Gay Mallorca Fitness Retreat: HIIT, Hiking & Beach Days with Coach Josh Grimm

The trip runs Thursday to Monday (October 4–8, 2018) or Tuesday (October 9) if you add the extra night. Day one is arrival, check-in, introductions and your first group workout, followed by dinner at the resort. From there the pattern settles: early morning workout, breakfast, then whatever's planned for the day — a mountain hike on the Friday, a beach day at Es Trenc on the Saturday, a private boat trip on the Sunday. Each of those days also includes a second workout, either before dinner or in the early evening.

Training is led personally by Josh Grimm, who has been coaching private clients in New York and Los Angeles for close to ten years. Morning sessions are full-body and intense — functional HIIT, plyometrics, Tabata and strength training. Evening sessions are adapted to the day: after the hike, expect something more restorative. Private one-on-one sessions can be arranged for an extra fee if you want individual attention on top of the group work.

Son Julia Country House is the base for the whole week, and it does a lot of the work here. It's a restored 15th-century mansion set in countryside about 20 minutes from Palma and 15 minutes from the airport, with a gourmet restaurant, two outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, gardens, orchards and its own vineyard. The boutique spa has an indoor pool and offers massages and beauty treatments at additional cost — a sensible booking for a free afternoon after the hike.

The excursions are what separate this from a standard bootcamp week. The mountain hike comes with a picnic lunch and takes up most of a day. The private boat day includes snorkelling, drinks and snacks on board, and stops at a local restaurant where you buy your own lunch — you're back at port around 2pm. Es Trenc beach is one of the island's best, with a workout on the sand and lunch at one of the beach cafés. The wine tasting on the final evening uses bottles from the resort's own vineyard and neighbouring ones.

What makes it different from other fitness retreats is mostly the guiding hand: Josh trains clients in a multi-dimensional style that pulls from resistance and functional training, Kempo karate, plyometrics, boxing and bodybuilding, and he's a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and an IBNFC Licensed Nutrition Counselor. He's travelled to 40 countries in seven years, is an ambassador to the Cambodian Community Dream Organization in Siem Reap, and sits on the board of hu:MANE. His brand FITNUT donates 5% of earnings to charity, and this specific trip gives 10% of proceeds to the Human Rights Campaign.

Group size is capped by the format and the venue — a mix of solo travellers and friends, all there to train hard and spend the afternoons in the sun. Note that the 2018 dates are closed; this listing describes the itinerary as it ran, and future trips can be enquired about directly.

What's included

- Accommodation at a luxurious boutique resort in the Mallorcan countryside, 15 minutes from PMI airport - 2 invigorating workouts each day with Coach Josh - A moderately challenging guided hike through the mountains with a picnic lunch included - Day trip on a private boat with snorkeling, drinks and snacks (lunch at a local restaurant optional, at own cost) - Beach day trip to the stunning Es Trenc beach - Fresh breakfast provided each morning - Three group dinners with farm- and sea-to-table cuisine (for guests staying 5 nights; 2 dinners for 4-night guests) - Private wine tasting with wine from the resort's own vineyard and other local varieties - Welcome Wellness Bag full of goodies - Access to the resort's multiple pools, full spa, private vineyard, and tennis courts - 10% of trip proceeds donated to the Human Rights Campaign

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Lunches, except the picnic lunch on the hike day - Dinners beyond the included group dinners (2 free nights for 4-night guests, plus free evenings for others) - Spa treatments, massages and beauty treatments - Private one-on-one training sessions with Coach Josh (available on request for an additional fee) - Boat rental, biking, tennis extras and other optional island activities - Alcohol and drinks outside those provided on the boat and at included meals - Personal expenses and gratuities