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.

Unbelievable experience at the Ranch Malibu. A few editorial notes before the review to give context. First, we did schedule the private instead of the group. Second, we have some experience hiking, and while we aren’t competitively in peak condition, we are generally fit without any major health conditions. Last, we are meat eaters and rely on heavy protien intake as part of our diet.

SUMMARY: All that said, and to sum it up for those who don’t want to read the rest of a more detailed review, it was brutally tough the first few days, we had an amazing experience despite that and we 100% will do it again.

DETAILS: Although the program can be tailored to meet anyone’s fitness level, the off-the-shelf program is grueling, especially on a vegan diet of only 1,400 calories per day. No sooner than you’ve dropped your bags, you are out on your first hike. The daily schedule and hikes are exactly as described on their website. The first few days were brutal, but by the end of the week, we’d hit our stride. We attributed that to three things: (1) Nancy Fleming and her evening yoga (Paisley was great too, but we had her only one night); (2) Some of the best massages we’ve had, and (3) the NAD+ IV drip, which was administered to us on Tuesday, our second full day at the Ranch, which rehydrated us and gave us more energy for the remaining days. (If you are on the fence about whether to do the IV therapy, we recommend it if it is medically appropriate for you.) Everyone at the Ranch was terrific, and the hiking guides were great, and we learned to ask to go at our own pace and stop at scenic points to have our snack and take in the view before trekking on.
The only downside is that the food did not agree with us. We needed more protein and calories, and the seasoning did not agree with us. After a few days, the culinary staff worked with us to find things we could eat, but it still wasn’t enough. Because our bodies went into survival mode and held onto the weight, the number on the scale didn’t change over the week, but when we got back home and on a regular diet and the inflammation came down, we found we’d both lost a significant amount of weight … if that’s what is important to you.
What was important to us was that we both felt accomplished, our heads were clear and we were on a better schedule. After doing this, we know we should do it every year, and we plan to try some of the other properties as well.

ADVICE: Take the 4 prep weeks seriously. Had we not, we would have had a tough time that week. If you have higher protein needs or are sensitive to certain flavors, unapologetically bring food supplements. We will next time. We may have gotten more activity out of the week and had better energy on a different diet, but there is nowhere else like the Ranch in terms of fitness and luxury, so we will still go back there but armed with some culinary contraband in our suitcase.

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.