Self-Guided Explorations Week of January 18 - 22, 2027

There is a rare kind of retreat where nothing is asked of you except to listen to what you actually want. Self-Guided Explorations at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, CA is a five-day wellness retreat built around that invitation. It is designed for anyone ready to reconnect with themselves, their dreams, and their desires, whether that means awakening a dormant passion, tending an old wound, or simply remembering the joy of being alive.

The week is bookended by an opening and closing circle with your cohort, and what lies between is yours to shape. Teachers in Residence lead daily open classes, and Sam Stern and Micha Merrick are listed as musicians for this week. Esalen's cliffside setting, with its hot springs and quiet land, offers a contemplative container where intuition and curiosity guide the work.

If you have been craving a reset without a rigid curriculum, this retreat is meant for you. You can choose a great deal, or very little, and both are welcome.

What to Expect

The arc of the week is simple: gather, explore at your own pace, and gather again. Between the circles, the schedule is largely open. Daily offerings may include:

- Yoga and dance-based movement
- Conscious dance
- Breathwork and meditation
- Journaling and other creative practices
- Presentations by guest faculty

Beyond classes, you might take a long soak in the hot springs under the stars, spend time in solitude on the land, or book an Esalen® Massage or another holistic healing service with a compassionate practitioner. Healing arts sessions are not included in the program price and are arranged separately.

The atmosphere is one of personal agency. You tailor the experience to your needs and interests, and you leave with a refreshed sense of vitality and well-being, along with practices that support embodiment, writing, and rest.

About the Lineup

Sam Stern is listed as a musician for this Self-Guided Explorations week. The event materials do not include further biographical detail, so the specifics of how music will appear in the program are best confirmed with Esalen directly.

Micha Merrick is also listed as a musician for this week. As with Sam Stern, no additional bio information was provided, and participants are encouraged to check with Esalen for details about musical offerings during the retreat.

The daily open classes are led by Teachers in Residence, who guide activities that may include yoga, dance-based movement, journaling, and breathwork, all designed to encourage joy and mindfulness.

Venue & Logistics

The retreat takes place at Esalen Institute in Big Sur, California. The program includes housing accommodations, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, coffee, tea, and snacks, access to the hot springs and other campus features, and classes on the open schedule. Not included are Healing Arts sessions such as Esalen Massage, specialty coffee, tea, or alcohol purchased from the bar, and bookstore purchases. Participants in Self-Guided Explorations have access to open classes but not to preregistered workshops.

Registration options include a workshop with an on-site stay, a workshop with an off-site stay, or an individual day pass, and scholarships are available through Esalen. Highway 1 access has been affected by road closures and travel advisories, so please review Esalen's current travel advisory before planning your journey.