A Dude Ranch for a Retreat Location? Yup, Let's Saddle up! - Retreat Coaching | Retreat Training | Retreat Programs | Wanderlust Entrepreneur | Sheri Rosenthal
Maybe you’ve been dreaming about a stunning beach location for your retreat, or unusual sacred site, or even a hot location that folks are dying to travel to – but today I’m going take the road less traveled and talk about saddling up and using a dude ranch for your retreat!

There are so many of them all over the west both in the USA and in Canada to choose from. And being that I like a little luxury with a dash of yoga thrown in, I thought I’d turn you on to this absolutely delicious ranch just outside of Vancouver, Canada – The Echo Valley Ranch & Spa.

Just a few hours northeast of Vancouver past Whistler ski lodge at an elevation of around 3650 ft/1113 m you can find Echo Valley. You can fly there as there is a small airport nearby in Kamloops and an even smaller one in Echo Valley for private planes. But the drive up there – wow! It’s worth taking your time driving there just to drive past the striking scenery.

They are used to have groups up there and if you come in the summer time the activities and sheer beauty of the place will leave you breathless. Plus if you are from the US the exchange rate with the Canadian dollar is in your favor – at least at the time of me writing this it is.

There’s horse-backing riding, vista-filled hiking trails, fly-fishing, biking, panning for gold, off-site white river rafting (some of the best around) or heck, you can even just relax and do nothing!

If you’re in need of rejuvenation therapy – they have a wicked delicious Thai spa where they specialize in a variety of Thai massages and facials along with western style therapies. Personally – I’d sign up for the Thai Herbal Body Glow Wellness Wrap – a two hour exfoliation, sesame oil, scrub and hot wrap that will put you in horse heaven.

They’ve got a great team at the ranch – a bunch of really nice humans along with some 20-some-odd horses and a fun loving donkey (never mind the dogs, turkeys and whatever other critters are hanging around)!

Norm and Nan the owners take great pride in their organic gardens and sourcing local foods. They grow berries, mushrooms, vegetables and seasonal fruits. The herb garden is an aromatic pleasure to explore. They also raise their own cattle, pigs, turkey and chickens. Cooking classes are available too!

As they mention on their website: “Tuesday and Friday night summer barbecues are all about the flavours of the wild west: rosemary roasted lamb, slow-baked salmon, baked potatoes, barbecued beef, burgers and hot-dogs, and always a vegetarian option. ”

On Thursday nights the Thai staff creates a meal as authentic as you would get in Thailand and they follow that up with Thai dancing that everyone can have fun getting involved with. They want to make you feel like part of their family in every sense of the word.

Of course spa services and riding classes are extra, but here is what’s included in their daily room rate (also consider visiting during the shoulder seasons when the rates are lower):

  • Three farm fresh meals prepared by their executive chef including a glass of wine or beer with your dinner, soft beverages at any time
  • Deluxe lodging
  • Daily turndown service
  • Fly-fishing on our own well – stocked trout ponds (non-guided, equipment provided)*
  • Daily guided Thai yoga (Ruesri dat ton) stretching classes
  • Guided nature trail walks (one per stay)
  • Evening entertainment program including camp fires, barbeque dinners, authentic Thai banquet and traditional Thai dancing (Please note: Evening Entertainment program is scheduled weekly)*
  • Weekly cooking demonstrations with nutrition tips from our chef as well as tips on Thai cooking*
  • Large indoor geo-thermal heated swimming pool, sauna and fitness centre
  • Games room featuring pool table, shuffle board, card table, darts, Karaoke and TV room
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
So maybe you never thought about a dude ranch type of environment for your retreat – but it can be a very unusual and beautifully supportive environment and I hope you put Echo Valley Ranch and Spa on your retreat list!  Let me know what you think by posting below or in our Facebook group!

To your wanderlust life, Sheri

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Dr Sheri Rosenthal is known as one of the most sought after retreat strategists for coaches, speakers, and authors — and is the owner of Journeys of the Spirit Travel®, a boutique agency specializing in the planning and management of group travel.

Through her Wanderlust Entrepreneur Community and her signature course, The Retreat Blueprint Program, she has taught thousands of facilitators how to design exceptional retreats that allow them stand out in their niche. She is famous for helping clients plan, fill, and profit from transformational retreats that change lives in a huge way while adding serious income to their bottom line!

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