17 REASONS TO BOOK A RETREAT (WITH US)
*Aside from the fact that the Evening Standard once rated us one of the best fitness retreats around the world.
#1 OUR BOOKINGS ARE INCREDIBLY FLEXIBLE
With our groundbreaking 'Book with Confidence' cancellation terms, you can postpone and move your dates free of charge, giving greater control over your booking – and more reason to feel reassured in a time of rapid global changes and uncertainty.
#2 GET AHEAD
There’s fun to be had in travelling last minute, but some adventures need meticulous planning. Where availability is limited, events are a one-off, an itinerary is complex, everything has to be timed just so, by experts well in advance.
That’s especially true in the current climate. Later this year and into 2022, all that pent-up travel demand is certain to create a rush for the best rooms. Spots on retreats are limited with restricted group numbers.
So, if any of the eight exceptional destinations on our Helios Calendar feature on your travel wish list, we’re here to help you plan ahead, take advantage of our flexible booking policy and secure your spot early.
#3 BESPOKE DESTINATIONS FOR THE WELLNESS TRAVELLER
With us, nothing comes off the shelf. When you enquire with us, your Helios Retreat Advisor will create something entirely unique, just for you. Meaning no two retreats will ever be alike. Tell us what you’d like to do, your goals for the week are and we’ll do our best to make it happen. All you have to do is ask.
#4 NOT JUST WHERE YOU GO, IT’S WHO YOU MEET THERE
Somewhere along the way, we’ve lost the art of meeting new people – truly new, exciting people from completely different walks of life who we spend proper time talking to; who have their perspectives and challenge our own.
Guests can travel to each Helios destination by themselves and turn it into an experience.
This effect is why travelling in a group of strangers with Helios Retreats works so well. Not only you get to train your body in spectacular locations, discovering new ways to improve your health, but our carefully curated groups also get to hang out with one another in a setting totally removed from their day-to-day lives.
A secluded beach on Sardinia, say, or a street-side cafe in Canggu.
An adventure gives the time and context for forming meaningful connections in a way we just wouldn’t do ordinarily.
#5 OFF THE BEATEN PATH
Remote hotels, island escapes exclusive luxury villas. We’re experts at keeping things as you’d like your time off to be; whether is getting to know everyone, enjoying the activities and sitting down with the group for dinner. Or private, giving you the space you deserve to breathe and time to unwind as you like.
The goal is to gather a group of strangers, build connections, meet new people, expand your social network globally and experience life off the beaten path at your own pace.
#6 ELITE TRAINING, EXTRAORDINARY COACHES
We handpick the most passionate, enthusiastic trainers in the fitness industry and the most inspiring yoga instructors to be part of a Helios Retreats experience.
#7 EXPERT ADVICE PRETTY MUCH AROUND THE CLOCK
From the moment you decide to join us until time to say, "see you back soon". Your retreat-journey has been created out of years of experience and trial and error. As a pioneer in the retreats world, founder Hugo spent long hours crafting what it feels like to create the best week of your life when taking a leap of faith, joining a group of strangers, and trying things for the first time.
Spending a week with the best trainers means you will always be hand to hand with expert advice at all times. Since the company grew and more trainers joined, Hugo ensured to become a helios trainer, not only you have to give us an awesome session, you have to really know what you’re doing.
Our Helios team have an extensive, proven track record in their fields. Most are former athletes or have been working for years in the industry.
#8 BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Combine travelling and wellness in one trip. Whether you’re ready to kickstart a healthier lifestyle, or ready to take your fitness to another level. We offer a formidable way to travel the world, connecting like-minded strangers and taking the time to unwind at spectacular locations.
#9 TIME IS STRUCTURED BUT FLOWING, NO ‘MUST DO’ AT HELIOS RETREATS.
The schedule may be stacked with activities from when you wake up until dawn. But don’t worry, we know when it’s time to move and when its time for a well-deserved rest.
You can dip in out of the activities and have plenty of time to explore our local spots. We visit towns, villages and cultural sites. Eat with the locals and much more.
No cabin fever at Helios, you’re always in control of your time.
