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The Ranch Malibu’s award-winning, highly structured luxury fitness and wellness program is designed to ignite the spirit, challenge the body and cultivate meaningful human connection. Nestled amidst the scenic Santa Monica Mountains and perched on 200 acres of rugged coastline, The Ranch Malibu offers a respite for those that desire a transformative life experience in an intimate setting. Through a 6-night minimum stay, programs are limited to 25 guests, and focus on fitness, nourishment, and restoration with a daily schedule that includes guided hikes, fitness, yoga and meditation classes, massage and organic plant-based cuisine. This unparalleled approach combines the power of human connection with personalized expertise in an environment designed for success. During their stay, guests are supported by The Ranch team and depart with noticeable changes to their overall health including fat loss, muscle gain, full body detoxification, mental clarity and increased self-confidence.
The experience at The Ranch Italy in Fiuggi was pretty extraordinary. The perfect mix of nature, physical activity, community, health, wellness, beauty and luxury. From early morning four-hour daily hikes to some of the best plant based cuisine I have had. The spa in Palazzo Fiuggi is unparalleled as is beauty of the surroundings in the quaint little town of Fiuggi. The week flew by and when it was time to leave, I don’t think anyone was really ready to go. I went to the Ranch knowing that I would have a fun week, a needed break…what I didn’t expect was an incredibly transformative experience, connecting with individuals I hope to have lifelong friendships with, and a desire to go back as soon as possible.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Ranch Italy was an amazing experience. Being immersed in the Italian culture while doing The Ranch program is a special l experience. The hikes are challenging at the same time stunning. The spa at Palazzo Fuggi wellness hotel is like no other. The Italian ranch staff are delightful and knowledgeable about the area giving the total experience a very genuine local feel. It’s a must!
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am Italian and I know my country well, and I would never have believed that a foreign company could make me discover such amazing places in Italy. The Ranch Italy in Fiuggi is not just so much training but a lifestyle that becomes part of your daily routine and will never leave you.
I experienced top hiking, great trainers, yoga fitness and daily professional massages.
The most extraordinary thing was to challenge myself from day one, pampered by a special team that motivates you all the time. The food was above all expectations and I never felt hungry but constantly full of energy and positivity.
On top of that I was able to immediately establish friendly relationships with the other guests, which helped me have an unforgettable week.
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Date of stay: May 2022Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Everything at the Ranch Malibu is well thought out and has a purpose. The food, the property and the activities were all first rate. And, the staff goes above and beyond to make your stay amazing. Each member of the Ranch staff is available and willing to help. It's a truly incredible week-long experience.
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Date of stay: March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Ranch Italy was a life changing experience. The Ranch Malibu experience perfectly translated to the Italian countryside. This was a total mental and physical re-boot. The hikes were extraordinary, both challenging and breathtaking at the same time. The food was top notch and we never felt hungry. The best part of the experience were the people. The staff was amazing- warm, caring and entertaining. Our favorite part of the trip was spending time with loved ones and making new friends throughout the week. The hotel was beautiful, from the rooms to the spa to the views! To top it off, the results were more than expected… 16 pounds between the two of us!
Thank you for an amazing week!!
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Date of stay: May 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
to be honest, i'm not sure why. the intention is there. the property is lovely. the people know their stuff. no detail is left undone. i love how my jeans now fit, but i really found the ranch to be a bit of a disappointment.
some of my major complaints:
not one of the staff members made much of an effort to learn anything about me and what i was hoping to accomplish during the week sure, there were several "go around the table and tell us what you are grateful for" activities, but they seemed forced and programmed. in a place with such a high staff to guess ratio i expect at least an attempt at some sort of personal connection. i find it off-putting how i know more about the lives of the staff than they do about mine.
the incessant lecturing, particularly at dinner. ok, i get it, we're eating clean. but i'm here to cleanse my head as well as my body and the constant drill about what i should be eating in my day to day life grew old the first day. i get it, the employees know a lot about nutrition, now shut up and let me eat.
