Discover luxury wellness at Sensei Porcupine Creek near Palm Springs, where personalized experiences, Nobu dining, and stunning desert scenery create the ultimate retreat for relaxation and renewal.

I have always wanted to experience Palm Springs. There’s something about this corner of the California desert that feels permanently tied to the glamour of old Hollywood—a place where movie stars escaped the spotlight and traded studio lots for sunshine, swimming pools and mountain views. Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope famously spent time here, and I’m told even Barack Obama is among the area’s more contemporary visitors.

My introduction to Palm Springs could not have been more enjoyable. I absolutely loved the small, wonderfully vintage-feeling Palm Springs International Airport. With just two gate areas and an open-air courtyard connecting portions of the terminal, it immediately tells you that you’ve arrived somewhere iconic. 

But the real reason for my visit was about 20 minutes away in Rancho Mirage: Sensei Porcupine Creek, an extraordinarily private wellness retreat spread across 230 acres at the base of the Santa Rosa Mountains.

A Private Oasis in the Desert

With just 22 accommodations (“keys”, as they say), Sensei Porcupine Creek feels less like a resort and more like being invited onto an exquisite private estate—which, is exactly what it once was.

The property takes its name from Porcupine Creek, the golf course that predates the resort. Oracle founder Larry Ellison purchased the estate in 2011, and after an extensive transformation, Sensei Porcupine Creek opened as a wellness retreat in 2022.

You know you’re arriving somewhere exclusive when you have to pass through not one, but two closed gates before reaching the property.

I had previously visited Sensei’s property on the Hawaiian island of Lanai and have long said it ranks among the three most beautiful properties I have ever visited. Because Porcupine Creek sits in the desert, I honestly wasn’t expecting to have quite the same reaction.

I was wrong. This property is stunning.

Lush botanical gardens unfold everywhere, meticulously cared for by the resort’s agronomy team. Bougainvillea, plumeria, citrus trees and other colorful plantings create a remarkable contrast against the rugged desert mountains.

Shortly after arriving, I took a property tour and quickly began discovering some of its special touches: a fire pit shaped like the property itself, incredible views from the fitness pavilion and the inviting living room inside the Estate House, which manages to feel both sophisticated and cozy.

The accommodations include 12 rooms in the Estate House along with four private casitas and eight villas hidden throughout the property.

I absolutely loved my casita. It was incredibly spacious and beautifully appointed, with a sitting area, walk-in closet and large bathroom. The beverage bar was a thoughtful touch, with a pull-out refrigerator stocked with complimentary waters and nonalcoholic beverages, a leather-bound espresso machine and an impressive display of glassware.

But the hero of my casita was outside. I could walk onto my private patio, settle into a chaise lounge overlooking the gorgeous golf course and then slip into my own personal hot tub. Blissful.

Wellness With a Purpose

Sensei isn’t simply a place to relax. The idea is to leave knowing a little more about yourself than you did when you arrived.

For my stay, I chose the Metabolic Health track, which included wearing a continuous glucose monitor. Each day, I met with my Sensei Guide to discuss small, realistic changes I might incorporate into my everyday life to support better metabolic health. We talked about tweaks—small choices that could potentially make a meaningful difference over time.

That philosophy extends throughout Sensei: learn, experience, experiment and then take home what works for you– for longevity.

Nobu in the Desert

There is only one restaurant at Sensei Porcupine Creek, but when that restaurant is Nobu, that’s all you need. The restaurant includes a beautiful dining room, outdoor patio (with a nearby waterfall for vibes) and separate sushi bar. 

I’m about to make a very bold statement. As someone who doesn’t eat raw sushi, I initially wondered how much I would enjoy the dining. It turned out to be some of the most flavorful, delicious and healthy food I can remember experiencing at a resort. Every sauce and dressing was perfection.

There were dishes I liked so much that I ordered them more than once during my 3-day stay. The spinach miso salad became my favorite way to begin a meal, followed by dishes such as Chilean sea bass with a wonderful olive oil sauce and the decadent ribeye with truffle butter sit in my memories. Other favorites included a tempura sea bass.

