Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
Full disclosure: Esalen is not a spa. Esalen is a holistic retreat center and educational institute, a place where you go to heal, expand, or inspire your thinking. (They describe themselves as an “incubator of human potential.”) Nor can you simply drop in: You must sign up for one of their specific multiday workshops.
But this doesn’t mean the experience is predetermined. There’s an incredible array of options: Sign up for a yoga retreat or one on holotropic breath work, or a program that focuses on leadership or creativity. One of Esalen’s most famous offerings is Gestalt, a form an awareness practice which focuses on personal responsibility and staying in the present, as well as the exploration of emotions through role-playing, painting, and physical experiences. Esalen is the most famous center for Gestalt in the world—and, in fact, pioneered it in the 1960s.
Want to visualize it? Watch Mad Men’s famous finale, where Don Draper visits a fictionalized center based off the real-life Esalen.
Photo: Courtesy of Esalen Institute
What’s the vibe?
Esalen is located on a remote, rugged stretch of the Big Sur coastline, about an hour from the nearest town of Monterey and Carmel. The campus is both moody and spectacular: Mist and fog enshroud its 120 acres, which include woods, a creek, a waterfall, cliffs, and sprawling expanses that overlook the ocean. Hidden within this dramatic landscape are yurts, meditation hut, cottages, and therapy rooms. There’s no cell service, and Wi-Fi is only available in the property’s main lodge and some select accommodations. However, it’s shut off during meal times to encourage connection between other members in your program.
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