From midnight swims to post-dinner meditation, after-dark wellness is the latest trend to help boost your sex life

The wellness world has long pedestaled the early riser, whether they’re waking for sunrise meditation or 7am Peloton sessions. But what if the early bird isn’t the only one who reaps the wellness gains? As our understanding of holistic health widens, it’s clear the pursuit of health can’t fit neatly into the daytime hours a gym or spa might be open. Nor is it convenient.

Cue the rise in after-dark wellness, where wellness provisions run deep into the night. For many, this is when distractions are fewer and stress levels are lower – and amping up your late-night wellness won’t just support your overall health, it could boost your sex life too.

Sexual wellness encompasses sexual satisfaction, a stronger sense of connection with yourself and others, and comfort with your sexuality, body and desires. Focusing on your wellbeing at night can be a helpful way to explore this.

“There is something a bit different and exciting about doing activities at twilight or night. It removes some expectations of what an experience will feel like and means we can examine it in a new light. Jolting us out of our routine can rekindle connection, both with yourself and with another person,” says Clio Wood, a women’s health and sexual wellbeing advocate, and author of Get Your Mojo Back: Sex, Pleasure and Intimacy After Birth.

If the idea of building a social connection makes you nervous, Wood often advises having a conversation without eye contact, such as on a walk. “Connecting with someone in the dark produces a similar sensation,” she says. “You feel less scrutinised and therefore safer and more able to share vulnerabilities, which in turn leads to better communication.”

How can after-dark wellness help your sex life?

Go back to basics

It might surprise you, but one of the top after-dark hacks for better sexual wellness is… sleep.

Sleep deprivation affects our hormones and has been connected with reduced sexual desire and a higher risk of erectile dysfunction, plus the possibility of more antagonism in a relationship, thanks to fatigue’s impact on our mood. However, research published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that sleeping for longer related to greater next-day desire, with just one extra hour of sleep increasing the likelihood of having sex by 14 per cent.

Good sleep is also big business, with sleep tourism set to grow by $400 billion by 2028. In London, savvy hotels are pushing soporific offerings, whether that’s soundproofed rooms (The Twenty Two); a spiritual wellbeing concierge for soulful relaxation (The Mandrake); in-room spa-style baths and a complimentary meditation app (The Peninsula London), or a hypnotherapist who can head to your suite for bespoke, sleep-inducing hypnosis (Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London).

The flip side of better sleep improving your sexual wellness is that sex, conveniently, helps improve sleep, too, thanks to the release of the love hormone oxytocin and the reduction in the stress hormone cortisol.

Find inspiration in your surroundings

Of course, improving our sexual wellness is not only achieved when our eyes are closed. Travel plays a crucial role in opening up our world – the experience of awe can increase oxytocin and boost our sense of purpose, mood, self-esteem and sexual function. And awe is easy to achieve when it comes to after-dark activities in beautiful places, especially when immersed in nature, from stargazing or yoga under moonlight to an in-the-wild overnight adventure complete with cracking fire and the kindling of romance.

“We easily fall into bad habits at home, and a new setting can help you re-examine why you are in that rut and find a way out of it. We often feel freer to experiment when we are on holiday – no one is judging us for changes we make or if we fail,” says Wood. Whether you experience that transformation solo or as a couple, the results can be long-lasting, as long as you plan how to adopt your new strategies when you return.”

Prioritise quality time

The running joke among people with kids is that a holiday is the “same stress, just with a nicer view”. But for smart hoteliers courting the parent pound, extended provisions later into the night to help couples get quality time together can yield loyalty and word-of-mouth hype.

“We’re seeing a new breed of hotels stepping up to the mark, particularly in the luxury sphere,” says Becky Pennison-Bates, co-founder of Tiny Travelship, a global platform for family travel. “There’s an ever-growing number of imaginative ways children are being cared for after dark. We’ve seen the introduction of a few ‘Pyjama Clubs’, caring for tots as late as 10pm, meaning romantic meals or massages are no longer off-limits in the evening. Baby monitors are also being handed out more, especially when there’s an on-site spa to slope off to after hours. Or if you’re not comfortable leaving your children with a monitor or babysitter, you can still dine à deux, thanks to hotels offering supervised playrooms next to restaurants or in-villa private dining services once the babes are in bed.”

Do it for yourself

Of course, sexual wellness shouldn’t be reliant on another person. “Usually, if you get self-connection right, the rest follows more easily,” says Wood, who is hosting an exclusive Get Your Mojo Back Retreat at St Lucia’s adult-only StolenTime by Rendezvous resort this July. “My retreat is about reconnecting with yourself, simply because you’re a human and deserve it, as well as with others.”

And connection, says Wood, might come more easily for you at different times of day. “I’ll be hosting some of our meditation and mindful movement practices after dark, which will evoke different sensations to our morning sessions.”

All in all, the best thing you can do for your own sexual wellness is to explore what’s out there and see what works for you. So to get you going, here are seven hot spots that offer enticing after-dark wellness.

The best places for after-dark wellness

The Twenty Two, London

For decadent sleep

This opulent hotel and members’ club on London’s Grosvenor Square is considered by many the place to be seen (if the patronage of FKA Twigs, Ryan Gosling and Kate Moss is anything to go by), but it’s also a place to hide away in your room for the most sumptuous of sleeps. Interiors inspired by 18th-century French decor combine with maximalist wallpaper and luxurious velvet to create a decadent space to unwind. For those in suites, opt for Linger and Dreem, a multi-sensory overnight stay package with sleep, bath and body brand Dreem Distillery. Designed to aid sleep with complete soundproofing and blackout blinds, enjoy a pre-bedtime 60-minute Rest & Repair body massage blending a fusion of high-grade CBD and botanicals, accompanied by a sound healing session.

