Health & Happiness Week on Mustique was created to capture something very special about the island, the combination of extraordinary natural beauty, infectious energy and the joy that comes from sharing it with a great group of people.
Guests enjoy a flexible programme including yoga, fitness sessions, coastal hikes, inspiring talks and unique island adventures, alongside plenty of time to relax. Everything is optional, allowing each guest to shape their own schedule while enjoying the supportive and uplifting atmosphere of the group.
Our inaugural week in May 2025 brought together 25 guests from the UK, Europe and the US, along with a brilliant panel of visiting wellness experts. From morning yoga overlooking Lagoon Bay to snorkelling with turtles, beach picnics, studio sessions and plenty of laughter along the way, the week quickly developed its own wonderful rhythm.
Following its success, I’m delighted to say that we will be returning to Mustique for Health & Happiness Week in 2026.
Until then here are some of my highlights from our very first festival (there are so many to choose from!)…
As everyone stepped off the small hopper flight arriving from Barbados, we waited at Mustique’s airport to greet our soon-to-be friends.
The group was wonderfully international, with guests travelling from the UK, Europe and the US. From the moment everyone arrived there was a buzz of excitement about the week ahead.
Many guests joined on their own for a personal adventure, others came as couples or with friends. Within hours, the group had bonded and by the end of the week many lasting friendships had formed. Several guests have already stayed in touch and met up again since.
There is a beautiful outdoor yoga pavilion on the south-west side of Mustique, around ten minutes by golf buggy from most of the villas where we were staying.
Each morning at 9am we jumped into our mules (Mustique’s golf buggies) and headed to Lagoon Bay for a blissful dynamic yoga class with Tara Lee. Tara’s gentle voice guided us through the practice while we looked out across the sparkling Caribbean waters from the open-air yoga shala.
It was the most magical way to begin the day.
Our wellness festival weeks are perfectly timed for turtle viewing.
One morning we borrowed snorkels, masks and flippers from the watersports hut beside the Cotton House Hotel, jumped into our mules and headed to Endeavour Bay near Basil’s Bar.
We drifted quietly across the crystal-clear water for over an hour while sea turtles glided past us in the most extraordinary underwater display.
One evening, twelve of us met at the Cotton House jetty and climbed aboard the exquisite Lady Anne powerboat for a sunset cruise along the west coast of Mustique.
With champagne in hand, we watched the sun slowly dip towards the horizon while enjoying the exhilarating ride. From the water we could also admire some of the island’s exceptional private villas perched above the coastline.
Mustique beach picnics are something truly special.
There are charming dining pavilions with thatched roofs dotted across several beaches on the island. Mid-week we gathered at one near Lagoon Bay for a beach picnic lunch.
A beautifully styled blue-and-white tablescape greeted us, complete with shell chandeliers, turquoise glasses and elegant linens. The island team welcomed us warmly and made us feel like royalty at this magical pop-up dining experience.
After lunch we all ran straight into the sea for a joyful group swim, before walking along the coastline to Gelliceaux Bay — once a favourite of Princess Margaret — where we swam again beneath the hillside where her former home sits.
Every Tuesday evening the Cotton House Hotel and the Mustique Company board invite island guests to cocktails in the Great Room.
It is one of Mustique’s most elegant yet relaxed traditions.
Guests are welcomed with champagne as they step into the colonial-style room, which has hosted countless iconic gatherings over the years — from Princess Margaret to David Bowie.
The evening is a wonderful opportunity for villa owners, island guests and the Mustique team to meet, connect and plan the week ahead.
For those who chose to join, this was one of the most unforgettable experiences of the week.
We met at the equestrian centre where we were introduced to our beautiful horses before riding gently down to L’Ansecoy Bay on the northern tip of the island.
Here we slowly rode into the sea and, one by one, the horses began swimming beneath us. Feeling these magnificent animals move weightlessly through the water was both calming and exhilarating at the same time. Definitely a bucket list moment!
On a couple of mornings, six of us headed out at 7am by mule to the Mustique tennis centre where head coach Richard Schaffer and his team greeted us warmly.
We enjoyed a lively hour of coaching — with plenty of laughter and perhaps even some improvements to our forehands.
Since last year the centre has added a padel court, and we’re very excited to include padel sessions in future Health & Happiness weeks.
Midway through the week we hosted our own beach party at Lagoon Bay.
Guests arrived by mule, guided by spotting a glitter ball hanging above the sand. Everyone embraced the theme of “Mustique style” headwear, arriving in crowns, feathers and wonderfully creative outfits.
After pre-dinner drinks we enjoyed a delicious beach feast followed by barefoot dancing under the stars with a DJ beside the sea.
One evening before dinner we gathered at the beach bar, cocktails in hand, and settled into deckchairs for an outdoor cinema screening of Eccentria.
The documentary tells the story of Colin Tennant, Lord Glenconner, who purchased Mustique in 1956 and transformed it into the extraordinary private island playground it is today.
Several mornings we met early at the Cotton House gym to explore Mustique’s spectacular coastline.
Led by the island’s personal training team, we hiked along the northern trails across North Point and Rutland. These walks became wonderful bonding moments as we chatted, laughed and took in the breathtaking scenery.
The easiest and most fun way to get around Mustique is by mule — the island’s small open-topped golf buggies.
Driving across the island in a mule adds a real sense of adventure as you travel between beaches, villas and restaurants. They’re easy to hire and even easier to hop into when someone offers you a lift.
One of the truly special elements of the week is the opportunity for guests to dine in several exceptional private villas across the island.
We hosted a welcome dinner at the beautiful Trade Winds Villa, creating a relaxed and elegant setting where guests could enjoy delicious food and begin getting to know one another.
The studio at the Cotton House became a lively hub for many of our wellness classes throughout the week.
Christine Kjeldbjerg led Pilates sessions, Bebe Beachus delivered energising strength classes and Charlotte Woolfe — Mustique’s head personal trainer — ran fantastic circuit workouts.
Doni Fierro brought huge energy to the programme with her popular salsa and Latin dance sessions.
Everything was optional, but our enthusiastic group filled the studio for many of the sessions.
While the programme was full of activities, it was important to leave space for rest.
Each afternoon guests enjoyed downtime at their private villas, all of which are spacious, beautifully designed and surrounded by magnificent sea views. Many spent these hours relaxing by the pool after the morning’s activities.
Each guest also enjoyed a blissful treatment at the Bamford Spa at the Cotton House.
The skilled therapists worked their magic on necks, backs and shoulders, easing tired muscles and restoring energy.
This year there is also a brand-new spa building opening on the island with a beautiful relaxation space that we cannot wait to experience during our next Health & Happiness week.
I’d love for you to join us in May. With only a small number of places each week, this is a rare chance to experience Mustique as it’s usually lived, not just staying on the island but stepping into its world.
The week brings together a lively, sociable mix of people and a programme that moves easily between activity and island life. Mornings might start with something active, before drifting into long beach lunches, cocktails at the Cotton House and evenings that rarely end where you expected.
If you’d like to join the next Health & Happiness Week on Mustique, we’d be delighted to talk you through the details and availability.
Call us on 020 8968 0501, email kathryn@thehealthyholidaycompany.com or view full details here.
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