Art of rest: Holidays for the sleep deprived

With stress and insomnia an everyday norm, the point of a vacation is no longer only about activities. A good night’s sleep is driving both travellers and the hospitality industry

On-call hypnotherapists. AI-assisted beds. Smart goggles that use heat, massage and vibration to lower the heart rate. Bedtime tea blends. Electro magnetic and infrared therapy. Sequestered guest rooms — with one in London even housed inside a three-storey stainless steel sculpture, to promote meditative stillness. These are just some of the things travellers are signing up for on holiday. All for one simple reason: to sleep.

There’s been a big shift from the earlier standard of a vacation, where catching Zzzs was the most boring thing you could possibly do. Now, sleep tourism is the year’s hottest travel trend. It’s no surprise — India (and the world) is tired. According to a 2025 survey by LocalCircles, a citizen engagement platform, ahead of World Sleep Day (March 14), nearly 60% of Indians sleep for less than six hours daily. For many, even those precious few hours are not uninterrupted. This is cause for concern when studies link poor sleep to mental health issues, including depression and anxiety. It could explain why ‘napcations’ are getting popular as a concept and why holiday programmes are being designed to improve health and well-being through curated sleep experiences.

“The growth of sleep tourism can be attributed to rising stress levels and a growing recognition of sleep’s crucial role in maintaining health. Individuals are now actively looking for ways to prioritise rest,” says Rajesh Srinivas, general manager at Swastik Luxury Wellbeing Sanctuary. Opened last November, this wellness retreat in Khadakwasla on the outskirts of Pune has made sleep tourism one of its major calling cards with a programme called ‘The art of restorative sleep’.

“Designed to help individuals combat sleep disorders, it includes personalised sleep assessments, mind-body practices like yoga nidra and meditation, customised dietary plans [with L-tryptophan-rich foods that boost serotonin production, such as legumes], alongside modern therapies, including sound baths,” says Srinivas, who ensures guests leave adequately equipped to maintain this sleep hygiene back at home. “We suggest ways for them to set up a sleep-conducive environment, be it via lighting, audio-visual aids and even recipes for pre-sleep elixirs like kaadhas.”

Sayali Sancheti, 37, has been battling insomnia for a while. The Pune resident recently underwent the five-day sleep therapy programme at Swastik. One that she says has made a difference. “I had read a lot about the body’s circadian rhythm, and thought of addressing it for a more long-term solution for my insomnia,” she says. “The mind-sound resonance technique, aerial yoga, and diet have all worked in my favour.”

Back home, the branding specialist has incorporated a lot of what she learnt on holiday, such as going to sleep while focusing on her breathing. “While the information is available online, seeing it doled out in a practical, problem-solving way made all the difference,” she says, adding that she does miss Swastik’s unique ‘tuck-in’ routine — where an attendant administered a mini foot massage and anointed her temples and forehead with sleep-inducing lavender oil.

Another Pune resident, Natasha Sharma, 45, doesn’t have a problem getting sleep but is still considering a sleep holiday. The writer and novelist finds it tough to get back to sleep if interrupted during the night. “Ever since becoming a mum, I’ve noticed that I’m quick to snap out of a deep sleep with the slightest of disturbances. It could be my daughter’s voice or even a whimper from my dog,” says Sharma. “I feel that an itinerary-bereft, pure sleep vacation, where I’m on my own and equipped with the techniques to fall back into a deep sleep is something I desperately need. [I’ll pick a place depending on] the bundled-up activities related to sleep on offer, and what they have when one is not sleeping. A nice pool, perhaps!”