Website: the22.london

Sienna, County Kerry, Ireland

For dark sky sleepovers

Amp up your state of awe with a stay in this romantic and remote self-catering cottage by Unique Homestays in the southwest of Ireland. Framed by mountains and sea, this two-bedroom property has stylish interiors and eco-features, but the outside deck is where you’ll want to be. Overlooking one of only three gold-tier Dark Sky Reserves on earth, head out when night falls for an evening beneath glimmering stars. Thanks to low-level light pollution, a clear night might reveal the Milky Way, satellites, the International Space Station and shooting stars. Dark sky tourism has soared over the past couple of years as travellers seek refuge and better sleep from light-polluted city life, where night-time electrical lighting can disrupt our circadian rhythms. Stargazing, meanwhile, can lead to feelings of awe, which increase our happy hormones and feelings of kindness and generosity – ideal if you’re looking to turn up the heat in your relationship. Oh, and did we mention the deck has a hot tub too?

Website: uniquehomestays.com

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

For midnight rejuvenation

Late-night wellness doesn’t get more majestic than a night-time soak in Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. While a winter dip in this geothermal water yields the potential thrill of spotting the Northern Lights, during the summer months, you can find yourself floating blissfully under the ethereal glow of the country’s “midnight sun”, where from 1 June to 20 August, the complex is open until midnight (it’s 10pm the rest of the year). Nestled in an 800-year-old lava field in the Reykjanes UNESCO Geopark, the lagoon’s water is warmed to around 38 degrees and enriched with silica, algae and minerals, which helps nourish skin. To really make the most of it, book an in-water massage or float therapy (with options for couples) and stay at the luxurious Retreat Hotel for Michelin-starred dining and a subterranean spa.

Website: bluelagoon.com

Billnäs Gård, Finland

For couples seeking connection

This new boutique hotel an hour outside of Helsinki truly understands that some of us are morning people (with “Early Bird” experiences starting from 4.30am) and some of us… are not. For those who prefer things later, Billnäs Gård’s “Evening Howl” wellbeing experiences are available from 10pm to 1.30am. Options include post-dinner meditation, sound bowls, herbal baths and a Nordic sauna ritual. But for couples looking to deepen bonds, choose the Connection experience. This begins after dinner with a lantern-lit walk to a secluded meditation spot to help you release fears and share vulnerability, followed by a stargazing session and cacao ceremony. The ceremonial cacao, known for its heart-opening properties, is paired with breathwork to enhance a sense of unity, creating a night of profound connection and mutual understanding.

Website: billnasgard.fi

Wild Wellness and Bushcraft at Glen Dye Estate, Scotland

For wild nights

Research by the Gottman Institute found that couples who report higher relationship satisfaction also report making time to have fun together. So why not take things up a notch with a night spent outside? As well as offering beautiful properties to escape the hustle, Glen Dye Cabins & Cottages runs a School of Wild Wellness and Bushcraft with a variety of adventured-packed and confidence-boosting experiences to try, including 24 hours in the wild. Learn essential skills, from building a shelter to making fire, then head out into the estate’s 15,000 acres of wilderness for an overnight experience. There will be stories and treats over the fire, and plenty of stargazing too, before heading back the following morning feeling confident and connected to your partner (or, at the very least, armed with some good anecdotes to bond over in the future).

Website: glendyecabinsandcottages.com

Engel Ayurpura, South Tyrol, Italy

For serenity and self-discovery

If stress is an obstacle to intimacy, this adults-only Ayurvedic hotel nestled in the Dolomites is here to help your worries float away. Each of the 15 rooms is designed on the theme of “lightness”, combining elegant, simple interiors with floor-to-ceiling windows offering forest, meadow and mountain views. Wellness is the hotel’s MO, with personalised treatment plans utilising the ancient Indian medical system to help you connect with yourself and rebalance. For guests staying in summer, opt for something special after dark by joining the hour-long stargazing tour, which heads upwards along the Dolomites panorama trail to experience a magical display of twinkling stars. Inner calm, serenity and lightness of the spirit await…

Website: ayurpura.hotel-engel.com

Aire Ancient Baths, Seville (and various cities globally)

For escape in the city

Maybe it’s the flickering candlelight around the thermal pools or the veritable hush from fellow bathers, but Aire Ancient Baths have the power to transport you, whatever time of day. However, it just so happens to operate some pleasingly late-night hours, too – open til 10pm midweek, and 11pm Friday-Sunday, which means that immersing in deep relaxation before slinking off for some even deeper sleep is entirely possible. Inspired by the tradition of baths in ancient Roman, Greek and Ottoman civilisations, Aire sets up in city centres, with spas in Sevile, London’s Covent Garden, Barcelona, New York and Copenhagen, to name a few. Baths range from the luxurious 40°C Caldarium to the revitalising Frigidarium (14ºC and 10ºC), with a scented steam room, jet bath and Flotarium on offer too. Book a treatment to make the most of your visit: for self-connection, choose the “Love Myself” package, which includes a 45-minute massage with soothing or energising oil and basalt stones, followed by juice or cava and truffles.

Website: beaire.com