Need a Reset?
Put This Wellness Resort
on Your Radar—Now 

Take advantage of the structured schedule

While some wellness resorts are the choose-your-own-adventure variety and others take a more customized approach, The Ranch is pared down, with a schedule that includes the same basic structure every day.

That’s especially true at The Ranch Malibu—they don’t bill their philosophy as “no options” for nothing—which is about 1.5 hours from LAX. The 200-acre property was a working ranch in the early 20th century and now includes 21 cottages for guests.

Schedule-wise, expect 4 hours of hiking in the morning (more on that later!), fitness classes and massages in the afternoon, with communal meals, free time and nap time built in.

“It’s one-size-fits-all,” says Willa. “What’s great about that is you’re able to focus exclusively on what’s offered, without distractions or having to use your much-needed mental and physical energy deciding what to do.”

In Italy, meanwhile, the structure—hiking, fitness classes—is totally the same, though Willa and Pierre found there was some more flexibility in the schedule than in Malibu. That’s primarily due to the program’s location, which is housed inside Palazzo Fiuggi, a renowned medical wellness resort about an hour from Rome.

Guests can visit the hotel’s jaw-dropping 60,000-square-foot wellness facility, including pools with Fiuggi’s well-known healing mineral water. “On the last day, for instance, Pierre and I wanted to do the healing pools, so we skipped the afternoon yoga class,” says Willa.

Go all in on the vegan offerings

“To prepare good quality vegan food requires a chef that is an artist. And the artistry in both locations was amazing,” says Willa. In both places, you’ll follow a 1400-calorie per day vegan and gluten-free plan. The dishes, which Willa describes as dense and satisfying include staples like lentils, chickpeas, bulgur and veggies from their own organic gardens.

No surprise here, but caffeine, alcohol and smoking are all off the table. To that end, Willa found that prepping pre-Malibu by cutting coffee for a few days helped her reap the program’s benefits right from the get-go.

And in general, our advisors found the resort’s dedication to sustainability impressive. “All of their food is grown locally. They’re trying to reduce their carbon footprint, so there’s no single-use plastics, for instance. They’re really committed—and it shows,” Willa says.

Hit the trails on incredible hikes

Having visited many wellness resorts, Pierre notes that fitness is a big focus here. That includes, of course, lots of hiking—an exceptional part of the experience.

“The hikes in Italy in the Apennine Mountains are amazing,” says Pierre. “It’s a tough workout, but you’re outdoors, taking in the always-changing views, the surrounding forests. It’s incredible.”

In Malibu, hiking is in the Santa Monica Mountains National Park, with summits to reach and spectacular water views. “While the hiking isn’t as technical as in Italy—that was more traditional mountain hiking—in Malibu, it was just as challenging.”

And in both cases, you’re hiking upwards of 4-5 hours a day. “There were flags set out along the trail and guides, so it was impossible to get lost,” says Pierre. “And everyone hikes at their own pace, so at the end of the day, everyone will walk the same amount of time, but some will do 5 miles, while others will do 8 miles.”