Palm Springs Wellness Weekend: Luxury Hot Springs and Spa Retreats for a Girls’ Getaway

A girls’ wellness weekend is equal parts restoration and reconnection — a chance to slow down, gather intentionally, and spend time in a place designed to soften the pace of everyday life.

Palm Springs, with its desert light, mineral hot springs, and glamorous aesthetic, has become one of Southern California’s most compelling settings for that kind of retreat. The region blends natural thermal waters with design-forward spas, scenic hikes, and ingredient-driven dining that leans plant-forward and clean. For groups seeking a weekend that feels therapeutic, social, and effortlessly elegant, Palm Springs offers a balance that feels both modern and timeless.

Palm Springs is a city in the Sonoran Desert of Southern California, known for its hot springs, stylish hotels, golf courses and spas. It is also noted for its many fine examples of midcentury-modern architecture.

What sets this region apart is the way wellness is woven into the landscape. Desert Hot Springs and nearby towns sit atop naturally heated mineral water, while Palm Springs itself offers refined spa circuits, organic cafés, and early-morning trails with sweeping desert views. Combined, they create an environment that supports rest, thoughtful conversation, and the purest expression of social wellness.

Where to Soak: Mineral Springs & Spa Resorts

These properties anchor the wellness component of the weekend. Guests may stay here, book day passes, or simply incorporate a half-day spa ritual.

Two Bunch Palms — Desert Hot Springs, Adults-only, geothermal, restorative

An iconic, long-standing wellness retreat with natural mineral pools, shaded grottos, and therapeutic spa treatments. Ideal for groups wanting calm, warmth, and unhurried time together.

Azure Palm Hot Springs — Desert Hot Springs, Modern, stylish, approachable luxury

Azure Palm Hot Springs Resort

A design-forward hot-springs resort offering Himalayan salt rooms, mineral pools, panoramic desert views, and flexible day-spa access. Perfect for a contemporary desert wellness vibe.

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort — Murrieta, Historic waters, modern wellness programming

Murrieta Hot Springs Resort

Elegantly restored with temperature-varied mineral pools and curated wellness services. A strong option for groups seeking a fully immersive hot-springs retreat.

Glen Ivy Hot Springs — Corona, Classic California day spa (no overnight accommodations)

Mineral baths, mud rituals, hydrotherapy pools, and social cabana spaces make Glen Ivy a beloved day-trip option for groups wanting a relaxed, festive spa day.

Pro Tip: You can choose any accommodation you prefer — boutique hotels, Airbnb homes, or resort-style properties — and pair it with spa access at the locations above.

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DID YOU KNOW?

Day-pass pricing in the Greater Palm Springs area varies widely but remains accessible for most travelers.

Murrieta Hot Springs offers full-day access starting around $99 on weekdays and $119 on weekends, with lower-cost twilight passes from $49–$59 and an adult-only terrace option from $129–$159. Azure Palm Hot Springs provides an Oasis Day Pass typically priced at $69 on weekdays and $79 on weekends, with expanded access available when booking spa services. Two Bunch Palms does not currently sell a simple pool-only pass but offers a Day Retreat package (treatment + lunch + mineral-pool access), the resort’s main non-overnight option.

For travelers staying in Palm Springs proper, The Spa at Séc-he also offers a full hydrotherapy day experience, with passes generally falling in the $125–$155 range.

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A scenic golf course in Palm Springs, CA

A Curated Girls’ Wellness Weekend Itinerary

This schedule is spacious, polished, and centered on social wellness, clean food, desert atmosphere, and intentional rest.

DAY 1 — ARRIVE, SOAK & RESET

Afternoon: Mineral Pools & Grounding Time

Start the weekend with an unhurried soak at Azure Palm, Two Bunch Palms, or your chosen spa. Warm mineral water encourages the body to unclench — a perfect transition into weekend mode.

