#108 This might be my favourite 'wellness' morning ever
A half-day of hiking, yoga, sound bathing and swimming in Ibiza for just £34? Sí, por favor...
To be completely transparent—something that not all can claim of late, given this recent *mic drop* piece of journalism—I wasn’t fully present the first time I laid eyes on Ibiza’s Es Vedrà. That was just over a year ago, when I spent an entire afternoon reclined on a beach, feeling rather peaky courtesy of a night at the island’s club DC10.
Fortunately, the second time around, I properly breathed in the stunning sight that is the magical offshore 400 metre-high rock formation that seems to almost pierce through the deep blue Mediterranean. As legend has it, this is the third most magnetic place on earth—following the North Pole and the Bermuda Triangle—meaning, according to Google, some believe it transmits ‘great energy’ and ‘spiritual power’.
Whether this is the case or not, I can safely say that Es Vedrà looks glorious around sunrise and is best seen from up above on a cliff edge. Indeed, it was the grand jewel on the horizon of a peaceful coastal hike that I got up at the crack of dawn to do during a recent trip to Ibiza. And, with the sight of every rippling wave and sound of birdsong cleansing my mind in real-time, it was totally worth that 5am alarm.
Fearne Cotton certainly agrees. The winding route marked the beginning of a half-day itinerary inspired by how the 43-year-old broadcaster, mother-of-two and mental health advocate (a national treasure, to my non-UK readers) likes to spend her time in Ibiza. It has been created in partnership with travel platform Get Your Guide, so you can—quite literally—follow in our footsteps should the island also be on your travel agenda this summer.
During 20 years of visits to the White Isle, Fearne has replaced big nights (as befitting a former daughter-in-law of a Rolling Stone) with a generous dose of wellness. In fact, her Ibiza: Unplugged experience—designed for a group of seven to enjoy at once (because this is a holiday destination, of course, about feel-good socialising)—reflects a range of tools the star herself uses to truly unwind.
Indeed, following the hike, we unlaced our trainers and stepped onto squishy mats just metres from the shore of a secret cove. The Hatha yoga session that followed left me feeling as supple as the famous Ibizan lizards playing nearby while we stretched. Following this, a ‘sound bath’ tipped me into an even more zen state—leaving me musing that, for those new to both practices, this was a far more scenic setting than an inner-city studio to sample their benefits.
After tucking into artisanal ‘picnic boxes’—loaded with fresh, local produce—on a blanket on the sand, it was time to slip off our activewear and slip on swimwear. We made our way back uphill to the 4x4 of our guide Pablo Leonard, a Frenchman who knows Ibiza like the back of his hand and runs Into The Island. Before long, we had arrived at his boat docked just a short drive north.
By this point, we had already packed so much into the few hours we had been awake—and yet there was still so much more to enjoy before lunch. Our final activity was an aptly named ‘snooze cruise’. From the boat, we had the choice of a refreshing swim and snorkel beside a real-life shipwreck—in crystal clear waters, may I add—or relaxing (possibly napping) on deck with a glass of sangria. Because, balance.
All of which, it must be stressed, will set you back just €40 per person (£34, $47). I know. The equivalent, I am told, of the average price of nightclub entry on the island. So, if you are travelling to the island this summer, then I’d highly recommend treating yourself to a night off and booking onto the selected dates still available. As a reminder that includes:
Sunrise hike (45 minutes)
Hatha yoga (45 minutes)
Sound bath (45 minutes)
Beach ‘picnic boxes’
Boat ‘snooze cruise’ (90 minutes)
Transport to and from
Earmarking the above for just one morning of your stay is wise even if the rest of your trip is a wild one (in the other sense). I’m a strong believer in weaving aspects of a healthy lifestyle into your life in a manageable and affordable way—and, when it comes to that buzzword ‘wellness tourism’, it shouldn’t mean signing onto a pricey retreat and doing away with all the usual things you find fun on holiday.
Indeed, Get Your Guide research recently found that 58% of Brits want to return from holiday feeling rested and revived. ‘However hectic my life gets, a trip here will always bring me back to myself,’ says Fearne. Again, I couldn’t agree more. On the flight home a couple of days later I was still harbouring a lovely sense of calm accumulated from that morning—and arriving home feeling better, not worse, is precisely what a vacation should be at its core.
*Well, Actually… was a guest of Get Your Guide
Three more wholesome Ibiza outings
Yoga and swimming—includes ‘angel card’ readings, if you’re partial to some healthy ‘woo’ and are after some new life direction
Horseback riding—see the island’s best inland nature while hacking on picturesque trails
Snorkelling and paddle-boarding—allergic to a ‘fly and flop’ trip? This is ideal for those who love to move their bodies in different ways
Have thoughts? Tell me in the comments below. Until next time!
I never had myself down as an 'Ibiza person'... until reading this. Sign me up!
In the words of the vengaboys — woah, we’re going to Ibiza!
This looks heavenly (and so do you)