• E N R O U T E / / W E L L N E S S T R A V E L
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Wellness on holiday is no longer a trend , it ’ s the expectation .
People want to return home feeling healthier .
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while others credit the altitude training , good nutrition and the community spirit of the runners . Whatever their secret , travellers now have the opportunity to train with these top athletes .
For active travellers it is an unbeatable insider ’ s experience set in a community where running culture is deeply entrenched . Keith Hill , a sales executive for a publishing company , spent three days among the runners from the Pace Running Camp . During his stay at a luxury tented camp he hiked to a local archaeological site , joined the athletes for morning runs and shared healthy meals . “ It was a great honour to actually participate in real training runs with some of the top athletes in the world ,” says Hill . “ I ’ ll never forget the beautiful surrounds and running with such humble yet world-famous people . It was quite simply an awe-inspiring and surreal experience .”
A GLOBAL PHENOMENON Paul Joseph , co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel , a global leader in wellness holidays worldwide , believes that our current obsession with all things natural and healthy is here to stay . “ Leading spas are helping people to address illnesses and to focus on personal wellness goals , including preventative ageing , fitness and weight management ,” he says . “ Wellness on holiday is no longer a trend , it ’ s the expectation . People want to return home feeling healthier .”
Wellness holidays are particularly popular among solo travellers , he adds . “ As a solo traveller on an activity holiday ,
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you ’ re usually able to tailor your itinerary to ensure that you never feel lonely ,” he explains . “ Solo travellers are also able to fully soak up the benefits of a wellness holiday by solely focusing on their health and well-being , without having to fit into someone else ’ s schedule .”
One of Joseph ’ s top wellness destinations is the Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary in Thailand : “ It ’ s like entering a different world of calm and magic , where body and mind are completely restored .” The programmes at Kamalaya focus on fitness , detox , emotional balance , yoga and counteracting stress and burnout .
The BodyHoliday in St Lucia ( in the Caribbean ) is another one of Paul ’ s favourites . An all-inclusive resort , it boasts an impressive collection of
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