Top Health Apps to Enhance Your Travel Experience

Want to keep fit, healthy, and happy on your travels? Your phone may hold the answer. No, really. From food diaries and workout routines to guided meditations and gratitude journals, here are nine apps you should try on your next trip to keep your health in check.

All apps mentioned are available to download from both the Apple App Store and Google Play.

For Easy Meditation: Headspace

Traveling is all about recharging and taking a break from everyday life, but lingering stress and anxiety can be hard to brush off. Headspace, one of the simplest and most popular meditation apps on the market, provides short, guided sessions to help you relax your body and mind. With quick-fire sessions (lasting just a few minutes) and more in-depth, themed courses focusing on boosting happiness and learning to switch off, you’ll find yourself getting straight into the holiday spirit after a few sessions.

Price: Free with in-app purchases

For a Good Night’s Sleep: Calm

The first thing you see when opening Calm is a prompt to take a deep breath, setting the tone for relaxation and mindfulness. While meditation sessions are available, the standout feature is the ‘Sleep Stories’ that help you drift off with soothing sounds, aided by celebrity narrators. Other relaxing stories promise a good night’s sleep even after a long travel day.

Price: Free 7-day trial, £37.99 per year

For On-the-Go Workouts: Sworkit

If hearty local cuisine is leaving you feeling sluggish, Sworkit can help restore your energy. The app offers hundreds of easy-to-follow exercise routines, perfect to do on the go, without the need for specialized gym equipment. Tailor your workouts by selecting the type of exercise, duration, and target body part. Sports scientists have rated it highly for aligning with training guidelines from the American College of Sports Medicine.

Price: Free with in-app purchases

For Menstrual Cycle Tracking: Clue

Led by women and backed by science, Clue is one of the top-rated period-tracking apps without the typical pink and flower motifs. Track your period, log symptoms, and access insightful articles on menstrual health and cycles from anywhere in the world. Recommended by numerous health publications, Clue empowers users to take charge of their reproductive health.

Price: Free

For Hiking and Mountain Biking: AllTrails

If you love exploring the outdoors, AllTrails is like having a knowledgeable local guide. This trail-mapping app is packed with over 100,000 trails worldwide curated by outdoor enthusiasts. Furthermore, it includes practical information, tips, and user ratings, helping you plan the perfect hike or biking excursion.

Price: Free with in-app purchases

For Reflecting on Your Day: Five Minute Journal

While on the road, Five Minute Journal serves a dual purpose: focusing your mind on the positives in your life and documenting your travel highlights. Each morning, jot down three things you are grateful for, and at night, note three great things that happened during the day. This simple exercise puts things into perspective and enhances your travel experience.
Price: £4.99

For Healthy Eating: MyFitnessPal

Eating healthy can be tricky while traveling, especially during prolonged periods on the road. To help, MyFitnessPal offers details on over 11 million foods, providing essential information about calories, fat, and protein in various dishes. Consequently, users can judge the nutritional quality of the meals they’re considering, making more informed choices.

Price: Free

For Digital Detoxing: Forest

While you’re busy exploring a new destination, you want to avoid spending time looking down at your phone screen. Thankfully, Forest helps with this challenge. This innovative app asks you to set a timer and ‘plant a seed.’ The longer you stay off your device, the sooner your seed will grow into a tree. If you unlock your phone before the timer ends, your tree dies.

By growing trees, you can earn virtual coins that plant real trees through their partnership with Trees for the Future, encouraging users to stay engaged with the world around them while benefiting the environment.

Price: Free with in-app purchases

For Reminders That Life is Short: WeCroak

WeCroak takes a uniquely straightforward approach to boost mental well-being by reminding you that you will one day die, prompting you to live life fully. Based on a Bhutanese saying, it sends five daily invitations to pause and contemplate death through quotes from notable figures. The idea is to encourage reflection and appreciation of life at unpredictable moments.

Price: Free