Breaking The Mold: How Health Retreats Are Redefining Wellness Travel

Forbes

18 hours ago

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Health retreats are continually gain in popularity in the travel space, but the way they are run has been restructured over the years. Once focused on weight loss, they now incorporate mental, physical and emotional health as well. One such example is Mountain Trek Health Reset Retreat a week-long immersive health retreat in British Columbia, Canada, that's been around for over 30 years. While many may initially sign up hoping to drop a few pounds or gain fitness, they quickly discover that the experience goes far deeper—transforming not only the body, but the mind and spirit as well.
'We call ourselves a health reset retreat,' says Katya Campbell, the new General Manager and Fitness Director at Mountain Trek. 'We're not just focused on lifespan, but on healthspan—that period of life when you're healthy, vibrant, and living with intention. It's about inspiring people to make small, sustainable changes that can drastically improve their quality of life.'
Campbell is a reflection of the retreat's evolving philosophy. At 49, she represents much of the core demographic—70% of Mountain Trek guests are women, with an average age of 54. 'There was a conscious decision to find someone who would resonate with our clients,' Katya notes. 'Many of them are in perimenopause or menopause, and they're craving connection, balance, and most of all—permission to care for themselves.'
That sense of permission is something Kirkland Shave, Program creator and co-owner, has seen shift dramatically in recent years. 'At the core of it, two things are the hardest for everyone: knowing what's authentic to them, and believing they deserve to take care of themselves,' he explains. 'Especially women—they're used to giving to their children, partners, parents. But here, they start to realize how powerful it is to give back to themselves.'
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Mountain Trek's reputation has evolved significantly. 'We were once known locally as the 'fat farm,'' Campbell admits. 'It was a hardcore bootcamp—restrictive diets and punishing workouts. But people would go home and gain the weight back. We realized that wasn't real change.'
Today, the program is radically holistic, rooted in five pillars: movement, nutrition, sleep, detoxification, and emotional well-being. 'We understand now that weight is a symptom, not a target,' says Shave. 'If cortisol is high from chronic stress, the body holds onto fat as a survival mechanism. So unless you address sleep, hormones, trauma—you're just applying a Band-Aid.'
At the week-long retreat guests hike through stunning wilderness, eat nourishing food, learn about circadian rhythms, and engage in deep emotional work. There are lectures on menopause, classes on habit formation, and a lot of talk about what constitutes healthy eating.'This is not spa life with cucumber water and poolside naps,' Campbell laughs. 'This is a deep dive.'
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That deep dive seems to be resonating. Roughly 30–40% of guests are repeat visitors, an unusually high rate for the wellness industry. 'We may be hard to get to,' Campbell acknowledges, 'but that's part of the magic. You unplug. You slow down. You're wrapped in nature, surrounded by people who live the lifestyle we're teaching. There's an authenticity to it.'
Many guests return not just because they enjoyed it—but because the program helped them through pivotal life moments: a divorce, job burnout, a major surgery, or the grief of losing a parent. 'There's usually a catalyst,' Shave explains. 'A life event that pushes someone to finally say, 'I have to make a change.' Once they're here, they remember how good it feels to be in their bodies again—and they want to keep that feeling alive.'
Campbell agrees. 'A lot of our guests are dealing with overwhelm. They're at that tipping point. We help them feel seen. Less alone. And we give them tools to shift—not just for a week, but for the long run.'
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Unlike many larger wellness destinations, Mountain Trek caps its groups at just 16 people. This intimacy is intentional. 'It allows for deep connection,' Campbell says. 'People open up. They cry. They support each other. And in that, they start to heal.'
Shave calls it 're-falling in love with yourself.' After a week of eating clean, hiking in untouched wilderness, and experiencing the aliveness that comes from connection and self-care, guests leave '10 years younger,' he says. 'Their eyes shine. Their skin glows. Their step is friskier. It's not magic—it's metabolic science combined with emotional support.'
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Mountain Trek may have started as a fitness-focused program, but today it embodies something far more progressive: a retreat that understands the intricacies of modern midlife, especially for women. It acknowledges burnout, stress, hormone shifts, and the emotional toll of constantly giving to others.
'In many ways, menopause is a clarifying force,' Campbell reflects. 'Our tolerance goes down—but that's a good thing. It forces us to reevaluate what we truly want. And when women finally prioritize themselves, not only do they thrive—they become even more powerful caregivers, leaders, and community builders.'
With its focus on small, lasting changes and a genuine commitment to transformation, Mountain Trek doesn't just focus on a week-long break from life—but rather a reset for a better one.