While we’re up for the occasional spa day, there are times when we need something more: a real break from the mundane, and this is where a fitness holiday comes in.
During a fitness holiday, you’ll be swapping limp spa sandals for trail shoes, trading soft towels for the rush of cold river water on your legs. Rewards here are earned with every muddy stride and aching laugh.
So when pampering no longer works, a fitness holiday may just be exactly what you need. And if you’re confused about the different types, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll talk about bootcamps, retreats, HYROX prep, and how to choose which one to book for yourself.
Bootcamps: Sweat, Grit, Repeat
Bootcamps first burst into the fitness scene in the late 90 and is one of the earliest iterations of a fitness camp.
Fast forward to now and they’re still the renegades of the wellness world, popping up anywhere with enough open space and a handful of people willing to trade comfort for a full-throttle challenge.
It can be set up just about anywhere. A forgotten parking lot, a rooftop, a meadow, maybe even on the edge of a windswept cliff, it doesn’t really matter.
What’s important is that it’s a place where wild ones gather, drawn by the drumbeat of challenge and camaraderie.
And sure, it has roots in military tradition. There may be burpees in a dew-soaked field, or maybe a trail run that bites at your calves. But, there are no drill sergeants here, only a team of supportive coaches and co-residents who only want to see you succeed.
Something wild happens when you pour out your reserves with others beside you. High-fives get sloppier, encouragement gets louder, and somewhere along the way, you realize you’re not just working out, you’re working together.
Retreats That Go Beyond Wellness
Don’t get me wrong, the wellness crowd brings a kind of healing you won’t find in a fitness holiday. But, there’s a world of difference between wellness versus its rough-and-tumble cousins in the fitness retreat.
Fitness retreats rip you out of your comfort zone and throw you straight into whatever wild endeavor you’re craving — whether it’s cycling up switchback roads, hiking boot-deep through your dream trails, or rock climbing until you remember the primal thrill of gripping earth and sky at once.
Yoga Retreats
I know what you’re thinking. Sun salutations with the sunrise, linen pants, a chant or two sounds more like a wellness escape but hear me out here:
Real yoga retreats are sweaty, transformative affairs. Try holding a down-dog after three rounds of vinyasa and tell me yoga isn’t as physically demanding as a bootcamp.
In a real yoga retreat, you twist, you balance, you breathe until the breathing itself feels like hauling anchor up from the seabed. Hips, glutes, core, back, every little muscle is worked out.
Cycling Retreats
If you want to know the bones of a place—its scars and secrets, the way sunlight clings to treetops or how a valley sighs in the morning fog—don’t drive. Don’t bus or train. Sling your leg over a bicycle, grit your teeth, and start pedaling.
Cycling retreats are the best of exercise holidays. It lets you forget about the predictable city spin class. You’ll sweat up wild hills and coast down scenic descents.
And don’t get me started on the food. Meals happen at local joints. One day it’s a crusty loaf and cheese, the next, it’s fresh caught fish grilled by someone’s grandma.
The Truth: Do Fitness Holidays Actually Work?
A 2017 paper studied the effects of retreat experiences and noted that:
Retreat experiences provide a unique opportunity for people to escape from unhealthy routines and engage in healthy practices and activities that lead to immediate and sustained health benefits.
They rip you out of the loop of emails, meetings, that ever-whining internal monologue and transplants you into a shiny new environment.
But the magic goes deeper than that, you also get to connect with your co-retreat goers and coaches. This makes fitness retreats benefit more than the physical, but also in the mental and social aspects of your overall wellbeing.
So sure, there are obvious benefits for your physical health by going on a fitness holiday. But, it’s what happens between your ears and deep in your gut where you gain the most.
But here’s the truth: Yes, they work—but only if you work it, long after the scent of the ocean fades and your trainers are caked in familiar pavement dust.
It lets you dive headfirst into a pool of new routines, fresh food, and strange new adventures. Fitness retreats build habits, fire up your muscles, and spark your motivation.
The beauty is in the momentum you steal from the adventure, that little voice that nudges you to find your local hill, trail, or yoga studio back home. The holiday part melts away, but the fitness, hopefully, stays.
Sizing Up Your Own Adventure: Finding the Right Fit
Now that we’ve talked about the types of fitness holidays available, it’s time to pick which one you should go for. But let’s face it, it can be overwhelming with the sheer number of choices.
One path promises you’ll find your inner warrior. Another whispers of quiet lakes at dawn and muscles stretching like cats. So, let’s make the decision a little easier here, shall we?
Start with You - Ask yourself what fires you up? Is it slinging kettlebells on a beach? Trekking up jungled mountains? Or is it more meditation and downward dogs at sunrise? Don’t settle. If you hate running, don’t sign up for a marathon retreat just to say you did. This is about thrill, not torture.
Check the Credentials (and Vibe) - Sure, glossy websites promise abs and enlightenment in five days. But dig deeper. Who runs the show? What’s the group size? Look for real coaches, real reviews, and real community.
Location, Location, Location - Crave the slap of icy air on your cheeks? Opt for a mountain bootcamp. Need a slap of salt on your tongue? The beachside HIIT or paddle boarding in a Vietnam fitness retreat might just scratch that itch.
Goals - What do you really want? To reset your fitness mojo, land some new skills, or just shake off your everyday cobwebs? Find a retreat that aligns with your actual hunger.
Join the Tribe, or Stay Bored at Home
So, are you ready to book your own fitness holiday? Check out Nova Fitness Retreat.
We’re Vietnam’s first purpose-built fitness retreat, blending strength, HYROX-style training, mindful recovery, and community to deliver real transformation.
Grab your spot.
Stretch your limits. Let’s write the next chapter together.
