Swimtrek Adventure Swimming Holidays - Maldives.
Some holidays are all about you, inside and out. Jane Jurgens reports on some of the best.
You don't always want your holiday to be about lazing by a pool, or eating your way around a cool city. Sometimes you're looking for something healthier . . . something that's going to leave you feeling refreshed, revived and amazing from the inside out. That's where these wellness, spa and fitness holidays come in. Pick one, pack your active wear and get moving.
Situated less than an hour south of Queenstown near the beautiful lakeside settlement of Glenorchy, this global award-winning retreat has seen everyone from Reese Witherspoon, to Sunday Travel editor Stephanie Holmes through its doors. Although the photo of Witherspoon suspended in the air in front of an epic backdrop may appeal for their beauty, don't think this ultra-luxury spot is a walk in the park.
Days consist of a couple of yoga sessions, sub-alpine hikes, high-intensity cardio sessions, with a focus on mindfulness and reconnecting with your inner self. Retreats last from five to eight days with groups no more than 18. You'll be eating a vegan, raw diet, with no alcohol, no caffeine and the detox also extends to digital devices. Sounds scary? Well, yes, a little. But Holmes says it is totally worth it - she emerged from her retreat feeling, as promised, leaner, cleaner and totally rejuvenated and, one year on, is still using in every day life the things she learned at
.
For an American spa experience with ultimate wow factor, book in to
, a 16-room retreat in Sedona, Arizona. It is on the grounds of the Enchantment Resort in a red-rock canyon sacred to Native Americans, and draws inspiration from the indigenous people - the name Mii amo translates to "one's path" in the local Yuman dialect.
The 2300sq m spa complex was opened in 2001 and is architecturally designed to blend in with the natural environment - there's lots of red adobe brick and natural light. There are more than 100 activities offered, including yoga, juicing classes, cooking demonstrations, stargazing, golf and canyon hiking; and more than 65 specialised spa treatments inspired by Native American traditions and using indigenous ingredients. Plus there's plenty of opportunity to take it easy at the outdoor pools and hot tubs with incredible desert views.
For water babies not into spas or boot camps but who still want an active holiday,
offers something a little different. The eight-day guided adventure swimming holidays take in various locations around the world, from exploring Croatia's islands, to swimming in Oman's fjords; from the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, to Mexico's Baja Peninsula. Swims are usually 5km per day, with guides and safety escorts to keep everyone afloat in the open water, and packages include accommodation, meals, transfers, guides, snorkelling and cultural visits.
These trips are not for beginners, however, you'll need a basic understanding of open water swimming and be capable of swimming 5km a day for eight days. What you'll get in return is an unforgettable experience and a true sense of achievement. And probably an epic tan.
Another retreat with incredible alpine views is India's
, situated in the foothills of the Himalayas. Gwyneth Paltrow's Goop website calls it "India's best wellness retreat" and "inarguably the most luxurious, authentic Ayurvedic wellness destination in India". The location is magical - in the grounds of the palace of the Maharaja of Tehri Garhwal, near the cities of Rishikesh and Haridwar, believed to be the birthplace of yoga.
Programmes focus on traditional hatha yoga, meditation, body treatments at the excellent in-house spa, personalised diets and Ayurvedic medicine, ultimately aiming to renew the balance of body, mind and spirit.
This may look like a high-end resort, but the luxury is hard won at
, a health retreat in the Gold Coast hinterland. Mornings of activities - sunrise Qi Gong (similar to Tai Chi), strength training, bush walks, mountain runs - are combined with strict diets (no alcohol, no caffeine), a digital detox, and a focus on spontaneity.
There's no pre-arranged daily schedule; instead guests are encouraged to "let go" and make decisions on the fly. This is often hard for the alpha, corporate types who come here, who can't see a life without their to-do list, but they emerge with a renewed perspective on life. The only compulsory activity is "dreamtime" - afternoons of relaxation and doing as little as possible, preferably in the spa. Where do we sign up?
The A-List celebrity fanbase for Ubud's COMO Shambhala Estate is as long as your arm, but you'd probably never know - as well as offering complete luxury, this retreat also prides itself on discretion, so unless a celeb posts something on their Instagram (Chrissy Teigen, we're talking about you), you'd never know they'd been through one of COMO's three to seven-night programmes. With only 30 rooms but close to 400 staff, you can be guaranteed attentive, personalised service and tailored programmes to suit your specific needs and goals. Each guest gets a "personal assistant" for the duration of their stay, who will co-ordinate their schedule. Programmes range from stress management, to rejuvenation, to traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda, but the level of detox is entirely up to you - you can indulge in a coffee or glass or two of wine with no judgments.
Founded by Kiwi Janine Hall, and featuring in Sunday Travel's pages recently, the women-only Escape Haven is another retreat winning global awards. There are three Bali locations to choose from and all programmes focus on allowing guests to reprioritise their lives, learning to put themselves first again, rather than always giving to others. Days involve yoga, surfing, incredible cuisine and luxurious spa treatments, or for the more active-minded, the new Uluwatu retreat has a more "boot camp" feel but in incredible luxury with views out to sea from the clifftop location.
Cugo Gran on the Spanish island of Menorca is an 11-bedroom 19th-century farmhouse on a 100ha estate, often booked as a private villa for weddings, corporate getaways or large family holidays. But it is also regularly used for wellness retreats, focusing on Movement, Spa weekends or, as introduced in 2017, Gut Makeover programmes based on nutritionist Jeannette Hyde's books The Gut Makeover and The Gut Makeover Recipe Book. "Recent discoveries from leading researchers show that the state of our gut is central to our weight and health," Hyde says. "So, if we want to look and feel good for the long term, we need a diet that creates a high-performance digestive system. We have entered the gut-health era of diet and nutrition, and it will be here for a long time." The five-night programmes feature specially-designed menus aimed at optimising gut health, Pilates sessions, rhythmic body massages, hydrating facials, combined with luxury surroundings and staff catering to your every need. Previous guests have told of losing a dress size in five days, while never feeling deprived thanks to the three-meals-a-day Mediterranean diet. There are three retreats scheduled for 2018, in April, June and October.
Amatara is one of Thailand's best resorts, with incredible ocean views from its site on Cape Panwa, 45-minutes from Phuket Airport. Its Wellness Resort is world renowned, with Harpers Bazaar one of the publications singing its praises, and it also won the Luxury Emerging Spa - Thailand award in the 2016 World Luxury Spa awards. On the Amatara Active programmes, which range from three to seven nights, guests can use all the resort's fitness facilities (tennis court, watersports equipment, swimming pools and more), as well as a tailored holistic programme aimed at improving fitness and performance and increasing energy levels. There are guided fitness sessions, physiotherapy, deep-tissue massage, personalised skincare treatments and expert wellness consultations. If that sounds a little too full-on, other programmes include Spa Revive, Holistic Anti-Aging and even day packages so you visit the spa as part of your regular Phuket holiday.
For wellness that starts with the mind, how about a silent retreat in a historic house in the UK's Devon countryside? Yes, a silent retreat means you won't be talking - at all - and at Gaia House even reading and writing are forbidden. The idea is to slow the constant internal monologue we all have, focusing on mindfulness and meditation to bring clarity and calm. Gaia House's retreats range from one day, to three, four and six nights, right up to 28 nights for those who truly want to disconnect from the world for a while. Days include guided meditations, mindful walking and periods of work - cooking, cleaning and gardening, also all in silence. Although sitting in silence may sound easy, it's a big challenge for most people, but by the end you may find a new sense of calm that you can incorporate into your everyday life.
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