Dinner: Clean, Ingredient-Driven, Canyon Ranch Energy

Choose a restaurant with a wellness-focused menu such as:

• Workshop Kitchen + Bar — vegetable-led, elegant, seasonal

• Juniper Table — Mediterranean-inspired, fresh, light

• Colony Club — California fare with refined simplicity

Drinks (Alcoholic + Zero-Proof)

Palm Springs excels at sophisticated low-proof and NA options:

• Cucumber-mint spritz

• Desert citrus coolers

• Hibiscus and rosewater tonics

• Botanical cocktails

End the night with a final soak or a slow evening walk through warm desert air.

DAY 2 — DESERT MOVEMENT + SPA DAY

Morning: Light Hike in Desert Sunlight

Select a scenic, manageable trail:

• Tahquitz Canyon Trail — short, beautiful, with a seasonal waterfall

• The Living Desert Loop — wide views, gentle elevation

• Indian Canyons (Palm Canyon) — iconic palms, early-morning serenity

Perfect for conversation and photos without overexertion!

Breakfast: Organic, Vegetarian & Vegan-Friendly

Keep the morning clean and energizing at:

• Palm Greens Café — smoothies, bowls, juices, vegan-friendly plates

• Wildest Greens — raw, plant-forward, seasonal

• Everbloom Coffee & Juice — wellness shots, shakes, matcha

Think açai bowls, high-protein smoothies, green juices, almond-milk lattes, grain bowls.

Afternoon: Spa Treatments & Hydrotherapy

Choose massages or facials that incorporate desert botanicals — aloe, prickly pear, sage, citrus essential oils. Build in:

• Infrared sauna or steam ritual

• Hydrotherapy circuit

• Salt-room time

• Optional: yoga, meditation, breathwork, or chakra-balancing if the spa offers it

This part of the day should be slow, fluid, and intentionally unscheduled.

Dinner: Wellness-Forward but Elevated

Look for restaurants where the cuisine is vegetable-centric, globally inspired, and prepared with balance in mind:

• The Barn Kitchen (Sparrows Lodge) — rustic, seasonal, beautiful ambiance

• Elixir at The V Palm Springs — tropical herbal drinks, clean plates

• Copley’s — Californian cooking with light touches and outdoor seating

Pair with botanical cocktails or sparkling NA drinks.

DAY 3 — A SOFT LANDING

Ease into the final morning with:

• A short meditation, stretch session or a round of early morning golf

• A last soak

• Light breakfast before checkout — avocado toast, fresh fruit, tea

Leave the desert feeling recalibrated!

Palm Springs at sunrise, with Mount San Jacinto in the background.

THINGS TO SEE THAT COMPLEMENT A GIRLS’ WELLNESS WEEKEND

These experiences match the aesthetic and emotional tone of a wellness retreat:

• Moorten Botanical Garden — a quiet, charming desert greenhouse

• Parker Palm Springs Grounds — iconic design and lush, photogenic corners (needs a day pass or restaurant reservation)

• Desert X installations (seasonal) — immersive open-air art

• The Legends & Icons Tour of Palm Springs

• Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Everything is light, beautiful, and conducive to being together.

WHAT TO PACK FOR A DESERT WELLNESS WEEKEND

Spa & Hot Springs Essentials

• Quick-dry sauna towel

• Swim wear + cover-up

• Water shoes (for mineral pools or rocky paths)

• Lightweight robe or caftan

• Reusable water bottle

For Hiking & Movement

• Comfortable athletic wear

• Breathable hiking shoes

• Sunscreen lip balm

• Small packable backpack

For Desert Climate

• High-SPF mineral sunscreen

• Wide-brim hat

• Sunglasses

• Hydrating skincare

Evening Resort Wear

• Chic resort dresses or sets

• Slides or sandals

• Light layer for cooler nights

A minimal, curated packing list keeps the weekend comfortable, photogenic, and stress-free.

Palm Springs excels at social wellness not simply because of its spas, but because the region understands the relationship between environment, ease, and connection. The mineral water restores the body; the design and landscape slow the mind; the food nourishes without heaviness; and the atmosphere encourages presence.

Most importantly, it creates a setting where women can reconnect — without distraction, or obligation. A wellness weekend here feels luxurious, grounding, and deeply communal.

It is desert wellness at its most elegant.