'We turned our narrowboat into a floating nudist hotel with naked yoga and massages'

'We turned our narrowboat into a floating nudist hotel with naked yoga and massages',Fiona Discombe, 54, and her husband, Michael, 51, went off-grid and live on a boat where they host naked holidaymakers, take them on cruises and offer nude yoga and massages

‘We turned our narrowboat into a floating nudist hotel with naked yoga and massages’

A couple have revealed how they decided to quit the daily grind and instead move off-grid to live a nudist lifestyle. The duo have now converted their impressive 70ft narrowboat into a floating hotel for anyone who loves to holiday in the nude.

Fiona Discombe, 54, and her husband, Michael, 51, have been naturists ever since they went nude on a beach in Greece during their honeymoon in 1994. The spontaneous decision left them feeling liberated.

Since then, they have travelled the world visiting naturist destinations including the Caribbean, the US, and Thailand. In 2022, they took the plunge and sold their home to travel around Europe in a van visiting as many naturist sites as they could.

READ MORE: 'I run a nudist yoga retreat with 10 naked men on Spanish island – it's liberating'

After returning to the UK this year, Fiona and Michael wanted to live off-grid as much as they could and looked for a way to combine that with their passion for nudity. Their business idea was born and they invented in their naked boat.

Not only can you enjoy life on the boat in the buff, but the couple also offer massages and yoga. Plus, plenty of meals made to your liking.

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'I'm a nudist – first-timers should always protect their bits on the beach'
'I thought nudism was odd but now go on naked cruises – nobody looks at your boobs'

'I thought nudism was odd but now go on naked cruises – nobody looks at your boobs'
Michael on a nudist beach

Michael on a nudist beach (Image: @nakedtravels1/ CATERS NEWS)

"We don't find it hard sharing the boat with guests because we all usually share the common interests of naturism, and we can also screen off either of the ends for privacy."

While they're big fans now, the duo claim they had never thought of naturism before their honeymoon in the 90s. They decided to give it a go on a stunning Greek beach.

Fiona says that the beach at their hotel was too crowded, so they walked down further and found a much quieter area where a naked couple were enjoying the peaceful coastline. The pair soon joined in and discovered a life-long passion.

Fiona added: "We sat there for a while before we decided we would join in. No one was watching, so we thought, why not? So we took our clothes off and went in the water, and haven't looked back since.

"When we got home we started researching naturist places in the UK, but they weren't as nice as the ones abroad because naturism is still secretive and prudish here. It's a societal thing as people connect it with sex and sleaziness.

"So we kept going abroad to visit new nudist destinations and have travelled the world doing so. We've been to the Caribbean, the US, Thailand, and now to most of Europe in our van. I was ignorant of naturism before we got into it. "

Nude sunbathing permitted sign with ocean beach background. (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Getting naked and living life as nudists has even boosted Fiona's body image. She claims it's made her less shy.

She explained: "When I was younger I was bullied for how I looked because I was curvy and not straight up and down. I lacked in body confidence and could never imagine myself getting naked in front of other people beforehand.

"It was difficult to begin with, and sometimes I do still have to block that voice out, but it is possible and it makes me feel so much better. If I hadn't got into naturism I would still be reclusive and shy.

"I wish I had the same level of confidence that I have now years ago. Going nude has done wonders for my confidence.

"Naturism is about being free and not being inhibited by clothing. You don't have to hide, and you don't know what people are or what they do because you can't make any judgments by their clothes.

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"It also helps you realise that bodies aren't perfect. We all have scars and marks that tell our life stories, whether it be from babies, operations, or accidents."

The pair aren't the only ones to have discovered a love of naturism. A British woman converted her holiday home in the Canary Islands, Spain, into a naturist resort where she greets guests in the nude.

Karie Jane, 56, claims the experience is "liberating" but not sexual "on any level". She's even gone on to host an entirely nude yoga retreat in Fuerteventura.