Wellness TRAVEL
Swap the fly-and-flop holiday for an active, outdoor getaway with our pick of the best walking and fitness retreats.
Discover rural Japan on foot
WHAT Shikoku: Kochi & Ehime Discovery by Walk Japan
WHERE Western Shikoku, Japan
WHEN May 10-16 and October 18-24
PRICE Approximately £2,180 per person based on double occupancy; enquire directly for single occupancy rates
WEBSITE walkjapan.com
This fully guided, seven-day tour travels through two of Japan’s most beautiful but least-visited prefectures, Kochi and Ehime, which are both characterised by pristine streams and rivers, deeply forested mountainous terrain and lush valleys leading on to the coast and the steely-blue Pacific Ocean.
Suitable for anyone who leads a reasonably active lifestyle, this immersive walking tour is composed of ancient and historic trails that complement each other with their own distinct ambience and interest, from the sacred to the worldly and from the age-old to the modern day. Pilgrimage has been an everyday feature of life in Shikoku for millennia and is an inclusive part of the route, which features visits to some of the 88 temples along a 12 kilometre mini-pilgrimage route.
Every evening, you can expect delicious feasts, comprised of the freshest seasonal produce sourced from the surrounding mountains, fields and seas. Then, after a long day of walking between nine and 12 kilometres, you’ll rest your head in comfortable Japanese or westernstyle hotels, including experiences in traditional accommodations with onsen hot spring baths.
Immerse yourself in nature
WHAT Slovenia’s Enchanted Valley Walking Holiday by Inntrave
WHERE Logarska Dolina, Slovenia
WHEN From May 1-September 23
PRICE £1,370 per person based on double occupancy; £1,520 per person based on single occupancy
WEBSITE inntravel.co.uk
Aided by Inntravel’s walking route maps and detailed notes about the local area, get ready to explore the little-visited Logar Valley of Slovenia, home to stunning craggy peaks and tumbling water falls, on this seven-day walking tour. While the majority of your trip is self-guided, allowing you to explore recommended routes at your leisure, you’ll also be treated to a half-day tour with a guide who will teach you about local traditions and regional herbs.
Staying at the eco-conscious, mother- and daughter-run Hotel Plesnik, you’ll also have access to a selection of opulent spa and wellness facilities, including a chlorine-free outdoor swimming pool with mountain views, a firepit which is lit nightly, yoga sessions on the lawn, forest bathing excursions, and the ser vices of a local Ayur vedic master.
Your package also includes breakfast ever y morning, three dinners and three lunches, and
