Fasting and Detox Retreats

Supervised fasting has a long clinical history in central Europe, and the houses that do it properly look nothing like a juice week. Expect medical supervision, a graded plan that eases you down and back up again, daily checks, and a quiet building where nobody is eating in front of you. Elsewhere the same idea runs lighter, with plant-based food, bodywork and long walks. The distinction we care about is supervision: who looks in on you, how often, and what happens if the week goes badly. We rank on clinical oversight, programme length, how the reintroduction phase is handled, and how honestly a place describes what fasting involves.

  1. 1

    The world's oldest therapeutic fasting clinic, with over 100 years of medical practice and 250,000 documented fasting treatments. Three European locations offer medically supervised Buchinger method fasting programmes ranging from two to four weeks.

  2. 2

    The world's largest facility dedicated to medically supervised water-only fasting, founded by pioneering physicians and staffed by doctors, in Sonoma County, California.

  3. 3

    The flagship Swiss retreat of the 50-year-old Chenot Method, combining therapeutic fasting with molecular diagnostics and precision medicine under 100 medical specialists. Week-long programmes begin from CHF 5,500.

  4. 4

    A German medical clinic with over 70 years of therapeutic fasting experience in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve, offering Heilfasten programs supervised by physicians and naturopathic practitioners.

  5. 5

    Austria's premier Mayr medicine resort, combining Dr. Mayr's gut-focused elimination diet with functional diagnostics and orthomolecular medicine. Programmes run from several days to several weeks, with physician-supervised protocols tailored to individual health goals including gut healing, mental resilience, and metabolic optimization.

  6. 6

    A converted Austrian monastery in the Waldviertel running Buchinger-method therapeutic fasting weeks with fasting guides, in a deliberately quiet setting of around 50 rooms.

  7. 7

    Independent Mayr cure medical resort in Altaussee, Austria, offering intensive F.X. Mayr medicine programmes from four to seven-plus nights. Medically supervised elimination diet with intolerance testing, blood analysis, and personalized treatment plans combining diagnostic precision with Alpine wellness setting.

  8. 8

    Tirol's oldest F.X. Mayr Cure centre, a century-old protocol combining medically supervised elimination diets with ultrasound diagnostics and targeted therapies. Multi-week programmes available with physician oversight.

  9. 9

    A medical detox retreat near Manila offering medically supervised juice fasting combined with colon hydrotherapy, IV vitamin therapy, and wellness diagnostics over 2 to 6 nights on a farm estate.

  10. 10

    A newly opened certified F.X. Mayr centre on Lake Constance blending traditional fasting medicine with cardio-MRI and advanced diagnostics. Therapeutic fasting, gut healing, and functional medicine in week-long programmes under Dr. med. Claas Hohmann's medical direction.

  11. 11

    A naturopathically led juice or water fasting retreat on Gozo, Malta, with personalized programmes designed by naturopaths and 24/7 on-site support, starting from around £1,850 for six nights.

  12. 12

    A 70-year-old West Palm Beach institution built on Ann Wigmore's Living Foods philosophy, emphasising wheatgrass juice, raw vegan cuisine, and integrative therapies for cellular renewal.

  13. 13

    A Desert Hot Springs liquid-fasting retreat offering juice-based nutrition programs with colon hydrotherapy, yoga, and thermal access. For guests seeking supervised cleansing with wellness amenities.

  14. 14

    A faith-based 3-week raw food and wheatgrass juice programme with two campuses in California and Texas. For guests seeking intensive plant-based nutrition and wellness education.

  15. 15

    An intimate juice fasting retreat in the Catskills near New York City with personalized, assisted fasting programmes, an ozonated pool, sauna, and meditation gardens, accommodating only three guests at a time.