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Arizona Experiences for the Rich

Kate
10 minutes ago
6 min read

Arizona is a wonderful state, there's so much to do and see here from the red rocks of Sedona to the coati in the Chiricahua Mountains. However, not everything is for everyone, and some experiences offered in this state are for those in a higher tax bracket. Below is a short list of Arizona experiences for the rich (spoilers: 3 wellness retreats, 1 dude ranch, and 1 outdoor trip that requires an amazing PTO plan).

(1) Castle Hot Springs Resort


Initially built as a health resort in 1896 by the Murphy family (mine owners and Arizona Territory governor), the resort was heavily renovated in 2018. The resort is built on a hot spring and has exclusive access to those waters - you can't swim in this hot spring unless you have booked a room at the hotel. The hotel requires a minimum 3 night stay, is adults-only, and is all-inclusive including meals and resort activities. To stay in the bungalow that has the outdoor tub with hot spring water with the spa package, the cost for 3 nights is $9,617 for 2 people. This includes meals and drink credits. Arrivals and departures only on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday.



The spa features standards like massage, cupping, and facials; as well as hot spring specific offerings such as water therapy. There are 3 pools fed by the hot spring with multiple waterfalls, surrounded by palm trees and Arizona plants, and most rooms feature a private outdoor soaking tub. Televisions are purposely absent from guestrooms.


In addition to the hot spring, the property has bocce ball, pickleball, e-bikes, yoga, putting green, guided hikes, rock climbing course, horseback riding, helicopter tours, UTV tours, paddle boarding, wine tasting, axe throwing, farm tour, guided archery, tai chi, mindfulness classes, cocktail classes, stargazing, painting classes, falconry, sound bowl mediations, and history tours. One of the main reasons for this extensive offering list is because there's not much to do outside of that list in that area. It's on the north west edge of the Phoenix valley, 1 hour drive with no traffic to the airport. So it is accessible, but the point is to be in nature and away shut up in your own private oasis.


There are a few hot springs in Arizona that can be hiked to, but they are all rustic and cannot be swam in the way that Castle Hot Springs has modern hot spring pools. Maybe someday Arizona State Parks will invest in Camp Verde's hot springs to make a modern pool experience, but for now, Castle Hot Springs is the only option for Arizonans to experience well-maintained pool hot springs like in Iceland, but that's the rub. For $5,000 a person for 3 nights at Castle Hot Springs, I could book a flight to Reykjavik ($1,000), book a 7-night stay ($2,000), go to Blue and Sky Lagoon for their spa ($500), go out to eat ($500), and take some tours ($1,000), and it would be the same price. Castle Hot Springs must be for rich people who've already been to hot springs in Iceland or Japan, and are looking for that "desert" experience.



(2) Civana Wellness Resort



Originally built in the 1960s, Civana also opened after extensive renovations in 2018. It is a wellness focused, adults-only all-inclusive resort. The offer a package called "Joyful Journey" that includes fitness classes, lectures, workshops, yoga, meditation, and private sessions with wellness experts. Workshops include breathwork, shinrin-yoku adapted for the desert, and sound therapy. Fitness events include guided hikes, bike rides, kayaking, paddle boarding, and aerial yoga.




Similar to Miraval, Civana offers a day pass so you don't need to stay at the location to get involved with these wellness classes. A day pass with spa access is $269, which I think is competitively priced to other resorts. Compared to the other 2 resorts, this is cheaper at a 3 night stay at around $5,000 for 2 adults with the wellness package and transport to and from the Phoenix airport. Part of the draw with Civana is that it's in a good party location, downtown Carefree has a lot of Western bars and Southwestern galleries. If you want a cowboy-adjacent wellness retreat, Civana is probably the closest to the Phoenix airport.



(3) Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa


Conde Nast Traveler writes that Miraval was "one of the places that took wellness mainstream .. Now it might not be so cutting-edge, but it's confident and competent." Miraval was popularized by Oprah, often including it on her show as a prize or segment for soul-searching (link).