nothing annoys me more than someone putting a plate of hot food in front of me then making me listen to a recitation of what's in it. i put up with it at chef run restaurants because it takes a second or two, but here, some nights two chefs described in detail how they make every single thing on my plate. sometimes it took fifteen minutes. excuse me. i hiked five hours today. i'm hungry. let me friggin eat.
several times during the week, new employees were being trained. of course, every business needs to break in new staff members, but at 6500 for basically five days, i don't want it done on my time. i want experienced guides who know the route, don't ask me which way to go and don't seem confused about how things work.
the exercise classes were lame. although i'm just a layperson when it comes to fitness, i have years of experience with this stuff and was surprised at how 1990 some of the exercises were. the yoga was basic at best and i was mortified to watch several heavy in the gut guests doing high speed sit-ups with absolutely no ab muscles being used at all.
though there was much more food than i expected, except for a few salads which were enjoyable, i detested nearly everything i was served. i'd rather eat a small scoop of brown rice with tablespoon of black beans than zucchini lovingly forced into spaghetti-like shapes coated with tomato sauce in an attempt to fool me into thinking i'm eating pasta. the granola, however, was fantastic.
there were two computers for guest use, but no wifi. i'd much have preferred to have been allowed to take care of the few business emails i needed to write in the privacy of my room than to have everyone bring their phones in the van and text and email like crazy on the way to the hikes. i understand the policy is to keep things work free and pure, but the high powered folks who come here still have responsibilities in the real world and it would have been so much more peaceful not to have to have a busload of type a-ers frantically poking away at their iPhones the second we got far enough away from the ranch to receive cell signal.
i am a hardworking ambitious urban woman who knows how to get things done out in the working world. for me, i would have hoped a trip like this would have made me feel not only thinner, but a bit more nurtured. i thought the ranch had a rather icy tone to it and quite frankly, several of the employees were cold and mechanical. several guests stopped going to one leader's classes because of his impersonal and detached attitude. personally, i think when they designed this luxury version of a beloved local hiking spa, they left out the soul and don't even know that's the best part for me, it just didn't work.
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Date of stay: December 2014
Location
Cleanliness
Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I have been twice to the full week program but this was my first 4.0 experience. While both programs operate with the same philosophy (clean eating, vigorous exercise) there are some notable differences. I will try to compare and contrast the program for those considering the two options: The 4.0 program takes place in the Westlake Village Four Seasons hotel versus the "ranch". Both are very nice properties. One is a full service, busy hotel with nice amenities ( pool, spa, bars, room service, in room tub, nice linens, tv, phone wireless) while the other is a nice secluded property in the hills of CA with no wireless, no tub, no outside world access and lots of peaceful surroundings. I point these differences out because the reason some people go is to completely disconnect. If you go to the 4.0 program, you can disconnect but it will be harder if you don't have the willpower to manage that on your own. At the ranch location, you really don't have a choice. You typically won't have a car, there is no outside connection except once a day on the computer or in the car before/after a hike. Both a great, just analyze your reason for going and if you will be distracted by the option to go to the bar, or grab that coffee by the elevator, or the candy at the front desk, then maybe the 4.0 program isn't for you. However, for me, the distractions didn't bother me...it's real life and healthy behaviors are a choice every day. The food is very similar between the two with one minor exception. The breakfasts at the 4.0 program are a little more "buffet style" with oatmeal, granola, fruit, smoothies as options with each person responsible for sticking to the recommended calories. Again, real life. The food this trip was the best of all three of the trips. Kudos to the chef. My only complaint is how light they are on the protein. As someone who as difficulties with legumes, lentils and other non-meat proteins, it was hard to get enough protein on their meal plans, especially at breakfast. For those who are vegan, I think breakfast would be a challenge, especially the one day when the oatmeal was not served (an error I the kitchen). I would like to see some additional proteins (fish) for those who don't practice vegan or vegetarian lifestyles. I have been to other programs that offer animal proteins at the evening meals and I felt just as healthy and lost as much or more weight so I know it can be done. The hikes were nice with the exception of the first day short hike ( it was way toooooo hot). The first day was about a 4-5 mile hike. The second day was about 9 miles, the third and fourth days were about 12 miles. Some folks