From marathons in the Amazon through to state-of-the-art wellness and challenging races closer to home, discover some of the best luxury adventure travel experiences for wellness and sport lovers this year
1 Experience Basecamp Explorer’s Arctic Expedition with Polar Bears International
Incredible adventures await. Basecamp Explorer Norway has announced a major partnership with Polar Bears International, the only organisation dedicated solely to polar bear conservation. The collaboration will strengthen field research in Svalbard through logistics support and data sharing, while launching science-led guest expeditions from 2026 that turn travellers into informed Arctic ambassadors.
Basecamp Explorer will provide on-the-ground support for Polar Bears International’s research, while PBI will share scientific insights and climate expertise to enhance guest experiences. A special joint expedition runs 16-26 July 2026, combining four days at Isfjord Radio with an expedition cruise aboard Northern Expeditions’ Kinfish vessel.
Throughout the year, Basecamp’s 4-8 day journeys – featuring dog sledding, glacier hiking, kayaking, and wildlife watching from remote lodges including Isfjord Radio and Nordenskiöld – will include expert interpretation and interactive sessions on polar bear ecology, sea-ice loss, and climate impacts. Seasonal programming incorporates International Polar Bear Day (27 February) and Arctic Sea Ice Day (15 July).
Make it happen: To experience Basecamp Explorer’s Arctic Expedition with Polar Bears International, prices start from £14,100 (NOK 191,753) per person on a full-board basis, including a one-night stay in Longyearbyen, two nights at Isfjord Radio and seven nights aboard the Kinfish Vessel, all Zodiac excursions, planned tours and activities in Longyearbyen and all luggage costs and transportation between the airport, hotel and port on embarkation and debarkation days. For more information, visit basecampexplorer.com
2 Challenge yourself with the brand new Amazon Marathon
Marathon Tours & Travel, global leaders in running travel experiences, has announced the launch of the inaugural Amazon Marathon – a brand-new endurance event taking runners deep into the heart of the Peruvian Amazon in September 2026.
Taking place on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, in Puerto Maldonado on the edge of the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, the Amazon Marathonoffers runners a rare opportunity to race in one of the most biodiverse and remarkable regions in the world. The event blends trail running with cultural immersion and adventure, providing access to a part of the world that few people would ever be fortunate enough to experience in their lifetime.
There will be distances to suit all runners; with marathon, half marathon, and 10.5K., all taking place on a looped jungle trail course. With race capacity intentionally limited, estimated to be 50 runners in its first year, the Amazon Marathon is designed as an intimate experience for adventurous runners seeking a special bucket-list challenge.
Unlike many jungle or ultra-style events, the Amazon Marathon is a fully packaged, hosted experience delivered by Marathon Tours & Travel, with all international runners to travel as part of an official programme. This ensures a strong focus on safety, sustainability and seamless logistics in a remote environment, while allowing runners to focus on the adventure itself.
Participants can expect a carefully curated itinerary, including:
Optional post-race extension, including the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu
Domestic transfers within Peru
Pre-race accommodation and welcome experiences in Lima
Race-week accommodation in unique jungle lodges and hotels
Expert on-the-ground support from the Marathon Tours & Travel team
Make it happen: Race capacity extremely limited. 9th September 2026. Find out more via marathontours.com
3 Redefine strength and recovery with Siro Boka Place in Montenegro
This summer, SIRO Boka Place is redefining strength and recovery in Montenegro with the launch of a new series of destination-driven fitness experiences. Designed to immerse guests in the country’s raw, untamed landscape, physical fitness moves beyond the gym, the new experience integrates performance with place.
From canyoning through one of Europe’s last conquered canyons to snorkelling the crystalline waters of the iconic Blue Cave, each experience is engineered to challenge, restore and renew. Rooted in SIRO’s performance philosophy and its commitment to helping guests Live Better, these activations go beyond adventure and transform Montenegro’s dramatic coastline into a natural training ground, offering an invigorating new perspective on both recovery and destination.
Paddleboarding along Rijeka Crnojevića, from narrow, winding waterways to broad, lily-covered deltas reconnects both body and mind, whilst sunrise yoga aboard an eco-conscious yacht sets the tone for the day, flowing through mindful movement where mountains meet the Adriatic.
This season, SIRO Boka Place has also introduced a Post-Olympic Recovery Stay, designed for athletes, professionals and guests seeking a performance-led reset. The two-and-a-half-day programme is grounded in restoration, supporting the body after peak physical and mental output. From nutrient infused water on arrival and sleep-optimised rooms to compression therapy, assisted stretching, cryotherapy sessions and restorative yoga, each element is intentionally curated for complete renewal.
Nutrient-rich dining at SIRO Table completes the journey and consultations with SIRO’s in-house sleep and nutrition experts ensure that key tips can be incorporated into a daily routine upon guests’ return home.
