Sunside Wellness Retreat: a reset button you can book
Two days, one valley, no schedule before 8 a.m. We arrived frazzled on a Friday and left on Sunday walking slower — on purpose.
The program
Sunside's philosophy is sleep-first: rooms go fully dark, mornings start with guided valley walks rather than alarms, and the single daily workshop (breathwork on our visit) is optional without a hint of guilt. Thermal pools run to 10 p.m., and the sunset hour there — steam, silence, swallows — is worth the trip alone.
Food deserves its own paragraph: three generous plant-forward meals a day from the garden kitchen, clearly labeled, genuinely delicious. Our tester with a nut allergy was briefed by name at every sitting without having to ask twice.
Rooms and value
- Garden rooms are quiet and comfortable; valley-view rooms cost more and earn it at dawn.
- Phones stay in rooms by house rule — the lounge has books, boards and actual conversation.
- The two-day package undercuts comparable retreats by roughly a fifth.
What we liked
- Sleep-first, pressure-free schedule
- Outstanding garden kitchen
- Careful allergy handling
What we didn't
- Valley-view rooms sell out fast
- Patchy mobile signal (a plus for some)
The verdict
The rare wellness retreat with no hard sell and no woo-woo: just rest, movement, heat and excellent food. Book the sunrise package. 4.8 out of 5.