don't go as far as the hikes are measured by the time spent on the trail versus the distance. Each full day was about 4 hours of hiking. My only complaint is that if you are a different speed than others, you will end up hiking by yourself and get very separated from the group. In our group there were two that were faster (but each different paces) and then a cluster of 3-4 that were about the same speed and then another 3-4 about the same speed, etc. While on the one hand I don't mind the alone time, at times you can feel isolated and you miss out on the conversations. Usually there are at least one/two other people that you can hike with. Exercise classes - pretty good. Yoga/stretch in the morning, usually some strength/core in the afternoon and stretch again late afternoon. LOVED the dance class on the last day. Massages were not as good at the 4.0 program. They are done in your room instead of in huts at the ranch, which means the massage therapist spent time putting up and taking down their equipment which left only 45 mins for the massage. Just felt rushed and the therapists at the ranch were better (at least during my visits). However, it was nice to have the massages and it certainly helps you recover. Tramel (sp) was an awesome program guide. His enthusiasm was so energizing and contagious. Weight loss - lost a few pounds, certainly not as much as the longer program but I did feel I loss less water weight this time so maybe it was more real weight loss.
Overall - a good program, especially when you don't have a full week to devote to the other program. Just go with realistic expectations. You will be tempted by things in the hotel but that can be ok! You won't disconnect as much as the ranch, but maybe this is ok with you. Good organization.
If you have a week to go, either go to the Ranch or other programs ( there are similar programs in Ca or Canada) and you won't regret having the week of exercise and detoxing. You will feel great after. if you can just go 4 days, go to the Ranch 4.0. It is a solid program, good people and in a nice location.
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Date of stay: March 2015Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The Ranch describes itself as a "luxury bootcamp", which sounded appealing. Unfortunately the only luxury was the price. The rooms are very simple, amenities practically non-existent. Food is very good, but served by a military-style chef. So don't even consider questioning, just eat and stay quiet... The package includes aside from the hikes, daily massages on a very good level, stretching in the morning (so so), afternoon gym sessions (very repetitive/boring) and excellent yoga classes. Considering the fee of the camp I expected better service, with the exception of Justine who was amazing!
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Date of stay: February 2016
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â rooms are assigned, no way to choose
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alex G, Director of Operations at The Ranch Malibu
Responded Jun 16, 2016
Dear Ranch Guest, Thank you for spending the week with us and providing feedback on your overall experience. We recognize that we are not your typical “luxury” vacation. Guests come to The Ranch for the results-driven program we offer. While the 200 acres that the property sits on features an open-air kitchen, certified organic garden, pool, Jacuzzi, yoga pavilion and private accommodations the overall aesthetic and amenities are meant to be understated so that guests are able to enjoy the natural surroundings and focus on the reason that brought them to us – their health. With a return rate of nearly 45%, guests trust The Ranch to provide a memorable experience with both mental and physical rewards. Women and men routinely lose 3%-6% of their body weight in the 7-day program along with substantial inches of fat loss and muscle gain and lowered cholesterol levels. The Ranch’s program has continually inspired guests to recalibrate their lives, with many having made long lasting, impactful health changes that were prompted by a visit to The Ranch. They break habits that have been ingrained for years such as poor food choices, lack of exercise, excessive drinking and even smoking cessation. Often The Ranch experience is the catalyst for guests to make changes, even subtle ones that contribute to these positive results. I also wanted to take a moment and acknowledge your feedback on our service. We make a point of having at least three Program Guides and hikers on the daily hikes and two in each class along with a Senior Program Guide that eats meals with the group and sleeps on property so that someone is always on hand to be of assistance 24 hours a day. My apologies if you felt unsupported during your stay or had a specific request that went unfulfilled. I appreciate your comments and will share with the team so that we can continue to improve our program for future guests. In health, Lisa Boolootian Director of Operations
