Esalen Institute

What travellers say on Google

These are reviews published on Google, not on Retreat Ledger. We show them because a listing with no first-hand accounts yet still deserves some evidence, but they are not moderated by us and they never affect the Retreat Ledger Score. Google returns at most five, chosen by them, so treat this as a sample rather than the full picture.

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  Ratchaneekorn R.★★★★★a month ago

  Esalen is truly the best place in California and one of the most meaningful birthday gifts I’ve ever received. I joined the “A Midsummer’s Dream: Flower Baths, Sound Journeys, and Herbal Magic” workshop, and it was an unforgettable experience. From the flower baths in the hot springs and the breathtaking view of the Ocean, everything felt deeply healing and magical. It felt like stepping away from the noise and intensity of everyday life into a space of pure stillness and peace. A place where the mind can finally slow down, and the heart can breathe again. I left Esalen feeling lighter, calmer, and more connected to myself. Being there is a completely different experience from seeing it in photos. Deep gratitude to the workshop facilitator for such a beautiful and healing experience.❤️

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  Heather★★★★★a month ago

  Gorgeous! The setting is unsurpassed! Only Post Ranch rivals it. Hot springs are healing & so well managed 💝 Healthful & delicious food - veggies from their wonderful gardens! Relationship workshop we did was great! Stayed in a rustic 2 bedroom house right on the cliff. I’m ready to go back!

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  Beatriz Rodriguez★☆☆☆☆2 months ago

  My experience at Esalen was, unfortunately, deeply disappointing. I arrived with genuinely high expectations, hoping for a restorative environment where I could disconnect, reset, and spend meaningful time with myself. Instead, I was met with an atmosphere that often felt unwelcoming and uncomfortable. The accommodations themselves were not up to the standard I expected for the price point. My shared room was not properly clean, and the bed linens left me physically uncomfortable throughout my stay. What stood out most, however, was the consistent lack of warmth from certain staff members. In a place that presents itself as centered around healing, mindfulness, and hospitality, the interactions I experienced felt surprisingly dismissive and, at times, openly rude. One staff member working at the coffee bar/bar repeatedly made simple requests feel like inconveniences. On one occasion, ordering a glass of wine was met with visible annoyance because she “couldn’t find the bottle.” The bar also opened late and closed earlier than posted hours. The following morning, after the cafeteria had run out of coffee, I went to the café to order one instead. It took nearly ten minutes to even be acknowledged, only to be met with a curt response: “I have a lot of orders before I can even ask you.” The tone and commentary felt unnecessarily condescending and left me feeling unwelcome. For those considering Esalen as a place to truly rest, recharge, and feel cared for, I would honestly encourage exploring other options. Given both the cost and the reputation of the institute, I expected an environment rooted in attentiveness, serenity, and kindness. Sadly, my experience reflected the opposite. I left early and let money go to waste because I could not stand being there any longer.

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  SangHee Cha★★★☆☆2 months ago

  Hot Springs are excellent 🫶🤝🙌 Most of the people are great!👍 🤝🙌 My bodywork teachers trained here & I absolutely love hot springs, so it only made sense to go to the Springs where my teachers trained. The teachers who were trained in gestalt psychotherapy are awesome, but the corporatization has unfortunately reached Esalen institution too. 🥲 You can see & feel the difference. I volunteered in the kitchen & was utterly disappointed that none of the vegetables (other than the Esalen greens that are grown on site) are washed before being processed. For those who normally prefer washing their fruits & vegetables before cooking, know that I tried to wash some of them before getting yelled at 😅 *I did look up the food safety guidelines when a friend told me that it was illegal, it’s not. It’s completely legal to not wash produce… they figure that the heat will kill whatever 🤷🏻‍♀️ And I cannot enjoy the food the same way again unfortunately knowing how the inside of the sausage factory works 🥺😱🧐😅🤷🏻‍♀️ And! With all things- Choose wisely & take only what you need 🤝🙏🏽🤝 Just because there is Abundance, doesn’t mean that it is all good for Us

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  Paulytenor★☆☆☆☆11 months ago

  I booked the month long retreat and had high expectations as a massage therapist. The land is absolutely magical, the flora and fauna providing as close to a Garden of Eden as I’ve ever experienced. The property including the permanent buildings were in deep disrepair. Understandable for the age, but not reflective of the pricing which was far out of sync of what was offered. The staff was absolutely horrific. Upon arrival I was greeted with profound disrespect, the sessions were “canned” and felt nearly identical to a group therapy setting in addiction recovery. One of our practitioners was also unhinged, later found out that individual was perusing litigation against Esalen for egregious racial discrimination and harassment. Was supposed to stay for 30 days and left after just under 48 hours. I hold hope that new management is found in the future so that I can perhaps have a better glimpse of the true magic that once flowed from this place.

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