Mediterranean Movement & Pilates Escape in Malta

The retreat is built around AX The Palace, a contemporary five-star hotel a few minutes' walk from the sea in Sliema, on Malta's north-east coast. Guests stay in Superior Rooms on the upper floors, each with a private balcony looking out over the Sliema skyline toward the water. The hotel has a rooftop infinity pool, a spa with sauna and steam room, and several restaurants and cafés on site — useful, because two of the six evenings are left free for you to eat where you like.

Fitness is led by Rachael Bridgens, a classically trained, nationally certified Pilates teacher who also owns a studio and has hosted Ketanga retreats in Costa Rica, Iceland, Aruba and Portugal. Sessions range across Pilates, strength and conditioning, and boxing — Stacy Schwartz, a personal trainer and group fitness instructor who specialises in strength training and boxing, joins as a guest coach. Classes are pitched so that all levels can take part; you won't be the only one who's never boxed before.

The cultural side is not an afterthought. A private tour takes in Valletta, the Blue Grotto sea caves, the Dingli Cliffs and Mdina, the walled hill town known as the Silent City. On day four there's Pilates in an olive grove at a local vineyard, followed by a winery tour, a tasting, and then a Maltese cooking class at a family-run farm-to-table restaurant where you eat what you've made. Day five is the boat day: a crossing to Gozo and Comino with time to swim and snorkel in the Blue and Crystal Lagoons beneath the limestone cliffs.

What separates this from a generic fitness week abroad is the itinerary — most days pair a real training session with something you couldn't do at home, whether that's a private tour of a 7,000-year-old island's highlights, a winery meal, or an afternoon anchored in a lagoon. Day six is left deliberately open: relax at the infinity pool, book a spa treatment, or take an optional activity such as a filigree workshop, the traditional Maltese wirework craft. The trip closes with a celebration dinner at the harbour in Valletta.

Practical shape of the week: six days, five nights, check-in 3pm, check-out midday, daily breakfast included plus three group dinners. Flights to and from Malta (MLA) are not included, and travel insurance is strongly recommended.

What's included

- 6 days / 5 nights accommodation at AX The Palace, Sliema - Variety of fitness classes (Pilates, strength, boxing) - Private Malta Highlights Tour - Visit to Valletta, Mdina, the Blue Grotto and the Dingli Cliffs - Maltese cooking class at a family-run restaurant - Boat day to Gozo and Comino islands and lagoons - Wine tasting at a local vineyard - Daily breakfast at the five-star resort - 3 special group dinners - Welcome sunset cocktails/mocktails - Free time to use the resort, spa or book excursions

What's not included

- Airfare to/from Malta (MLA) - Travel insurance - Meals other than daily breakfast and the 3 group dinners - Spa treatments - Optional extra excursions (e.g. filigree workshop) - Personal expenses