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I have been to several wellness getaways and am relatively fit and not overweight. I did the "4 day program" (3 night) that the Ranch offers, R4.0 at the Four Seasons Westlake, for $3,800. First of all, it is definitely not 4 days. The first afternoon was just registration, measurements (sitting around), and a short hike. The last day was just a cooking class. My overall feeling was that it was just not much of a wellness program, or program at all. Guests kind of came and went because they lost interest in the classes/ meals; it was very unstructured and even if you participated in everything it just wasn't a challenge for someone who is at all physically fit. I don't think anything should be mandatory for paying adults, but I definitely believe everyone would have participated more if the staff kept things more interesting/challenging/engaging. The average day is hike in the AM for 3-4 hours (the hikes were pretty), then lunch, then a couple more classes like yoga or core classes and your massage, then dinner. Few things-- hardly anyone I attended with liked the food. It was vegan, and I actually like vegan food, but it was not very tasty or satisfying (most of the men stopped attending meals after the first day or so, or supplemented them later). Although the hotel has a beautiful spa with great amenities, the massages are done by Ranch contractors in your private room which I didn't prefer (and I think the spa employees would have been more professional and the spa treatment rooms would have been more relaxing). The afternoon classes are a joke, the yoga is basically reallllyyyy slow stretching and the core class is not much different. The most intense class was pretty low-intensity circuit training. The pictures on the website show TRX, nothing like that was available. Plus, they stagger your massage appointments so that you could have yoga, then have to rush to your room for your massage, then immediately after when you're finally relaxed you have to run downstairs for a circuit training class. The scheduling didn't make sense. Massages should be at the end of the day.
Overall, while I did lose a few pounds the consensus from the group was that they didn't get much out of it. I will not be back since I've had much better experiences at other wellness getaways, and they were less expensive.
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alex G, Manager at The Ranch Malibu
Responded Oct 22, 2015
Dear R4.0 Guest, Thank you for taking the time to offer this feedback. While we are glad to hear you experienced positive results from our program, we are disappointed your Ranch 4.0 stay did not meet your expectations. I see you visited us about a year ago and I am happy to share that we have made a few changes to our program since your visit. First, you mentioned it felt like only a 3-day stay with Thursday and Monday not including much activity. All guests arrive Thursday at noon and experience a hike, fitness classes, VO2 testing and get weighed and measured before dinner is served at 7 pm. While our program does end Monday morning we have also recently added a group hike to the schedule before departure and moved the cooking class to the weekend so guests are able to leave having done some activity for the day. Please be assured I am paying particular attention to your comments regarding the structure and content of the program and reviewing how we can make improvements based on your feedback. Our team puts significant thought and time into creating a daily activity list that follows the same schedule – morning stretch, breakfast, hike, lunch, downtime, afternoon classes, including yoga followed by dinner - and is also challenging and engaging. It is important to note the program is not designed to exhaust through high intensity training for the entire day, but rather keep the body in constant, low-impact movement so guests can sustain the demands of the 8+ hours in which they participate. That being said we understand some guests want an extra push and pride ourselves on being able to modify the program’s intensity to suit their needs. For example, some guests like to run portions of our hikes, and we always offer modifications to exercises in our classes so that guests of all levels are challenged. We also welcome feedback from guests during the program on class intensity and scheduling of classes and massages based on personal preference. Our apologies if these options were not communicated to you and that you felt forced to participate in everything. Guests are free to do as much or as little of the program that they would like with the understanding that they may not achieve our typical results or their desired outcome. Lastly I wanted to acknowledge your comments on our culinary offerings, which are often the highlight of the week for guests, earning top scores on the feedback forms we give at the end of each session. It is disappointing to hear that you did not share this same sentiment and were left unsatisfied. We inform guests before and during their stay that they are always welcome to request extra food and share any foods they don’t care for. Again, my apologies if this was not clearly communicated. Again, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and helping us learn where and how we can improve the R4.0 experience for future guests. If you would like to speak further about your stay with us simply call me at (310-457-8700). In health and wellness, Tremell Johnson Program Manager The Ranch 4.0
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The Ranch has a lot to offer: gorgeous grounds, staff that are very helpful and friendly, a daily schedule that works seamlessly, and beautiful hikes that challenge you but are very doable for people at every fitness level. The kitchen staff, specifically Nina, are excellent--the food is delicious and Nina has an incredible wealth of information about nutrition.
