Beginning March 9, 2026 we will begin maintenance work at the baths on Mondays. Learn More.
Learn More.

Learn more.

Due to road closures along Highway 1 to our north and south, Esalen is closed through April 11.
Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.

Private Guided Hike with Wildtender

$325 / $430

for Workshop Guests

$452 / $684

for Day Pass Visitors

150 minutes

One or Two People

Location

You will meet your practitioner outside the bookstore 10 minutes early to be guided to the location for your session.

Guided hikes invite mindful exploration of Big Sur’s diverse landscapes, immersed in the beauty of the Esselen tribal lands. Through gentle walking, plant knowledge, and shared inquiry, guests reconnect with the natural world and themselves.

This session supports:

  • Sensory awakening
  • Grounding and vitality
  • Nature-based insight
  • Renewed sense of belonging

Mileage: 1.5–3 miles (depending on pace and preference), out and back.

Difficulty: Gentle to Moderate (well-graded but steep trails).

Timeframe includes a 10-min drive to/from Esalen. Guest(s) must have their own vehicle to caravan with guide to the trailhead. Waiver & brief medical intake are required. Please see FAQ for packing list, eligibility criteria, and more. In the event a trail is closed for weather-related or other reasons, alternate trails are available.

Practitioners

Noël Vietor

Noël Vietor is a co-founder of Wildtender and faculty at Esalen. While an educator in the Esalen Farm & Garden for five years, Noël became foundationally rooted in Esalen’s Gestalt tradition. Having found healing and meaning in the Big Sur wild, Noël is honored to create this opportunity for others through Wildtender’s immersive wilderness programs.

Fletcher Tucker

Fletcher Tucker is a co-founder of Wildtender and faculty at Esalen. A curious explorer of inner and outer landscapes, Fletcher’s background includes a lifelong passion for California’s natural history, a decade of practice in the Gestalt lineage of Esalen, study in Taoism and Zen, and engagement with the Earth-reverent spirituality of his Nordic ancestors.

Ali Goodman

Bio pending