An adults-only desert oasis in Rancho Mirage, California, Sensei Porcupine Creek is particularly well suited to group getaways, intimate corporate retreats, and high-end wedding buyouts. Group stays can be tailored around shared intentions and goals, from collaboration and connection to well-being. Set against the Santa Rosa Mountains near Palm Springs, the 230-acre private enclave has just 22 accommodations, a guests-only Nobu restaurant, and a private golf course
The former estate of technology entrepreneur Larry Ellison boasts 4,000 palm trees and trails winding through fragrant greenery, with endless calming pools and running rivers. Keep your eye out for the bobcat who has made this gorgeous property part of her home. Also special is the art dotted throughout the landscape—discover one of Keith Haring’s designs as you stroll through
Accommodations
For groups, the private villas feature four spacious bedrooms, each with its own en suite bath. They are designed with Sensei’s “Nourish” philosophy in mind, inspired in part by co-founder Dr. David Agus. Every guest receives a copy of his book, A Short Guide to a Long Life, which we happily read during our stay. Broken down into easily digestible bites, the book offers a glimpse into the ideology behind the property’s approach to wellbeing
The villa’s natural interiors, soaring ceilings, and massive bedrooms ensure that even when traveling with a group, it can feel as though you have the place to yourself. The standout was definitely the Japanese-inspired bathing space, centered around a deep, rectangular wooden soaking tub
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Floor-to-ceiling windows make it feel as though you’re bathing amid lush tropical greenery, including a private stone-walled outdoor shower just outside. Our villa also came with two golf carts, and we definitely enjoyed carting around the property when we weren’t trying to get our steps in
Dining
Sensei’s wholesome food philosophy shines in its wellness-focused menus, with dishes designed around the property’s “Nourish” approach to eating. I especially loved how often they incorporated local dates into the food, a famed agricultural product from the Coachella Valley
Sensei by Nobu
Sensei by Nobu offers all-day dining either al fresco amid tropical vegetation or indoors. Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and Sensei co-founder Dr. David Agus created the menu, combining traditional Nobu favorites with Sensei’s evidence-led approach to nutrition. There were so many dishes I wanted to try that I simply didn’t have enough meals during my stay
Breakfast highlights include the highly recommended jidori egg hot pot, made with steamed organic Jidori eggs, crispy shiitake mushrooms, and calayered with coconut jam and served with a sous-vide Jidori egg. The Breakfast Bento is another substantial option, with two soft-boiled Jidori eggs, steamed white rice, furikake, miso soup, steamed vegetables, and amazu pickles, with the option to add grilled salmon or salmon pastrami
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For lunch or dinner, one of my favorites was the Crispy Shiitake Mushroom Salad, with field greens tossed in sesame goma dressing and topped with crispy shiitake mushrooms and sesame seeds, and, of course, anything off the seafood menu
Sushi Bar
The intimate Sushi Bar offers a full sushi menu featuring some Nobu favorites, set in a striking space and led by charismatic chefs. I highly recommend the multi-course omakase, which included memorable bites like a ca
Asobu
Asobu’s casual menu is available poolside, at the golf clubhouse, or by the tennis courts. I ordered the burger with fries, and it was easily one of the top three hamburgers I’ve ever had. The patty combines filet, ribeye, and wagyu, topped with Gruyère cheese and a sweet-savory Coachella Valley date-and-onion jam on a brioche bun. It comes with thick-cut sweet potato fries
Sensory Eating Experience
The Sensory Eating Experience engages all five senses to encourage guests to slow down, cultivate gratitude, and prepare their bodies for nourishment. The guided exercise is designed to promote appetite, support digestion, and encourage more mindful eating habits
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The experience was paired with the Sensei Bento, featuring sea bass, seasonal vegetables, amazu pickles, and house-made furikake, served with steamed rice and miso soup
Experiences
Of course, the spa is a major highlight at Sensei, with some of the world’s best therapists and practitioners. I signed up for the ninety-minute Calming Body Cocoon, a nurturing experience that begins with full-body dry brushing, followed by a massage with warm, melted candle wax, a heated cocoon-style body wrap, a facial massage, and a cranial sequence
My therapist, Michaelina, was excellent, but the treatment table was a standout, too. It had a breast cushion, and the table was fully adjustable rather than just a flat surface. After experiencing it, I wondered why every spa doesn’t use one
Other standout treatments are Sensei’s thermal mapping massage, which uses Sensei’s own thermographic technology to show where you need the massage most, and a four-hand, two-therapist treatment using the ancient Shirodhara practice from India. It ends with a warm oil stream poured lightly over your forehead and scalp
Wellbeing Consultations
One of the highlights of visiting Sensei is private sessions with the Sensei Guides—Brooke Damerel, Per Erez, and Corbin Loubert—highly educated practitioners with advanced degrees and expertise across fitness, yoga, nutrition, and mindset. Their specialties align with Sensei’s three paths of Move, Nourish, and Rest, covering everything from brain and mind health to optimizing metabolism, sleep, and longevity-focused movement
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Sensei combines deep research and data, wearable technology, and individual coaching to create highly curated wellness journeys. Signature offerings such as the Optimal Wellbeing Program use personal health data collectedptimization, movement, and overall performance
I originally signed up for the sleep program months before my trip, but once I arrived, I decided that my unhappiness with my weight felt like a much more pressing issue. One of the biggest advantages of working with Sensei Guides, who have advanced knowledge across multiple modalities, is how easily the experience can be customized. My Sensei Guide, Brooke Damerel, was able to completely shift our session to focus on body composition instead
We started with a body composition analysis using a state-of-the-art SECA machine, which provided detailed measurements including muscle mass, body fat, and hydration. I learned that I was in the 29th percentile for muscle mass for my age, which was surprisingly low. Brooke encouraged me to start strength training, and that recommendation has completely changed the way I work out. I used to be a Pilates girl, but I felt like I had plateaued. Since my stay at Sensei, strength training has been my main focus along with some dietary changes, and I’ve lost a couple of pounds without starving myself!
Activities
Some other activities we enjoyed included yoga, aqua yoga, strength circuit training, a cocktail and mocktail class, and an Insight Session focused on curating our environments to support better decision-making and greater mental harmony
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Our trip concluded with a closing ceremony where we shared our biggest learnings and takeaways from the stay. We also received a personalized take-home wellness report outlining our individual goals and intentions, along with data and expert analysis from our Sensei experience
Lagoon Pool
The lagoon pool was one of my favorite spots at the resort. Its multi-level terraces and hidden nooks make it easy to choose between joining the action or tucking yourself away in your own private corner of paradise. As beautiful as it is during the day, the pool becomes even more striking after dark
Art
The property’s art collection was another unexpected highlight. My favorite piece was Yoshitomo Nara’s Your Dog, along with the colorful Keith Haring works scattered throughout the grounds
Golf
Sensei Porcupine Creek is home to a world-renowned private 18-hole golf course. The challenging course unfolds across 75 acres of turf and sand, framed by dramatic mountain views and an abundance of water features, including lakes, streams, and waterfalls
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Tennis
The resort also has impressive tennis facilities, with three premier hard and clay courts available exclusively to guests. Surrounded by palms and mountain scenery, and occasionally a semi-resident mountain lion
Kaila Yu Creator
Kaila Yu is a Los Angeles–based travel, food, and culture journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, Business Insider, Forbes, and National Geographic.
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