Whether you’re looking for a head-to-toe makeover, medically-led treatments or just a rejuvenating break, there are plenty of winter retreats to tempt weary Brits. With daily relaxation programmes including yoga, breathing exercises, pilates, high-tempo boxing classes and hikes, these are the kind of getaways that health-conscious people thrive on – but they’re not exactly fancy events – anyone interested in cleansing their mind and body is welcome.
The best part? These wellness retreats are perfectly located on Spain’s Costa Brava, the coast of Cyprus and the Greek Islands (just a few miles from cloudy London) where you’re almost guaranteed to get your dose of Mediterranean Vitamin D. So what are you waiting for? Greet winter with a clear mind and a healthy body at these top European wellness retreats.
Hostal de La Gavina, Spain
Hostal de la Gavina, a luxury palace hotel on the Costa Brava, has partnered with Digme Fitness, a London-born fitness brand with four studios specializing in yoga, barre, HIIT and cycling, to host its first yoga retreat in Spain this autumn. Highlights of the retreat, which runs from October 2 to 6, include an invigorating vinyasa flow, a dynamic qigong morning practice incorporating meditation and breathwork, a cacao ceremony featuring intuitive movement set to music, a candlelit yin-yang flow and a Vipassana meditation experience, an ancient mindfulness technique that involves spending a day in silence observing thoughts and emotions.
Off the mat, you can enjoy a scenic hike along the Camino de Ronda coastal path that leads to tranquil beaches and hidden coves, or go on a sea kayaking adventure or paddleboard at Playa de Sant Pol beach. Returning to the five-star hotel, you can refresh in one of the 74 sea-view rooms decorated in classic Mediterranean style with fine silk upholstery, Venetian Murano glass lamps, Egyptian linen bedding and Italian marble bathrooms. Downstairs, you’ll find Gavina Spa by Valmont, overlooking Ságaró Bay and open to retreat participants at any time. There’s also a 25-metre outdoor pool with amenities for fitness enthusiasts, a fully equipped gym, clay tennis courts and padel courts.
From £295 per night. See lagavina.com.
Park Lane, Cyprus
Park Lane, a luxury resort and spa in Limassol on the Cyprus coast, has partnered with female-founded fitness brand Oyogo to launch Energia Wellness Retreat. Expert trainers and fitness coaches will host week-long residencies from 22 October to 26 November 2023, providing wellness seekers with Cyprus Vitamin D and daily curated fitness classes. Each residency, which is also open to hotel guests, will focus on a different discipline, from strength training and conditioning to ballet, breathing exercises to HIIT sessions.
Rejuvenate after your workout in this 5-star beachfront hotel, surrounded by palm trees and embraced by the Mediterranean Sea. All 222 rooms, 34 suites and 18 villas are designed by Harrods Interiors and decorated with art by Atelier 27 Paris. The hotel also boasts the award-winning Kalloni Spa, a tranquil Blue Flag beach and three beautiful pools. Plus, enjoy traditional Cypriot cuisine at six restaurants and bars, including the renowned Nammos.
From £181 per night. Visit marriott.com.
Camiral Golf and Wellness (Spain)
To help those suffering from burnout and stress kick-start healthy habits, Camiral Golf and Wellness, Spain’s number one golf resort located between Girona and Barcelona, has launched a series of specialised wellness retreats. Following the huge success of the ‘Renew and Harmonise’ event earlier this year, which focused on pre-menopausal and menopausal issues with lifestyle coach Monique Eastwood, November’s ‘Immunity Strengthening and Immunity Boosting’ retreat will feature a team of leading therapeutic consultants to help participants boost their immunity.
