I enjoy hiking and immersing myself in nature, but I’m more of a “glamper” than a camper. After an exhilarating day on the trails, my ideal day would end with a hot bath, spa treatment, and plush bed. If you’re with me on this, then we need to talk about Sensei Porcupine Creek’s first-ever hiking retreat which takes place from January 16-20, 2025.

This retreat combines bucket-list hikes and high-end pampering to satisfy your craving for both adventure and luxury. The four night retreat includes elegant accommodations at Sensei Porcupine Creek, two spa treatments, three scenic hikes, and delicious Nobu cuisine (along with other experiences that I’ll share below).

The hiking retreat begins at $13,200 (single occupancy in an estate house standard room) and $9,200 each (double occupancy in an estate house standard room). Yes, it’s a splurge, but if you’re looking for a unique and epic travel experience, think of it as the ultimate desert hiking getaway.

Read my review of Sensei Porcupine Creek to learn more about this unique and magical luxury destination.

Open to couples, solo travelers and small travel groups alike, here’s a look at everything the hiking retreat at Sensei Porcupine Creek includes:

Four (4) nights in luxury accommodations including choice of standard rooms in the property’s Estate House, casitas or an option to share a four-bedroom villa with your own private primary suite
Two (2) pre-arrival calls with Sensei’s pre-arrival team, as well as a Sensei Guide to gather each guest’s wellness intentions and prepare their personalized itinerary
Three (3) scenic guided hikes varying in difficulty level including:

Ryan Mountain in Joshua Tree National Park
Ladder Canyon at Painted Canyons
Palm Canyon and Andreas Canyon in Indian Canyons

Optional hiking warm-up and cool down sessions led by a Sensei exercise physiologist
Two (2) 60-minute spa treatments and bodywork experiences
One (1) 1:1 well-being session of choice including fitness, nutrition, yoga, meditation, sleep or mindfulness
Two (2) semi-private group wellness classes including an open-sky meditation and aquatic yoga

Daily breakfasts, as well as nutritional snacks for each hike and two (2) bento box lunches
Opening ceremony to meet fellow guests and prepare for the trip’s adventures
Closing ceremony with a vision boarding workshop to wrap up the group experience
Opening and closing group dinners at Sensei by Nobu and a $400 food and beverage credit to be used during the stay
Offsite dinner in Joshua Tree at the storied Copper Room
Group transfers to and from the hikes

For the first hikes of the trip, guests will explore two trails in Indian Canyons, the ancestral home of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, with Cultural Ambassador Anthony Purnel. With his exceptional knowledge, he will lead the group through the phenomenal natural oasis while giving a firsthand glimpse into the area’s indigenous history and culture. To begin, a scenic 1-mile foot trail leads guests through Andreas Canyon for an interpretative hike, passing through a grove of California fan palms, spectacular rock formations, and ancient rock mortars. Next, guests will be transported to nearby Palm Canyon for a roughly 3-mile, moderately graded hike featuring the world’s largest California fan palm oasis as well as breathtaking views and close-up encounters with Indigenous flora and fauna.

On day two, guests will head out with local experts Big Wheel Tours to explore Joshua Tree National Park, one of the most iconic national parks in the country, where the group will head to Ryan Mountain for a 2.9-mile out-and-back trail. This hike will feature a 1,000-foot climb to the summit, complete with sweeping views of the entire national park from boulder piles to the towering San Jacinto mountains in the distance. The retreat will culminate with a challenging 4.4-mile hike at Ladder Canyon in the Painted Canyons with Big Wheel Tours. There, guests will navigate twists and turns in narrow canyon pathways, arrive at a gradual desert trail and walk along a panoramic ridgeline on this one-of-a-kind hike. While moving across the canyon floor, hikers will climb a series of ladders up slot canyons, then gain expansive lookouts towards the San Andreas Mountain range as well as the nearby Salton Sea.

In addition to the hikes, guests will have access to Sensei Porcupine Creek’s wide range of amenities and wellness offerings including intimate group wellness classes, private 1:1 sessions with Sensei Guides, rejuvenating spa treatments, a lagoon-style swimming pool, self-guided tours through the property’s museum-worthy art, pro-level golf course and tennis courts, state-of-the-art fitness pavilion and more.

And if you’d prefer a Hawaiian island to California’s desert, there’s still time to book a spot on Sensei Lānaʻi, a Four Seasons Resort’s second hiking retreat Nov. 7-12. Guests will enjoy easy-to-moderate trails that combine panoramic views of Lānaʻi’s lush landscapes with a deep dive into the Hawaiian island’s history and culture, while also participating in the property’s wellness programming.

Sensei Porcupine Creek’s First Ever Hiking Retreat Blends Adventure with Luxury