I'm a firm believer that everybody needs a vacation now and then. Whether it's what some of us refer to as a "mental health day" from school, work or the kids, a couple of weeks of annual holiday from your job or even a sabbatical of a month or more, I really think that if you work hard you deserve to play hard. A bit of relaxation and the kind of physical exercise often involved with a holiday (think walking and swimming) are good for your emotional as well as your physical health.

For those of you out there lucky enough to be able to take a few weeks off and who have the money to splash out on something different, consider one of the 10 incredible vacation destinations listed here.

Located in spots as exotic as Kenya, Turkey and Brazil, and as familiar as Big Sur, CA, suggestions include holistic holidays in Greece, well-being retreats in a Moroccan spa, body-and soul-cleansing programs at Californian ashram and journeys of learning and self-discovery at Outward Bound in New Zealand. These holidays aren't cheap -- I know that I won't be trying one any time soon -- but if you can afford them, each sounds like an adventure for both the mind and body.

(Note: Prices are listed in Pounds and Euro, but are easy to convert using an online currency converter.)