One of the most legendary health retreats in all America, if not the world. When it opened in the 1950s, Golden Door positioned itself as the glamorous younger sister to Rancho La Puerta (born from the same parents and located just across the border in Mexico). While Rancho La Puerta was modelled more on hippie commune-style living, Golden Door swiftly garnered a star following, with Elizabeth Taylor and Zsa Zsa Gabor enjoying its stratospheric levels of comfort, privacy and bespoke care.
Individual attention is still the aim of the game, or at least as much as possible within the confines of a group retreat. Forty cocooning bedrooms are home to alpha females travelling solo (although the co-ed and men’s camps are also book-ahead popular), and each night a personal schedule has suggestions to nudge guests out of their comfort zone. Mix adrenalin-calming yoga and meditation classes with revved-up cardio sessions, dance, archery, Pilates, spinning – you name it, they offer it. In-depth consultations result in a timetable swiftly crafted and perfectly balanced to individual needs.
The not-to-be-missed element are the hikes: each morning there’s a choice of four. There’s nothing like being drenched in the dawn light of a Californian morning while summiting a mountain peak – it’s affirmative. The silent walks, with the added element of t’ai chi, bond guests at a new level. It’s a soul-searching experience, where you can feel the connection to the inner self.
And that’s what makes this retreat extraordinary. It’s not just an expensive bootcamp. Yes, there are daily massages and spa treatments, plus personal training sessions and mindfulness classes. But these are not what kick-starts the transformative effect, they are simply gloss. Golden Door’s great attraction is its authentic heart. Everyone here is on their own personal journey and the support, new insights and fresh direction that guests glean are the fairy-dust. As well as the silent walks, yoga nidra is recommended for anyone facing difficulties sleeping, and walking the labyrinth, particularly by candlelight at night, is a chance to reflect on your life path.