Make it happen: With British Airways launching its first direct flights from London to Montenegro this May 2026 is the perfect year to explore the length and breadth of Montenegro with SIRO. For reservations and additional information please visit contact reservations@sirobokaplace.com or visit sirohotels.com
4 Find an ‘Ocean State of Mind’ with Explora Journeys
As sport becomes an increasingly prominent part of the luxury travel landscape, Explora Journeys, the ultra-elegant ocean travel brand of the MSC Group, is leading the way in providing onboard and ashore sports immersion at the very highest level.
With EXPLORA I set to return to the Monaco Grand Prix this June, Explora Journeys also announces that brand ambassador and World Tennis No. 2 Jannik Sinner will join EXPLORA III during her Mediterranean Prelude Journey this July, creating a rare opportunity for guests to connect with one of the most compelling figures in modern sport.
As Global Brand Ambassador, Jannik Sinner embodies the poise and composure at the heart of Explora Journeys’ ‘Ocean State of Mind’ philosophy. This summer, his role with the brand will take on a new level of intimacy. On 24 and 25 July, he will be on board EXPLORA III during her Prelude Journey, hosting an intimate Q&A session and a curated series of exclusive engagements with guests who will also have the chance to enjoy coaching sessions with both him and his performance team. The programme will also include an exclusive charity gala dinner hosted on board, offering guests a meaningful opportunity to engage with Jannik in an elegant and purposeful setting.
As guests linger in sun-drenched ports like Saint-Tropez and Villefranche-sur-Mer, they will be the very first to experience the ship’s new and original culinary and lounge concepts, as well as more generous outdoor deck space than ever before. This atmosphere of “firsts” provides a rare opportunity to connect with the visionaries and designers who brought the ship to life, creating a truly unique environment for these curated, personal encounters.
Guests onboard will also benefit from In Balance: A Jannik Sinner Ocean Wellness Programme, developed by Jannik and his team specifically for Explora Journeys. Guided by Jannik’s balanced approach to wellbeing, the programme unfolds through four pillars: Train, Re-centre, Restore and Renew. It begins with the ‘Jannik Sinner Method’ signature workout by Fitness Coach Umberto Ferrara focusing on precision and agility, followed by guided breathwork to support mental clarity. The experience continues with targeted muscle-release therapy to enhance mobility, before concluding with a revitalising hot and cold wellness circuit to aid recovery and restore balance.
Make it happen: Find out more and make a booking via explorajourneys.com
5 Discover Scotland’s Curling Heartland with Glenapp Castle
With the Winter Olympics having been in full swing recently and curling firmly in the spotlight, Glenapp Castle offers a remarkable connection to the sport’s roots. The 21‑bedroom Relais & Châteaux hotel sits on the breathtaking Ayrshire coast, just a short distance from Stranraer – one of only three towns in southwest Scotland that consistently produce elite curlers.
The region has delivered half of this year’s Team GB Olympic curling team, making it a true heartland of the sport. From the Castle’s sweeping gardens, guests can look out towards Ailsa Craig, the dramatic volcanic island whose rare granite is used to craft the world’s finest curling stones. Glenapp Castle’s private boat can take guests across to explore the island’s rugged beauty and stand at the very source of curling’s legendary heritage.
Glenapp Castle is inviting guests to experience the thrill of Olympic‑style curling firsthand with a special two‑night package rooted in this extraordinary local legacy. The experience includes a luxury chauffeur transfer to Stranraer Curling Rink – the training ground for many of Team GB’s finest athletes – for an immersive three‑hour curling lesson and experience, followed by afternoon tea.
Guests will also enjoy two nights in one of the Castle’s magnificent Bedroom Suites, the famous traditional Glenapp Castle table‑served breakfast, and complimentary use of the tennis court, croquet lawn, boules, mountain and electric bikes, along with full access to 110 acres of gardens and estate. This limited‑time experience offers a rare opportunity to explore Scotland’s curling heritage in true style.
Make it happen: From £218.88 per person, per night. Available until 31st March 2026. Please visit glenappcastle.com
6 Try the My Olympic Mindset with Sensoria Dolomites
During the excitement of the Milano-Cortina Winter Games, Sensoria Dolomites, located in the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites, has today launched a brand-new exclusive retreat, My Olympic Mindset. The four-day experience channels the psychology of Olympic athletes into tools for sharper focus, stronger resilience and more confident decision-making.
Underpinned by research showing that interdisciplinary training better prepares leaders to navigate complex, real-world challenges, My Olympic Mindset draws on multiple strategies from elite sport, psychology and the arts. Guided by experts across disciplines, the retreat blends performance coaching with creative exploration in an extraordinary setting, introduced as the Milano-Cortina Winter Games casts a global spotlight on the region.
The retreat is accompanied and shaped by Dr Vera Nicolussi-Leck and Dr Valentin Piffrader, both business leadership and mental coaches, alongside Dr Peter Haberl, a sports psychologist and mental coach with Olympic experience, and M.F.A. Peter Senoner, artist and university lecturer. Senoner is a South Tyrolean sculptor whose figurative works are displayed on-site at Sensoria, where guests can also visit him at work in his studio as part of the hotel’s art residency programme.