The Ranch does need to work on some things. This place is not environmentally friendly--they use electric heaters, at times overnight. And despite the severe California water shortage, towels are changed daily. And while the staff that was there was accommodating and extremely helpful, there seems to be a high turnover rate because almost everyone there was new. In general, the place feels understaffed. And if you are looking for a spiritual experience, look elsewhere: everything here is focused on one's body...and merchandising the Ranch.
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Date of stay: December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Alex G, Owner at The Ranch Malibu
Responded Jan 8, 2016
Dear Golda, Thank you for taking the time to review your recent stay at The Ranch Malibu and recognizing the positive aspects of our program and facilities. I was a little disappointed to hear that although you liked our team and found them helpful and the program well run that it felt understaffed. We make a point of having at least three Program Guides and hikers on the daily hikes and two in each class along with the a Senior Program Guide that eat meals with the group and sleeps on property so that someone is always on hand to be of assistance 24 hours a day. Additionally, I do want to point out that we are environmentally friendly with special attention paid to water conservation. In fact 40% of our water usage is reclaimed and reused for the grounds. Towels are washed only by guest request during the week. We have a card that hangs in the bathroom asking guests to help us conserve water and how they may do so. My apologies if this was unclear. Each room is also equipped with central air and heat. Space heaters are only used when guests find that they need additional warmth. Again, I am sorry if this was not communicated to you during your stay and I will make sure to speak with the staff about this. We also grow a portion of the daily menu at The Ranch’s onsite certified organic garden and all other food is sourced locally and is 100% organic. We always learn from our guests’ feedback and appreciate your comments. Please feel free to call me if you would like to continue this conversation. Given you were satisfied with the program, accommodations and staff we hope to see you again at The Ranch Malibu or The Ranch 4.0 again in the coming year. In Health, Alex Glasscock Owner
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Thank you for your inquiry. We rarely see wildlife on trail. When we have encountered them, they are far in the distance as they don't want to be around us just as much as we don't want to be around them. All guests carry a radio with them so staff can alert guests of anything they need to be aware of on trail.
The sauna is available from 5 am to 9 pm.
Please let us know if you have any questions.
Thank you for your question. We don't cross any bridges or water so you won't need to worry about that. Our hikes can go up to an 18 degree incline but they are not too narrow. If you have any questions, please feel free to call or email us.
I am sorry for the delayed response. A typical day at The Ranch is as follows: Each morning, guests awaken at 5:30 a.m. for morning stretches, followed by a four- to five-hour group hike winding through the Santa Monica Mountain terrain. After lunch, guests are welcome to nap before an active afternoon filled with water aerobics, core and ab work, weight training sessions, daily massage, and group yoga. Dinner is around 7 pm.
All meals are included. The Ranch weeklong program is $6500 per person and R4.0, 4-day program is $3800 per person. Please let me know if you have any further questions. You can contact me directly at 310.457.8700.
Best,
Melissa Newman
There are more places to choose from in the Malibu area.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS
Ranch at Live Oak Malibu
LOCATION
United StatesCaliforniaMalibu
NUMBER OF ROOMS
21
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect nightly room rates, including any mandatory fees. Taxes not included. Please see our partners for more details.
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