#10 LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCES
Whether it's a kickstart to your fitness journey what you're looking for, or a desire to explore new counties and meeting new friends along the way, we’re in hand to deliver a unique experience to reminisce for a lifetime.
Once you leave us, you return home more conscious of your lifestyle - and make positive changes that will make us proud of watching your transformation!
Our goal is to inspire you from the moment you enquire with our friendly team until you return home. Your life will never be the same after a Helios experience.
#11 WE EMBRACE THE LOCAL CULTURE
Even despite the difficult times, we’re living through, it’s never been more important to look after the world we share. From offsetting our own trips around awareness, visit marine conservation projects and supporting sustainable properties and hotels, we’re working hard to create a better world.
#12 WE’VE BEEN FEATURED IN SOME PRETTY AWESOME PUBLICATIONS DESPITE NOT HAVING ANY PR
Without blowing our horn too loudly, we’ve been lucky to be featured in some pretty awesome publications over the years. Most recently, we're rated one of the best fitness retreats in the world by the Evening Standard. DOSE have chosen us as one of the best fitness retreats for 2021.
You will never see us at a paid feature section of a magazine. Everything you see is truly the result of blood, sweat and tears (of joy, mostly) of the hard work from Hugo and the team, along with their passion for fitness, travelling and connecting with incredible new friends.
#13 OUR RETREATERS FALL IN WITH BEING PART OF THE HELIOS FAMILY
Some of our Helios family have been booking with us since the very beginning. Many others travel with us time and time again. We look after our fam, and they look after us.
#14 OUR WHATSAPP GROUPS ARE ALIVE AND OUR FAMILY CONNECTED FOR YEARS
Your ultimate travelling companion, our WhatsApp chats are a place to meet our new friends ahead of the retreats and get you updates on your retreat. It helps you to connect and share details of your trip, questions about travel documents, flights, itineraries, maps, recommendations and checklists you’ll need during your time away. Convenient, smart, and fun to be in it.
The biggest reward for us is to see the chats alive and our family connected for years to come.
Always imitated, never duplicated; a motto of a company at the forefront of the wellness retreat world. Your time is limited and knowing this at heart, we carefully plan every minute of your journey with us. All you need to do is sit back and relax. We will take care of the rest.
#15 MEET NEW PEOPLE AND MAKE FRIENDS ABROAD
It’s a fact of life that our social circles narrow as we get older. Once life gets in the way; careers, partners, babies. All the serious stuff. And before you think that could never be you, consider the number of times you’ve fobbed off a mate for a night on the sofa with Netflix. It happens.
Travelling with strangers doesn’t equal a squad in the Taylor Swift sense of the word. There’s no cliques, no expectation and no pressure. Some people go onto become firm friends, others merely enjoy spending the time they have together.
The scene is ripe for conversations that you can’t predict, whether that’s your feelings on the latest season of The Crown or late-night conversations about careers, dreams and life goals.
It’s a setting that naturally swings your “meeting new people” muscle into play, after years of rustiness or neglect.
“It can be hard to meet new people when you are ensconced in your daily routine in London. Everyone is so busy and exhausted,” says Faisal, who has travelled a lot with Helios Retreats.
#16 EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE
The nicest thing about going on a retreat is meeting completely new people that otherwise wouldn’t normally happen. It takes you on a journey beyond the people you grow up with or worked with.
There are no strings attached to friendships when travelling, everyone is there to have an adventure with no pressure.
While some friends can be best left at home, perhaps it’s time to re-invent that knack we once had for incidental chats with strangers. A long-eroded habit, it might bring you more joy, confidence and perspective than you ever thought possible.
“When you work super hard, why wouldn’t you reward yourself with something as amazing as this with beautiful people, surroundings, food, training and experiences”, says Robyn on her first experience at Helios.
#17 LASTLY, WE’RE FULL OF SURPRISES
And we're looking forward to showing you. A retreat is a pullback towards directing your attention on something completely different than in your daily life. It makes it easier to adapt and take in new experiences, be inspired, disconnect from the day-to-day.
When all’s said and done, you just need to pluck up the courage and make the move when it comes to approaching something new. What’s the worst that could happen?