Sportscation: The 7 best luxury hotels for active travellers

2026 has been a big year for sports. From once-in-a-few-years events like the Winter Olympics and the FIFA World Cup to the yearly fixtures like Wimbledon, the Masters and Tour de France, if you’re a sporting enthusiast, this certainly has been one jam-packed, entertaining summer. And if keeping up with the many events across the globe has given you the sporting bug, going on a ‘sportscation’ might be the perfect escape for you. ‘Sportscation’ is a travel trend that sees travellers go on holidays that combine luxury, adventure and active pursuits. Whether you love the exhilaration of karting and water sports or you prefer to sweat it out on the tennis or padel courts, these seven luxury hotels around the world should be on your radar for your next ‘sportscation’ adventure.Hiking | Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay, Morocco

For travellers looking to swap the gym for the great outdoors, Morocco’s spectacular Rif Mountains offer some of North Africa’s most rewarding hiking trails, with routes winding through traditional villages, lush valleys and dramatic mountain scenery. Nestled on the shores of the Mediterranean, Royal Mansour Tamuda Bay provides the perfect sportscation base from which to explore the region, pairing active adventure with barefoot luxury. Opened in 2024, the beachfront retreat features 55 sea-view suites and villas, four exceptional restaurants led by Michelin-starred chefs, and a 4,300 sqm medi-spa offering everything from cutting-edge wellness treatments to traditional Moroccan rituals – the most stylish setting for a post-hike retreat.Golf | Steyn City by Saxon, South Africa

Set within one of Johannesburg’s most ambitious lifestyle estates, Steyn City Hotel by Saxon brings a new level of polish to South Africa’s golf scene. The property’s 52 luxury serviced apartments – from sleek one- and two-bedroom residences to a penthouse and presidential suite – sit alongside an 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus-designed championship course firmly embedded on the LIV Golf, DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour circuits and has welcomed players including Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm. Sweeping fairways, water features and pristine greens are supported by a golf academy, GPS-equipped carts and a clubhouse that anchors it all. Beyond the course, the estate leans fully into outdoor living: a 300m lagoon, 50km of cycling trails, padel and tennis courts, and extensive walking routes. Water Sports | LUX Le Morne, Mauritius

Few places on earth combine world-class watersports with five-star luxury quite like LUX* Le Morne. The resort’s sports & leisure offering is anchored by its position on the Kite Lagoon – one of Mauritius’ finest kitesurfing spots, with wide, reef-protected shallow waters and consistent winds that suit everyone from first-timers finding their feet to experienced riders chasing bump-and-jump or wave conditions beyond the reef. Head to the Boat House for the full watersports menu: waterskiing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing and kayaking, with snorkelling possible right in front of your room. For something more memorable, a private skipper can whisk you out to swim with wild spinner and bottlenose dolphins in the bay, one of the west coast’s most sought-after experiences. A sportscation framed by the dramatic UNESCO World Heritage backdrop of Le Morne Brabant mountain – what more can you ask for?Mountain Karting | Hotel Royal – Evian Resort, France

With grounds backing onto Lake Geneva within 47 acres of parkland, Hotel Royal – Evian Resort offers a rare mix of a grand historic hotel stay and easy access to the outdoors. Facing the Alps and surrounded by the Chablais region, it’s a base built for travellers seeking sport and movement alongside a five-star experience. The resort’s Bureau des Guides unlocks the landscape, from guided hikes through alpine trails and forest paths to the more playful mountain karting experience. Delivering a downhill rush through forest tracks, combining speed with expansive mountain views, it offers an adrenaline-led counterpoint to hiking, where, back at the hotel, spa time feels all the more deserved. The evianSPA is deeply rooted in its surroundings, with hydrotherapy, thermal circuits and mineral-water treatments reflecting the natural source that defines the region. Indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna, hammam and even a snow cave round out a wellness offering designed around recovery after time outdoors.Tennis | Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como

If you wanna keep the Wimbledon magic going in one of the most picturesque tennis courts in the world, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como is the ideal destination for a game on the hotel’s spectacular clay courts. Providing breathtaking views over the lake, this is the perfect spot for a friendly doubles or a tournament under the warm Mediterranean sun. Free to use for guests, tennis enthusiasts can also enjoy personalised coaching aimed to improve skills and hone techniques. After the games indulge at the T Spa, and experience the newly refreshed pool overlooking the lake alongside a comprehensive menu of luxurious spa treatments available at your fingertips.  Skiing | The Capra, Saas-Fee

For those after a year-long ski destination that is athlete-approved, look no further than The Capra in Saas-Fee, one of Europe’s only year-round snow-sure destinations. Saas-Fee is one of the preferred destinations of the Olympic and world cup ski teams to train for their respective tournaments. In fact, Team GB’s Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale, who made history by winning mixed team snowboard cross gold in the 2026 Winter Olympics, are among the champions who have trained here. Guests at The Capra can ski the same slopes, then return to a hotel built around recovery, with Peak Health’s spa programme and a salt sauna designed for exactly this kind of muscle reset.Padel | St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort, Maldives

Padel is a sport that has gained a massive following in recent years, with data from TrustPadel suggesting that over 35 million people play across 150 nations. And if you want to combine a beachside vacation with a padel session or two, the St Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort in Maldives is the ideal place to be, as it has launched a brand new padel court inside this private island sanctuary. Set within the resort’s striking Vommuli House alongside the existing tennis court, the new padel court offers guests a fresh way to stay active while immersed in the privacy and natural beauty of the island. Whether playing casually with family or refining technique with a dedicated padel professional, the court offers a versatile experience suitable for players of all levels.

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