wellness retreats europe

Sun, sea and shavasana: Winter wellness retreats in Europe to book now

18 Sep 2023 | Updated on: 21 Sep 2023 |By Annie Lewis

Whether you’re in search of a new PB or just a little R&R, these wellness retreats in Europe will leave you in tip-top condition

Whether you’re looking for a head-to-toe transformation, medical-driven treatments or a rejuvenating break, there are plenty of winter retreats to entice burnt-out Brits. Featuring a daily relaxing roster of yoga, breathwork, Pilates or high-tempo boxing classes and hikes, these are the types of holidays where wellness enthusiasts thrive. But that’s not to say they’re exclusive events – anyone with an interest in cleansing their body and mind are welcome. 

The best bit? Such wellness retreats are perfectly situated to receive that all-important dose of Mediterranean vitamin D almost guaranteed on the Spanish Costa Brava, Cypriot coast and Greek islands (miles away from cloudy London). So, what are you waiting for? Waltz into winter with a clean mind and healthy body thanks to these top wellness retreats in Europe. 

Hostal de La Gavina, Spain

Costa Brava’s grand palace hotel, Hostal de La Gavina, is partnering with Digme Fitness – the London-born fitness brand with four studios specialising in yoga, barre, HIIT and cycling – to host its first yoga retreat in Spain this autumn. From 2-6 October, retreat highlights include dynamic Qi Gong morning practice featuring invigorating vinyasa flows, meditation and breathwork, cacao ceremonies featuring intuitive body movement in time to music, candle-lit Yin flows, and a Vipassana meditation experience (an ancient mindfulness technique that involves a day of silence to observe thoughts and emotions). 

Away from the mat, guests can enjoy scenic hikes along the Camino de Ronda coastal path to secluded beaches and hidden coves, sea kayaking adventures or paddle boarding on Platja de Sant Pol beach. Back at the five-star hotel, rejuvenate in one of the 74 sea-view bedrooms furnished in a classic Mediterranean style with fine silk upholstery, Venetian Murano glass lamps, Egyptian linen bedding and Italian marble bathrooms. Downstairs, the Gavina Spa by Valmont overlooks the Bay of S’Agaró and will be readily available for retreat attendees, while the 25m-outdoor pool, fully equipped gym, clay tennis and padel courts complete the offering for fitness enthusiasts. 

From £295 per night, visit lagavina.com

Parklane, Cyprus

Parklane, a luxury resort and spa in Limassol on the Cypriot coast, has partnered with female-founded fitness brand Oyogo to launch the Energia Wellness Retreat. Expert trainers and fitness coaches will host one-week residencies from 22 October to 26 November 2023 to offer wellness seekers a dose of Cypriot vitamin D and a daily roster of curated fitness classes. Each residency, which will also be available to staying guests, focuses on a different discipline ranging from strength and conditioning to barre, and breathwork to HIIT sessions. 

Post-workout, guests can rejuvenate in the five-star seafront property enveloped by palm trees and hugged by the Mediterranean Sea. The collection of 222 rooms, 34 suites and 18 villas – all designed by Harrods Interiors and decorated with art by Atelier 27 Paris – sit alongside the award-winning Kalloni Spa, secluded Blue Flag beach and three dazzling swimming pools. Elsewhere, discover six restaurants and bars, highlighted by the renowned Nammos, to nourish your body with traditional Cypriot cuisine. 

From £181 per night, visit marriott.com

Camiral Golf and Wellness, Spain

In a bid to help those suffering from burnout and stress kickstart a healthy routine, Camiral Golf and Wellness – the number one golf resort in Spain situated between Girona and Barcelona – has launched a series of specialised wellness retreats. Following the success of its Renew and Harmonise event earlier this year, which saw lifestyle coach Monique Eastwood focus on perimenopausal and menopausal issues, this November’s Strengthen and Boost Immunity retreat will welcome a team of leading therapeutic consultants to help attendees strengthen their immune system.

