Several years ago, I had a chance encounter with Esalen in Big Sur, California. I went to Big Sur for a weekend getaway while interning in San Francisco for the summer. I went with a friend who led all the planning for our excursion, so I didn’t really do any research or know much about where we were going. This made what was about to come all the more exciting.

As we cruised along the Pacific Coast Highway, the scenery became more and more dramatic until we reached the pinnacle in Big Sur. My jaw dropped as I stared out from the cliffside lookouts as waves crashed against the ragged coastline and majestic cypress trees towered over us. Add to that the perfect California weather, and I couldn’t believe this was real life. As we drove to our hotel for the weekend, we passed a simple wooden sign that read “Esalen Institute. By Reservation Only.” I saw a few eccentrically dressed folks walk out with beaming smiles. “I heard that place changes lives. Lots of influential people got their inspiration there,” my friend said.

Aside from one modest sign, the Esalen Institute remains inconspicuous to passerby.

He was right. I later came to learn that the likes of Bob Dylan, Ravi Shankar, Joan Baez, Hunter S. Thompson, Abraham Maslow, Susan Sontag, and Joseph Campbell had all spent time on the storied grounds. Even fictional characters were inspired by Esalen – it’s the place where Don Draper goes in the last episode of Mad Men, and was also referenced on True Detective and Netflix’s You. So I added it to my bucket list.

And…I finally made it out there! I recently attended a great self-love workshop. After my visit, I came to learn that the real draw of Esalen is the breathtaking location, the delicious food (check out their incredible cookbook!), the fascinating people, the nude hot springs, and the legendary Esalen massages.

A visit to Esalen should be on every spiritual seeker’s bucket list. In this guide, I break down everything you need to plan your own visit to the famed California retreat center.

outdoor dining

ocean views

WHAT IS ESALEN IN BIG SUR?

The Esalen Institute was founded in the 1960s as a center for self-exploration and personal transformation by two Stanford students, Michael Murphy and Dick Price. It was founded during a time when new ways of understanding the world were flourishing, with the Beatniks, The Summer of Love, and Woodstock all taking shape. After studying philosophy and comparative religion at Stanford with renowned professor Frederic Spiegelberg, Murphy traveled to the ashram of Sri Aurobindo in Pondicherry, India. Upon his return, he transformed the 27 acres of coastal land that his grandparents owned into the institute now known as Esalen.

It is a laboratory for human potential and a world leader in alternative education. The Big Sur retreat center has been the birthplace of radical ideas combining Eastern spirituality with Western science (such as Gestalt practice), and was instrumental in popularizing yoga and meditation in the West. Every year, over 15,000 visitors travel from around the world to take one of their 500+ annual workshops in a vast array of subjects including personal growth, meditation, massage, yoga, psychology, and art. The center houses 140 guests, grows its own organic food, and serves as a haven for people facing crises or seeking change.

WHERE IS ESALEN INSTITUTE LOCATED?

Esalen is located on Highway 1 in Big Sur, California, just south of Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park. It’s about a 5-hour drive north of Los Angeles, or a 3-hour drive south of San Francisco. The only way to get to Esalen is by car.

If you are flying in, the closest airports are either San Francisco (SFO), San Jose (SJC), or Monterey (MRY):

From Monterey Airport - 47 miles, 75 minutes by car
From San Francisco Airport - 150 miles, 3 hours by car
From San Jose Airport - 120 miles, 2.5 hours by car

You can rent a car at those airports. Click here to compare rental companies and find the best car rental deal.

Highway 1, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), is considered one of the most beautiful drives in America, so be sure to give yourself plenty of time to stop along the way and take in the gorgeous scenery!

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HOW CAN I BOOK A VISIT TO ESALEN?

Workshops: To visit Esalen, advance reservations are required for either a workshop or for a self-guided retreat.
Accomodation: Esalen offers a range of accommodations for various budgets, including bring-your-own-sleeping bag, shared bunk bed room with shared bathroom, and premium rooms. Prices include workshops, all meals, use of all facilities and hot springs, and all daily yoga and movement classes. (Please note: Post-Covid, Esalen massages and Esalen hot springs reservations are only available to guests staying onsite).
Esalen Massages: You can also book one of their famous massages or other treatments. Advance booking is recommended.

organic food grown onsite

no wi-fi to encourage connection

lunch with a view

The stunning scenery surrounding Esalen is enough to alter anyone. I don’t have the words to accurately convey the amazement I felt waking up to the views. My eyes rejoiced in what they were taking in. But, perhaps what Esalen is best known for is its clothing-optional hot springs. Imagine sitting in a hot tub filled with healing natural sulfuric waters in the middle of the night’s darkness, with stars shining as far as your eyes can see. Wafts of fresh jasmine overpower your senses, the moon reflects its light on the ocean, and the sound of waves crashing fills your ears. Add to that the meaningful conversations with other people who have shed their masks and are curious about getting the most out of life, and you can see why people have achieved various stages of enlightenment on the grounds.

I highly recommend a visit to Esalen for spiritual travelers in search of a life shift or a deeper understanding of themselves. The place has a mysterious, magical quality that has been transforming people for decades. After my stay at Esalen, I left feeling a simple bliss within. I felt at one with myself and the world, and I was filled with gratitude for all that I am and all that is.

meditation room

fire pit

organic farm

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Are you inspired to visit Esalen? Let me know in the comments! And if you loved this post, pin it! This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. I donate 10% of all proceeds made from this blog to charity. Find out more about the charity I am supporting here.