I arrived at Zem Wellness Clinic Altea, Spain, in a less than ideal condition: anxious, severely sleep deprived and generally quite frazzled.
But as I was ushered into the grand gold-and-cream lobby, with its intricate 35,000-piece mosaic (which I’m later told is pieced together by hand, a process that takes months) and dangling chandelier overhead, I can already tell I’m in for a much-needed soothing.
Calling it a clinic is a tad misleading as it definitely feels more akin to an elegant, grande dame five-star hotel — just one that has a plethora of wellness treatments as well as a high-tech medical center.
On arrival, I’m introduced to my ‘Zem master,’ who shows me around the labyrinthine space and explains what to expect from my visit. Each guest has an assigned Zem master who conducts a pre-visit consultation and is on hand throughout their stay (programs are individualized and range from three to 21 nights). I’m presented with a cork binder with my schedule for the following days, which will soon be filled with in-depth results from my various assessments.
My first stop is in the clinic proper — a slick space that has a more medical feel. The clinic offers services in 25 specialties and 32 medical practices. I began with a facial scan to asses the layers of my skin and to spot any problem areas such as wrinkle depth and sun damage before having a similar scan on my body, where any blemish is flagged — a nurse checks out any freckles or moles that are slightly larger than typical in case they need to be assessed further.
Following my skin assessment, I visited Solange, one of Zem’s doctors, for a ‘bio-integrative medicine consultation.’ She carried out a number of tests and thoroughly explained why she did each one (as well as sharing charming anecdotes — she speaks four languages and learned English as a way to understand when her grandmother and great-aunt were gossiping). I have arthritis and, as a result, I have swelling in my knee; Solange suggested a number of treatments to improve the condition.
Next, I had a session with the nutritionist. Zem offers different dietary plans based on the guests’ needs and which program they are undertaking, ranging from pretty intense detox to metabolic bioregulation. All plans are tailor-made and based on the Mediterranean diet — a few highlights of mine were matcha pancakes for breakfast and a divine mushroom risotto for dinner.
The clinic has its very own organically cultivated vegetable garden spanning nearly 20 acres — it has one of the highest ecological certifications for its sustainable farming practices. The farm, Finca Althaya, is a short drive away should you wish to explore, and it has 60 different varieties of fruits, vegetables and aromatic herbs that supply the restaurant. The chef who showed me around the finca spoke enthusiastically about how special it is to have tropical fruit that they grow themselves and to know it is of excellent quality.
The finca also has a number of olive trees with the goal of producing Zem olive oil within the next two years. (The Zem logo is the DNA symbol intertwined with an upside-down olive tree.) Guests can also take part in harvesting the produce and using it in cooking classes — Zem has a gorgeous chapel-like cooking space with a domed atrium ceiling and stained-glass windows; the chef’s station has cleverly positioned cameras that live stream every chop and slice, so budding chefs can see every move and follow along.
During my session with the nutritionist, I also had a body composition analysis and was presented with data like my total muscle mass (188lbs), muscle quality (high), sarcopenia risk (low), bone mass (6.3lbs), visceral fat index (low) and metabolic level (equivalent to a 21-year-old). I’ll take it!
The following morning, I had a check-in with my Zem master to see if the itinerary was to my liking (it most certainly was). I then visited the gym, which is chock-full of Technogym equipment alongside Greek-esque sculptures — it shouldn’t work, but it Photos Jovi Fotógrafos absolutely does. I was put through my paces with a functional assessment and training where my cardio, strength and mobility were tested along with my mental capacity — reaction time, memory and thought processing.
A slightly harder challenge considering my lack of coffee (replaced with a reishi mushroom cappuccino), but the experience provided valuable insight; my mobility needs the most work and I vowed to start practicing yoga, which I started doing from my suite’s spacious balcony with far-reaching views down to the sparkling ocean. (Post yoga, I had a well-deserved soak in the bathtub, which also sits on the balcony, and watched the birds fly by.)
I spent my afternoon in the spa, which is utterly spectacular — a marbled mosaic wonderland with gushing water features, more sculptures and artwork, and a zen garden illuminated by a domed window above. There are two saunas, an infrared sauna, steam room, swimming pool with massage jets, hammam, salt room, snow room, cold plunge pool and even a snow shower. Guests can use the spa whenever they wish, and it’s remarkably easy for the hours to melt away here.
More treatments await, including a ‘triple detox’ in an MLX i3DOME that combines three detox methods into one by combining far infrared technology, plasma and light treatment. I lay in a chamber and sweat more than I’ve ever sweated before while a helmet was placed over my head and I was given options for which type of light to have on my face — I opted for blue light to help with blemishes and problem skin which, despite my skepticism, works wonders.
I also enjoyed the Zestos Dryfloat treatment, where I lay on what felt like a rain-filled cloud while soothing music played — the vibrations from the music reverberated through the squishy bed, and I felt total calm wash over me.
I found my visit to be wholly inspiring — I am now armed with valuable data on areas for improvement, but feel motivated with the positive results. Both my mind and my skin are worlds clearer than when I arrived (perhaps due to the alkaline water — there are multiple stations throughout the clinic, each infused with herbs from the finca). One of Zem’s philosophies is that longevity is not just a goal but a celebration of life itself, and I find myself implementing the practices into my everyday life long after I return to the norm.
From $12,225 for a seven-night detox program. Contact info@zemaltea.com, +34 966 888 800, zemaltea.com
