Whether you are stressed, have a sleep issue, are looking to shed some pounds, detox or generally relax and increase your fitness, Kathryn Brierley founder of Healthy Holiday Company gives her top tips on the holidays to book the enhance your wellbeing
BEST FOR FITNESS Spain or Italy With a strong focus on fitness, ‘fitscape’ holidays give you access to a team of specialists who will guide you through a personal programme for the week and set you on the right track for your fitness goals whether it is running a marathon or increasing your stamina generally. Fitscape weeks run throughout the year in the Italian Dolomites or in Southern Spain in a former monastery just 20 minutes in land from the beach at Sotogrande in Andalucía. A typical day includes hiking and running, personal fitness training, circuits and maybe a boxercise class. Enjoy delicious healthy food and the odd bottle of beer or glass of wine is allowed – phew.
The week long holiday is priced from £1395 per person based on 2 adults sharing a room and includes accommodation, all meals and all fitness activities, a personal fitness consultation, a personal training session and airport transfers. Flights are extra
BEST FOR DE-STRESSING Portugal This holiday is a whole week devoted to reducing your stress levels and getting you ready to face the rigours of everyday life! Relax to the max at the Longevity Wellness Retreat, located in the remote green Monchique Mountains of southern Portugal. As well as massage therapy, Pilates and sensation showers, the week’s programme focuses on a series of coaching sessions to help you identify the type of stressors that affect your wellbeing and advises you on simple tools to improve the ways in which you cope with stress. Designed to work effectively long-term, you’ll also be given a detailed analysis with recommendations for your diet and a programme to take home.
This Stress Reduction Holiday is priced from £2,102 per person, based on two adults sharing accommodation for seven nights on a full board basis, including flights from Gatwick to Faro and airport transfers.
BEST FOR WEIGHT LOSS Tuscany For those more time poor looking for a quick fix the three night weight loss weekend at the luxurious Castel Monasteroin Tuscany, Italy, is an effective way to kickstart weight loss– perfect for any upcoming events that require an urgent slim-down! What’s more, it’s just a short distance away from the beautiful city of Siena.
From £2,155 per person based on two sharing accommodation on a full board basis, under the guidance of Doctor Ali and his detox program, you’ll receive quality expert advice with personalised nutritional therapy, daily yoga and walks, a selection of massaging and detoxing treatments and cardio-fitness activity.
BEST FOR IMPROVING FLEXIBILITY Fitness, yoga and Pilates in Oman Enjoy five nights at the Chedi Oman with fitness, yoga and Pilates. The Chedi gives access to state of the art training and Pilates equipment, as well as experienced personal trainers and Pilates and yoga instructors. Blending traditional Arabian architecture with Zen minimalism, the hotel has an excellent beachfront location with soothing views out over the Gulf. Indulge in Balinese therapies and Indian Ayurveda treatments at the hotel’s new spa.
From £1,100 per person (based on two sharing a Serai room for five nights), price includes return flights from London, breakfast and three sessions per person (Pilates, yoga or personal training).
BEST FOR DETOX South of France ‘in:spa’ week-long retreats offer a unique healthy experience and create the ultimate chance to detoxify and re-energise. Based at a fairytale chateau in the south of France, the days start off with a choice of yoga or circuit training before tucking into an energising breakfast. Enjoy morning walks, taking in stunning views of the Cote D’Azur, regular massages and spend your spare time lazing by the swimming pool having a hit on the tennis court or taking a trip to the beach.
Next retreats will run 1st-8th August and 15th-21st September and are priced from £1,995 per person (based on two adults sharing a room). However to celebrate in:spa’s 10th birthday there is a discount of £500 currently running on all retreats booking in for 2013/4 subject to availability and excluding New Year retreats. The price includes accommodation on an inclusive basis, airport transfers, all group activities, two massages, a private nutrition consultation and a personal training sessions.
BEST FOR PAMPERING Turkish Spa Just three hours from the UK lands you at the superb beach resort of Barbaros Bay Hotel near the buzzy coastal port of Bodrum, a place The New York Times recently described as the ’St Tropez of Turkey‘. Barbaros Bay is a Kempinski hotel with a great spa where you can relax and rejuvenate with treatments based on a Far Eastern approach to holistic wellness.
In between treatments, there’s a fitness room, golf, mountain biking, Pilates, sailing, scuba diving, Tai Chi and yoga. For those seeking pure relaxation, go for a steam in a traditional Turkish hammam, take a dip in the largest infinity pool in the region, or simply rest back in your sun lounger and take in the dreamy views – we love the fact that all the parasols shading you have their own “service” button!
Prices start from £1,700 per person adult (based on two sharing) for seven nights in a Superior Room on a B&B basis, including return scheduled flights to Izmir with BA and private airport transfers.
BEST FOR REBALANCING Costa Blanca Spain The SHA wellness weekend is the perfect getaway focusing on macrobiotics – a holistic system of health that rebalances your wellbeing primarily through nutrition. SHA is Europe’s first luxury clinic dedicated to macrobiotics, which recommends the best food choices based on our lifestyle, our environment and even the climate we live in. Set above Albir in the Natural Park of Sierra Heleda on the Costa Blanca, expect spacious rooms with white and silver deco, stunning sea views and a rooftop infinity pool.
From £910 per person based on two sharing accommodation for two nights, the price includes return flights to Alicante, return transfers, full board, expert nutrition consultation, a natural therapeutic treatment, a sensory massage, use of SHA’s hydro-therapy circuit and all SHA activities including yoga, healthy cooking lectures, talks, walks and tai chi.
BEST ENERGY BOOST Hiking in the Italian Dolomites This week long hiking holiday in the stunning Dolomites sees you traverse from Alta Badia to the Val di Fassa across some of region’s most spectacular mountain ranges including: Sella, Rosengarten, Catinaccio and Vajolet.
The holiday is priced from £1,270 and includes accommodation in hotel and charming rifugios, some meals, an experienced local English speaking guide and transfers within the area (flights extra). Walking routes and durations can be adapted to individual fitness levels. Walking in the mountains will ensure you get a real energy boost and return feeling revitalised and ready for life!
BEST FOR IMPROVING STRENGTH Yoga and surfing, Morocco Spending a week at the Paradis Plage resort combining yoga and surfing is excellent to improve your core strength and balance. The resort is located just along the coast from Agadir, Morocco. The beachside hotel has a tranquil yoga studio with direct views over the Atlantic Ocean, as well as first class surf instructors with lessons open to everyone over 7.
Prices start from £625 per person which includes 3 nights bed and breakfast accommodation, 3 yoga lessons and 2 surf lessons as well as return BA flights to Agadir and transfers.
BEST FOR SLEEP Thailand If you have issues getting a good night sleep this is the place for you. Spend 7 nights at Kamalaya, a holistic island wellness retreat on their sleep enhancement week. Centred round a tiny cave temple where Buddhist monks used to meditate, Kamalaya offers a tranquil setting with wellness activities from yoga and sound therapy to visiting spiritual gurus. The sleep enhancement programme includes a specialist consultation, body bio-impedance analysis (BIA), acupuncture and Ayurvedic massage.
Prices start from £3,320 per person, including accommodation, the wellness programme, three deliciously detoxifying meals a day, and transfers.
You can book all holidays through The Healthy Holiday Company
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