Golden Door Spa, branch of the original California spa, is the jewel in the crown at this luxurious resort. Founded in 1958, the first Golden Door was inspired by the Honjin Inns of Japan, where water and massage therapies soothed both body and mind. Long considered the mother of the spa movement, the Golden Door remains at the forefront of the industry. Blending Asian, European, and Native American philosophies of healing, the Golden Door Spa at The Boulders is a perfect complement to the serenity of the Arizona desert.

The 33,000-square-foot facility is a veritable temple of well-being with 6 treatment rooms, a movement studio, and even a meditation labyrinth inspired by Hopi medicine wheels. Keeping fit is a central component of the Golden Door experience, and the comprehensive fitness center filled with state-of-the-art cardiovascular equipment is just the beginning. Personal assessments help you uncover your strengths and weaknesses, while guided nature hikes and rock-climbing excursions go beyond the ordinary to help you attain your goals. Yoga, tai chi, Pilates, spinning, and kickboxing are just some of the group classes available at the movement studio.

Three Vichy showers complete with heated tile floors, Swiss showers, and a Watsu area provide a nirvana for aqua therapy, and all the spa treatments begin with a Golden Door ritual, a soothing and refreshing shower. Head-to-toe pampering is available, from 12 kinds of stress-reducing massages to nourishing facials and body wraps. Many treatments are a nod to the region’s Native American history. Ancient Ayurvedic principles are revived in the mystical treatments of bindi balancing, where crushed herbs exfoliate and light oils moisturize your skin, and shirodhara, which begins with massaging warm oil into your scalp and concludes with a mini facial massage and a heated hand and foot treatment.