Fitness trip or retreat – what suits you? Your guide to the ideal fitness vacation

Get away from everyday life, sun and relaxation - at the same time you want to do something for your fitness and health during your vacation? Then a fitness trip or a retreat could be just the thing for you.

More and more people are discovering fitness vacations for themselves and appreciate the positive effects on their overall well-being. Training in the most beautiful places in the world is not only a real motivation booster and helps you stick with it. The successes ensure a good and satisfied feeling and the food and relaxation afterwards can be enjoyed all the more. For many, lazing around and feasting, only to have to lose the accumulated kilos again after the vacation, is unsatisfactory - it's all about the mix.

However, it is not that easy to find your way around the abundance of offers. The variety of fitness trips and retreats is endless – from CrossFit bootcamps under palm trees to yoga retreats by the sea and hiking vacations in the mountains.

This guide will help you find your personal favorite. We look at the features and differences between fitness trips and retreats and help you find the option that best suits your needs, goals and preferences.

Topics overview:

• What is a fitness trip?
• What is a Retreat?
• Fitness trip vs. Retreat – The comparison
• How do I find out what suits me?
• Conclusion

What is a fitness trip?

Let's start with the fitness trip. What is that exactly?

A fitness trip is a consciously designed vacation that focuses on physical activity and holistic health. Not only is your training individually adapted to you and your goals and accompanied by professional trainers, but you can also freely design targeted nutrition, recreation and leisure activities according to your personal preferences.

There are fitness trips for almost every sport you can imagine: CrossFit, Functional Fitness, Hiking, Yoga, Boxing, Surfing and many more. There is also a wide range of difficulty levels and intensities for the activities offered: from beginner to professional level, from relaxed to intense.

Good to know: Fitness trips aren't just for sports enthusiasts.

They are suitable for anyone who wants to improve their fitness and relax at the same time - regardless of their current fitness level, training goal or age. Especially for people who find it difficult to get started in their stressful everyday lives, a fitness trip can be the perfect start to finally tackle their fitness goals.
For fitness addicts, a fitness vacation is the ideal opportunity to discover new places without having to forgo their usual training. At the same time, such a new environment offers inspiration and motivation to improve your own technique, try new things and meet like-minded people from all over the world.

And the best part?

Fitness trips offer the perfect balance of training, recreation and experience. You can discover new places, enjoy delicious food, meet interesting people and work on your health and fitness at the same time. A fitness trip is, so to speak, the all-round carefree package for your body and mind!

Discover our variety of Fitness Travel Packages

What is a Retreat?

Then there are retreats. But what exactly is a retreat?

The word "Retreat" originally comes from English and means something like "withdrawal". Generally, it refers to a type of vacation that is primarily for relaxation, regeneration and introspection. Traditionally, the focus is often on meditative and relaxing activities that are designed to help you calm down and harmonize your body and mind.

Today, however, the offer goes far beyond that. Meanwhile, there are various types of retreats, each focusing on different priorities. What they all have in common:

It is a journey of mindfulness and reflection, in which you can fully concentrate on yourself and your goals.

Closely related to the classic meditation retreats are the popular yoga retreats, where you can deepen your yoga practice and learn new techniques. There are also wellness retreats that focus on relaxation and well-being and often include treatments such as massages, sauna sessions or nutritional advice.
And also Fitness Retreats, which often take a holistic approach and can combine yoga, meditation, nutrition, coaching and training.

Retreats often take place in small groups in natural locations and are led by one or more experts and professionals.

The personal atmosphere and natural environment should help you to concentrate on yourself and clear your head. The daily routine of the retreat usually follows a structured schedule. Many retreats also offer additional activities such as hiking or surfing, and there is also enough time to explore the area, enjoy delicious food or simply read a good book.

Although the original approach of retreats was more spiritual in nature, today they are by no means only suitable for "spiritual" people.

Anyone looking for a break from everyday life, perhaps wanting to learn something about themselves and at the same time strengthen their health, body and mind, can benefit from a retreat. The versatile program of exercise, workshops and regeneration helps you to switch off and reduce stress. The retreat routine with like-minded people, the structured daily routine, learning from experts, nature, relaxation and self-awareness make a retreat a unique experience that can continue to have an effect in everyday life even after the vacation.

Discover our Fitness Retreats

---

 

Fitness trip vs. Retreat – The comparison

What exactly are the differences between a fitness trip and a retreat? And above all: Which option is the right one for you?

 

And what do they have in common?

Relaxation: Both fitness trips and retreats offer a break from everyday life and the opportunity to recharge your batteries.

Health focus: Both forms of travel place great emphasis on health and well-being, albeit in different ways.

New experiences: Whether you choose a fitness trip or a retreat, you will probably try new things, discover new places and meet new people.

So, deciding between a fitness trip and a retreat really depends on what you like and what you're aiming for.

 

How do I find out what suits me?

Choosing between a fitness trip and a retreat can be tough. Here are a few questions to ask yourself to help you pick the right one:

Question 1: What do I need most right now?
Sometimes the answer to this question can be surprisingly clear. Do you need a physical challenge right now? Are you longing for relaxation? Are you missing adventure and new impressions? Then a fitness trip that you can put together according to your personal wishes is probably the right thing for you.
Or do you need new inspiration & further development? Do you lack the motivation, focus and people at home who pursue similar goals as you? Then you're probably in good hands at a retreat.

Question 2: How important is the social component to me?
Both options offer opportunities for interaction and exchange with like-minded people. If a community atmosphere in a fixed group is important to you, a fitness retreat, for example, could be more attractive for you. If you are someone who prefers variety and freedom, you will love the fitness trip.

Question 3: What does my usual everyday life look like?
If you have a very structured and scheduled everyday life, the freedom and flexibility of a fitness trip could be a welcome change. If you usually have to think and plan a lot for others, it could be good for you to simply follow a given structure, as with a retreat, without having to think much for yourself.

Question 4: How flexible am I?
Retreats often have fixed dates and a fixed duration, while with a fitness trip you can usually choose the date and duration flexibly.

Question 5: How important is constant support and group leadership to me?
Retreats are often led by trainers or experts and supervised from arrival to departure. On fitness trips, only specific program items (e.g. training or activities) are usually accompanied by certified trainers or tour guides. Regardless, you can organize yourself and fall back on a personal contact person if you need them.

There is no 'right' or 'wrong' choice - your gut feeling is usually a good compass. And who knows, maybe you'll try a fitness trip this year and decide on a retreat next year!

Conclusion

Whatever option you choose: With a fitness holiday, you're guaranteed to do something good for yourself and your body! Whether it's a fitness trip or a retreat, both are a wonderful way to make your holiday health-conscious, active and relaxing.

In a world that is becoming increasingly hectic and challenging, they offer a valuable opportunity to focus on yourself and put your health, well-being and goals at the center.

In the end, it's not where you travel or what you do that counts, but how much you can enjoy the moment. Just like in training or in life itself – the journey is the destination!

With this in mind, we wish you an inspiring and fulfilling trip, no matter where it takes you!

Here you will find more helpful blog articles and information on current retreat dates:

• Your packing list - what you shouldn't forget on your fitness vacation
• The Top 3 Travel Destinations for Travelling Athletes
• AnnaMakesButter x Travelling Athletes Retreat December 2023