12 Best Spiritual Retreats for Women
At a spiritual retreat, guests are invited to take part in reflection, meditation, and movement techniques to develop a sense of connectedness with themselves and the world around them. In that way, spiritual retreats present a wonderful opportunity to uncover your purpose and find greater meaning in your life. Sound like something you’d be interested in? Keep reading to learn more about the best spiritual retreats for women (in 12 different categories).
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12 best spiritual retreats by category
1. Best overall spiritual retreat: The Esalen Institute
The Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California is renowned for its breathtaking ocean and mountain views on all sides of the 120-acre property. This holistic retreat has created a comforting environment where you can explore spiritual transformation and healing on a deeply personal level. The team at the Esalen Institute is dedicated to embracing “the messy, imperfect practice of moving toward our highest humanity,” and invites all their guests to join them on this journey.
Price: starting at $540 for a 3-day retreat
2. Best ayahuasca spiritual retreat: Soltara Healing Center
Soltara Healing Center has to be one of our favorite places on the planet. This Costa Rican retreat is immersed in the lush beauty of nature, and facilitates some of the most powerful and transformative ayahuasca ceremonies you’ll find anywhere in the world. Soltara’s team of highly-skilled Shipibo healers create a safe and nurturing environment where guests can interact with the sacred plant medicine and experience a profound spiritual awakening. Read more about Soltara Healing Center here.
Price: starting at $1,975 for a 5-night retreat
3. Best psilocybin spiritual retreat: Beckley Retreats
In case ayahuasca isn’t calling to you (but you still want to embark on a psychedelic retreat), we recommend Beckley Retreats in Jamaica and the Netherlands. At Beckley Retreats, guests have a chance to interact with the power of psilocybin and take part in daily meditation sessions. These ceremonies and meditative practices not only encourage nervous system regulation, but they also allow you to cultivate greater self-awareness, openness, and personal growth.
Price: starting at ~$3,600 for a 5-night retreat
4. Best spiritual retreat focused on integration: Anam Cara Healing Retreats
Located in the tranquil Sacred Valley of Peru, Anam Cara Healing Retreats stands out as one of the best ayahuasca retreat centers for its focus on individual healing in intimate settings with fewer than 10 participants. Their holistic approach includes a 4-month post-ceremony support system, helping participants understand and apply insights to their lives. With highly-experienced Shipibo Maestros, an on-site psychotherapist, and a somatic experiencing practitioner, their team creates a nurturing environment for an enriching spiritual experience.
Price: starting at $3,900 for an 8-day retreat
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5. Best yoga spiritual retreat: Fykiada Retreats
Each and every retreat at Fykiada is an expansive journey where “the island spirit meets the purest forms of yoga and self-care.” This Greek getaway helps guests clean, reground, and realign their energy through a variety of mediums and healing practices — like qigong, yin yoga, meditation, and breathwork (among others). And if that wasn’t enough, this already incredible experience is made even more memorable thanks to the breathtaking views of the Aegean Sea.
Price: starting at ~$2,555 for a 6-day retreat
6. Best Iboga retreat: Sacred Wood Retreats
At Sacred Wood Retreats, individuals can experience an authentic path to healing and learning, developed over centuries by the Bwiti. The Ngangas and Mabundi of the retreat uphold the tradition with the utmost integrity, having invested years of education to comprehend and apply the teachings of the Iboga/Bwiti Tradition. For those who possess the courage to confront their inner turmoil and commit to the demanding process of transformation, the team at Sacred Wood Retreats can help heal addiction, alleviate anxiety, address trauma, and other conditions. They also facilitate a powerful connection between individuals, their own souls, and the Bwiti and Iboga, enabling a profound understanding of self and purpose.
