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Las Vegas: surprisingly prominent health and wellbeing hub

Thought it was all frozen margaritas and gambling? Tiffany Leigh discovers that the concept of Las Vegas health is far more balanced than you thought…

The last time I ventured down the seductive strip of Las Vegas, well… what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right? While outrageous decadence and mischievous adventures are certainly the norm, there’s balance offered here too. Believe it: this multifaceted city is rife in health and wellness, baby! Whether you’re of the casino camp and seeking a brief respite from the exhilarating chaos or have always been keen to travel here but thought it wasn’t for you, here’s where to scope out alternative forms of fun, sans the hangover aftermath.

Stay:

Park MGM’s new Stay Well Suites on the 23rd floor makes jetlag a relic of the past. Developed by Delos, this hotel wellness program allows you to become one with your new environment from the moment you land – thanks to nifty technology embedded within each room. A handy video greeting by health guru Deepak Chopra provides guests with a walkthrough of all the Stay Well amenities. Then get complimentary app access to award-winning Cleveland Clinic wellness programs for nutrition and sleep. Stay Well room features are plentiful and include a natural memory foam mattress for back support and comfort, circadian lighting that allows your body’s ‘internal clock’ to adjust to new time zones, a vitamin C shower infuser for energy and supple skin, and an air purification system that eliminates toxins, odours, allergens and microbes.

Eat:

In downtown Las Vegas, VegeNation is where you can find vivacious vegan eats. The colourful outpost dotted with rainbow murals and verdant foliage is ideal for tucking into chef Donald Lemperle’s modern comfort fare. You can feel good about eating at this 100 per cent plant-based restaurant. Best bets include addictive spicy-sweet buffalo cauliflower wings with cool and creamy ranch dressing; and the eggplant stack, a layered triple-decker wonder of thin eggplant slices with house-made cashew ricotta, gooey mozzarella and tangy tomato gravy that would make Nonna proud.

Sip:

Wandering the Strip can work up mighty hunger pangs but there’s no need to make a beeline for the buffet – tide your tummy over until the next meal with wholesome treats at The Juice Standard. Feel energised with its 100 per cent organic Be Excellent nut milks. They’re creamy, nutrient-dense, hydrating and can even double as a meal replacement. The Bee Legendary is a seasonal favourite and features a medley of sweet cashews, Brazil nuts, walnuts, a warm spice blend of turmeric, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and is finished with floral vanilla and local honey.

Sweat:

Get a body smack-down and butt-kicking in the best way possible with Sweat60 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, you’re guided by Palani Mak, whose intimately sized boot camp (a maximum of 14 participants) offers high-intensity interval training. Challenge your body with a seven-station circuit blitz that comprises boxing, battle ropes, burpee beams, boxing, plyometrics, core stability, strength training and more. Designed for wanderlusters, those on the go, and the busy business traveller – this is the most efficient way to sweat, have fun and burn as many as 600–800 calories in one 60 minute session.

Detox:

Beautify from the inside-out at Qua Baths & Spa inside Caesars Palace. Its Nobu Zen Treatment not only offers bespoke massages that tailor to your needs (massage therapists are trained in an array of techniques from lomi lomi to shiatsu) but it’s their use of unique Natura Bissé treatment oils that takes the experience to a new level. With four different blends to choose from, the fitness oil is optimally crafted to mitigate any decongestion issues, offers anti-inflammatory properties and an overall comforting sensation. It’s perfect for frequent travellers and those with muscle soreness from post-workout sessions.

Sahra Spa & Hammam at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

It’s not quite the fountain of youth, but it comes pretty close: the serenity-inducing spa offers an exclusive treatment that’s the first of its kind in the United States. The BioEffect Eyglo facial makes use of a Nobel Prize-winning epidermal growth factor (EGF) serum, which sees bio-identical cell activators stimulate your blood circulation and allow for the skin to regenerate and become radiant, younger and healthier.

Zen:

The sky’s the limit with Maverick Helicopters’ HeliYoga: Limitless. Soar from the Strip to the Valley of Fire in a private helicopter and stand tall in tree pose enveloped by petrified wood and red sandstone. Attain a new and literal high with this ultimate yoga session led by award-winning Silent Savasana.

Make a splash with Mother Nature and do the wheel alongside smiling sea life. Yoga with the Dolphins at The Mirage is an underwater class that would render the Little Mermaid jealous. The aquatic yoga sessions led by industry veteran Janey Ziter is where vinyasa flows and yin poses are done in a glass room alongside dolphins who frolic beside you in Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat.

Outdoor Exploration:

Drive 25 minutes west of Las Vegas to find a spectrum of stunning beauty awaits at the Red Rock Canyon. Take a break from the Strip to absorb all of the wildlife wonderment, waterfall oasis and sandstone bluffs here. With 26 different trails on offer, this conservation area is prime territory in Nevada for hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and biking.

