Let this vacation not just be a time to take quick selfies in front of hundreds of monuments, but one that brings you close to nature and your inner self. With holidaying taking on a whole new meaning now, how about awakening to the spirit of adventure in a holistic manner as you cleanse your soul and celebrate life to the fullest? Picture this: R‘Oum’ing or meditating in the wilderness, hiking along with a group of like minded trekkers, running marathons in a foreign land, indulging in dance sessions, cultural trips, tasting some yummy bites and participating in other offbeat activities that no one else has ever done before; and all this in the company of like-minded folks from all walks of life. All of us have that need to get away and find ourselves. At the onset of the holiday season, these ingenious entrepreneurs are crafting tailor-made holidays with a twist to give your travel a whole new meaning with yoga, spirituality, trekking, fitness, quirky activities and so much more thrown in to add that extra jazz to your much required break. If you’re planning your next holiday and want to do something different this time, then our holiday guide might be just what you’ve been dreaming of.
Text: Namita Gupta
Laiqa Shah, Oomph Escapes who organises bespoke luxury fitness holidays states, “I organise fitness holidays and since we’re not a fitness retreat, we do one fitness activity per day always for 3-5 hours catering to a mixed group of different fitness levels – and end the day with superb food as gastronomy is a big part of Oomph Escapes. We dine at Michelin starred restaurants and get to taste the local cuisines by famous chefs of the region. The fitness activities we do vary from place to place depending on what the region offers us – for example in mountainous regions we have done trekking, mountain biking, nature walks and rock climbing; if we’re visiting islands or beach destinations we do water based activities such as sailing, kayaking, snorkelling, deep sea swims etc. I incorporate all the best elements of a good holiday – fitness, food and culture and it’s the most luxurious holiday possible by choosing only the best five-star rated villas and boutique properties. Since I like to offer a new experience on every trip, we visit new destinations every year and avoid repetition.
Destinations are always chosen with nature, local cuisine, culture and luxury in mind and we opt for the least touristic choices. The more remote an island, the better it is for us. I’ve hosted holidays in unknown parts of Spain, Italy, Portugal and we are visiting the lesser known Greek islands this May that can be only accessed by a 30-seater plane.” She adds, “I always do a few recce trips beforehand and get a good network of local contacts in every destination to ensure that we give the most seamless experience. The cost of our trips ranges from £1200-£1600 for a couple and this always includes four nights accommodation in a luxury villa or a boutique hotel, organic breakfasts, all the activities, transfers and the most fun and relaxed holiday experience ever! I’ve had a few famous celebrity clients that have joined us on our escapes, but they prefer their names not to be mentioned.”
Contact: Ph: +91 98450 40886. Email: laiqashah@gmail.com
