Visiting Esalen in Big Sur in 2025: Everything You Need to Know
Esalen in Big Sur, California is perched on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean
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 we discovered 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 (this cookbook says it all), the fascinating people you’ll encounter, 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.
WHAT IS ESALEN?
Esalen in their own words
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’s 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.
Have you ever seen any place as beautiful as Big Sur, California?!
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). I always check kayak.com to compare prices and find the best deal:
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!
HOW CAN I VISIT ESALEN?
Visiting Esalen is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that every seeker should add to their bucket list. And getting access to their grounds will give you the chance to visit their world famous, 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. That’s what you’ll experience bathing in the stunning Esalen baths.
And the oceanside shower you’ll take after the baths are incredible too. I think my showers there are the most breathtaking and memorable showers I’ve ever take in my entire life!
There are currently only 3 ways you can visit Esalen and gain access to their gorgeous premises:
Book a workshops or self-guided retreat: There is an abundant roster of fascinating workshops on offer year-round. If that doesn’t strike your fancy or you’d rather do your own thing, you can also book a self-guided retreat. For these options, you’re required to stay on campus so be sure to make a reservation in advance.
Book a healing arts service: You can get a day pass to the grounds, from 8:30am-8:30pm, if you book a massage or alternative service (i.e. astrology readings or reiki). The day pass includes lunch, access to any open classes taking place that day, and the hot springs.
Volunteer: A final option for exploring the grounds is to do a 3-hour volunteer shift. This includes prepping food in the kitchen, cleaning guest cabins, or doing work in the garden. Doing a shift gives you three meals, and access to daily classes and the hot springs.
* If you opt for options 2 or 3, you’ll need to book your own accommodations nearby in Big Sur. Here are my personal favorite recommendations for where to stay close to Esalen:
Lucia Lodge - One of the more affordable options in the area, this hotel offers breathtaking views and amazing service. — Book now
Big Sur Lodge - Cozy cabins nestled in nature, and pet-friendly! — Book now
Post Ranch Inn - If budget allows, this is the absolute BEST place to stay in Big Sur. The impeccable views, service, and food prove that it has perfect 10/10 ratings for good reason! — Book now
Didn’t quite find what you were looking for? Click here to see more housing options in Big Sur.
WHAT TO PACK FOR ESALEN?
Be sure to pack layers because California can have moody weather - hot during the day and chilly at night. Also make sure to pack your medications and your own toiletries because these are hard to find in Big Sur.
Beyond that, you’ll need to bring the following items to ensure a pleasant stay:
Headlamp - To walk around the grounds and visit the hot springs at night.
Alarm clock or watch - So you can be unplugged from your phone, but still make your classes on time.
Travel Hairdryer - They don’t provide one, so you’ll need to bring your own.
Reusable water bottle (non-glass) - I love this one because it filters your water for you as well.
Hiking shoes or Tevas - To trek around the grounds comfortably.
Sun Protection - You’ll want to be outside as much as possible, but the California sun can be intense, so bring sunscreen, a lip balm with SPF, and a sun hat.
Journal - You’ll want to document all the insights and downloads that come to you on the magical grounds.
Travel insurance - Always, always, always get travel insurance. It has saved me on so many occasions - my go to provider is Safety Wing.
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.
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 there for decades. I even made a lifelong friend during my time there!
I highly recommend a visit to Esalen for spiritual travelers and seekers in search of a life shift, therapeutic healing, or a deeper understanding of themselves. The place has a mysterious, magical quality that transforms people.
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.
Are you inspired to visit Esalen? Let me know in the comments! 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.
Check out these Esalen & Big Sur essential reads:
Hi, I’m Sumeeta
After traveling to 50+ countries, I realized that what I was truly seeking was a deeper understanding of myself. Here at Sumeeta Seeks, I share travel tips for spiritual destinations, self-love tools, and mindful living insights to help you reconnect with yourself.
