There is a cat that lives in the garden at The Ranch Malibu. On any given day, the guests wellness retreat You find the little tabby poking up among the strawberries and oregano with a view of the Santa Monica Mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean not far away on the other. Although I envied the lives of felines from time to time, I never wanted to be more of a cat.

Ranch Malibu is only an hour away for most Angelines — located a few miles upriver from Neptune’s Net, a mecca of fried fish, beer and bikers — but it might as well be on another planet. Since opening its doors in 2010, the retreat has become known for its simplicity with luxurious flourishes: guests come for weeks, and their daily routine consists of guided hikes, low-impact fitness classes, massages and herbs. meals on the basis.

While a week is the minimum for stays at The Ranch, I recently got a taste of the program with a one-night stay with borea modern travel agency. Did my 24 hours at The Ranch help me better understand why guests will essentially pay thousands for? do two a day on a vegan diet? I get into all of that below.

Here’s what potential travelers should know about staying at The Ranch Malibu.

About The Ranch Malibu

What I love about Ranch Malibu

I’m not too proud to admit that when I first arrived at The Ranch, I was intimidated. I gathered with fellow guests in the common area, which looked straight out of a Nancy Meyers production with neutrals and the California-casual aesthetic. I mingled with other guests while sipping on berry smoothies. Then we walked.

While individual programs can be completely customized, The Ranch strongly recommends its daily hikes, which can range from two to four hours depending on a guest’s preferences. I spent most of the hike getting to know the other guests, which provided a welcome distraction. The hike was just under two hours, but it was still strenuous enough to make most of us hungry for lunch.

Lunch was a revelation. I am a meat eater with lactose intolerance, which I manage to counteract by keeping several packets of Lactaid on my person at all times. I also eat so much sushi that I joke that I’m just a handful of mercury poisoning. And yet, I still think about this lunch, which was a vegan poke bowl with watermelon disguised as raw and quite convincing. Any reservations I had about the plant-based menu were put to rest at that moment.

Then it was time to settle into my cabin. The rooms at The Ranch are intentionally sparse but wonderful. The beds are comfortable and I strongly suggest visitors make good use of the exfoliating soap, which I’m told has a bit of a cult following. There are no televisions or telephones, and all announcements are shared via walkie-talkie. The rooms have everything you need for such a stay, but it also feels like being at a (very expensive) summer camp.

For the rest of the day, we explored the property and used its many amenities, which are a highlight. I took a strength training class, swam in the pool and got one of the best massages of my life. And despite the fact that he never had cold submerged before, I managed to face the tubs twice. When at the Ranch, I suppose.

Dinner was shared, which is the usual way, and we had a carrot soup, followed by a pile of eggplant parmesan and a vegan version with a strawberry cheesecake for dessert. I passed out around 9:30pm after dinner and started the next day with a sound bath meditation before checking.

What to consider before booking Ranch Malibu

For travelers looking to step up (or start) their wellness routine, The Ranch is pretty much the model. That said, there are a few considerations. To begin with, the retreat motivates participants to challenge themselves physically, but it can be easy to overdo it if you’re not already in a consistent workout routine. For more context: I am someone who works out consistently five times a week and was moderately sore the day after all my activities.

The one-week minimum can also be restrictive. For travelers who might be looking for a vacation with some wellness activities with pepper, there are many hotels with this to offer. Ranch, however, may not be one of them.

And of course cost is an important consideration. The Ranch comes with a high price—one that, yes, includes meals, lodging, and activities, but it’s still an extremely high one. While there are repeat guests (Michelle Obama, to name one), for most, The Ranch is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of place.

Who is Malibu Ranch best for?

The Ranch is best for adventurers and health-conscious travelers looking for a challenge. (The retreat also makes a strong case for plant-based diets, for anyone who might be vegan-curious.) While couples are welcome, we’ve found that The Ranch is best done alone and might get more out of the experience that way.

And finally, The Ranch is a good choice for anyone hoping to detox digitally as well: While there’s WiFi in the private cottages, there’s no cell reception anywhere else on the property. And with the absence of televisions, The Ranch really forces guests to adopt a more disconnected lifestyle during the week.

Is Ranch Malibu worth the trip?

With a starting price of $9,200, a retreat at The Ranch is a hefty cost—one that won’t be worth it for travelers who may not be willing to follow the schedule as recommended. But for visitors who want to engage in activities and pick up some new wellness habits from the experience, there’s certainly a lot of value in it.

ASSESSMENT

★★★★★

Kelsey Garcia (she/he) is Associate Content Director of PS Balance, where she oversees lifestyle coverage from relationships to parenting to financial wellness. Kelsey is passionate about travel, dating trends and changes in the workplace. Before joining the PS team as an editorial assistant in 2015, she interned at Elle and Harper’s Bazaar, among other publications.