In this week’s Spa Trekker column, spa afficionado and founder of www.queenofretreats.com Caroline Sylger Jones shares her favourite fitness breaks (that aren’t horrid boot camps). There’s a little money off too…
Looking to get fit (or indeed fitter) but not attracted by full-on, shout-at-you boot camps? These healthy holidays centre on fitness but offer a holistic experience in rather wonderful locations too.
BEST FOR LOCATION Wildfitness, Kenya
The creme de la creme of the fitness holiday, Wildfitness uses outdoor, natural surroundings to get you fit so you feel as far from an urban gym as you possibly can. The nine day, two week and intensive 24 day fitness holidays held their amazing house on a private stretch of the Watamu coast in Kenya are the ones to go for from August onwards – http://queenofretreats.com/wildfitness-9-day-fitness-holiday-kenya/
BEST ALL-ROUNDER in:spa
These posh week-long wellbeing holidays combine hikes, yoga, cleansing meals, nutritional advice and personal training in the kind of places you’d like to live in if you were loaded – choose to stay in a converted monastery in Spain, a fairy tale chateau in the South of France or a luxury villa in Morocco. Get £500 off at http://queenofretreats.com/inspa-healthy-holidays/
BEST FOR GORGEOUSNESS Yeotox, Devon
These 3, 4 or 5 night fitness-based health breaks are held at Yeotown, an unexpectedly gorgeous converted 18th century farmhouse in rural north Devon. Interiors are magazine-stunning, and the retreat includes use of a sauna, great treatments, coastal hikes, fitness activities, yoga and supremely tasty detoxifying food. Get £300 off at http://queenofretreats.com/yeotox-devon/
BEST FOR CULTURE Escape to Shape, Hudson New York
This US-based ‘travelling fitness spa’ enables you to get into yoga, power hiking, pilates and exercise classes alongside cultural excursions and mindful eating. You’ll stay in boutique accommodation and eat your meals dinner-party style with people from all over the world. From now till October they’re running some lovely breaks in Hudson New York – get up to £875 off at http://queenofretreats.com/escape-to-shape-in-hudson-new-york/
BEST FOR AFFORDABILITY Littleton Mill, Wiltshire
Ad hoc fitness and detox retreats are held at the eco-conscious and tranquil Littleton Mill in Wiltshire. Run by healthy holiday professionals Jiva Healing, the retreats pair exercise sessions led by fiesty and friendly fitness trainer Angela O’Donovan with yoga and nutrition classes to help you to kick start a healthier, more active lifestyle. The next one is 31 July – 4 August 2013 see http://queenofretreats.com/fitness-detox-retreat-littleton-mill/
Queen of Retreats offers honest, independent reviews of spas and healthy holidays by journalists with a critical eye plus a booking service for retreats we would hand-on-heart recommend. You won’t find any retreats on the site we don’t have experience of and no one pays to be on it. More at www.queenofretreats.com
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