Esalen Institute is open! However, Highway 1 to the south is closed — please review the current travel advisory.
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.

Esalen opens May 3, 2024

Visitors are now able to access Esalen as well as other businesses and trails in northern Big Sur via twice-daily convoys on Highway 1 operated by Caltrans.

Convoys run only at 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day. These are the only opportunities to travel into and out of Big Sur, so visitors must plan accordingly.

Learn more.

your potential.
your creativity.
your feelings.
community and connection.
new ways to move.
healing.

Self-Guided Explorations is a retreat experience that provides a sanctuary for reconnecting with yourself, your dreams, and your desires.

Embark on a personal journey of self-discovery and renewal.

Whether awakening dormant passions, healing past wounds, or simply reconnecting with the joy of being alive, Self-Guided Explorations provides a supportive and nurturing environment for transformation.

This is an opportunity to cultivate a sense of vitality and well-being. Whether you need a week full of embodiment practice and writing, or a weekend filled with solitude and quiet enjoyment of the land, Self-Guided Explorations offers the container you need to reset, refresh, and recalibrate.

“During my weekend, not only did I develop more vulnerability, openness, and empathy, but I was also inspired by the sense of community.”
Christopher D, 52, Consultant

To Choose Not To Choose

Opening and closing circles with your cohort bookend a journey that presents you with options. You might take advantage of the opportunity to deepen your yoga practice, explore breathwork and meditation, enjoy conscious dance, immerse yourself in the creative arts, attend presentations by guest faculty, take a long soak under the stars, and so much more — or much, much less. Elevate your self-discovery journey with Esalen® Massage and/or a selection of alternative healing services offered by compassionate practitioners.

With an array of classes, activities, and therapeutic modalities to choose from, you have the freedom to tailor your experience to your individual needs and interests. Your Esalen experience is shaped by your own intuition and curiosity.

Select Your Dates

Please note: On Wednesday September 20, online registration may be unavailable for up to 15 minutes while system maintenance is performed. If the 'Register Now' page does not load, please wait about 15 minutes and try again.

Weekend Dates (3 Days / 2 Nights)

Teachers and Classes

Grounded in Esalen's ethos of openness and exploration, our teachers are seasoned, credentialed facilitators who offer a unique blend of expertise and encouragement to our Self-Guided guests. With a diverse array of backgrounds spanning psychology, mindfulness, somatics, creative arts, and holistic healing, they provide a supportive framework for personal exploration, guiding individuals through immersive experiences designed to cultivate introspection, creativity, and inner growth. Participants are empowered to delve deep into their inner landscapes, fostering profound insights and shifts in consciousness.

Open Class Schedule

Meet Our Teachers

Class Descriptions

I did not expect this weekend to be so cathartic and to cut to the core of so many of my stressors. I did not expect to feel as well as I did leaving.
Megan N, Technologist from Menlo Park, CA