Senoner is also the creator of VISIONARY GAZE, a permanent installation for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympic Games at Arena Antholz, featuring three portraits signed by participating athletes. After the Games, the work will remain on display, celebrating the enduring Olympic spirit of “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.”
Together, the expert team guides participants in consciously aligning rational analysis with intuitive insight, an approach amplified by the retreat’s setting. Located at the foot of the Alpe di Siusi, the largest high plateau in Europe, the adults-only, all-inclusive wellness hotel is framed by mountain peaks and designed with natural materials, expansive windows and understated interiors that draw the outdoors in, inviting calm and clarity. Sensoria’s tranquility allows guests to remain fully present, forming the foundation of the Olympic Mindset Retreat, which focuses on sustaining this mental clarity in moments of pressure, uncertainty and high responsibility.
Make it happen: Prices for 4 nights start from €3,960.00 per person in a single room and €7,600.00 for two people in a double room. Both include Sensoria’s signature all-day inclusive package. For all winter packages, please visit sensoriadolomites.com
7 Get prepped for Supertri Blenheim Palace
Ideal for staying closer to home without catching a flight, take part in this historic slice of sport. The iconic Supertri Blenheim Palace arrives in Oxfordshire from 6-7th June 2026. As the UK’s largest triathlon, of over two decades, the swim-bike-run festival is the world’s only triathlon held at a UNESCO World Heritage site. A bucket-list event for the keen triathlete and perfect for newcomers to the sport, with the idyllic lake swim and closed road course. For 2026, the event will also welcome the world’s finest triathletes, as part of the Supertri Pro Series.
Now under new ownership of global short-course triathlon leader, Supertri, this is a race not to be missed, set against the stunning backdrop of the Palace, Great Lake and vast Estate, in Woodstock, OX20 1PY.
Hosted in the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, 7,000 amateur swim-bike-runners will enjoy the uniquely British, breathtaking historic grounds for a weekend of firsts and finish line festivities. Seasoned triathletes too, looking for an iconic destination event to truly test themselves.
Entries are filling fast, and for 2026, now’s your chance to lace up on the same course as the world’s best triathletes, as Supertri adds the Pro Series to the weekend event. The elite of British racing, plus world class stars, will take to the start line for the chance to qualify for the Supertri Pro Series Final and a prize pool of $800,000.
Swim the sheltered Palace lake, cycle fully closed roads through the lightning-fast Estate and run past the Palace and across its stunning parkland. From the speedy SuperSprint to the mighty Weekend Warrior, choose from a variety of distances and team relay options:
Saturday 6th June:
- Sprint, 9.15am. 750m swim / 19.8km bike / 5.4km run. Individual and relay.
- SuperSprint, 3.15pm. 400m swim / 13.3km bike / 2.9km run. Individual and relay.
- Weekend Warrior, 9am. 750m swim / 19.8km bike / 5.4km run. Individual.
Sunday 7th June:
- Sprint, 10.45am. 750m swim / 19.8km bike / 5.4km run. Individual and relay.
- SuperSprint, 2pm. 400m swim / 13.3km bike / 2.9km run. Individual, relay and youth (14-15yrs)
Make it happen: Assemble your cheer team, rally family and friends for the ‘early bird’ spectator ticket offer for 20% off Park & Gardens tickets, up to 31st March 2026 (use code: TRI2026). A festival of live music, snacks and drinks awaits the whole family. Register today for the bucket-list triathlon of 2026 at supertri.com
8 Take on the coastal reset with St Michaels Resort
Ice ice, baby. St Michaels Resort in Falmouth is launching a new series of holistic wellness breaks, beginning with a 3-night Cold Water & Breathwork Retreat in April.
Created by Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof, the method has gained a global following with over 91million users. Built around Wim Hof’s three core pillars — breathwork, cold exposure and commitment — it is designed to support stress regulation, boost energy and build resilience.
The break will be led by Level 2 Wim Hof instructor Cat Paterson, alongside Gemma, a wellness coach and Level 3 personal trainer specialising in fitness, nutrition and breathwork. Across four days, guests will explore breathwork, mindfulness and cold-water immersion, while learning practical tools to manage everyday stress and build emotional resilience.
The 3-night Wim Hof Wellness Break includes a stay in a Classic King or Twin Room, daily Cornish breakfast, guided wild swimming and ice-cold plunges, yoga, breathwork and meditation sessions, two 2-hour Hydrothermal Experiences and a £60 per person nightly allocation for dinner at Brasserie on the Bay.
Overlooking Gyllyngvase Beach, a sheltered Blue Flag, the resort pairs nature-led wellness with standout spa facilities, including Cornwall’s largest hydrotherapy pool, a sea-salt steam room, Finnish barrel sauna and a health club offering over 100 fitness classes each week.
A stand-up paddleboarding break will follow in May 2026 and dates for wild swimming and yoga-focused stays will be announced soon.
Make it happen: The 3-Night Wim Hof Wellness Break runs 24th–27th April 2026, starting from £1,075 per person. For more information, visit stmichaelsresort.com
