Active Weight Loss & Spa Holiday in the Masurian Lakes

The programme runs as a 7-night Sunday-to-Sunday stay, or as a 5-night Sunday-to-Friday stay (5-night bookings are taken by email or phone only). Arrival is from 14:00 and your first service is the afternoon snack; departure is by 11:00 and your last service is breakfast. Days start with a morning warm-up followed by Nordic Walking through the Masurian forests, then aqua aerobics in the pool, then instructor-led sessions in the fitness room — the timetable lists Aerobic, Fit Ball, ABT, TBC and circuit training, plus equipment sessions on treadmill, stationary bike and elliptical trainers. There is also a dedicated seminar on effective Nordic Walking technique and a lecture on diet with a dietitian. Between scheduled classes you can use the gym and cardio equipment on your own.

Food is the other half of the programme. You pick either the Montignac diet or the fruit-and-vegetable diet and eat full board — breakfast, second breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner — with a 24-hour drink buffet and unlimited mineral water and teas. Sample Montignac dishes include a chickpea and avocado salad at breakfast, vegetable soup with salmon or cod fillet and tomatoes with mozzarella at lunch, roasted Brussels sprouts and peppers with dark bread toast at afternoon snack, and cottage cheese with vegetables at dinner. The fruit-and-vegetable menu runs things like warm pear mousse with cinnamon for breakfast (186 kcal), chicory boats with blueberry mousse and mint as second breakfast (98 kcal), cream of leek soup with red cabbage salad and broccoli muffins at lunch (215 kcal), and zucchini spaghetti in vegetable sauce for dinner (140 kcal).

What separates this from a generic spa break is the structure around it: BMI is taken on arrival and before departure, there is a therapist-led CELLULITE STOP self-massage workshop, a cosmetologist workshop on daily facial care, and treatments built into the price — a slimming mask combining macadamia, sandalwood and pink pepper oils with a caldarium session, and two slimming massages of a chosen body part. You also get unlimited access to the recreational pool and the Relaxation Zone saunas and baths during opening hours.

The instructors are Basia and Wojtek. Basia graduated from AWFiS (Gdańsk University of Physical Education and Sport) and has been a fitness instructor since 2007; she is a personal trainer and qualified in aqua aerobic, body ball, stretching, pilates, fitness and dance. Wojtek has 15 years of experience and is a certified personal trainer and fitness and Nordic walking instructor. Between them they cover the aqua aerobics, gym floor sessions and the outdoor Nordic Walking, which is why the programme holds up in bad weather — the Active Zone mini sports hall and climbing wall mean classes run year-round regardless of conditions outside.

The location is Zalesie Mazury in the Masurian Lake District of northern Poland, a region of lakes and forest that the Nordic Walking routes use directly. The resort took the title of "The Most Beautiful Spa for those losing weight" in the Perfect Spa Awards 2016. Non-programme facilities include a 200m² indoor playground (Bajkolandia), a mini zoo, playgrounds, two 11kW electric car charging stations, free parking and free Wi-Fi throughout. Pets are accepted by prior arrangement with reception for an additional fee, and a local tourist tax of 2.80 PLN per person per day is added to the price.

What's included

- 5 or 7 nights accommodation in hotel rooms - Full board diet meals (Montignac diet or fruit and vegetable diet) - 24-hour drink buffet (coffee, tea, water) - Unlimited mineral water and weight-loss teas - Weight, height and BMI measurements on arrival and before departure - 5/6 x morning warm-up sessions - 5/7 x Nordic Walking through the Masurian forests with an instructor - 5/7 x aqua aerobics in the pool - 5/7 x instructor-led exercises in the fitness room - Instructor-led exercises on equipment (treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical trainer) - Seminar on effective use of Nordic Walking - Dietary lecture and meeting with a dietitian - Workshop with a cosmetologist on daily facial skin care - Workshop with a therapist including CELLULITE STOP self-massage - Slim mask treatment with active oils and caldarium session - 2 x slimming massage of a selected body part - Free admission to the recreational pool - Free unlimited access to the Relaxation Zone (saunas, baths) during opening hours - Daily access to the Fitness Room (except during organised classes) - Access to the Active Zone (mini sports hall and climbing wall) for active package participants - Prepared set of exercises to take home - Use of a blood pressure monitor - Free Wi-Fi throughout the facility - Free parking space

What's not included

- Travel to and from the resort - Local tourist tax of 2.80 PLN per person per day - Additional spa treatments beyond those listed - Pets (accepted by prior arrangement with reception, additional fees apply) - Electric car charging (paid via Noxo Energy app) - Travel insurance - Personal expenses