Spa Review: Sanctuary Camelback Mountain's Sanctuary Spa Offers Asian-Inspired Wellness Journeys in a Desert Oasis
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa, is a luxury resort in Scottsdale, Arizona, that is located on 53 acres of lush desert.
I recently enjoyed a Memorial Day Weekend getaway at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa, a luxury resort located in Paradise Valley, one of Scottsdale’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Situated on 53 acres of lush gardens and desert overlooking Paradise Valley with Camelback Mountain as its stunning backdrop, Sanctuary Camelback is one of the top destination resorts in Arizona—and it’s easy to see why once you step foot onto the manicured grounds.
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Coming from Los Angeles our flight took a little over an hour and before we knew it, we were already relaxing in our luxurious and spacious Mountain Suite, which included a separate bedroom and living room area with a fireplace, a connected outdoor patio that offered incredible views of the valley, and one of my favorite features: a sky-lit bathroom with an oversized soaking tub as the centerpiece.
Spa Profile: Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa
In addition to world-class dining options such as Elements Restaurant and Jade Bar, along with numerous amenities ranging from a fitness center and infinity pool to tennis and pickleball, the resort is also home to the award-winning Sanctuary Spa, a tranquil wellness haven that takes guests on an Asian-inspired journey of rejuvenation. I had booked an appointment at the spa during my stay and was looking forward to experiencing all of its amazing amenities including an outdoor Zen garden, quiet room, and more.
Sanctuary Camelback is one of the top destination resorts in Arizona.
Here’s what you’ll love about Sanctuary Spa and Sanctuary Camelback Mountain:
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney’s Resort & Spa is located in Paradise Valley, one of Scottsdale’s most exclusive neighborhoods, and is one of the top destination resorts in Arizona.
The stunning resort is situated on 53 acres of lush desert, gardens, and manicured grounds with amenities such as an infinity pool, a fitness center, tennis and pickleball, world-class dining, and 110 luxury rooms and villas that include oversized soaking tubs, expansive views of the valley and mountains, and more.
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain is also home to the award-winning Sanctuary Spa, a tranquil oasis that takes guests on an Asian-inspired journey of rejuvenation.
The spa has 12 indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a Zen meditation garden, reflection pond, quiet room, relaxation lounge, locker rooms with steam rooms, showers and a jacuzzi, and more.
Sanctuary Spa’s treatment menu offers a wide selection of services including facials, massages, body treatments; Asian-inspired spa services like Tok Sen (combines Thai massage with vibration therapy) and Luk Pra Kope (which incorporates a heated herbal compress); and other specialized treatments such as Thai massage and reiki.
The spa’s team includes specially trained Sensei therapists who perform highly specialized services and must pass rigorous certification (including restorative consultations and oncology massage), in addition to having a minimum of 10 years of experience.
Guests looking to further enhance their stay and wellness experience can book one of the resort’s Spa Suites, which are located within close proximity to the spa and include spacious living areas with wet bars and glass rock fireplaces, private outdoor soaking tubs, and mountain views.
For larger groups or retreats, the resort’s Villa del Sol is a private enclave that has a 3,500-square-foot home with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and the option of four private Terrace Casitas. Additional features include a movement studio with fitness equipment, private pool, hot tub, and wrap-around patio.
The stunning property features manicured grounds and gardens.
Whether you’re a couple seeking a romantic getaway, a group celebrating a special occasion such as a birthday or bachelorette, or hosting a corporate wellness retreat—Sanctuary Camelback Mountain has everything you need and more.
Aside from the luxurious suites and villas, the resort also has individual Spa Suites which are located within close proximity to the spa and ultra spacious with 1,200 square feet of space that includes a living area with a wet bar, glass rock fireplace, floor-to-ceiling glass windows and sliding doors that offer unobstructed mountain views, and private outdoor soaking tubs.
For the ultimate group experience, guests also have the option of booking Villa del Sol, a private enclave within the resort that has a 3,500-square-foot house with four bedrooms and bathrooms, a movement studio with fitness equipment, a kitchen and dining room, living room, private pool, hot tub, and a wrap-around patio.
Villa del Sol also offers the option of four private Terrace Casitas, which are 875 square feet each, have king bedrooms and full bathrooms with indoor soaking tubs and private outdoor showers, as well as a 330-square-foot patio with a day bed, dining table, and gas fireplace. The casitas can also be rented separately from the main house. Next time I visit I’m definitely staying in one!
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain offers a selection of magnificent casita and suite options for guests. Pictured: the living room of our Mountain Suite.
