Xtreme Boot Camps: UK & Spain Fitness Boot Camp Retreat

Xtreme Boot Camps runs from two bases: a site in the Cotswolds in the UK and a villa near the beaches of Reus in Spain. Stays run from one to three weeks, with all accommodation on site. Rooms are twin, double or private, all with en-suites, and the properties have comfy lounges and desk space if you need to catch up on anything between sessions. Facilities include a fully equipped gym, training fields, lakes, hot tubs and plunge pools.

The training schedule is varied on purpose. A typical day might start with a boxing circuit before breakfast, then a military-style circuit on the training fields, followed by a lake session such as swimming, kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. Afternoons could be HIIT, Tabata, AMRAP, PHA, kettlebell or strength and conditioning work, or a group hike or climb up a local peak. The week includes powerlifting and weight training sessions, running, fitness games and team challenges, plus one-to-one coaching time with the trainers.

Nutrition is a big part of the programme. There are exercise, nutrition, meal planning, nutrition calculation and recovery seminars. The approach is no diets and no fads: meals are proper meals designed to fuel training, and guests learn how to build their own nutrition plan and keep it up at home. Food is provided on site, and dietary needs can be arranged in advance.

James Evans and his team lead the camp. They have run Xtreme Boot Camps since 2013 and have built a reputation that pulls in clients from around the world, including athletes and celebrities. The tone is intense but supportive: no drill sergeants, no shouting, but sessions that push everyone to their limit. Most clients return year after year according to the camp, which claims a 90% return rate.

What separates this from a standard fitness holiday is the mix of serious training volume and outdoor adventure in the same week. You might box in the morning, kayak or paddleboard on the lake in the afternoon, then hike or climb the next day, with yoga and a hot tub in the evening. It suits people who want to lose weight, get stronger and try activities they would not normally do, all in the same trip.

What's included

- 1-3 week stay in an en-suite room (twin, double or private) - Full training programme with 3 sessions per day - All meals and snacks - Boxing, circuits, HIIT, Tabata, AMRAP, PHA, kettlebells and weight training - Powerlifting, strength and conditioning, and running sessions - Adventure activities: kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, climbing, mountain climbing and hiking - Recovery sessions: yoga, stretching and mobility, massages - Access to hot tubs and plunge pools - Exercise, nutrition, meal planning, nutrition calculation and recovery seminars - One-to-one coaching - Use of the fully equipped gym, training fields and lakes

What's not included

- Flights and travel to the venue - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Personal expenses - Optional extra treatments or activities not listed in the programme - James Evans Academy membership (£89.99 per year, required for the 30% discount)