Rise of the Healthy Solo Traveller
The single travel bug is catching, with a new world of healthy holidaymakers realising the freedom this blissfully selfish form of travel affords. No longer the sole reserve of singletons, Health and Fitness Travel, the leading experts in healthy holidays worldwide, have seen a rise in the diversity of travellers choosing to go it alone, for the opportunity to focus on their individual wellness goals. Whether on a yoga retreat in Asia or fitness bootcamp in Europe, with solo travel having almost doubled amongst affluent and first-time travellers in 2015 , more health retreats are banishing hefty single supplements to welcome this new wave of solo wellness warriors.
Issuing in a new era of single travellers, the freedom to choose how you spend your healthy holiday is attracting a new and broader following, from health conscious baby boomers looking to keep active in retirement, to divorced single parents wanting to rediscover a healthier lifestyle. Having shaken-off the lonely hearts stigma it once carried, even those in relationships are now looking to travel solo and focus on their goals, instead of compromising on a half-hearted holiday with the other-half.
Entering the era of solo female travellers, in a TripAdvisor survey of more than 9,000 women, 74% had either already travelled alone or were planning on travelling solo in 2015 , a fact which is supported by Pinterest pins focused on female solo travel rising by 350% . A growing phenomenon fuelled by the ease with which social media allows us to stay in touch with loved ones, the option of staying connected allows solo female travellers to feel safer when travelling on their own.
Following this solo surge in healthy holidays, Health and Fitness Travel, share their top tips for going it alone on a wellness escape and their top 5 destinations to give it a go, from a beachside yoga retreat in Bali to a fitness bootcamp in Ibiza.
Top Tips for Travelling Solo on a Healthy Holiday
1. Focus on your wellness goals
Whether finally reaching your fitness target or discovering new ways to manage stress, take the time to escape distractions and focus on you. With the help of motivational personal trainers, medical, nutritional and wellness experts, you will have the best support you need to finally reach your goals.
2. Join in with group fitness classes
One of the best ways to meet like-minded solo travellers on holiday, group fitness classes are a great way of breaking the ice whilst mixing with a fantastic array of people with shared goals and passions.
3. Don’t dine and hide with room service
Avoiding the prospect of dining solo by using room service is a tempting option for many first-time solo travellers, but don’t dull down your culinary experience by hiding away. Many wellness retreats offer singles only dining tables as an easy way of bringing solo travellers together.
4. Forgo Facebook, if only for a little while
Keep in touch with family and friends to let them know you’ve arrived safely, but leave your phone in your room for the day, allowing you to take the time to really disconnect on a digital detox.
5. Join a tour
For solo travellers looking to feed their wanderlust, active excursions from adventurous white water rafting and zip lining, to healthy cooking classes and educational eco hikes, are a great way to meet fellow solo travellers with similar interests.
Top Tips for Travelling Solo on a Healthy Holiday
Italy: KU Retreats
Treat yourself to some precious ‘me-time’ on a holistic singles holiday set in the scenic rolling hills of Tuscany, Italy. Restore your inner calm with daily meditation and Hatha yoga in the stunning octagonal studio and return to nature as you walk through the rich olive groves. Sessions of Tai Chi will promote the flow of positive energy throughout your body, allowing you reconnect with yourself on every level. Get together with other fellow singles and soak up the Tuscan culture with excursions to nearby villages, before returning together to enjoy a delicious and nutritious macrobiotic meal.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 6 nights at KU Retreats from £1,735pp for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a wellness programme, return flights and transfers.
Dedicate some time to focus on yourself on this active bootcamp set on the northern tip of Ibiza, where your basecamp is a stunning villa nestled within terraced gardens of olive and citrus trees. Workout alongside other solo travellers with an invigorating morning beach run before toning and lengthening your muscles with daily restorative yoga sessions. Recover in the healing salt water pools before socialising with like-minded singles in the welcoming open plan kitchen and dining area, as you learn to cook superfood-filled meals during informative workshops and healthy cooking classes.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at The Body Camp from £1,890pp for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a fitness programme, return flights and transfers.
Escape to Bali for a singles wellness retreat nestled on a secluded volcanic beach and overlooking the famous Keramas reef. Start your day balancing both body and mind with a private yoga session, before joining other solo travellers with a choice of daily activities and classes, from a surfing session or Mt Batur volcano hike, to a traditional cooking lesson in Ubud or power spin class. Nourish your body with organic meals and cold pressed juices, before treating it to a daily spa treatment and a visit to a Balinese healer.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 6 nights at Komune from £1,735pp for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a yoga & spa programme, return flights and transfers.
Go solo at this all-inclusive wellness retreat, tucked away in a peaceful cove on the stunning Caribbean island of St. Lucia. ‘September Solos’ provides an entire month dedicated specifically to solo travellers, whilst year-round features such as no single supplements and the hosted singles table every evening meal, ensure a loyal following throughout the year. Start your day with group sunrise yoga, before kicking up the pace with exhilarating classes including BodySpin, Zumba and beach circuits. Explore with group hiking and mountain biking tours, before making the most of 'me-time' with inclusive daily spa treatments.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at The BodyHoliday from £2,175pp for single occupancy in September. Price is all-inclusive, with return flights and transfers.
Escape to the magical mountain hamlet of Milia in Crete for an inspiring dose of fresh air, rugged natural beauty and a thorough fitness boost. This solo friendly fitness bootcamp was created with nature in mind, providing a challenging fitness programme in the great outdoors. Shape up with fellow travellers with group sessions from boxing and kettle bell training, to a mini beach triathlon and sea swim to an off-shore island. With healthy cooking lessons and group workshops on metabolism and effective training, you'll return home with new friends and the knowledge you need to embrace a healthier lifestyle long-term.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Wildfitness Crete from £2,330pp for single occupancy. Price includes full board, a fitness programme, return flights and transfers.
For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891