Expect workshops focused on nutrition and inflammation, supervised intravenous infusions, cryotherapy, massages, yoga, mindfulness and meditation sessions that focus on rest and breathwork and daily Pilates classes which all aim to retune the body and mind while stimulating the immune system. The dedicated immunity-boosting menu, making the most of the resort’s home-grown produce, has been drawn up by chef Mireia Cervera. For those enrolling on the wellness retreats, the five-star, 138-bedroom Hotel Camiral, designed by Lazaro Rosa-Violán, points to restorative sleep and cosseting. Aside from the retreats (for a maximum of 10 guests), a range of individual wellness programmes – from detox, immunity support to pregnancy-focused retreats – are available to book all year round.

Retreats from £2,618 with a superior deluxe room, visit camiral.com

Wylder, Spain

Hosted by yoga teacher Charlotte Townend, Wylder offers guests more than just your average yoga retreat, combining mindful practices, outdoor activities and unique workshops with a personal touch. Wylder’s next retreat in Spain’s Formentera is scheduled to take place from 1-5 November 2023, offering burnt-out Brits the perfect winter sun break to focus on themselves, spend time outdoors, learn new skills and indulge in inner-child activities like pottery and paddle boarding.

The four-night escape will be hosted at eco-hotel Eto Soto, a modern beachfront residence immersed in nature, and in collaboration with Get Face Fit who will help guests return with healthy, glowing skin. Founder Olivia Szmidt will be on hand for facial fitness classes and educational workshops involving non-invasive techniques and tools to tone, tighten and sculpt the 40+ muscles in the face, increasing blood circulation and boosting collagen. Movement-wise, Townend will teach daily yoga classes, before hiking and paddle boarding lessons whereas the mind will be nurtured by breathwork and sound healing sessions. Brunch and dinners will be prepared by local chef Gemma Lewis and there will be pop-ups from esteemed Ibizencan restaurants Nudo and Chidas to fuel you throughout your stay. 

Retreats from £1,500 per person, visit wylderretreats.net

Daios Cove, Greece

Following two successful years, BXR Retreat at Daios Cove is returning in October 2023 for two weeks of world-class fitness. The five-star luxury resort is located on the Greek island of Crete and nestled in revered natural beauty, situated on the north side of the island that overlooks the private Mirabello Bay. Daios Cove has become the home of BXR retreats since 2018 and, from 2022, a full-scale gym modelled on the Chiltern Street flagship. Its six-night escapes merge the best of both worlds: Cretian luxury and training by the UK’s top coaches, from boxing skills to daily yoga and mobility sessions. Next month sees BXR host two six-night retreats – from 12-18 and 19-25 October – filled with balanced nutritional meals alongside fun activities, including hiking, mountain biking, paddle boarding and swimming. 

Elsewhere, Kepos by Goco is Daios Cove’s holistic health destination offering diagnostic consultations, where a health professional assesses your biological age, metabolic rate and nutrition levels before prescribing a personalised course of treatments to undertake throughout your stay. IV drips and colonic hydrotherapy are also available on request, as well as sessions in the cryotherapy chamber and hyperbaric oxygen chamber which aims to boost blood circulation and cognitive function. We have no doubt you’ll return to London as a new person… 

From £233 per night, visit bxrlondon.com

Six Senses Kaplankaya, Turkey

Wellness-driven platform is gearing up to host its next Harvest Series retreat with the ‘Father of Biohacking’, Dave Asprey, next month. Designed for those that want to understand how to upgrade their biology to optimise their lives, the retreat from 12-17 October 2023 features four days of lectures, workshops and nourishment hosted at the five-star Six Senses Kaplankaya resort in Turkey

Asprey has spent the past two decades working with world-renowned doctors, researchers, scientists and global mavericks to uncover the most innovative methods and techniques and products for enhancing mental and physical performance. At the forefront of research he has invested and taken control of his own biology, pushing the bounds of human possibility all in the name of science, evolution and revolution. Asprey guarantees that attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of how to hack your body and brain for it to work smarter, having experienced a full biohacking immersion consisting of state-of-the-art technologies and treatments, lectures and workshops. Each day will end with unique gastronomic experiences served by world-class chefs, alongside unlimited access to Six Senses’ seven beaches, seven pools and the largest spa in Europe. 

From £1,736 per night, visit harvestseries.com

Read more: Kouros Hotel & Suites: The best of both worlds in Mykonos