Slovenia as a longevity destination, Part 2: Spas and Health

Healthy waters and natural healing factors

Spas sit in four landscapes: the Pannonian Plain, the Alps, the Karst and the Mediterranean. Each resort works with its own natural healing factors. These include thermal and mineral water, mineral drinking water, healing mud and peat, sea water, brine, salt pan mud and a sea or highland climate with aerosols. Specialised doctors and balneologists advise on their use. The resorts cover 9 indication areas, with their own medical staff. Some have more than 600 years of tradition. Two drinking waters are known far beyond Slovenia: Radenska and Donat Mg.

Thalassotherapy on the Adriatic

Terme Portorož builds on an 800 year tradition of complementary medicine and thalassotherapy. It uses salt, salt pan mud, brine, sea water and the sea climate. Talaso Strunjan is a climatic seaside health resort in Strunjan Landscape Park, with heated sea water pools, sea mud and local salt. At Thalasso Lepa Vida, guests enjoy outdoor treatments in the Sečovlje salt pans with mud, brine and salt. The Piran salt pans date from 804 and still produce fleur de sel. Ankaran has the Debeli Rtič Health Resort and a beneficial sea climate.

Medical centres in the spas

Rogaška Medical Centre treats gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases with Donat Mg, which contains more magnesium than any other water in the world. Terme Dobrna, in use since 1403, is the oldest working spa in Slovenia. Dobrna Medical is known for gynaecology and infertility. Radenci water, rich in CO2, has served heart patients for more than 130 years. Šmarješke Toplice focuses on the heart, nerves and muscles. Terme Čatež has Slovenia's first therapy centre for the spine and a unit for athletes. Terme Zreče uses Pohorje peat in its Medico Centre.

Forest, highland and Alpine spas

Terme Zreče works with the Rogla highland climate centre on the Pohorje Hills, for thermal days and active days outdoors. Terme Topolšica treats rheumatic conditions, and its forest climate suits mild chronic respiratory problems. Terme Snovik, below the Kamnik and Savinja Alps, holds the EU Ecolabel and follows Kneipp's principles. Terme Cerkno is the only Slovenian spa in the Julian Alps, with water from a 2,000 m borehole.

Thermal Pannonian Slovenia

Most spas are here, among vineyards, castles and farms. In Moravske Toplice, black thermal and mineral water rises from 1,100 m at 72°C, one of the warmest in Slovenia. Thermana Laško, with 165 years of tradition, adds beer and honey wellness and an Ayurveda centre with a team from Kerala. Terme Olimia was the first selfness destination in Slovenia. Its Wellness Orhidelia has been rated the top wellness centre in Slovenia for 8 years running. Terme Čatež has the largest indoor and outdoor pool complex in Slovenia.

Salt harvest in the Sečovlje salt pans. Photo: Jan Sobotka, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Prevention programs

Spas offer anti-stress, anti-ageing, healthy spine, manager and slimming programs. Šmarješke Toplice runs 7 night VitaDetox and SlimFit programs with personal exercise and nutrition plans. Rogaška and Portorož offer detox programs. Dietetic menus use local food.

Wellness and saunas

Massages, baths, wraps and peelings. Saunas with salt, honey or local herbs, and salt rooms for easier breathing. In Dobrna, Arbora spa has five saunas and an ice cave. In Laško, beer and honey treatments.

How a booking runs

1. Send your brief via longevitytravel.life
2. Payment by bank transfer with a reference code
3. Travel notice three weeks before departure
4. Private host on the ground