Wellness in the Wild: Wellness Experiences and Vacations in Alaska
Visitors often tell us: just being in Alaska feels healing. There’s something about the wide-open spaces, the slower pace, the grandeur of the mountains and glaciers, that naturally encourages you to breathe a little deeper. Alaska is a place where families reconnect, couples re-center, and solo travelers find a quiet kind of peace.
But for those seeking to take that feeling of healing and renewal a step further, there are experiences across the state designed with wellness at their core. Whether it's soaking in a forest-framed hot pool or practicing yoga under the northern lights, these places invite you to rest as deeply as you explore.
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Alyeska Nordic Spa
Forest Hydrotherapy in Girdwood
Nestled in the lush boreal forest just 40 minutes south of Anchorage in the town of Girdwood, Alyeska Nordic Spa invites visitors to reset through hydrotherapy. The outdoor circuit of hot and cold pools, eucalyptus steam rooms, and wood-fired saunas is designed to cycle your body through relaxation and invigoration. Meanwhile, your eyes can feast on the surrounding spruce and mountain views.
You can visit for just the day, or the spa makes a perfect addition to a Girdwood overnight at Alyeska Hotel or a few post-adventure hours of self-care. Open year-round, it’s especially magical at twilight, when the warm pools reflect the alpine glow above.
Salted Roots
Boutique Wellness by the Bay in Seward
Salted Roots offers individual cabins tucked away in the coastal forest just outside Seward, where towering spruce trees meet the edge of Resurrection Bay. Their year-round Wellness Package is available as an add-on to any overnight guest and includes a curated mix of local, restorative experiences:
One private yoga class
One charcuterie board from Primrose Provisions
- One 45-minute body massage per person
One locally sourced facial oil from Naturally Naked AK per person
Guests also have access to a wood-fired barrel sauna, which looks out over the forest and bay—a perfect end to a day spent hiking, kayaking, or cruising Kenai Fjords. Some guests choose Salted Roots as their basecamp to explore Seward, while others come specifically for the peace, the care, and the setting.
Arctic Hive
Northern Mindfulness in the Brooks Range
Arctic Hive is situated above the Arctic Circle in the remote village of Wiseman. This is an off-grid retreat center where guests come for multi-day guided programs—blending yoga, meditation, and deep rest with activities like hiking, skiing, dog sledding and northern lights viewing in untouched Arctic wilderness.
It’s a destination in itself. Most visitors come to Arctic Hive as the centerpiece of their trip, traveling through Fairbanks and then driving into the Brooks Range. Arctic Hive was founded and hand-built by experienced wilderness guides and dog mushers, Sean and Mollie Busby. Living on-site year-round, they welcome guests from around the world for immersive retreat experiences. Arctic Hive offers a powerful opportunity to reconnect with nature—and with yourself.
Denali Backcountry Lodge
Stillness at the End of the Road
Tucked deep inside Denali National Park, at the very end of the Park Road, Denali Backcountry Lodge offers a true sense of escape. In 2025 and 2026, it's only accessible by helicopter, which means guests are dropped directly into the heart of the park—far from the road closures, far from the crowds.
Here, wellness comes in many forms: the silence of the tundra, the clarity of glacial rivers, and the warmth of The Nest, the lodge’s dedicated spa space. Guests can book Swedish or Thai massages, hot stone therapy, or unwind in the cedar sauna after a day of exploring alpine ridgelines and boreal valleys.
Whether you’re already planning a trip to Denali or are looking for a one-of-a-kind remote getaway, Denali Backcountry Lodge offers a rare combination of rugged access and quiet luxury.
WestWind Cabins
A Spa Retreat Above Kachemak Bay
Just five minutes from downtown Homer, WestWind Cabins offers a peaceful escape with big views and quiet comforts. Each of the four uniquely designed cabins looks out over Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mountains, blending modern Scandinavian style with Alaskan warmth—think large picture windows, Jøtul fireplaces, and local touches like honey and coffee.
At the heart of the experience is WestWind’s Nordic-style spa, reserved by guests for private use. A cedar and spruce building houses a wood-fired sauna, cold plunge tub, and changing area, while a large outdoor deck features a six-person hot tub overlooking the mountains. It’s a restorative space for couples or small groups to unwind, warm up, and slow down after a day in town or out on the water.
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