Our king bedroom also featured luxurious amenities and stunning artwork by local artists.
The beautiful view from our Mountain Suite patio.
During both nights of our stay, I made sure to take advantage of the oversized soaking tub in our suite’s bathroom. My husband enjoyed the spacious walk-in shower while I indulged in long baths before bed—my key to a good night’s sleep when traveling. Bath salts were also provided and the tub came with a wood bath tray which could be used as a holder for a book, phone, candle, and/or a beverage for added convenience.
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Sometimes staying at a hotel can interrupt one’s sleep pattern due to various factors ranging from time zones and climate to being in an unfamiliar environment, but I felt right at home at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain and fell asleep with ease, enjoying a good night’s sleep on both nights and woke up feeling refreshed and well-rested.
One of the suite’s highlights was the soaking tub and walk-in shower.
The morning of my spa visit, I enjoyed a healthy breakfast at Elements Restaurant, which offers farm-fresh American cuisine with Asian touches, incorporating local, organic produce into its dishes along with sustainable seafood, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
A few highlights from the breakfast menu included the granola with rolled oats and an assortment of nuts and toppings such as macadamias, pistachios, almonds, sesame seeds, dried cherries, and coconut; as well as my other personal favorite: the chilled coconut and chia seed parfait with berries, banana, coconut flakes, and dark chocolate hemp seeds (it was so good we ordered it on both days).
Sanctuary Camelback Mountain is also home to the award-winning Sanctuary Spa.
As I walked up to the entrance of Sanctuary Spa, one of the first things I noticed was its unique design and architecture. The reception and lounge area featured a calm color palette with neutral and gray tones incorporated into the furniture and decor, tranquil artwork on the walls, and natural light that shined through the glass sectioning in one wall that offered a peek of the outdoor Zen meditation garden.
The beautiful reception and waiting area in the spa’s entryway.
The Sanctuary Spa features distinctive architecture and a unique design.
Glass panels in the walls offer a peek at the spa’s Zen meditation garden.
The women’s facilities were spacious and included a generous locker room and changing area, showers, a steam room, and a jacuzzi. After changing and enjoying a relaxing session in the jacuzzi to loosen my muscles prior to my service, I headed to the waiting area in the women’s room which featured a refreshment area and several cozy spaces with loungers that were next to floor-to-ceiling glass windows that offered serene views of the Zen garden and outdoor water features.
The women’s facilities at Sanctuary Spa include a spacious locker room and changing area.
Guests can spend time in the relaxation lounge before and after their services.
The relaxation lounge includes several sitting areas by the windows that offer views of the tranquil Zen garden.
A closer look at the spa’s outdoor Zen garden and water features.
Guests at Sanctuary Spa enjoy an Asian-inspired journey of rejuvenation.
The jacuzzi in the women’s facilities offers a place to relax before and after one’s treatment.
Another unique feature at Sanctuary Spa is the co-ed quiet room, which is a window-less room that feels cocoon-like in nature with cozy blankets, soft loungers, and soothing art on the walls. It offers guests another place to relax before and after their services if they want a more peaceful and quiet experience—sans talking. I enjoyed my time in the quiet room and could have easily drifted off to sleep there if my therapist hadn’t come to take me to my treatment room.
The spa also has a co-ed quiet room.
In the quiet room, guests can relax on individual loungers before and after their services.
The quiet room also features stunning art and each lounger comes with a comfortable blanket.
She led me outside and we walked through the outdoor Zen meditation garden, which has two relaxing water features on both sides including a soothing reflection pond. I paused for a moment to take in the beautiful setting around me while listening to the calming sounds of trickling water. We then made our way down an open-hair hallway that led to the treatment rooms.
On their way to the treatment rooms, guests walk through the spa’s outdoor Zen meditation garden.
The Zen garden features various relaxing water features that provide a calming effect.
The open-air hallway leading to the spa’s treatment rooms.
My treatment took place in the “Peace” room where I would be receiving the Wild Lime Blossom Treatment, a luxurious 120-minute service. It began with a scalp, neck and shoulder massage with warm wild lime oil, which my therapist explained offers many benefits for hair and skin including antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
The lime oil had a very refreshing and uplifting scent, which awakened my senses while hydrating my hair and skin. My therapist recommended that I keep it on for as long as possible in order to get all of the hydrating benefits, so after my scalp massage had concluded I wrapped my hair in a bun until just before dinnertime when I took a shower and rinsed it out. My hair had soaked up a good portion of the lime oil and felt incredibly soft and silky afterwards, which was especially helpful in the desert heat.