Price range: starting at $4,000 for a 5-day retreat
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7. Best spiritual retreat with various healing modalities: Avalon
Avalon, one of Europe's premier ayahuasca retreats, can be found in both Barcelona and Ibiza, Spain. Guests attending an Avalon ayahuasca retreat can anticipate a comprehensive integration program that includes a range of healing modalities, such as yoga, holotropic breathwork, ecstatic dance, healing massage, and plant medicine. The knowledgeable Avalon team comprises therapists, chefs, doctors, and shamans who have received training or are affiliated with ancestral traditions of tribes from Colombia, Peru, and Brazil, making it an ideal location to experience the restorative qualities of plant medicine.
Price: starting at €1,950 for a 4-day retreat
8. Best sound healing spiritual retreat: Sound of Himalaya
Sound of Himalaya is located in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains of Nepal, one of the most untouched and extraordinary parts of the world. Here, guests can take part in daily yoga and meditation, as well as experience the ancient technique of sound healing. This type of therapy is often used to realign one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual self — as it has the power to rebalance the nervous system, release emotions, and mobilize self-healing forces.
Price: contact Sound of Himalaya for specific pricing
9. Best ayurveda spiritual retreat: Sonnhof Ayurveda Resort
Ayurveda (a Sanskrit word meaning science of life) is a system of medicine that originated in India more than 3,000 years ago. Because ayurveda incorporates both religious and spiritual elements, its practice helps to bring the body, mind, and soul into perfect harmony. At Sonnhof Ayurveda Resort, guests can learn to be at peace with themselves and with nature, and take part in holistic ayurvedic teachings to achieve clarity and balance in all aspects of life.
Price: starting at ~$190 per night
10. Best women-only spiritual retreat: Goddess Retreats
Goddess Retreats is a premier provider of women-only retreats in Bali (and beyond). Designed by women, for women, each Goddess Retreat is a truly magical experience that’s sure to leave you feeling refreshed, reinvigorated, and reconnected to yourself. The Goddess team has combined the best elements of adventure, wellness, and spiritual retreats to create an incredible week full of restorative yoga sessions, rejuvenating spa treatments, and a whole lot more.
Price: starting at $1,999 for a 6-night retreat
11. Best eco-friendly spiritual retreat: YogApulia
An eco-friendly retreat is one that strives for harmony of travel, sustainability, and nature — which is exactly what YogApulia has managed to do. This boutique Italian retreat specializes in yoga and meditation, helping guests to deepen their practice in a beautiful and peaceful setting. As for sustainability, YogApulia has done all their renovations using locally-sourced materials, and serves a predominantly plant-based menu (relying on seasonal/local ingredients, as well).
Price: contact YogApulia for specific pricing
12. Best off the grid spiritual retreat: Art of Living Retreat Center
The Blue Ridge mountains serve as the backdrop for the remote and tranquil Art of Living Retreat Center. The great thing about this retreat is that it combines spiritual practices with both spa services and ayurvedic holistic treatments. In that way, the Art of Living provides an integrated experience to support your journey toward wellness, health, and happiness. Plus, they have such a robust calendar of retreats/events, there’s truly something for everyone here.
Price: starting at $595 for a 3-day retreat
Spiritual retreats - common FAQs
What are the different types of spiritual retreats?
There are several different types of spiritual retreats you can choose from — including yoga retreats, meditation retreats, nature retreats, ayurveda retreats, and sound healing retreats, as well. Though each retreat will have its own focus or concentration, they can all provide profound healing and transformation by giving you the time and space for deep, personal reflection.
How much should I expect to spend on spiritual retreats?
The cost for attending a spiritual retreat varies depending on where you’re traveling to, the level of your accommodations, and the total length of your stay (typically ranging from 3 days to a full week). Some spiritual retreats run as little as a few hundred dollars, while others cost several thousand dollars for more upscale lodging, amenities, and services provided.
What happens during a spiritual retreat?
During a spiritual retreat, guests can expect to step away from the stress of everyday life and make space for contemplation and personal reflection. Most retreats will offer multiple yoga sessions and daily meditation, in addition to hosting talks from religious leaders and/or spiritual guides who can impart their own knowledge about spiritual transformation.