The programme offers packages to wellness professionals such as yoga instructors, nutritionists and psychologists who want to take their clients away on "zero-distraction" retreats to the likes of Morocco, Italy or Sri Lanka.
Packages will initially be offered to elite athletes before being launched to the wider public in February 2026.
“We’ve got some connections in the equestrian world so we’re taking a group of them on a retreat in October, at the end of their sporting season, on a complete body and mind refresh,” director Niall Douglas explained.
Douglas revealed one of his homeworkers – Suzie Rees – had the idea to launch a wellness business around 18 months ago after she saw how her daughter and other professional equestrians prioritised their horse’s needs to the detriment of their mental and physical health.
“I was talking to the lady who owns the elite club where my daughter trains and she was telling me she never has 100% of the rider’s attention as there’s always a horse that needs their focus for one reason or another,” Rees told TTG.
“She told me she needed to employ a psychologist, a nutritionist and a physiotherapist so that [the athletes] can have a week away from the horses and totally focus on themselves.”
Rees realised she could sell these trips after Douglas gave her his support and business advice.
Full Circle agency has recently decided to no longer focus on selling "two flights, one hotel" holidays because it believes the market is saturated with tour operators discounting and customers finding cheaper deals online.
“That fly-and-flop market is so aggressive – it’s so difficult to compete with some of the big online players,” Douglas said. “You do a lot of work for customers, find the perfect property for them and they come back to you saying they have found it cheaper online, it’s quite soul-destroying.”
Project’s ’unique selling point’
Rees added: “[Wellness practitioners] have had their fingers burnt due to a lack of protection and it has really put them off offering these retreats. But I have the time and capacity to organise trips that are totally protected.
“The project’s unique selling point is that flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions will all be packaged and protected.”
Full Circle Retreats will mostly rely on services provided by Exeter-based luxury tour operator Expressions Holidays and Aviate Journeys, the tour operating arm of flight consolidator Aviate.
Launched in 2018, Aviate Journeys helps travel agents set up their tour operating business, providing the Atol as well as a raft of back-office services, including payment handling and marketing and booking platforms.
“Aviate Journeys will be doing the direct contracting for the hotels and providing the flights but everything will be Atol protected with our Full Circle branding,” Douglas added.
