Pilates Retreats & Holidays

A pilates retreat is a wellness holiday built around a daily pilates practice, usually with one or two classes a day led by experienced instructors. Sessions may be mat-based, Reformer or a mix of both, and the rest of the day is given over to healthy food, spa treatments, other movement and rest. Most retreats welcome all levels, from first-timers to experienced practitioners.

Spain has plenty of choice: Azulfit in Fuerteventura combines small-group Pilates and yoga with Reformer equipment on site, Shanti Som Marbella offers daily mat and Reformer sessions alongside holistic spa therapies in the hills above Marbella, Palasiet Wellness Clinic in Benicàssim offers tailored Reformer Pilates, and Cap Vermell Grand Hotel runs short Pilates escapes in Mallorca. In Portugal, Palacio Estoril offers a Reformer Pilates Break near Lisbon, and Shanti Som Algarve, in the hills near Faro, runs the same mat and Reformer programme as its Marbella sister. In Greece, Porto Elounda in Crete combines Pilates with a Six Senses Spa and F Zeen Retreats in Kefalonia offers Pilates alongside its wellbeing stays, while in Croatia, Sun Gardens Dubrovnik pairs daily group Pilates and Reformer sessions with a seafront setting on the Adriatic. In Italy, My Arbor brings Pilates to the South Tyrolean Alps.

Several retreats offer dedicated Reformer programmes. Absolute Sanctuary in Koh Samui runs a Reformer Pilates Bootcamp, Palacio Estoril near Lisbon offers a Reformer Pilates Break, and Palasiet Wellness Clinic in Benicàssim includes tailored Reformer sessions. Shanti Som Marbella combines daily mat and Reformer classes, and Azulfit in Fuerteventura also has Reformer equipment on site.

Porto Elounda combines a beachfront setting in Crete with a Six Senses Spa, while Sun Gardens Dubrovnik offers daily group Pilates and private Reformer sessions at a seafront resort on the Adriatic coast. Cap Vermell Grand Hotel in Mallorca and My Arbor in the South Tyrolean Alps both offer Pilates programmes within five-star wellness hotels.

Absolute Sanctuary on Koh Samui offers dedicated Pilates programmes including Reformer classes in a boutique resort setting. Kamalaya, also on Koh Samui, includes Pilates as part of its broader holistic wellness offering in a tropical hillside sanctuary.

Most Pilates retreats offer mat-based Pilates, Reformer Pilates or a combination of both. Mat classes focus on control, alignment and stability using bodyweight and small props, while Reformer sessions introduce resistance through specialised equipment to build strength and precision. Many retreats combine both approaches to provide a well-rounded practice.

No. Reformer Pilates retreats welcome beginners, and instructors guide guests through the equipment and movements. Sessions are adapted to each level, so confidence builds naturally over the course of the stay.

Pilates retreats are suitable for all experience levels, from complete beginners to established practitioners. Sessions are adapted to different abilities, so guests can progress at their own pace, whether new to Pilates or looking to refine their technique.

Many guests attend Pilates retreats alone and find the group class format one of the easier ways to meet people on a wellness holiday. Azulfit in Fuerteventura, Absolute Sanctuary in Koh Samui and Shanti Som in Spain are consistently popular choices for solo guests, with small groups, a warm community atmosphere and most guests arriving alone. The solo-friendly retreats page has more options for guests travelling independently.

A Pilates retreat usually follows a set daily programme with Pilates as the central focus. A Pilates holiday is typically more flexible, based at a wellness hotel where Pilates classes sit alongside spa treatments, other movement and personal time. Both support a regular practice — the difference is how much structure suits each guest.

Yes. Many Pilates holidays include yoga, swimming, spa treatments and other movement alongside the Pilates programme, and some retreats are built around both. Azulfit in Fuerteventura offers a dedicated yoga and Pilates retreat, while hotel-based stays give more flexibility for guests wanting a broader wellness experience around their practice. Our yoga retreats page has more options.

Most guests choose stays of five to seven nights, which allows time to settle into a daily practice and feel real progress. Shorter breaks of three or four nights work well for a weekend Pilates retreat or a focused reset — Shanti Som Wellbeing Retreat offers a three-night Pilates Escape and Palacio Estoril a four-night Reformer break. The team can advise on the right length based on goals and experience.

Comfortable clothing that allows free movement, grip socks for Reformer sessions and a light layer for cooler mornings. Most retreats provide all equipment, including mats and Reformers. Beyond that, packing as for the destination is enough — the team can advise at the time of enquiry.