In a world where wellness often feels curated for a narrow audience, Black-owned wellness retreats offer something radically different: spaces that see you, hold you, and speak your language. These are not just getaways—they’re intentional sanctuaries created by Black women and men who have walked through burnout, grief, transformation, and joy.
For first-time travelers looking to explore a more grounded, affirming approach to self-care, this guide introduces you to Black-owned wellness retreats that center healing for the mind, body, and spirit. From solo rest escapes in D.C. to cultural wellness adventures in West Africa, these retreats offer a range of experiences for every kind of wellness seeker.
Whether you’re traveling alone for the first time, booking with a sister-friend group, or looking for a deeper kind of escape, this guide will walk you through where to go, what to expect, and how to get the most from your wellness retreat.
Why Black-Owned Wellness Retreats Matter
Before we dive in, let’s address the deeper “why.” Mainstream wellness spaces are often built without cultural nuance. The language, the marketing, even the methods—too often, they fail to include the complexities of Black experiences.
Black-owned retreats offer more than yoga sessions and green juice. They offer belonging. These are spaces shaped by people who understand what it means to navigate the intersection of Blackness, womanhood, queerness, faith, diaspora, and history. The wellness here is not surface-level—it’s personal, communal, and transformative.
1. Whole Experience – Kenya, Bali, Colombia
Location: Varies by retreat (Nairobi, Ubud, Medellín)
Price Range: $3,000–$5,500 (7–10 days, all-inclusive)
Community-first wellness in lush, global landscapes
Whole Experience was created by best friends and wellness coaches Tameika G and Whitney Gee, who saw a gap in the wellness industry—one that often excluded Black and Brown women or only catered to narrow beauty ideals. Their retreats are intentionally diverse, body-positive, and spiritually expansive.
Whole Experience itineraries balance yoga, fitness, and self-reflection with a generous helping of joy and cultural immersion. Expect to go from morning meditation to a Maasai Mara safari, or from intention-setting circles to dancing salsa under Colombian stars.
What’s included:
- Yoga + movement sessions (all levels)
- Guided journaling and workshops
- Daily plant-based meals
- Cultural excursions (safari, market tours, hikes)
- Sound healing, cocoa ceremonies, sister circles
Whole Experience Travel Tip: Come open. You’ll try things you haven’t before—like a cacao ceremony in the jungle or a mirror meditation by candlelight. Growth starts when comfort ends.
2. Huru – Washington, D.C.
Location: Private booking only (exact address shared after registration)
Price Range: $400–$950 (2–4 day solo stay)
Solo rest made sacred
Sometimes you don’t need a full itinerary—you just need rest. Huru, founded by Imani Samuels, offers customizable solo wellness stays in D.C. designed to help Black women rest without guilt, noise, or pressure. The name “Huru” comes from the Swahili word for “free,” and that’s exactly what these stays offer: freedom from roles, routines, and responsibilities.
Each guest receives a personalized itinerary of rest rituals, nourishing meals, and sensory tools. Everything from your tea selection to your bedding is curated with intention. No two stays are the same, but all are grounded in stillness and care.
Solo Huru Stays May Include:
- Herbal baths
- Rest menus (nap guides, affirmations, soundscapes)
- Wellness journals
- Curated meals based on your dietary needs
- Optional therapeutic add-ons (reiki, virtual therapy, massage)
Huru Travel Tip: You don’t need to do anything. Huru invites you to reclaim rest without achievement. Pack loose clothes, favorite socks, and leave your planner at home.
3. OMNoire – Global Locations
Locations: South Africa, Portugal, Mexico, California, Costa Rica
Price Range: $2,800–$6,000 (5–8 days, all-inclusive)
Luxury meets inner work
Christina Rice founded OMNoire to create a global network of Black women and women of color pursuing wellness from the inside out. Since 2017, OMNoire has hosted more than 50 retreats around the world.
Expect an experience that blends luxury with spiritual clarity. Whether you’re sipping wine in Sonoma after morning yoga or meditating with a view of the Atlantic in Ghana, OMNoire is about becoming more attuned to yourself while surrounded by others doing the same.
Typical Retreat Themes:
| Location | Theme | Activities |
|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | Rebirth + Radiance | Waterfall excursions, inner child work |
| South Africa | Empowered Living | Safari, energy work, moon ceremonies |
| Portugal | Vision and Vino | Vineyard meditations, coaching |
OMNoire Travel Tip: Plan early. Spots fill quickly, and you’ll want to review the detailed packing list and pre-retreat journal prompts, which help set the tone for the journey.
4. The Jenesis House – Arizona, Mexico, Morocco
Locations: Sedona, Cabo San Lucas, Marrakesh
Price Range: $2,200–$4,800 (5–7 days, all-inclusive)
Meditative healing under the moon
Founded by Jenesis Laforcarde, The Jenesis House delivers retreats designed for spiritual alignment and energetic reset. Each experience is named as a play on “checking in” with yourself: Chèque In, Chèque Ya Self, and Chèque Out.
