Celebs Are All Going On Silent Vacations

A once in a lifetime opportunity to tune out from the modern world and tune in to my inner self, while enjoying twice-daily yoga sessions, massages and Ayurvedic treatments at a hidden eco-village in Sri Lanka? Sure I’ll dive right in. The all-inclusive Ulpotha is a slice of heaven for people who love the great outdoors—and luckily for me, I am one of them. There was no electricity, no hot running water, no alcohol, no caffeine, no meat, no salt, no sugar and no cell phone signal (unless I hiked up Monkey Rock or found the perfect spot along the lake). I slept in a mud hut with no doors, showered under a canopy of trees in the day and only had starlight to help me navigate my way around the village at night. While I was open to this outdoor life, it did take me a while to get into the swing of things. Living in Singapore, with constant distractions, I felt a little at a loss with this slower pace of life. I spent the first four days striding around the village, forcing myself to read a book, or tapping my fingers until I could attend the next yoga class. I wasn’t used to taking it slow, I felt I needed to do something. However, I took to the phone detox, far more easily than I expected. While some of my fellow yogis were taking a 30-minute bike ride each day to the local tailor to hook up to his WiFi, I was quite happy to leave my phone alone (in fact, I forgot to check it even when I returned home to Singapore). But I could see why someone like Gisele Bündchen makes a silent holiday her vacation of choice. Each day, I would wake up to the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels running along the thatched roof, I’d then enjoy an energising session of yoga, followed by a nourishing breakfast of fresh coconut and pastries. And then when I wasn’t reviving mind, body and soul, I was joining other Ulpotha visitors on a bike ride around the lakes, enjoying a trek through the jungle to reach the Buddhist temple or visiting other local heritage sites. The part I enjoyed most about my stay? The cool evenings where I could engage in delightful conversations with like-minded people—there was no fidgeting with phones to fill awkward silences. Although time seemed to move glacially in the beginning, a week at Ulpotha made me understand what living in the moment really feels like. ■ Priced from $3,800 for a two-week stay. www.ulpotha.com

DARE TO DETOX

Spirit Rock, California  A spiritual-focused stay involving a weeklong silent mediation. Priced from $115 a night, www.spiritrock.org

Kamalaya, Thailand Guests can expect a holistic approach to detoxing. Priced from $1,990 for three nights, www.kamalaya.com

Amansala, Mexico A bikini bootcamp with a raw food fix. Priced $2,550 for six-nights, www.amansalaresort.com