If you’re trying to level up your fitness but the gyms in the city aren’t cutting it, a fitcation on the beaches of Thailand or Bali might be just the ticket
Surfing students attend a training near the beach in Khao Lak, known for surfing in Thailand. The country has been the go-to for alternative fitcations for pro-athletes from India. PIC/GETTY IMAGES
This year, if one of your resolutions is to get leaner, then maybe it’s time for you to go on a fitcation — a fitness vacation. It’s a getaway that includes a health timeout as well as a holiday, all rolled into one. As we enter 2026, it has become one of the big trends in the fitness community. The fitcation was born out of a need among professional athletes to up their fitness game, but lacking access to appropriate expertise in India; either the advanced training they sought was not available here, or it was priced too exorbitantly.
Cue the huge outflux of professional athletes, like Chaitanya Gavali, who were one of the first to figure that he could get advanced training at a much more affordable cost in South East Asia. Gavali had started out as a college kabbadi and Mallakhamb player, and is now a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter with two international titles under his belt. “I go for fitcations and bootcamps almost every year,” he says, “I have been to Thailand multiple times, and one of the biggest reasons that I think it’s become so famous is because the coaches or experts you find there are usually trained in the United States and Australia. The fitness and professional sports culture there is quite sophisticated compared to India.”
Archita Mishra says that these bootcamps take away ‘decision fatigue’ for those who want to level up their fitness
Not only do places like Thailand and Indonesia offer fitness plans that are not available in India, but the biggest advantage is the affordability. “For athlete-level fitness, it’s about R30,000. Of course, you will have to pay for accommodation and food, but both are extremely affordable there. The street food in Thailand is extremely healthy, with most of the food being steamed, boiled, or very lightly fried. Fish is a staple there, so that sorts out your protein requirements,” he adds.
The takeaway is more than worth it, even for those who are not pro-athletes but are conscientious gym-goers, says Gavali. “I personally loved the mobility training in Thailand. Usually all we tend to do is go to gym and office, which basically stiffens up our body, like our arms might not rotate fully. These are small things, but if worked upon, they help stave away injuries,” he says.
Chaitanya Gavali at an MMA bootcamp in Phuket
He tried to search for trainers who could help with this in Mumbai, but couldn’t find anyone. In Phuket, Thailand, he discovered a fitness street right by the beach, which makes post-workout relaxation convenient as well. “You can take a pass for a week or two and pick from sessions any particular gym holds. You can also use the weekend to party, and you don’t have to go far, since the health tourism zones and tourist areas are all intertwined,” adds the Borivli resident.
The fitness tourism industry has also found currency among travellers who may not be chasing any goal in particular, but are keen that their gains don’t slide on a 10-day holiday with zero movement.
Another MMA pro-athlete, Thane-resident Sumeet Khade went to Canggu in Bali, Indonesia, six months ago after signing up for a two-month fitness package. “The packages cost around R1-1.5 lakh. They pick you up at the airport, take you to the place where your accommodation, food, everything is arranged. Once you finish the programme, they drop you back,” he says. “Most of their coaches are Australian, which makes a difference. When I have gone to the US for similar bootcamps, people party all night, but they will get up and hit the gym religiously. This kind of workout ethic is missing in us [Indians],” he adds.
Summeet Khade
Khade’s Bali trip was a honeymoon of sorts, with his wife, who works in the IT sector, attending a pilates camp too. “Everyone there is so fit and active that you feel inspired. People are doing their morning runs, watching what they are eating; you feel like going back because your life is so good,” he says.
But it’s not all work and no play. Khade mentions that the party scene there is so vibrant that it makes for the perfect balance when you take a few days off from the bootcamps. “You can take the last few days of your vacations as a break, or just take more gaps between your workout routines, which helps. We also did a few sessions of yoga atop a mountain with focus on meditation, which helps one understand the importance of mental health,” he adds.
In India, the closest thing we have along the lines of fitness tourism are the yoga retreats held in Goa — these are popular among Russians looking to escape the bitter winter in their homeland. “In India, too, people are getting bored of the regular gym workout. But since we as a nation have not really become fitness-aware, it’s easy to dupe us. For example, we are seeing a lot of places teach kickboxing under the garb of teaching MMA,” he says.
One of the specialisations that has really gained traction in Thailand is Muay Thai, a full-contact combat sport. For Archita Mishra, who has been a wellness and fitness space coach for over six years, these bootcamps “remove decision fatigue”.
“People aren’t failing at fitness, they’re overwhelmed. Bootcamps work because they remove decision fatigue. You don’t have to think about what to eat, how to train, or whether you should show up — it’s all structured for you,” says Archita, who attended a Muay Thai camp in 2025.
Another plus is community. Mishra believes that “fitness feels easier when you’re not doing it alone”. “When accountability is built in, and you’re surrounded by people doing the same thing, results come faster, and motivation stays higher,” she adds.
As for how it helps her be a better coach, Archita says, “Global exposure changes how you coach back home. People return with better structure, deeper understanding, and higher standards, and that’s helping raise the overall quality of the fitness industry in India.” So if getting fitter in 2026 is a serious goal and you want to be ahead of the curve, maybe a fitcation is just what you need.
Is it for everyone?
Pushkaraj Shirke, a pro-athlete who turned coach, says that it is always better to consult a fitness coach before heading out, as that will give you realistic expectations if you are a non-athlete. “I advise my clients, especially non-athletes, about limitations,” he says, “People might want to train with the best, but if other participants in bootcamps are much further ahead in their fitness journey, we might not benefit from the programme. In fact, it’s during this time that you risk injuries the most.”
Pushkaraj Shirke
Shirke also advises to look for unexpected costs. “You can’t cut corners and eat bad food. A lot of fighters go to Thailand and realise it’s too expensive when you take food and stay into account,” he says, while recommending Dagestan for its “great programmes and good food”. Open sea swimming and treks have also become very popular in fitness tourism, he adds.
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