10 Wacky Reasons To Travel Now

T+L’S selection of wellness adventures that aren’t for the faint-hearted.

- Shikha Pushpan

No. 1 Let Snails Rejuvenate Your Skin

This one is not for people who get the heebie jeebies from creepy crawlies. A concept born in Japan a few years ago, snail facials are now slowly inching towards the exclusive league of wellness treatments. Snail slime is believed to be rich in antioxidants and nutrients, which contribute to younger looking skin and help combat effects of ageing. At London’s Simply Divine Salon & Day Spa (simplydivinedayspa.com), the Snail Spa Celebrity Course is a 45-minute treatment wherein tiny snails are allowed to roam free on the customer’s face. The gastropods leave behind trails of helix aspersa muller glycoconjugates, or snail mucus, lending a smoothing effect, while also treating wrinkles, acne scars, and other skin conditions.

No. 2 Go for a Cactus Massage

The last thing you want pressed against your skin is a cactus, let alone paying money to get it done. But fret not, this spa treatment is not a sadistic twist to acupuncture. The Hakali Cactus Massage at Four Seasons Punta Mita Mexico (fourseasons.com) utilises the cacti’s antioxidant healing properties to rehydrate your skin. The paddle of the hakali, or nopal cactus, is the main ingredient here. The needles on the cacti leaves are removed before they are heated in warm water, softened, cut in half, and rubbed against the skin to remove toxins and breathe fresh life into it.

Simple, painless, and exotic. And very Mexican.

No. 3 Try a Vagacial