Retreat to Guernsey with new wellness packages
Less than an hour from the UK, Guernsey's spectacular scenery, fresh sea air, quiet roads and peaceful way of life make the island a restful destination for a short-break retreat. Here, VisitGuernsey selects wellness packages on the island to rest, relax and rejuvenate.
Wellbeing Experience at Old Government House Hotel
The OGH offers a luxuriously relaxed getaway in five-star surroundings with its three night Wellbeing Experience. The package includes a fitness assessment and one hour personal training session with a qualified instructor in the hotel's well-equipped gym, and a 60 minute treatment of choice at The Spa, as well as complimentary use of the gym, spa pools, sauna and steam room. A revitalising afternoon tea with smoothies, fruit skewers, crudités and dips, and breakfast each morning are also included as part of the package. Guests can make use of the hotel's outdoor pool, a 10% discount on any other beauty treatments and products in The Spa, or explore the surroundings with a stroll through St Peter Port to the coast.
The Wellbeing Experience package at Old Government House Hotel is priced from £580 per person, based on two people sharing a Classic Room. Additional nights are priced at the hotel's best available rate. (Subject to availability; terms and conditions apply). theoghhotel.com
Wellness in Sark
Stocks Hotel offers relaxed charm and barefoot elegance on the island of Sark, a 45 minute ferry ride from Guernsey where life is about kicking back and enjoying nature. With the hotel's three day wellness package, guests will feel the benefit of Sark's clean un-polluted air with a three hour guided walk of Sark, a boat trip around the island with a Sark-born fisherman, and bike hire for the duration of their stay to explore the island's rural landscape. The package also includes a horse and carriage tour around Sark either during the day or after dark to admire the legendary Sark dark skies. In keeping with the island's healthy living theme, the hotel also boasts a solar heated outdoor pool, Jacuzzi style spa pool, gym, and the Venus Room health and beauty facility.
The Wellness in Sark package at Stocks Hotel is priced from £398 per person B&B based on two people sharing a superior double or twin, or from £688 single occupancy of a superior double or twin. stockshotel.com
Yoga Retreat at Fermain Valley Hotel (24 – 25 September 2016)
The four star Fermain Valley Hotel becomes a yoga retreat for one night and two full days in September in collaboration with local wellness company Yoga Elements. The yoga package includes seven hours of yoga workshop, incorporating Hatha Yoga Flow, guided relaxation yoga practice, restorative yoga, guided meditation and guided Yoga Nirda. There's also a Q&A session about yoga and health in general, a philosophy class, and yoga films shown in the hotel cinema. As part of the programme, designated breaks offer participants the option to use the heated indoor pool, take a bracing cliff walk, or have an invigorating swim in the sea. The one night package includes a healthy brunch (with gluten free muesli, fruit, juices and herbal teas), afternoon tea with protein balls, and a candle light and chill time dinner with Moroccan inspired vegetarian dishes accompanied by Café del Mar and Buddha bar music.
The one night yoga retreat at Fermain Valley Hotel is priced at £220 per person based on two people sharing; or £250 per person for single occupancy. fermainvalley.com
Yoga, Well-being and Aging Gracefully Retreat in Herm (21-23 October & 28-30 October 2016)
The yoga and well-being retreat on Herm Island is run by Power Yoga and is centred on providing guests with a gentle and relaxed environment. The package includes six hours of yoga tuition, including Asana (physical postures), Pranayama (breathing), meditation, restorative & Yin Yoga, and Yoga Nidra (deep relaxation). The weekend also includes a 'Move, Play, Rest and Re-Set' workshop and optional treatments. Guests stay in the private rooms of the White House Cottages where there are no televisions, clocks or telephones to provide the ultimate escape from everyday life. Herm is home to just 50 inhabitants, so visitors can relax on the slow-paced island with walks along the deserted rural paths or take a refreshing swim in the sea.
The wellbeing packages in Herm are priced from £289 per person based on two people sharing. Price includes boat transfers from Guernsey, accommodation, six hours of yoga tuition, all meals and running and walking expeditions. poweryogaguernsey.com
Getting to Guernsey:
Direct flights to Guernsey operate year round from London City, Gatwick and Stansted, as well as many regional UK airports with Aurigny (aurigny.com) and Flybe (flybe.com).
Return flights from London Gatwick to Guernsey with Aurigny are priced from £100 per person and flight time is one hour.
Condor operates ferry services from Poole and Portsmouth, and takes around three and seven hours respectively. Return car ferries from Poole to Guernsey are from £190, carrying two passengers (condorferries.com).
For more information on Guernsey, go to visitguernsey.com.
