Cutting-edge fitness facilities, nutritionist-approved menus and specialist spas: we spotlight the best fitness retreats that prioritise health and offer personalised experiences
Fitness retreats have evolved from bootcamp workouts to immersive experiences in state-of-the-art spaces, resulting in a boom in travellers seeking escapes where they can nurture their physical and mental health. Research carried out by Expedia in 2023 showed that 46% of global travellers are more open to wellness breaks than ever before, and the quirkier the stay, the better. This demand has led to an increase in hotel openings centred around wellness, with fully-equipped gyms, spas, and a team of in-house nutritionists and osteopaths.
Luxury hotel group Six Senses is pioneering wellness and fitness treatments in its properties. Mark Sands, vice president of wellness for Six Senses, explains how the spa at their new hotel in Kyoto, their first in Japan, uses new technologies to create personalised fitness experiences. “We use wellness screenings to analyse key health biomarkers and in turn create custom recommendations for our guests, which might involve massage guns, compression boots and red light face masks,” he says. Six Senses also offers expert-led wellness retreats, from a longevity retreat in Ibiza to a holistic escape in the Swiss mountains.
Outside of technology-driven facilities, smaller retreats championing locality are a key player in the growing success of fitness-first travel. Charlotte Townend of Wylder wellness retreats promotes this across her Balearic escapes. “We collaborate with local creatives, from jewellery designers, artists, and chefs to build our itineraries” she says. “Our retreats are held in quieter neighbourhoods and are anchored around nature with activities like yoga classes in pine forests, coastal hikes along secluded bays, and paddle boarding in quiet coves”.
Whether you’re seeking holistic treatments, HIIT sessions or a nutritionist approved menu, each of these fitness retreats offer health-conscious living in beautiful settings. Here we take you from a tropical hideout in Koh Samui to an off-grid sanctuary in the Peloponnese with our pick of best the fitness retreats worth travelling for.