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12 grand journeys throughout North America

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    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

    Travelling with: Ricky French

    Sunset on Route 66 in the California Mojave Desert.
    Hit the open road and trace America’s legendary highway. (Image: Getty/Der_Thomasa)

    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    emblematic catrina of mexico with flowers and necklace with sempasuchil flowers
    Celebrate life and honour loved ones in vibrant style. (Image: Getty/Fabian Pacheco)

    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

    3. Museum-hop in New York City

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    The Guggenheim Museum’s iconic spiralling exterior, a highlight of North America Epic Adventures.
    Step inside and marvel at bold, world-class art. (Image: Damiano Fiore)

    Your map app will look like it’s been scattered with confetti after you’ve dropped pins on all the museums you want to visit in New York City. Must-sees are the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Metropolitan Museum of Art aka the Met, and the Museum of Modern Art. The American Museum of Natural History is also a draw. It’s also worth venturing into the boroughs to browse institutions such as the Brooklyn Museum, which has a huge permanent collection categorised by culture.

    4. The USA’s music scene

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    The Seattle skyline at night, aglow with city lights on North America Epic Adventures.
    Soak up skyline views and dive into the city’s coffee culture. (Image: Abigail Boone)

    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

    5. Road-tripping Hawai‘i

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    A woman surfing in Hawaii, gliding across turquoise waves on North America Epic Adventures.
    Catch the waves and ride Hawaii’s iconic swells. (Image: Ben Ono)

    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

    6. Cruising Alaska

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Explora Journeys ship cruising in Alaska.
    Sail past glaciers and spot whales in pristine waters.

    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

    7. The Wixárika Route in Mexico

    Travelling with: Elizabeth Whitehead

    People journeying through the Wixarika Route.
    Journey deep into sacred Huichol traditions and art.

    For generations, the Indigenous Wixárika People of Mexico have walked a sacred path known as Tatehuarí Huajuyé, or ‘The Path of Our Grandfather Fire’. The annual pilgrimage route spans 500 kilometres, taking in significant sites in Wixárika spirituality and cosmology. The route passes through the deserts, mountains and forests of northern Mexico before reaching Wirikuta, believed to be the place the sun first emerged. The route is a living cultural landscape of Indigenous culture pre-Columbian influence and, in July this year, was formally inscribed into UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

    8. Drive the Iceberg Coast in Canada

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Iceberg off the east coast of Canada
    Chase icebergs along Expedition 51 on Canada’s east coast. (Image: Canadian Tourism Commission/ Chris Hendrickson)

    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

    9. A foodie tour of Nova Scotia

    Travelling with: Katie Carlin

    Lunenberg Nova Scotia
    Try lobster rolls in Lunenburg on the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia. (Image: Natalia Kvitovska/ Unsplash)

    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

    10. Soak up the sun in the Caribbean

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Overwater bungalows off a beach in the Caribbean
    Experience the white-sand beaches and cerulean seas of the Caribbean on board a cruise.

    The Caribbean is on the radar for seasoned cruisers. And it’s easy to see why, with white-sand beaches, cerulean seas and swaying palms so picture-perfect they look AI-generated. Cruise with Windstar, Royal Caribbean, and Celebrity on its inaugural Xcel season to the Caribbean to enjoy action-packed excursions such as snorkelling coral reefs and shopping for local trinkets. And those sea days? Spectacular.

    11. Red Chair Hikes of Canada

    Travelling with: Kassia Byrnes

    Red Adirondack chairs overlooking Lake Minnewanka in Canada
    Take a seat at Lake Minnewanka, one of more than 400 red Adirondack chairs scattered across Canada’s hiking routes. (Image: Getty Images/ Autumn Sky Photography)

    No one appreciates the great outdoors more than Canadians, emerging from snow-covered winters to tread glacial rivers and snowshoe through forests, or to hike mighty mountains and wildflower-strewn valleys come spring. Along popular hikes around the country, more than 400 red Adirondack chairs have been placed in peaceful, breathtaking locations. What started as a social media contest now sees hikers soaking in classic Canadian lake and mountain vistas, overlooking historic sites or gazing down on the mountainous path they just travelled.

    12. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer from Denver to Moab, USA

    Travelling with: Carla Grossetti

    Sweeping views from the Rocky Mountaineer.
    The Rocky Mountaineer will continue as the Canyon Spirit in 2026, seen here carving through Ruby Canyon.

    Sighting wild animals is one of many incredible thrills along the two-day luxury Rockies to the Red Rocks route onboard the Rocky Mountaineer across America’s Southwest between mid-April and mid-October. In addition to the lone bear, we spot bighorn sheep, elk, beavers, pronghorn antelope, bald eagles and ospreys. Riding the rails onboard the luxury train, which was founded in Canada in 1990 and has been awarded the prestigious World’s Leading Travel Experience by Train several times, has never been about just getting from A to B. Ride the train from Denver to Moab and you will see the scenery change from snow-capped peaks to meadows, red-rock canyons and soaring cliffs that resemble ornate Gaudí-esque cathedrals. But it’s not until you get off the train that you can produce the ultimate Venn diagram, with nature and adventure in the intersecting spheres.