The retreats are steeped in natural beauty and sacred ritual. Think desert meditations, sound baths under full moons, and workshops to help realign with your purpose. These are deeply healing spaces for those at a crossroads or craving clarity.
Sample Itinerary – Chèque Ya Self (Sedona):
- Vortex Meditation in Red Rocks
- Plant-based cooking classes
- Womb healing workshops
- Sound baths + moonlight journaling
- Nature hikes with reflection prompts
Jenesis House Travel Tip: The energy in Sedona is strong—many guests report emotional breakthroughs. Come grounded, and bring a notebook. What comes up will surprise you.
5. Leisano Living – Caribbean, Southeast Asia
Locations: Jamaica, Thailand, Bali, Antigua
Price Range: $2,900–$4,700 (6–8 days)
Mindful movement, cultural immersion
When Leisan Echols left her high-stress job as a dietitian, she didn’t just take a vacation—she started a movement. Leisano Living offers research-based wellness travel focused on Black women’s physical and emotional well-being.
The retreats incorporate mindfulness, movement, and health coaching—but also leave space for play and exploration. Leisan believes that stepping outside of your comfort zone is where the magic happens.
Retreat Features:
- Daily yoga and mobility sessions
- Nutrition coaching + body wisdom workshops
- Cultural experiences (temple visits, spice markets, food tours)
- Reflection spaces and guided journaling
Leisano Travel Tip: If you’re nervous about traveling far solo, Leisano makes it easy. Airport pickup, WhatsApp group chats, and orientation sessions ease you in.
6. Black Women Healing Retreats – Jamaica, Costa Rica
Locations: Montego Bay, Nosara
Price Range: $3,500–$5,200 (7 days)
Healing in nature, grounded in ancestral practices
Founded by Satya, Black Women Healing Retreats was born from a deep desire to create luxury rooted in emotional, spiritual, and cultural restoration. These are not spa vacations—they are soul resets. From jungle bathing to sacred yoga in lush greenery, everything is designed to help Black women unlearn, let go, and reconnect.
Choose between yoga-focused retreats or those centered around self-care and spiritual work. What they all have in common is a sense of ceremony: meals are mindful, conversations intentional, and silence sacred.
Expect:
- Daily yoga and meditation
- Afro-Indigenous wellness workshops
- Plant medicine ceremonies
- Beach cleanses, herbal education, ancestral healing
Black Women Healing Travel Tip: Be ready to let go of tech. Most retreats have limited Wi-Fi and encourage a full digital detox to allow deeper internal reconnection.
7. Touch of London Spa – San Jose, CA
Location: Willow Glen, San Jose
Price Range: $120–$300 per treatment, retreat packages available
A luxe day spa with global roots
For those not ready to fly out of the country, Touch of London Spa offers a grounded entry point into Black-owned wellness. Founded by Violet Johnson, a British-trained nurse and midwife, this intimate spa blends global traditions with holistic skincare and body therapies.
Having traveled through Saudi Arabia, Africa, France, and China, Johnson brings a worldly understanding of touch, ritual, and beauty into every treatment.
Services Include:
- Custom facials and skin analysis
- Full-body massages using African and Asian modalities
- Spa day retreats (with facial + massage)
- Herbal body treatments
Touch of London Travel Tip: Book a weekday session for a quieter, more meditative atmosphere. The spa is small, warm, and deeply personal.
How to Choose Your First Retreat
If you’re new to wellness travel, choosing the right retreat might feel overwhelming. Use the table below to guide your decision based on your intentions and comfort level.
| Intention | Recommended Retreat | Vibe |
|---|---|---|
| Solo rest & decompression | Huru (D.C.) | Quiet, deeply personal |
| Emotional healing | Black Women Healing Retreats | Nature-based, sacred, spiritual |
| Cultural immersion + joy | Whole Experience | Community-driven, adventurous |
| Luxury + clarity | OMNoire or The Jenesis House | Elegant, spiritually attuned |
| Health + movement focus | Leisano Living | Science-backed, energetic |
| Local and soothing | Touch of London Spa (San Jose) | Calm, accessible, pampering |
Final Tips for First-Time Wellness Travelers
- Be open to the unexpected. The most meaningful parts of your retreat might not be on the itinerary.
- Pack light but with intention. Include clothes you can move and rest in, one journal, and one personal comfort item (a candle, a photo, your favorite tea).
- Don’t worry about going alone. Many guests come solo—and leave with new sisters.
- Talk to your host. Most founders are deeply involved and available before the retreat to answer questions and ease nerves.
- Integration matters. The real work often starts after you get home. Give yourself space to reflect and apply what you’ve learned.
Wellness isn’t a luxury—it’s a right. These retreats aren’t just escapes; they are reclamations of care, of space, of voice. Black-owned wellness retreats offer travelers a place to root, rise, and return to themselves—fully and without apology. If you’re ready to travel deeper, this guide is your starting point.
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