For people living with chronic conditions, these retreats create instant community

Wellness travel—anything from a weekend hike to a weeklong spa getaway with massages and sensory deprivation water tanks—has become a trendy mainstay of the tourism industry. But for a number of travelers the appeal of these restorative trips isn’t just the chance to unplug through what some might consider seemingly countless healing techniques. It’s the opportunity to socialize with others who, like them, long for genuine connection. This is especially true for people living with chronic illnesses.

From dealing with symptom flare-ups and unrelenting fatigue to following strict medication schedules, managing a health condition that no one in your circle relates to can be incredibly isolating. It can also be difficult to find travel opportunities that consider and accommodate your health needs. But if you do a little digging, you'll find organizations are creating unique travel opportunities that offer just that.

Whether you are looking to spend time with others who understand the realities of living and traveling with a chronic condition or simply want to go on a trip where no one makes you feel guilty for taking a midday nap or two, here you’ll find retreats that offer a meaningful place to start your search.

First Descents core programs

Whitewater kayaking through the Blackfoot River in western Montana; rock climbing in the Adirondack Mountains in Keene, New York; surfing the waves in Santa Cruz, California—the list of iconic outdoor adventures available through First Descents is extensive. Founded 25 years ago to champion the “healing power of adventure,” the group began hosting multiday experiences for young adults impacted by cancer and multiple sclerosis (MS) to fill what the team felt was a critical lack of support services for this age group. “The belief is that taking adolescents and young adults with cancer and MS to these places where they can be in communities with people with similar diagnoses gives them an opportunity to re-create themselves,” says Alex Accetta, chief executive officer of First Descents. “It creates this incredible sense of belonging and community in a way that’s formed very differently than when you’re just sitting in a room talking.”

That sense of belonging is intentionally woven into every part of the experience. Small group sizes of about 10 to 15 people, shared meals prepared by chefs, evening (phoneless!) campfire conversations, and a “challenge by choice” philosophy encourage participants to build confidence at their own pace and only do what feels comfortable and safe for them. Whether someone chooses to paddle through a rapid or walk around it, Accetta says the goal isn’t performance—it’s people feeling supported enough to try. What’s more, the majority of the costs for these experiences are covered—including lodging, meals, and equipment—thanks to philanthropic support (participants generally only pay for their transportation). First Descents offers similar outdoor experiences for caregivers of people with cancer and multiple sclerosis, as well as health care providers, because they, too, can benefit from community and time to recharge, Accetta says.

Although these experiences may sound intimidating, they’re designed for beginners. “Most Participants have never climbed or paddled before, so the majority of people are starting at the same level of experience,” the website says. “Everyone is nervous, and everyone is wondering what to expect. You’re not alone!”

Girls With Guts retreats

Created to support, empower, and connect women living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and ostomies, Girls With Guts is a blog turned international sisterhood that helps participants develop deeper connections with their bodies. “There is so much stigma about having a bowel disease. It’s not very comfortable to talk about, and people do often think it’s just a poop-related disease,” says Alicia Aiello, the nonprofit’s president, who has been a member since its inception in 2013. “But it impacts a lot more than that, especially with women. It impacts our fertility. It impacts intimacy. It impacts body image.”

Every other year the group hosts a four-day retreat somewhere in the U.S. that offers safe spaces for meaningful conversations about sex and intimacy, gentle movement practices to strengthen mind-body connections, and creativity-sparking arts-and-crafts sessions, among other activities. The group fundraises to help offset costs via scholarships and grants, but Aiello says participation generally costs about a couple hundred dollars. “Having other women to talk to, vent to, get feedback from, and lean on is extremely important,” says Aiello, who needed to have her colon removed and get a permanent ostomy two months after she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 14. “I didn’t have any reference for what life was like with an ostomy….. We have people who come to our retreats feeling the same way—and then they leave with an entire sisterhood they can lean on.”

Later this year, up to 70 women will gather in La Honda, California, to enjoy meditation and yoga sessions, a movie night, nutrition and mental-health discussions with qualified experts, and a drum circle designed to foster “a sense of belonging without the need for words,” according to the group. A guided mask-decorating activity will prepare participants for a masquerade ball, which will act as a symbolic release of the metaphorical masks they wear as patients and women, Aiello says. The retreat also builds in plenty of time for rest and provides rehydration salts as well as ointments for ostomy care.

Girls with Guts also offers free “newbie” retreats that focus on relationship-building among women who were recently diagnosed with their conditions or are new to the group, Aiello says. Naturally, that means lots of icebreakers, she adds, which, yes, could be intimidating, but that’s actually where the magic happens. “Having Girls with Guts, the retreats and so many friends who have the same experiences as me has made a world of difference in navigating this journey,” she says.

Cancer Baddies retreats

Many folks affected by cancer have access to support groups and other services that help them navigate the seemingly endless lineup of blood tests, scans, and infusions. But once treatment is complete and the celebratory bells are rung, a number of cancer survivors suddenly find themselves adrift, unsure of where to turn for guidance and support. That’s the gap Cancer Baddies—a global community for anyone affected by cancer, including patients, survivors, and caregivers—aims to fill. “Once you cross that finish line and move into survivorship, it kind of feels like you’re pushed off a cliff,” says Amanda Butler, who created the group in 2023 while undergoing breast cancer treatment and looking to connect with others her age experiencing something similar. “It’s really easy to be sad and angry about cancer,” Butler says. But she wanted to encourage people to shift that mindset and instead consider, “How do we learn from what cancer is teaching us?”

Each year Butler hosts a six-day, five-night destination retreat for her fellow cancer baddies that combines healing, fun, and cultural immersion. The past two years have taken place at a private villa in the hills of Tuscany, but in the future Butler hopes to bring the retreat to other destinations as well. Mornings begin with a gentle workout followed by workshops on topics like breath work and meditation, while afternoons are busy with winery tours, cooking classes, horseback riding, and other cultural delights. Conversations about intimacy and body image are the norm, offering support in ways doctors may not. And no matter your cancer type, stage of survivorship, or sex (yes, men can participate too!), anyone affected by the disease is welcome to explore what life is like during and after treatment with others who are in a similar place in their journey.

“So much attention as you’re going through treatment is on becoming cancer-free. But survivorship is so much more than that,” Butler says. “It’s taking these lessons that cancer is here to teach you and guide you and to help shape you into a better version of you. That has always been my goal with Cancer Baddies: to support the people that come through the organization and help them live a better life.”