The wine list provides plenty of opportunities to splurge—including some eye-popping bottles of Champagne—but you can also enjoy a very good glass of wine in the $20–30 range.

What impressed me just as much as the food was how easily the culinary team accommodated the way I wanted to eat. One afternoon, I was sitting on a chaise lounge beside the gorgeous pool, surrounded by botanical gardens, when I decided it was time for lunch. I simply pushed a button and an attendant appeared.

Because I was focusing on eating more protein, I ordered the Chilean sea bass tacos. My server mentioned that they were fairly small, more appetizer-sized, so I asked whether I could add a burger without the bun. They could make it as a lettuce wrap. Completely accommodating.

Those little moments are part of what makes a luxury wellness experience feel truly personalized. I also loved how the kind staff called me by name, welcomed me back and took good care of me.

Sunset at Hole 15

One of my favorite experiences of the entire trip wasn’t on an itinerary. A server gave me a tip: Take a golf cart up to Hole 15 around sunset, bring a drink and simply sit for a while.

I’m from Texas, so naturally, I took a margarita on the rocks. I drove the golf cart up the course and spent about 30 minutes completely alone at this spectacular spot, looking across a canyon from my perch in a valley surrounded by mountains.

Then I watched the sun slowly disappear over the desert. There was nothing complicated about it. No class. No schedule. It was one of those travel moments I know I will remember for years. (Those are typically not on the advanced itinerary!)

Moving, Learning and Slowing Down

One of the wonderful things about Sensei is that your days can be as full—or as empty—as you want them to be.

My guide took me on a customized hike along the property’s trails, where I learned more about the landscape, gardens, citrus trees and plant life that make the resort such an unexpected oasis. We passed colorful bougainvillea and plumeria and explored some of the art incorporated throughout the grounds, including a sculpture named Julia– the sister to one on the Lanai property.

I also experienced a peaceful one-hour sound journey designed to help calm the nervous system, took my first-ever tai chi class—which I enjoyed so much that I hope to continue it at home—and participated in a daily outdoor morning warm-up stretch.

I also enjoyed aqua yoga in the resort pool. And then came my pièce de résistance: a 90-minute sports recovery massage– a blessing to my busy body.

There were far more activities than I could possibly fit into three days. Depending on the schedule, guests can explore strength circuits, tennis basics, gratitude meditation, various types of yoga, breathwork, functional fascia work, open-sky meditation, guided hikes and numerous educational opportunities.

The resort also offers workshops and experiences focused on the mind rather than the body—topics such as freeing yourself from limiting beliefs, loving-kindness meditation and other tools that guests can add to their personal wellness toolbox.

Sensei Porcupine Creek isn’t simply about massages, exercise and healthy food. The resort creates an environment where you can downshift enough to pay attention—to your body, your habits and even your thoughts.

The Gift of Going Alone

Palm Springs’ high season generally runs from November through April, when the desert temperatures make spending time outside especially inviting (it even rained overnight while I was there– something rare in the desert). But whatever time of year you choose, I would recommend something that might feel unusual to some travelers: Go alone.

I heartily recommend a solo stay of at least three nights at Sensei Porcupine Creek as a gift to yourself. There is something powerful about having a few days when no one needs anything from you. You can eat when you want, move when you want, learn when you want, sit beside the pool when you want.

I will carry the downshift I felt in my nervous system, along with the education and small lessons I soaked up during those three days, with me on my life’s journey.

Some trips give us wonderful memories. The really special ones give us something we can bring home and incorporate into our everyday lives. 10 out of 10 recommend.

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Cover Photo Sensei Porcupine Creek.

Marika Flatt is the Travel Editor of Texas Lifestyle Magazine and has been a travel writer for more than two decades. She is a regular travel expert on television programs across Texas, including Great Day Houston, San Antonio Living, Good Morning Texas, Daytime and Studio 512, and has shared “Weekend Trip Tips” on the statewide NPR show Texas Standard for more than five years. Named the 2021 Outstanding Austin Communicator, Marika is a proud Texas A&M University graduate and co-owner and publisher of Texas Lifestyle Magazine. She believes that travel enriches our lives, broadens our perspectives and always gives us a great story to tell. Follow her on Instagram here.