A wellness break in Zanzibar

 

Aimee is a London based Personal Trainer and Blogger, author of Aimee Victoria Long. She works for a studio called Paola’s BodyBarre and teaches around South West London. She is a true advocate of mindfulness and meditation and her training pivots around exercising her body physically, mainly through barre/pilates, and mentally with different meditation practices.

She visited Zanzibar earlier this year and has kindly shared her experience with us.

1. Was this your first time visiting Zanzibar? Was it how you imagined?

Yes it was my first time visiting the island, and it was far more beautiful than I imagined it to be. The people were so warm and friendly whilst we were there and it made such an incredible holiday. I never imagined the people would be so friendly and willing to help.

2. How did you hear about Somak Holidays?

It was organised through the protein company we went with, so we hadn’t heard of Somak Holidays until then, but after looking into them we found so much information online centred around such amazing destinations.

3. What did your itinerary involve? How did we put it together for you?

It was a very relaxed itinerary as we were only there for 5 days and everyone knew we were travelling from busy schedules in London just to relax. We were booked at the BlueBay Beach Resort and Spa which had everything we could need to relax. Our first day consisted on settling into the hotel and going on a safari, which was incredible.

4. Where did you stay whilst in Zanzibar?

We stayed at the Bluebay Beach Resort and Spa.

5. What were your highlights from your trip?

Probably walking down the beach and speaking to the locals. They seemed fascinated by our lives back home, our looks and the way we dressed.

6. What was Zanzibar like for you from a wellness/fitness perspective?

I think from a wellness perspective, it is the perfect place to just take yourself away and find calm. I have never experienced a level of ‘calm’ such as I did over there.

The beach surroundings, the weather, the stillness and lack of pace truly helps you to calm. And practicing yoga and meditation in that environment is any yogis dream. You have the options to paddle board, windsurf, kayak – things that aren’t really easy to do back in London with such a nice warm temperature to surround you.

Plus all the food is so fresh, we literally watched men catch fish and bring them out for our lunch – it’s so natural and so many ways to eat, so you can happily be a vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian – whatever you wish.

7. Would you recommend Zanzibar as a wellness or holiday destination?

I would recommend it as both, and Zanzibar has the beauty to make it whatever you want it to be. The settings are perfect to follow a yoga lifestyle or just simply chill out and relax.

8. What was your experience with Somak Holidays like?

Somak Holidays was amazing, they picked us up from the airport, took us to the resort and came to check up on us the following day and see if we wanted to book onto any other activities. Everything was so smooth running and they were there to help if we needed anything throughout our stay.

9. Any advice or tips for anyone thinking of going on a wellness holiday?

The exciting thing about looking for a wellness holiday is that there are so many options. I think you can go on immersive ‘retreats’ where you should look for a teacher that works well with you as you will be following them for a week plus, otherwise if you want to take a self-led wellness holiday, focus on the destination and where you feel most calm and where you can benefit the most.

10. What was your gourmet experience like in Zanzibar? Did you try any of the local dishes? If so, which were your favourites?

The food was great – so fresh and perfect!! I had a few local soups, octopus curry and loved it all. The octopus was my favourite.

Zanzibar boasts amongst the best beaches in the world, with coconut palms and powder soft coral sands washed by shimmering clear seas. The beaches in Zanzibar are paradise, scattered with picturesque fishing villages, where people live a simple way of life, unchanged over the years. There are more than 25 fantastic beaches, and some are so peaceful and remote that the only noise breaking the silence is the ocean.

If reading about Aimee’s trip has inspired you to book a wellness holiday do get in touch.

We would love to work with you to plan the trip of a lifetime. For more information call Somak Holidays today on 020 8423 3000, or visit our website here:

https://www.somak.com

You can visit Aimee’s blog here.