Part of Miraval's uniqueness is they have specialists on staff that offer lectures and private sessions, such as trauma specialists, energy healers, mediums and clairvoyants, and sex therapists. So while a standard resort might offer horseback riding, Miraval advertises equine mediation and therapy. While beekeeping is an activity, so is "honey: a sensual journey." Another key component of Miraval's line-up is their culinary and food education, with multiple dietitians on staff. I believe you can purchase a package that includes unlimited smoothies, blood work, and a full review with a dietitian on your body's health.


Miraval Arizona offers a complimentary shared shuttle service with pickups and drop-offs at Tucson International Airport as well as private cars for an added price. For 3 nights for 2 people in a Sunrise King Suite, it's about $11,200 with the wellness package.


Most of the resort activities are all centered around self-improvement, such as gratitude journaling, photography classes with discussion of the importance of art, and mocktail tasting with a lecture on menopause. They do offer bird-watching, guided hikes, ropes course, and other Arizona classics like mountain biking. The spa offers acupuncture, massages (including hanging silk massages) as well as facials. The salon offers full hair and nail services.


Unlike Castle Hot Springs, Miraval is not just for exclusive package holders. You can purchase a day package if you just want to sign up for some of the classes, the spa, or experience the fitness and pool amenities. This package includes lunch and unlimited snacks and non-alcoholic drinks and resort credit for classes, at $400 for 1 day during the weekday.




(4) Rancho de los Caballeros



When talking experiences for the rich, a lot of older Arizonans will immediately think of Rancho de los Caballeros as it's the definition of what's been brining rich east coasters out to the desert since before we were a state - the dude ranch experience. Rancho de los Cabelleros opened in 1948 and has continuously offered dude ranch services.



Unlike a lot of wellness retreats, children are encouraged here with a kids club offering a classes. The focus, for adults and kids, is on horseback riding, rodeo skills, and talking with cowboys. They do offer a "horseback to wellness" package that includes the standard wellness retreat offerings like breathwork classes along with the horse experiences. I believe it's $8,200 for 3 nights for 2 people for the full wellness package including meals. They do offer cheaper packages that start a $545 a night which isn't all that different from some other high-end hotels, which is surprising to me as I associate dude ranches exclusively with rich New York heiresses who get trapped in Dean Martin western musicals.


Activities include tennis, pickleball, trap & skeet, archery, horseback riding, rodeo activities, golf, wine tastings, birdwatching, yoga, painting classes, guided mediation, bike rides, swimming, pilates, boxing classes, and campfire nights. They also have a full spa with facials, massages, pedicure, and sauna.



(5) Rafting the Colorado River



The 15-Day Oar Rafting Tour with Hike-In, offered by Grand Canyon Whitewater, is the most insane Grand Canyon experience that I've seen. The journey commences with a challenging 8-mile descent from the South Rim to the Colorado River via the Bright Angel Trail. Upon reaching the river, guests embark on a rafting expedition covering 136 miles of the Colorado River. During the day you can take side hikes, and learn about geology and history from the guides. Each evening, travelers set up camp along the riverbanks, enjoying meals prepared by experienced guides. The good news is you don't have to paddle yourself, it's the guides jobs, or you can opt for a motorized raft. Like a lot of full-outfit outdoor experiences, the company provides sleeping bags, tents, and other gear needed. For the longer option you're looking are around $5,500 a person, but they do offer shorter experiences.



That full experience with post-and-pre stays in the Grand Canyon area is essentially 3 weeks of hiking and outdoor activities. Wealth is often not just money - it's do you have the time to both prep for how strenuous this activity is and complete the hike-and-raft. Arizona has a long list of outdoor experiences including Antelope Canyon hikes, kayaking Horseshow Bend, seeing both waterfalls in Havasupai. There are many Grand Canyon experiences include riding a mule down, helicoptering out, and staying overnight at the bottom, and taking a historic train. However, 15 days rafting out of the Grand Canyon sounds the most extreme to me as you're essentially trapped on the river, but it's also probably one of the most unique experiences here in Arizona with our most famous landmark.



Grand Canyon under a vast sky of blue and white clouds. The layered red and orange cliffs create a dramatic, serene scene.
Diana Robinson, Creative Commons License


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