Bookmark these top fitness retreats for when travel resumes
Whether you’re into yoga and meditation, or more physically demanding fitness pursuits, staying active while on vacation has become a priority for many of us. Keeping that in mind, we’ve rounded up the best fitness retreats that Southeast Asia has to offer. De-stress, recover and recharge at these beautiful resorts that let you experience the best of both worlds — the benefits of a wellness-focused itinerary with the leisure of a luxury vacation.
Since travel may not be feasible right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, and some of these fitness retreats are temporarily closed, you can bookmark these options for your next overseas adventure.
Here are the best fitness retreats in Southeast Asia –
The folks at Thanyapura pride themselves on their fitness-first approach with several sports-focused packages and memberships curated by industry experts, along with options like daily group classes, cooking sessions, and personal training for adults and children. The resort is home to a fully-licensed lifestyle clinic that offers physical rehabilitation services – a neat add-on. They’ve also launched online private and group training classes for you to get a glimpse of what their athletics programmes are like. For leisure, they have a recreational pool, traditional Thai massage services, as well as physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments.
This beachfront luxury resort hosts programmes and treatments that help detox your body and target issues such as weight control, stress, burnout and unhealthy sleeping patterns. The packages also include body scrubs, infrared sauna and massages. Stay on top of your game by practising tai chi, qi gong, pilates, yoga and even kayaking with the help of experts here, or relax at the swimming pool.
Chōsen Experiences offers several programmes by an impressive line-up of coaches — including Olympic athletes, wellness doctors, and nutrition experts — that aim to help you improve your daily lifestyle and fitness, and stick to these healthy habits even after you’ve left the retreat. Their week-long packages include luxury accommodation at their private properties in locations such as Bali, New Zealand, Iceland and Guatemala. These include meals and itineraries packed with activities such as surfing, cliff-jumping, parkour, water sports, weights and interval training, as well as ample time to relax.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all programmes are suspended for now and the company has launched a virtual one instead, on its website.
Located near the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Angkor Wat temple complex, this all-suite luxury resort offers several fitness and physiotherapy packages to help you achieve your body and wellness goals through Khmer healing traditions. Should you be interested, they even offer a specialised marathon package to help you train for, and participate in the Angkor Wat International Half Marathon to raise funds for charity. An experience of a lifetime, indeed.
At Chiva-Som, you can customise your own fitness schedules and programmes, as well as undertake kinesis and oxygen power training, tai chi, water aerobics, and beach power walking. There are also services such as health consultations, body analysis, and daily fitness classes.
If you are a pro surfer looking for Bali’s best surf breaks or are just looking to hone your skills, your search ends here. Enjoy breath-taking panoramic views of the ocean and feast on delectable seafood, while you embark on your fitness journey. While staying at the resort (accommodation options span penthouses, surfside residences, suites and more) just head over to the surfing spots that are within walking distance from the property. The resort has partnered with Tropicsurf to provide guidance and coaching services for surfing, all year round. These are temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests at the resort can enjoy facilities such as Pilates and yoga studios, an expansive gym, and a Jungle Sports studio.
At Absolute Sanctuary, take your pick from 22 different programmes across 15 categories that focus not just on fitness and nutrition, but also mental wellbeing. These include a 12-day integrative holistic wellness program, pilates reformer boot camp, weight management, detox, and more. They also offer anti-stress and spa packages if you want to unwind and take a break.
Nihi Sumba is a fitness retreat and beach resort that lets you enjoy a more relaxed pace. It is a unique island hideaway where you can enjoy surfing at Occy’s Left (a world-renowned private wave), paddle boarding, swimming with horses, snorkelling, trekking, and mountain biking, among others. Do not miss their Nihioka Spa Safari experience, where guests get to trek through hills, rice fields and a traditional Sumbanese village, swim in the ocean, and then indulge in a wide array of luxurious treatments (which include body scrubs, massages and organic facials) for the rest of the day.
Featured and hero image courtesy of Ishan via Unsplash
