Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale is a luxury golf resort with Sonoran Desert-inspired accommodations.

Driving through the desolate and scorched Sonoran desert, Boulders Resort & Spa Scottsdale suddenly reveals itself out of seemingly nowhere from the primal rock formations like the opening shots of a Western sci-fi classic. Baked in the sun for a billion years into hues of fiery reds and oranges, it appear almost unearthly. Yet, the terrain and ancient peoples of the desert are masters of the earth and its magical gifts.

Boulders Resort & Spa, a Curio Collection by Hilton, is a luxury and legacy destination hotel, spa, and golf clinic that wins accolades year after year from major publications and “Best of” lists, including US News & World Report, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast and more.

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The sprawling resort features two Jay Morrish-designed championship golf courses and acclaimed golf clinics and workshops, gourmet restaurants with an emphasis on local and sustainable ingredients, three resort pools, and a year-round calendar of activities that ranges from guided nature hikes and horseback riding, to moonlit bike rides, stargazing, hot air balloon rides, and rock climbing.

The resort features a selection of casitas, suites, haciendas, and multi-room villas that hug the landscape with local flora and fauna outside your patio door. Fireplaces, wood-beamed ceilings, stone-walled showers, and artisan crafted décor combine with luxurious in-room amenities for an incomparable hospitality experience.

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Like the resort itself, The Spa at Boulders is consistently ranked one of the best in the Southwest and in the nation. Many of the treatments are inspired by indigenous practices and feature ingredients from the spa’s herb garden. The expansive facility features an outdoor resort pool with lounge chairs, a spa cafe, and one of the areas most comprehensive fitness facilities.

We had the opportunity to speak with Spa Director Vanessa Carroll to learn more about one of the region’s most beloved spas.

The 33,000-square-foot Spa at Boulders is a relaxing desert-inspired wellness sanctuary.

Why You’ll Love It: There are only a few resorts in the world that can match the setting of the Boulders Resort where our distinctive architecture blends perfectly into the surrounding ancient rock formations. They consider us a nature lover’s paradise for wellness and tranquility.

The ancient peoples who originally inhabited the sacred land that the Boulders now occupies, considered the surrounding rock formations to be spiritual so we celebrate the region with treatments that use desert-inspired elements and combine Native American traditions for a true wellness experience.

Key Features: Our 33,000-square-foot Spa at the Boulders also includes a 2,000-square-foot fitness center, a movement studio, a yoga studio, a Pilates studio, over 40 complimentary fitness classes, a learning center for cooking classes, a full-time nutritionist, men’s and women’s Niwa with luxury spa amenities, several couples massage suites, circular tea room, retail store, an outdoor adult swimming pool and Jacuzzi, and our Spa Café. Key features also include our three signature meditation areas.

The heated outdoor spa pool offers stunning mountain views as its backdrop.

Bonus: We offer three meditation areas; a dedicated labyrinth; an authentic tipi for self or guided meditation, and an expansive organic garden setting that adds a sensory element to meditation time.

We also offer over 40 complimentary fitness and yoga classes and the new wellness rituals: Tipi Cleansing Ritual and sound bowl healing. Outdoor activities that complement a spa treatment include rock climbing clinics, Guided Bike Tours, guided desert hikes, paddle board yoga, and even a wildlife/nature tour.

Amenities at the spa include a signature outdoor Labyrinth walk.

Spa Snacks: The spa facility offers a spa café that can be enjoyed indoors, on the patio or poolside. Guests can also dine at any of the four on-site restaurants and lounges: Palo Verde (southwestern contemporary); Grill Kitchen (American Classics); Spotted Donkey Cantina (cantina-style Mexican cuisine); Discovery Lounge (shared plates and cocktails); and Pool Pavilion (at the resort swimming pool).

The Spa Cafe serves a selection of fresh and healthy cuisine.

Splurge Treatment: Desert Rose Radiance. This 80-minute service begins with a jojoba and desert rose exfoliation. It is followed by a Vichy shower and soothing aloe mask that is particularly beneficial for dry skin. While wrapped to maintain warmth as the mask penetrates, an uplifting facial massage includes prickly pear and pomegranate finishing. The service is finished with a hydrating application of Desert Rose Shea Butter Crème.

My favorite splurge would be a Thai floor massage as I find it both energizes and relaxes me at the same time, and of course I try to remain as flexible as possible. For this service, the guest is asked to wear comfortable fitness clothing to enjoy a deeply relaxing and rejuvenating traditional Thai treatment. It is offered on either floor mat or table. The service is a cross between yoga, acupressure, and Zen shiatsu. The skilled therapists use slow rhythmic compression and stretches along the body’s energy lines to soften and relax the body to release the flow of energy.

The spa offers a wide variety of services featuring local ingredients in its relaxing private treatment rooms.

Insider’s Favorite: Private Watsu Pool. This is one of just a few spas in the entire state of Arizona with a dedicated Watsu pool. This service takes place in a private outdoor Watsu pool and the guest wears a swimsuit. This is a highly specialized water therapy treatment. As the guest gently floats, they are supported by the therapist in waist-high, warm water and gently guided with a fluid movement. The service includes pressure point massage and stretching to create profound relaxation and well-being.

In the spa’s Native American Tipi, guests can enjoy a relaxing meditative experience and participate in a Cleansing Ritual.

Most Unique Treatment: Our Spirit of Life service is our signature Ayurvedic treatment. This 110-minute treatment is a beautiful combination of the grounding Shirodhara and Bindi Balancing for a complete head-to-toe experience. This is the ultimate Ayurvedic ritual that is nourishing and moisturizing to the skin, calming the nervous system and mind, and relaxing the muscles.