The world’s best fitness retreats

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.

Six of the world’s best fitness retreats

Lily of the Valley, Provence, France

Best for: Personalised training plans, hyperlocal menus
Address: Colline Saint Michel, Boulevard Abel Faivre, Quartier de Gigaro, 83420 La Croix-Valmer, France

Set in the rural town of La Croix-Valmer in Provence amid umbrella pines and fragrant shrubs, 38-room hotel Lily of the Valley is the epitome of French Riviera chic – picture rooms finished with abstract rugs, rattan lampshades and sculptural coffee tables. Shape Club sprawls across the property’s ground floor with a fully-equipped gym, treatment rooms, saunas, a steam room, and a snow shower. We recommend the four-day detox retreat for a personalised diet and training plan drawn up from a bioimpedance analysis – a scan that examines body composition, fat and muscle mass. In the kitchen, chef Vincent Maillard uses hyperlocal ingredients to build classic Mediterranean plates such as grilled lobster on a bed of fresh vegetables and stuffed zucchini with ricotta and black truffle. There’s poolside light bites and sharing platters at the hotel’s Brigantine beach club, too.

Six Senses Kyoto, Japan

Best for: Improved stamina and sleep quality
Address: 431 Myohoin Maekawacho, Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto, 605-0932, Japan

Six Senses debuted in Japan in 2024 with the launch of Six Senses Kyoto in the heart of the historic Higashiyama neighbourhood. Wellness is at the forefront of the property with a spa that houses everything from pools, meditation studios, a herbal lounge, and four treatment rooms inspired by the senses – there’s even a space where guests can blend their own scrubs and salts. Urbanites should look to try the two-day fitness retreat for a blend of high and low intensity workouts, recovery treatments, mediation workshops and sleep tracking. The retreat is specially designed to support those with movement issues, and aims to improve strength and stamina. Between workouts, refuel at all-day dining restaurant Sekki with vegetarian dishes courtesy of chef Hiroki Shishikura. For the best things to do in Kyoto, read our weekend guide to the city here.

Wylder, Balearic Islands, Spain

Best for: Yoga, coastal walks, chef’s table
Address: Various Balearic-based locations 

This autumn, Wylder will reintroduce its Baeleric-centric line-up of wellness retreats to Menorca, alongside its locations in Formentera and Ibiza. The four-night Menorca escape will take place at recently restored farmhouse Santa Ana, and will include coastal walks, wild swimming and yoga classes. In true Wylder style, the escape embraces the spirit of the local neighbourhood with soul-nourishing meals prepared by chef Gabriel Del Humo, and creative workshops at nearby Etesian Gallery – the watercolour workshop with Mexican artist Nuria Marques is sure to be a delight. Founder Charlotte Townend is also launching the exciting Wylder Dine Series this autumn, which will see the addition of an intimate chef’s table across all escapes. Retreats take place in Menorca in the last two weekends of October, while Ibiza and Formentera start earlier in September.

Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand

Best for: Holistic treatments, private beach 
Address: 102 9 Laem-Set Road, Tambon Na Mueang, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84140, Thailand

John and Karina Stewart opened Kamalaya in Koh Samui back in 2005, and 18 years later the spa hotel is globally recognised for its pioneering wellness treatments. Karina – a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine – uses holistic practises to build itineraries that focus on detox, burnout and longevity. Opt for the seven-night basic detox retreat for hydrotherapy sessions, herbal remedies and massages, for a boost to both physical and mental health. Food is rooted at the core of each programme with two in-house restaurants serving seasonal, anti-inflammatory dishes proven to improve metabolic health. There are various different room types to choose from, spanning beachfront villas with private pools to jungle-like suites – all of which share the same minimal wood finish. Guests have access to two pools and a private beach with complimentary paddle boards and kayaks for exploring the lagoon.

Palm Heights, Cayman Islands

Best for: Keen runners, beachside rooms 
Address: Seven Mile Beach Grand Cayman KY1, 747 West Bay Road, 1110, Cayman Islands

Boutique hotel Palm Heights occupies a prime position on the white sand Seven Mile Beach in the Cayman Islands. Here, wellness is celebrated as a social activity with an outdoor gym equipped with sprint tracks, power racks, ropes and weights alongside a slick spa with hot and cold plunge pools – plus treatment rooms and a steam room. Guests have access to a solid selection of classes such as reformer pilates, boxing, ballet, and crossfit. In September, a three-day run camp in partnership with NYC-based Different Labs will target runners looking to improve their performance with strength and metabolic assessments, and a combination of training and recovery sessions. Rooms impress with mid-century interiors and sweeping ocean views.

Euphoria Retreat, Peloponnese, Greece

Best for: Heart-pumping HIIT, off-grid location 
Address: Mystras 231 00, Greece

A four-floor spa is rooted at the centre of Euphoria Retreat in the forested hills of the Peloponnese, where curved stone walls surround a rooftop pool. Book the three-day Spartan retreat, where a mix of wellness and high-intensity training sessions involves daily three hour sessions of outdoor activities like hiking, cycling and running, plus 15 recovery treatments such as group meditation and a deep tissue massage. Rooms are light-filled sanctuaries with high ceilings, private terraces and inviting sofas that offer a welcomed respite from exercising. Recharge at Gaia restaurant and enjoy traditional Greek cuisine made with natural ingredients and antioxidant spices.