My treatment took place in the “Peace” room.
The remainder of my treatment consisted of a relaxing and aromatic full-body massage. Prior to beginning, my therapist offered me a choice of three oils: alpine arnica, white and green tea, and lavender blossom. After sampling each of them (they all smelled amazing), I opted for the lavender blossom, which she warmed in her hands before proceeding to massage my entire body and focusing on the areas that needed it the most.
She was extremely skilled and detailed, able to find every knot and tight spot in my muscles with ease while applying just the right amount of pressure—enough to target and break up areas of tightness without it being painful or uncomfortable. Because my treatment was 120 minutes long there was plenty of time for her to work on each area of my body so that when my service had concluded, it truly felt like every concern had been addressed during the session.
Another thing to note about Sanctuary Spa is that its team includes specially trained Sensei therapists who perform highly specialized services and take a multi-dimensional approach to body work. They must all pass rigorous certification (including restorative consultations and oncology massage) and have a minimum of 10 years of experience, so guests know they’re in the best of hands.
I experienced the Wild Blossom Treatment, a luxurious 120-minute service.
Another thing that sets Sanctuary Spa apart from many other places is its menu, which features a wide selection of unique treatments including Asian-inspired therapies. Facials and massages aside, they offer many other services like cupping, reflexology, and Thai massage, along with several other interesting offerings such as Tok Sen and Luk Pra Kope.
Both of the above treatments are 120 minutes long and originate in Thai culture. The Tok Sen treatment includes an exfoliating foot and lower leg bath followed by Thai massage combined with vibration therapy, which uses a tapping technique (Tok) to balance the flow of energy (Sen) for a meditative and restorative feeling post-treatment.
Luk Pra Kope also includes an exfoliating foot and lower leg bath, then pairs Thai massage with an herbal poultice made with organically grown herbs that is then steamed, rolled, and pressed along the body’s energy pathways. Benefits include alleviating sore muscles, increasing circulation, improving joint mobility, and an overall sense of balance and harmong. View Sanctuary Spas’s complete menu of treatments here.
I was offered my choice of aromatherapy oil for the treatment which included a full-body massage.
The treatment began with a scalp, neck, and shoulder massage with warm wild lime oil.
After my service, I met my therapist outside of the treatment room where she was waiting with a cup of water so that I could rehydrate after my massage. We walked back through the Zen garden again and I chose to spend a few minutes on the outdoor observation deck that overlooks the grounds behind the spa, which has a garden area, pickleball and tennis courts, and beautiful mountain views in the distance.
A beautiful view of the resort grounds from the spa’s upper observation deck.
Sanctuary Camelback also has tennis and pickleball courts.
Located directly across from the spa is a full-service salon where guests can get their hair cut, colored or styled, along with makeup services, manicures and pedicures, lash tinting, and extensions. Attached to the salon is a retail boutique that sells a variety of products ranging from workout clothing and skincare to signature Gurney’s Resorts and Sanctuary Camelback merchandise. I ended up buying a candle and a visor that featured the resort’s logo and signature scent to take back as reminders of my incredible trip.
After my spa treatment I took an afternoon dip in the resort’s infinity-edge swimming pool.
We spent the rest of our afternoon relaxing under an umbrella by the infinity pool, which is heated year-round and drink and meal service is also available. My husband and I ordered cocktails, a smoothie, and some small bites to enjoy before our dinner later at Elements Restaurant. It was the perfect way to relax after the spa and we couldn’t have imagined a better place to spend Memorial Day Weekend.
If you’re looking for the ultimate luxury desert getaway, I highly recommend booking a visit to Sanctuary Camelback Mountain and Sanctuary Spa. They also have a sister property, Gurney’s Montauk, which is the only luxury hotel in the Hamptons located right on the beach. Learn more about it here.
After my service, I stopped by the resort boutique to pick up a few of the hotel’s signature products home as a reminder of my trip.
Cost: Wild Lime Blossom Treatment ($450/120 min)
Insider Tip: Arrive 30 minutes early to give yourself time to enjoy the spa’s amenities before your treatment. Bring a swimsuit if you plan to go in the jacuzzi.
Hours: 6 a.m. - 8:30 p.m. (Daily)
Address: 5700 East McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Phone: 1-888-722-6230
Email: spareception.sanctuary@gurneysresorts.com
For more information and to book a service at Sanctuary Spa, visit the website. For more information on Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, A Gurney's Resort & Spa, visit the website. Follow on Instagram: @sanctuaryaz_
[Photos by Kamala Kirk]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk