Are you planning a training trip? Phuket’s Soi Ta-iad, widely known as Fitness Street, has been the top choice for athletes for years. It packs Muay Thai camps, heavy lifting gyms, and healthy cafes into one walkable road.
But as it gets busier and more expensive, many travelers are looking for new spots. If you want a fresh place to sweat, you have some amazing options across the globe. Let’s look at the best international alternatives to Phuket Fitness Street for your next fitness holiday.
Canggu and Uluwatu, Bali (Indonesia)
Best for: Social vibes and beautiful gyms
If you love trendy cafes and amazing gym designs, Bali is for you. Canggu is packed with top-tier fitness clubs. Places like Body Factory offer heavy weights, outdoor turf tracks, and cold plunges. You get a highly active social scene full of travelers.
The main downside is the heavy traffic. Getting from your room to the gym can be stressful on a scooter. It is a great choice if you have a budget of $1,200 to $2,000 a month and want to mix intense workouts with beach club weekends.
Lamai, Koh Samui (Thailand)
Best for: Quiet, focused training camps
Maybe you want to stay in Thailand but avoid the massive crowds. Lamai beach on Koh Samui offers a true retreat experience. Facilities here run all-inclusive camps in the jungle near the ocean.
Instead of jumping between different gyms, you stay in one spot. Places like Koh Fit handle your bed, your daily meals, and your training schedule. It is perfect if you want to lose weight or learn martial arts without any distractions.
Taghazout and Tamraght (Morocco)
Best for: Budget travelers and surfers
Looking for a highly affordable option? The coast of Morocco is amazing right now. It has always been famous for surfing, but combat sports and lifting are growing fast.
You can get an unlimited gym and MMA pass for under $80 a month. The local food is cheap, and the towns are very authentic. If you want to train hard on a tight budget, this is the best spot on the planet.
Ericeira (Portugal)
Best for: Walkable coastal living and remote workers
Ericeira is a beautiful surf town that is very easy to walk around. You can catch waves in the morning and hit a fitness class in the afternoon.
It is very friendly for people working from their laptops. You do not need a car to reach the beaches, organic markets, or gyms. It is a great European option if you want an active, balanced lifestyle.
Santa Teresa (Costa Rica)
Best for: Rustic outdoor fitness and yoga
For a relaxed jungle vibe, try Santa Teresa. The town sits right on the beach and focuses heavily on surfing and wellness.
You will find outdoor bootcamps, amazing yoga studios, and open-air gyms. One local gym even uses its membership fees to fund the beach lifeguards. It is a friendly, active community deeply connected to nature.
Tulum (Mexico)
Best for: Aesthetic photos and beach workouts
Tulum is famous for its looks. The Tulum Jungle Gym is built right on the sand and uses weights made from wood and stone. It is a very unique place to train.
Keep in mind that Tulum is very expensive. The local roads can be dusty and rough, and getting around is hard without overpaying for taxis. It is a fun spot for a short trip, but tough for a long stay.
San Diego (USA)
Best for: Elite combat sports
If you want the absolute best coaching in mixed martial arts or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, go to San Diego. It is home to some of the top training camps on earth.
You will need a car because the gyms are spread far apart across different neighborhoods. The cost of living is very high, but the quality of instruction is unmatched.
Dubai (UAE)
Best for: Indoor luxury and air conditioning
Dubai offers the exact opposite of a sweaty outdoor jungle camp. Because it gets so hot, all the fitness action happens indoors.
You will find massive, perfectly cooled gyms with the best equipment money can buy. It is a high-cost city, but you get total comfort and premium service.
Cape Town (South Africa)
Best for: Free outdoor coastal training
Cape Town takes a very different approach. The city built a huge, free outdoor gym right next to the ocean in the Sea Point area.
The equipment is made to survive the salty air. You can lift weights, do pull-ups, and enjoy an amazing ocean view without paying anything. It brings all types of athletes together in a fun, public space.
Adrenaline junkie with a passion for exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations and finding unique ways to stay active. Expect stunning scenery, challenging workouts, awesome travel tips and a whole lot of fun. Let’s get sweaty and explore the world together!