5-Day Juice Cleanse and Yoga Wellness Retreat in the Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina

The Prama Institute runs this 5-day juice cleanse retreat in the Appalachian foothills of Western North Carolina, about 20 minutes from downtown Asheville. The property sits on 150 acres bordering the French Broad River, with forested walking trails and a meadow that catches the morning sun. Everything happens in the main building where guests stay, so you're never fighting a schedule to get to class.

Each day follows a similar groove: a gentle yoga class and meditation session in the morning, then workshops on juice cleanse science and the center's Five Pillars of Health. The juice portion starts with light meals on day one, then moves into three full days of fresh juices, broths, and herbal teas, before breaking fast with light meals on the final day. Ramesh Bjonnes, the director, leads much of the program—he's studied yoga therapy in Nepal and India, trained as a yoga detox therapist in the Philippines, and has been teaching this method for years.

What makes this retreat different is how structured it is around the detox. It's not a vague wellness week where you do a few classes and call it a retreat. The juice cleanse is the backbone, and the workshops give you the tools to repeat it at home: how to prep juices, what to expect during a fast, and how to reintroduce food slowly. The whole thing is grounded in a plant-based diet and Ayurvedic principles, which Ramesh applies practically.

Evenings tend to wind down with time in the common lounge, reading in the library, or soaking in the hot tub at the Wellness Center down the road. If you want, you can book a massage or do a self-applied mud pack for your face and hands. The atmosphere is calm and low-key, and because group sizes are small, you get a lot of individual attention.

What's included

- 4 nights accommodation in shared or private rooms - 3 daily nutritious juices, broths, and/or meals - Daily gentle yoga classes - Daily meditation sessions - Five Pillars of Health workshops - Guided nature hikes - Free parking - Free wifi - Water, tea, and coffee available all day

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Massages and health consultations - Additional treatments