Top Rated Health Retreat in US & Canada by Travel + Leisure

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While Mountain Trek is a unique retreat, we’re in no denial wellness travel is booming. We see our competitors. We read their reviews. But with more and more resorts and hotels, of all shapes and sizes, joining our movement to rejuvenate both the body and soul, we stand even prouder to announce the results of this year’s Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. With a rating of 94.79, Mountain Trek stands as the #1 Health Retreat in the US & Canada and #4 Destination Spa in the entire World.

Mountain Trek was just named the #1 Health Retreat in US & Canada by Travel + Leisure

Yes, our program deemphasizes relying on external sources for validation, but we can’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of pride for this award. It’s no easy feat to even make it into Travel & Leisure’s World Best running; to get awarded a spot in the ranks, wherever that may fall, is hugely complimentary. Seeing our name lined up next to retreats we admire for the incredible work they do– Miraval in Arizona (rated 92.89 and ranked #4 in the US), The Ranch in California (rated 91.12 and ranked #6 in the US), Canyon Ranch in Utah (rated 88.00 and ranked #10 in the US), BodyHoliday in St. Lucia (rated 91.28 and ranked #5 Internationally), and Rancho La Puerta in Mexico (rated 95.65 and ranked #2 Internationally) –makes us blush, and not just a little. We’re honored. We’re enthused. More than anything, we are truly grateful.

 

With a rating of 94.79, Mountain Trek is the #1 Rated Health Retreat in the US & Canada

Of all honorees, Mountain Trek is the only health spa north of the 35th parallel, which runs just above Malibu, California, Sante Fe, New Mexico, Morocco, and the island of Crete, Greece.  While that may seem like a small detail, much of why we are so successful in what we do–bring people back to life–is our location. The Selkirk Mountains, with their active alpine glaciation, abundant wildlife, and crystal waters, in the shape of lakes, rivers, streams and waterfalls, inject hikers with energy, confidence, and inspiration, immediately helping them feel restored, reconnected, and rejuvenated. A subset of the Rockies, the Selkirks are still home to the Kutenai Tribe, indigenous Canadians that would soak in the local hot springs after battle and journey to the mountain peaks for inspiration. Today, at Mountain Trek, we continue these millenia-old traditions and blend them with modern science, utilizing the Mountains and their surrounding bounties to reset and rejuvenate our health, mentally and physically. John Muir once said, “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” The mountains truly do give us life and ground us at the same time. We are lucky to call them home.

 

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.John Muir

 

Location aside, we earned our spot as US & Canada’s top rated Health Retreat because of the success of our guests. The Mountain Trek Program has been designed, delivered, and evolved over the past two decades as the most effective way to reset, rebalance, and regain control of our fitness and health. We carefully and intentionally share and implement science-based methods that raise our guests’ metabolism, balance key hormones, reduce cellular inflammation, and modulate their endocrine and nervous systems. Under our guidance, our guests see results in just one week that will leave you scratching your head in awe at what the human body is capable of doing. But this takes effort. There’s no way to tiptoe around it – Mountain Trek is no walk in the park – it’s hard to cut sugar, alcohol, and caffeine for a week, hike 3-5 hours each day, get up to do sunrise yoga and exercise after dinner, all while eating a calorie light (but nutrient dense!) meal plan. Our guests understand that while sitting by the pool with cucumbers on their eyes and a cocktail in their hand sounds relaxing, it won’t result in a happier, healthier life beyond that immediate moment. Our guests attend because they are serious about improving their health, physically and mentally and the results they see not only at the end of their week, but in the years to come proves that a week at Mountain Trek is worth it. The awards? they’re just a nice cherry on the low-carb, low-sugar, low-toxin cake.

 

So while we thank Travel & Leisure for the award, we mostly extend our thanks to our loyal guests. Your testimonials are what drive us to continue doing what we’re doing, and, in turn, to continue transforming people’s lives. Thank you.

Staff Spotlight: Krista Williams

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Krista is one of our long-time hiking guides. Here’s the scoop on how she became such a Nature Woman, Lover of The Outdoors, and why she comes back to Mountain Trek, year after year.

Becoming a parent has made me reflect on my own childhood. I grew up with parents who were very passionate about the great outdoors. My mom, being an Interpretive Naturalist, taught me to love nature, and my Dad held very strong beliefs about working in a harmonious balance with our environment. My parents were avid hikers, and, at a few months old, had me out on the trails. They even baptized me in an old growth Cedar stump.

I always say the outdoors is my religion, and a summit is my temple. There is a calmness and feeling of completeness when I’m out in the mountains, away from the hustle and bustle of urban life.

This is one of the reasons I love my job. The transformation I see in people when they are out in the wilderness, surrounded by beauty, is astounding. Helping others find themselves again makes me feel I’m absolutely doing the right thing, professionally. I feel blessed to be able to work outdoors, and blessed to have such wonderful parents who raised me to love and respect our beautiful natural world.

Two Frank Lloyd Wright quotes I live by are, “Study Nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you,” and, “The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes.”