We run our own fitness holidays in Mallorca, Thailand and Bali, and for people who want a complete reset there is our long-term transformation camp. But we hear it every week: the dates don't line up, someone wants surf or yoga rather than bootcamp, or they simply want to train somewhere new. So here is the honest advice we give them.
What makes a fitness retreat worth booking
After running fitness holidays since 2008, the same few things separate the weeks people rave about from the ones they forget:
- Coaching, not just a timetable. Small groups and coaches who know your name and adjust the sessions to you.
- The group. Training alongside people with the same goal is what keeps you going on day four, when your legs are tired. It is the difference between a retreat and a gym membership.
- Food that fits the training. Proper, filling meals planned around the sessions, not a starvation diet.
- Enough rest. Recovery time and a comfortable bed matter as much as the workouts.
- Clear prices. What is included, what isn't, and what the room options cost.
Where else to go
Some of the places our guests ask about most, outside the destinations we run ourselves:
- Portugal: surf, CrossFit and HYROX camps on the Atlantic coast, a short flight from most of Europe. See fitness retreats in Portugal.
- Morocco: winter sun, mountains and surf within easy reach of Europe. See fitness retreats in Morocco.
- Sri Lanka: tropical training with plenty of yoga and recovery built in. See fitness retreats in Sri Lanka.
- Vietnam: good value and a growing number of fitness and HYROX camps. See fitness retreats in Vietnam.
If you are not sure where you want to go yet, our sister site has a map of fitness retreats around the world you can browse by kind of retreat, and a guide to what fitness retreats cost by destination.
Choosing the kind of retreat
Be honest about what you want to come home with. If it is weight loss and fitness, look for daily structured training and a nutrition plan. If you are preparing for a race, a HYROX-focused camp with race-specific stations will serve you better than a general bootcamp. If you want to recover from a hard year, a retreat that balances training with yoga and rest is the better fit.
And if our dates do work
We would love to have you. Our camps are built around everything above: small coached groups, proper food and a group that gets each other through the week. Have a look at our upcoming dates, or get in touch and we will help you pick the right week.