For many people, holidays are a time for indulgence, rest and relaxation. But plenty of travellers like to maintain their routines and good habits whilst they’re away, which includes keeping fit on holiday.
There are varying degrees of staying healthy and active whilst you’re away on holiday, from sticking to your usual eating habits and fitting in a jog or two to planning a trip that revolves around doing exercise every day. In this article, we share our top recommendations for staying fit and healthy on holiday without having to compromise on any of your other travel plans.
Choose High-End Accommodation
One of the easiest ways to keep fit on holiday is to choose high-end accommodation that has health and wellness facilities like a pool, gym, or spa. Many resorts also run things like yoga, HIIT or Zumba classes for guests every day, which are usually free to attend if you’re staying there.
Some luxury villas also come with their own fitness facilities, with many places in hot countries including an outdoor pool, and some larger accommodations including a small private gym. This can be a particularly good option if you’re on holiday with your family, as younger travellers will likely also be grateful for these additional features.
Choosing accommodation with access to a pool or gym makes it easy to keep fit on holiday, as you can fit in some exercise alongside the rest of your plans. It also means that you can stay active at your own pace, whether that’s a couple of laps of the pool or a gentle weights session in the morning.
Go Hiking
Another great way to keep fit whilst you’re on holiday is to plan hiking excursions as part of your trip. If you’re a keen walker, you can go as far as making this the main activity for your entire holiday, but even just having one day of hiking can ensure that you keep active whilst you’re away.
Depending on your level of fitness and your appetite for challenge, a holiday hike can be anything from a several-hour stroll along a scenic path to tackling the climb up a mountain. What matters is getting out and getting walking, even if you decide to break up the journey with stops at cafes, restaurants or pubs!
It’s usually pretty easy to find hiking trails nearby when you’re on holiday, especially when you’re staying in a more rural area. Not only is this a great way to keep fit whilst you’re away, but it can also allow you to explore more of the place that you’re staying in and discover places that can only be reached on foot.
Book a Ski Trip
Another classic way to make sure that you keep fit whilst on holiday is to book a holiday where the main activity involves staying active. A ski trip is a classic example of this, where you’ll be out and about on the slopes for a lot of your holiday.
A great thing about a skiing holiday is that it doesn’t really feel like exercise, but you’ll still see the benefits of spending a lot of your trip being active outdoors. You also don’t need to push yourself hard at all to feel like you’ve earned your downtime, as skiing is a great full-body workout without being too high-intensity!
You don’t need to be tackling advanced or intermediate runs to have a good time whilst you’re skiing, so don’t worry if you’re a total beginner! The best thing about these holidays is that once you’re done on the slopes, you can retire to a luxury ski chalet in St. Anton and relax in total comfort with beautiful views of the snowy mountains all around you.
Take Part in Walking Tours
Another great piece of advice for staying fit whilst on holiday is to take part in walking tours. These are a common activity in towns or cities that see a lot of tourist activities, involving a guided walk around some of the location’s most popular or interesting attractions, led by a knowledgeable guide.
Walking tours are a wonderful way to see more of a destination when you’re on holiday and learn a lot about its history and culture, but you’re also keeping active while you’re doing it. It can also be a lovely sociable activity, as many walking tours take part in small groups where you can chat to other visitors whilst you’re walking.
There is a wide range of walking tours available to suit many different tastes and interests, particularly in larger cities around the world. Whether you’re looking for a historic walking tour, a street food experience, or a guided walk around some of a city’s iconic landmarks, these tours are the perfect activity for a holiday where you want to stay active.
Try a Wellness Retreat
Our final recommendation for how to keep fit on holiday is to try a wellness or fitness retreat. These types of trips tend to take place over a week or a weekend and will involve an itinerary of activities that focus on cultivating health and wellness, whether that’s through exercise, nutrition or mindfulness.
Wellness retreats are perfect if you’re looking for guided support to improve your health and wellbeing, or you want to go on a holiday where keeping fit and healthy is the main priority. These retreats tend to be hosted in beautiful locations that make the most of their surroundings as part of the itinerary, and also have the advantage that all of your food, accommodation and activities are included in the cost.
Whether you book a fitness holiday filled with different activities, a yoga retreat helping to deepen your practice, or a more general wellbeing trip that focuses on your mental and spiritual wellbeing as well, retreats are a wonderful idea for a holiday that can make a real impact on your day-to-day life.
Summary
Keeping fit on holiday doesn’t have to be a chore. In fact, with the ideas that we’ve suggested in this article, you should be able to see how it can be a really enjoyable part of your trip!