The quick answer
The best place to start a sabbatical is somewhere you can rest before the adventure begins, so you don’t carry your burnout with you. The five I recommend again and again are The Remote Resort in Fiji, Explora Atacama in Chile, Shinta Mani Mustang in Nepal, Castle Hot Springs in Arizona and NIHI Sumba in Indonesia.
When people picture the start of their sabbatical, they often imagine leaping straight into adventure. Booking flights to five countries, cramming itineraries, diving headfirst into the whirlwind. But here’s the truth: if you begin your sabbatical in overdrive, you risk carrying your burnout with you.
You’ve likely just walked away from years of responsibility — jobs, projects, leadership, family obligations. Your mind has been trained to always be “on.” To start your sabbatical with the same intensity is like sprinting at the beginning of a marathon. You’ll burn out before you even hit your stride.
That’s why the first chapter of a sabbatical should be about rest. Slowing down. Letting go of responsibility. Allowing yourself to be cared for. This transition creates the mental and physical space to step fully into the journey ahead. It’s what makes the rest of your travels more alive, more intentional, and more transformative.
And yes — this is the time to splurge. After working hard for so many years, don’t you deserve a beginning that’s jaw-droppingly great? A place where you can finally exhale, reconnect with yourself, and remember what it feels like to simply be?
There are endless wellness retreats in the world that will fit any budget, but here are five destinations I recommend again and again for clients who are beginning their sabbaticals with a healthy budget. Each one offers the perfect balance of remoteness, comfort, and care.
If you want a personalized recommendation, send an inquiry and mention this blog post. You’ll receive one for free or three for $50.
Table of Contents
- Fiji — The Remote Resort
- Chile — Explora Atacama Desert
- Nepal — Shinta Mani Mustang
- United States — Castle Hot Springs, Arizona
- Indonesia — NIHI Sumba
- Why This Beginning Matters
1. Fiji — The Remote Resort
If your journey is beginning in Oceania, Fiji is the perfect place to land softly. The Remote Resort lives up to its name—set far from the noise, with little phone service to pull you back into old habits. Each day, meals are prepared and customized to your taste. Beaches, hiking trails, and water sports are at your fingertips, but nothing is rushed. This is a place to unplug, sink into the natural world, and start listening to yourself again.
If you book at least four nights, receive $100 USD property credit.
2. Chile — Explora Atacama Desert
Imagine beginning your sabbatical somewhere that feels like another planet. The Atacama Desert is one of the most remote landscapes on earth, and Explora Atacama offers a retreat right in the middle of it. It’s perfect if you want a balance of stillness and activity. You can hike, ride, or stargaze, all while staying completely disconnected from the noise of daily life. If you’re starting your sabbatical in South America, this is an extraordinary reset.
- Free arrival and departure logistics
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant (already included in property rates)
- USD 100 equivalent resort or hotel credit during the stay (not combinable, not valid toward the room rate, and no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability
*perks subject to change
3. Nepal – Shinta Mani Mustang
If your path leads through South Asia, there’s nowhere quite like the Himalayas to begin. Shinta Mani Mustang offers sweeping views, fresh mountain air, and a deep focus on wellness. Think yoga, breathwork, meditation, and space to simply be. This is where you step away from the rush of your old life and allow your body to catch up with your decision. Remote, serene, and awe-inspiring, it’s the kind of place that reminds you how small your worries really are. And if you want to stay on after your retreat, here’s how to spend one to two months in Nepal.
If you book at least two nights, receive $100 USD property credit.
4. United States — Castle Hot Springs, Arizona
If your sabbatical begins closer to home—or you’re passing back through the U.S. before launching into long-term travel—Castle Hot Springs is the ideal transition point. Tucked away in the Arizona desert, this property combines natural hot springs, expansive desert hikes, wellness classes, and world-class cuisine. You can immerse yourself in nature or spend your days floating in mineral-rich water, unwinding decades of stress. It’s consistently ranked among the top resorts in the U.S. for good reason.
- Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
- Daily breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant (already included in property rates)
- $100 USD Resort or Hotel credit utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
- Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
*perks subject to change
5. Indonesia – NIHI Sumba
If Southeast Asia is where your journey begins, NIHI Sumba is a once-in-a-lifetime reset. Known as one of the world’s top wellness resorts, it combines luxury with raw, natural beauty. Ride horses along the beach, indulge in holistic spa treatments, or simply take in the wild coastline. NIHI isn’t just about pampering—it’s about deep recharge. The kind of rest that makes you feel ready to carry your adventure forward with full vitality.
- Upgrade on arrival subject to availability
- Daily full breakfast for up to two guests
- $100 USD equivalent resort or hotel credit to be utilized during stay
- Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability
- Complimentary Wi-Fi
- 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and all non-alcoholic drinks
- Complimentary WiFi internet
- Minibar 1 full restock per day
- Tour of the Sumba Foundation projects
- Sea activities (stand-up paddleboarding and snorkeling around Nihiwatu Beach)
- Daily scheduled yoga and meditation classes
- Complimentary happiest hour at the Boathouse Bar daily from 5:30
*perks subject to change
Why This Beginning Matters
A sabbatical isn’t just a long trip. It’s a reset for your whole life. And like any reset, the way you begin shapes everything that follows.
Choosing a destination where you can rest, decompress, and feel cared for is not indulgence—it’s strategy. It ensures that when you step into the adventure, learning, and growth ahead, you do it from a place of clarity and energy rather than depletion.
This is why I design sabbaticals to begin with rest. It’s why my clients who start their journeys in places like these return to me saying: That transition changed everything. It gave me the space to actually arrive in my own life again.
If you’re planning a sabbatical, I’d love to help you craft the right beginning. Together, we can design a journey that doesn’t just take you around the world—it brings you back to yourself.
Let me know about your next trip in the inquiry box below.
*perks subject to change
Frequently asked questions
Why should a sabbatical start with rest?
If you start a sabbatical in overdrive, you risk carrying your burnout with you; it’s like sprinting at the beginning of a marathon. Starting with rest creates the mental and physical space to step fully into the adventure, learning and growth that come after.
Where should I start a sabbatical in Southeast Asia?
NIHI Sumba in Indonesia is one of the world’s top wellness resorts and a once-in-a-lifetime reset if your sabbatical begins in Southeast Asia. You can ride horses along the beach, book holistic spa treatments, or just take in the wild coastline.
Where should I start a sabbatical in South America?
Explora Atacama in Chile’s Atacama Desert, one of the most remote landscapes on earth, is an extraordinary reset for a sabbatical starting in South America. It balances stillness and activity, with hiking, riding and stargazing while you stay disconnected.
Where can I start a sabbatical in the United States?
Castle Hot Springs in the Arizona desert is an ideal sabbatical transition point if you’re starting in the U.S. It combines natural hot springs, desert hikes, wellness classes and world-class food, and is consistently ranked among the top resorts in the country.
Do you get perks booking a luxury resort through a travel advisor?
Yes. When you book these retreats through me, you get the best available rate plus perks at no additional cost, such as a $100 USD property credit, arrival and departure logistics, and upgrades or early check-in subject to availability. Perks vary by property and are subject to change.
