. Photo: Handout

The resort is near Ubud, a tourist town where early morning yoga and meditation groups are a much more common sight than the crowds dancing to loud music seen in the bars and clubs of Kuta and Canggu. Surrounded by lush jungle and rice paddies, and sat beside the Ayung River, Mandapa is one of only six Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world (the other five are in Puerto Rico, Mexico, Japan, China and Thailand). As you would expect from such a select place, Mandapa comes with all the luxury trappings, from private-pool villas to decadent fine dining and dedicated butlers. Its name refers to the entrance of a traditional Hindu temple (there is one on the grounds that is still visited by local villagers), reflecting the strong connection of the property to Balinese culture.

Mandapa Spa. Photo: Handout

You could easily spend your entire break within the confines of Mandapa and have a fabulous time trying the four restaurants, relaxing by the pool or enjoying spa treatments, but to get more out of your stay, the Disconnect to Reconnect programme provides a worthwhile experience without forcing you to shun the finer things in life.

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A typical day starts with quantum healing. Developed by wellness guru Deepak Chopra, this is a kind of meditation meant to access past memories, to help you let go of trauma and other negative thoughts. I am normally wary of this type of new age stuff but I thoroughly enjoyed the session, though mainly for the hour of tranquil bliss it provided rather than any form of enlightenment or spiritual awakening.

Yoga aficionados and novices alike are in for a treat as the programme involves a range of yoga classes, from gentle restorative ones to more challenging sessions that involve intense but extremely beneficial breathwork.

Mandapa Camp Exterior. Photo: Handout

Surprisingly, for someone who is not artistically inclined at all, the most eye-opening and rewarding experience was the mandala art class. Sitting by the river while colouring in a blank drawing of a mandala – a geometric design that has deep meaning in Buddhism and Hinduism – was the most soothing form of meditation I’ve ever experienced (and probably the most I could handle when it comes to meditation, anyway). Simple yet extremely effective, the session awoke the inner child in me, helping me start the day with focus and joy.

Speaking of children, the most striking structure in the entire resort is the play area, Mandapa Camp, a whale-shaped bamboo building with a slide located next to a vegetable garden and a barn where on my visit I glimpsed two well-fed cows.

Mandapa Kubu Restaurant. Photo: Handout

The Disconnect to Reconnect programme doesn’t include any special health-focused menu so don’t expect a physical as well as digital detox. This means, however, that you can savour all the great food offerings from Mandapa’s chefs: from the hearty and spicy Indonesian cuisine of Sawah Terrace to Kubu, a fine-dining eatery that stands out for its striking design – just make sure to go early to nab one of the coveted bamboo cocoons overlooking the Ayung River for a semi-private dining experience.

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The Ritz-Carlton brand is not known for its wellness offerings but this first foray into the arena with Disconnect to Reconnect is a successful attempt to give a taste of what a health retreat holds for luxury travellers who like their wellness in small doses and don’t fancy any kind of deprivation or hardcore regimes.

Although I have visited my fair share of wellness retreats in Asia and beyond, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of the Disconnect to Reconnect classes, which are well thought-out and ideal for those intimidated by the idea of a health retreat but still curious.

Sound Healing Therapy at Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. Photo: Handout

At the end of my stay, after a sound therapy session performed with singing bowls on a beautiful Sunday morning, as I was about to head back to my villa and check out, when the weekly notification I normally dread popped up. I saw my average screen time had decreased by a remarkable 27 per cent compared to the previous week. While I went in hoping for an even more emphatic drop (that the last season of Netflix’s show The Crown debuted the day I checked in didn’t help), achieving complete inner peace and unveiling my hidden guru was not the point of this retreat. What I ultimately took away from this experience is that truly making an effort even without trying to go all the way can be just as rewarding and bring just as much positive change. Baby steps, as they say.

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Chiva-Som, Thailand

Chiva-Som is an award-winning luxury health resort in Hua Hin, Thailand. Photo: Handout

The award-winning luxury health resort nestled on the peaceful shores of Hua Hin in Thailand offers a programme focused on promoting mental clarity, relaxation and a balanced lifestyle by stepping away from screens through activities such as forest escapes crowned with hilltop meditation, walks through their flourishing organic gardens, calming foot rituals and a variety of nature-first activities that fight the urge to take photos at every turn.

Serenity Spa at Pine Cliffs Resort, Portugal

The Serenity Spa at Pine Cliffs. Photo: Handout

This wellness programme combats burnout and stress while embracing the art of slowing down and rediscovering inner harmony. From rejuvenating treatments to access to the Thermal Oasis, which is equipped with an herbal sauna, hydrotherapy pools, a jacuzzi, steam rooms and a salt sauna, this retreat takes you on a secluded journey of deep relaxation, inviting you to embrace digital detachment by leaving your phone behind for a whole two nights.

Petit St Vincent Resort, Grenadines

Petit St Vincent Resort. Photo: Handout

On the other side of the Atlantic, this secluded sanctuary offers visitors forested hills and coral-fringed beaches on an otherwise uninhabited island – no vehicles, no telephones, TVs or wi-fi in any of their ocean view cottages and villas. This absence of modernity ensures an authentic detox experience where lots of privacy and slow-paced days are all that’s on your agenda.

Asia travel
  • Need to unwind from city life? The Disconnect to Reconnect programme offers focus and perspective with Deepak Chopra’s famed quantum healing, yoga, mandala art and sound therapy
  • Based in Ubud, Bali, Mandapa is one of six Ritz-Carlton Reserves in the world – other phone-free stays to consider include Thailand’s Chiva-Som, Portugal’s Serenity Spa and Petit St Vincent Resort, Grenadines