There’s a common misconception that to go on a retreat, there’s a hefty price tag attached. But with a wealth of options around the world, that’s no longer the case. When it comes to dieting (and sticking to it), it often helps to have someone on your side both for direction and motivation; and while there are no quick fixes to weight loss, these budget retreats are perfect to put you on the right tracks.
Tiger Muay Thai Training (Thailand)
The rigorous training schedules at Phuket’s Tiger Muay Thai training camp hold fat-burning at the core of their focus. Days begin with a vinyasa yoga session followed by fitness training and swimming sessions. An all-inclusive month-long package includes opt-in classes including the varied boxing and MMA sessions, as well as meal-tickets to the Tiger Kitchen–offering fuel to keep you active and energised while promoting weight loss from within. A body composition analysis at the start will form the base of your tailor-made weight loss programme, while the three private consultations each week will help to monitor progress on your weight loss journey. Prices start around US$1,765.
The Chateau (Malaysia)
The luxurious golf resort and spa in the foothills of Malaysia’s Berjaya Hills offers a slice of tranquillity and a break from the stresses and pressures of daily city life, so it’s easy to see why the resort is a popular destination for couples and honeymooners. With massages, facials, aromatherapy bath sessions and nutritional consultations on offer, this retreat is what you make of it. Combine the pampering sessions with your choice of yoga, fat burner sessions, circuit training classes, horseback riding or guided hikes. Prices are customisable depending on treatment options. Room rates start around US$160 per night.
Adler Thermae (Italy)
Nestled among the rolling Tuscan hills, the Adler Thermae health sanctuary offers the Balance Weight Loss Intensive programme: a five-night programme focusing on healthy eating and promoting body confidence. This retreat looks at the reasons behind our food choices and enables people to evoke habitual change. Medical analyses and testing identify your core needs, while massages serve to both relax you and promote weight loss. Private coaching sessions throughout your stay will equip you with the necessary tools to continue your weight loss journey. Prices start around US$1,470.
Thanyapura (Thailand)
This all-inclusive health and sports resort on the tropical paradise island of Phuket in Thailand offers state of the art facilities, consultations with doctors and dieticians, as well as a full body analysis, colonic hydrotherapy and lymphatic drainage massages packed into a stint of either five or 10 nights.
While the weight loss package is an intense programme, there is still ample time to move at your own pace, and you’ll have the choice to participate in daily fitness, yoga and meditation classes at your leisure in between nutritionally balanced plant-based meals. Prices start around US$1,664.
Mullum Sari (Australia)
If you’re looking for something quick and easy, Mullum Sari offers the optimum in flexibility. In the rural countryside near Byron Bay, the retreat operates a multitude of detox programmes, ranging from a one-day fast to a seven-night intensive programme. A basic one-day package includes two massages, a purifying body scrub, an infrared sauna session, one yoga class and one litre of cold-press living juice to sustain you on your fast, though healthy food options are available for those not wanting to fully forgo food.
Lengthier packages include additional treatments such as hyperbaric oxygen chamber sessions, colonic hydrotherapy and raw food recipe classes. As if you didn’t have enough options already, you can also choose whether to stay on-site or book your own accommodation, letting you spend as little (or as much) as you like. Prices start around US$220.
