The hills are alive with music in Austria, Spain and Greece
Holidays with meaning and purpose are having a big moment. From yoga in the Himalayas to pottery in Provence, the restorative/self‑improvement break is now a genre in its own right. Even reading, once the most unremarkable of holiday pastimes and hinged on 3 books for £10 at WHSmith, has had niche rebrand. Insta is full of ‘reading retreats’, where guests join strangers to turn pages in companionable silence, sometimes in a kooky setting, other times in luxury. Are we that desperate for a bit of peace?
The familiar fixtures, tennis camps, writing weeks, kayaking tours, and swim treks et al, have been going for donkeys, but a new niche is striking a chord with the cultural tourist: musical theatre and singing holidays. At the opposite end of the spectrum to a forest bathe, stands the gloriously vivacious Sing Eat Retreat, a fully immersive musical theatre experience that marries the force of the West End with holiday‑club camaraderie. Think all the joy of the drama‑loving child’s summer camp, reimagined for grown‑ups. This offer appeals to the musical theatre afficionados in bucket loads. The chance to train with West End talent? Yes, please, chants the chorus.
Some of the most genius creations live in the niche. Sing Eat Retreat is an amazing technicolour dreamcoat of a concept conjured up by an experienced events team. The holidays are geared towards amateurs, postgrads and experienced singers, who (for around £1,800, minus travel) get an all-inclusive (minus tipples) and delight in rubbing shoulders with seasoned musical pros against some glorious backdrops.
“The response from people who come on these retreats is often overwhelming,” says co‑creator of Sing Eat Retreat Zane Rambaran. “Many arrive simply wanting to sing, and leave feeling transformed. The sense of connection, the emotional release, the laughter, the tears, it’s powerful. We’ve been lucky to work with some of the most generous, gifted collaborators in the business, and the combination of professional support and personal growth is what makes this experience so unique.”
You can certainly see the glee club appeal. The 2026 calendar is suitably show‑stopping. There’s the already sold out Mamma Mia five‑day, six‑night ABBA singing experience in Zante, Greece (Zakynthos), near the turtle‑nesting beaches of Kalamaki. Led by three West End tutors and directors, guests enjoy 30 hours of vocal and performance coaching, culminating in an end‑of‑week flashmob and showcase against the backdrop of an aqua marine setting. There’s time in a professional recording studio, plus a boat‑and‑island tour with live ABBA performances by the holidaying-cast, all captured on film to take home and play to your friends.
In May, Salzburg hosts the Sound of Music Singing Tuition Week & Film Tour, led by musical director Steve Moss (Les Misérables, Mary Poppins). For sopranos and altos only, it offers the chance to refine your voice, elevate your performance skills, and quite literally follow in the footsteps of Maria and the Von Trapps. Speaking as a bona-fide 100% Maria, belting out The Hills are Alive with Music, in Austria, is tempting. If it weren’t for the fact I absolutely detest musicals, I’d be down for this. Mind you, I can’t sing a note.
For a week of joyous exuberance, opt for a 50s and 60s retro week (think Hairspray), or Rock Musicals, Mega Musicals or Broadway Musicals. For a gentler pace, June’s Contemporary Choir & Walking Holiday in Tarifa pairs ensemble singing with scenic coastal walks. And for the vocal epicurean, September’s Opera — Eat Gourmet combines operatic training with fine dining, under the guidance of tenor Stephen Anthony Brown (Opera Della Luna, English Touring Opera, D’Oyly Carte Opera Company), with meals between rehearsals prepared for the talent by a private chef.
Full details, dates and booking at singeatretreat.com.
