Fitness Retreat vs Training Camp: What’s the Difference?

If you Google “fitness retreat” you’ll see everything from silent yoga weeks in Bali to bootcamps that promise you’ll “lose 5kg in 7 days.” Add “training camp” into the mix and it gets even more confusing - military-style drills, rows of bunk beds, protein shakes on repeat.

So, what’s the difference between a fitness retreat and a training camp?

Here’s the truth: there isn’t one. Not anymore.

The words might carry different baggage, but today they both mean the same thing: an immersive week away where you train hard, recover properly, and live a little bigger than your 9-5.

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The Old-School Definitions

Traditionally, a retreat sounded like something you’d book if you were burnt out or trying to reset. It was all about yoga mats, green juices, and long meditations in silence. Nothing wrong with that - but for a lot of people, that’s not what they’re searching for.

On the other hand, a training camp conjured images of army sergeants shouting at you to do burpees at 5 a.m. or elite athletes hammering out performance drills with zero downtime. Again - great if that’s your world, but not exactly what most of us call a holiday.

Both definitions are outdated. They don’t reflect what people are really craving now: movement, adventure, and connection in incredible places.

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The Modern Reality

Today, retreats and training camps overlap. Call it what you like, but the modern version is built for travellers who want:

• Proper training - strength, conditioning, functional fitness, even Hyrox-style workouts.
  
  
• Recovery that feels good - yoga, ice baths, massages, downtime by the pool.
  
  
• Adventure - cliff jumps, coastal hikes, surf breaks, epic boat days.
  
  
• Community - like-minded people (+80% of our guests book solo).
  
  
• Food that fuels - chef-prepared meals you’ll rave about, not restrictive diet plans.
  
  

Whether you book something branded as a “retreat” or a “training camp,” what really matters is who’s running it and what the week is designed to give you.

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Salt Escapes: A Retreat That Is a Training Camp

At Salt Escapes, we’ve always blurred the line. We’re not interested in the old stereotypes — no green juice cleanses, no military shouting, no miserable calorie-counting.

Instead, our weeks are about balance:

• Sweat - daily workouts programmed by elite London coaches.
  
  
• Recover - yoga, mobility, ice baths, or just lounging with a margarita at sunset.
  
  
• Adventure - off-grid hikes, secret sea-cave swims, surf lessons, and Boat Day.
  
  
• Community - the kind of friendships you didn’t know you were missing.
  
  
• Food - family-style feasts cooked by our private chefs.
  
  

So when people ask me, “Mike, is Salt Escapes a retreat or a training camp?” my answer is simple:

It’s both. It’s neither. It’s the best parts of each - turned into the most feel-good week of your life.

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The Bottom Line

The “fitness retreat vs training camp” debate is outdated. What really matters isn’t the name - it’s the vibe, the coaching, the adventures, and the people you share it with.

So whether you type “best training camp” or “fitness retreat” into Google, chances are what you’re really looking for is something like Salt Escapes: a week of sun-soaked workouts, unforgettable adventures, and the kind of crew you’ll be telling stories about for years.

👉 Check out our 2025 and 2026 dates to lock in your spot.