There are workshops focusing on nutrition and inflammation, supervised infusions, cryotherapy, massages, yoga, mindfulness and meditation sessions focusing on rest and breathwork, and daily Pilates classes, all aimed at realigning the body and mind while stimulating the immune system. An exclusive immune-boosting menu, making the most of the resort’s home-grown ingredients, was created by chef Mireia Cervera. For those taking part in wellness retreats, the five-star, 138-room Hotel Camiral, designed by Lázaro Rosa Violán, focuses on restorative sleep and pampering. Apart from the retreats (for a maximum of 10 people), a range of individual wellness programs can be booked throughout the year, from detox, immune support to pregnancy-focused retreats.
Retreats with superior deluxe rooms start from £2,618, see camiral.com
Wilder, Spain
Hosted by yoga teacher Charlotte Townend, Wilder combines mindfulness practices, outdoor activities and unique workshops with a personal touch to offer guests much more than your average yoga retreat. Wilder’s next retreat on the Spanish island of Formentera is scheduled to take place from 1-5 November 2023, offering weary Brits the perfect winter getaway to focus on themselves, spend time outdoors, learn a new skill and indulge in inner child activities like pottery and paddleboarding.
The four-night journey will take place at Eto Soto, a modern beachfront eco-hotel surrounded by nature. It is a collaboration with Get Face Fit, which helps guests reclaim healthy, glowing skin. Founder Olivia Schmidt will attend facial fitness classes and educational workshops, working with non-invasive techniques and tools that tone and sculpt over 40 muscles in the face, increase blood circulation and increase collagen. On the exercise side, Townend will teach daily yoga classes, lead hiking and paddleboarding lessons, and nourish the mind with breathwork and sound healing sessions. Brunch and dinner will be prepared by local chef Gemma Lewis, and guests will enjoy pop-ups from acclaimed Ibiza restaurants Nudo and Chidas throughout the stay.
Retreats start from £1,500pp, see wylderretreats.net
Daios Bay, Greece
After two successful years, BXR Retreats at Daios Cove will return in October 2023 for two weeks of world-class fitness. This five-star luxury resort is located in Crete, Greece, surrounded by revered natural beauty and located on the north side of the island overlooking the private Mirabello Bay. Daios Cove has been the home base for BXR Retreats since 2018, and from 2022 will be a fully-fledged gym modeled after the flagship Chiltern Street store. The six-night escape combines the best of both worlds: Cretan luxury and training with the UK’s top coaches, from boxing skills to daily yoga and mobility sessions. Next month, BXR will host two six-night retreats from 12-18 and 19-25 October. The retreats are packed with balanced and nutritious meals, along with fun activities like hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding and swimming.
Additionally, Quepos by Goco, a holistic health destination in Daios Cove, offers diagnostic consultations. A medical professional will assess your biological age, metabolic rate and nutritional levels to prescribe a personalized course of treatment to follow during your stay. Infusions and colonic hydrotherapy are also available on request, as well as sessions in cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen chambers aimed at improving blood circulation and cognitive function. You’ll definitely return to London a new you…
From £233 per night. See bxrlondon.com.
Six Senses Kaplankaya (Türkiye)
The wellness-led platform is gearing up to host its next Harvest Series retreat next month with “father of biohacking” Dave Asprey. Designed for those who want to understand how to upgrade their biology to optimize their lives, the retreat will take place from 12-17 October 2023 at Turkey’s five-star hotel, Six Senses Kaplankaya, over four days of lectures, workshops and nutrition.
For the past 20 years, Asprey has worked with world-renowned physicians, researchers, scientists and global mavericks to discover the most innovative methods, techniques and products to enhance mental and physical performance. At the forefront of research, he has invested in and taken control of his own biology, pushing the boundaries of human potential in the name of science, evolution and revolution. Asprey assures that a complete biohacking experience consisting of cutting-edge techniques and treatments, lectures and workshops will leave participants with a deeper understanding of how to make their body and brain work smarter. Each day will end with a unique gastronomic experience provided by a world-class chef and unlimited access to Six Senses’ seven beaches, seven pools and Europe’s largest spa.
From GBP 1,736 per night. Visit harvestseries.com.
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