Offering various multi-day and personalized retreats, Eupepsia Wellness Resort is a peaceful retreat in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Story by Lisa Berretta
Surrounded by green fields and rolling hills, Eupepsia Wellness Resort is a boutique property located on 265 acres in Bland County in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of southwest Virginia. It’s about a 90-minute drive from Roanoke airport and a two and a-half-hour drive from the city of Charlotte, NC and Charlotte Douglas International Airport. While the wellness resort has only been open for four years, Eupepsia already attracts guests from all over the country as well as internationally. I recently made the five-hour drive from the Washington, DC area as I had been wanting to get away to the mountains for a few days to retreat, reconnect and renew, and this seemed to be the perfect destination.
Eupepsia offers various multi-day and personalized retreats such as Healthy Detox, Weight Management, Relaxation & De-Stress, Fitness & Recovery and Advanced Healing, and staff can provide specialized one-on-one assessments and Ayurveda consultations. People come with different goals and stay for varying lengths of time. There’s an easy-to-use pricing and booking tool on the website, but a staff member is generally available if you’d like to call and ask questions. Joana Samhoun, Manager of Guest Experiences says,“We are a boutique resort which enables us to offer personalized attention and customized programs tailored to each person’s bio-individuality.” Following strict Covid protocols, the resort was able to stay open during the pandemic and were busy with guests from within a few hours driving distance.
I loved the fact that resort facilities including guest rooms, dining hall, lounge, spa and treatment rooms are all conveniently located in one large and beautiful building. On one side of the building, there’s an incredible intricately detailed wooden door that was hand carved in India. There are no electronics in the guest rooms so a stay here is a great opportunity to unplug, but WiFi is strong for those who want to use their own devices. There is also a desk in each room so people can set up their laptops if they are looking for a wellness “workcation.” Outside each guest room is a small table and chairs where people can sit and read or just look at the lovely landscape. There are beautiful gardens and flowers surrounding the property. Also nice is that the well water is purified so good drinking water is available from the tap so no need for bottled water.
In both 2019 and 2020, Eupepsia was named the #2 Best Wellness Resort in the nation, as determined by the USA Today Reader’s Choice Awards. They offer a variety of spa services and Ayurvedic therapies and a wide range of activities. I started my day at 7:30 AM with a workout in their extensive gym with James, their trainer, who led a group circuit training. After breakfast, those who wanted to go on a guided hike could do that on the trails surrounding the property or could join staff and other guests to a local park.
The unique and customized spa therapies are something I’ve never encountered. The talented staff and the therapeutic oils made for an incredibly relaxing and therapeutic experience. In the spa area, they have various types of hydrotherapy equipment as well as hot stone lounge chairs for guests to use at any time.
The word “eupepsia” means “good digestion” and the farm-to-table vegetarian meals were certainly a highlight and were greatly enjoyed by even those not following a vegetarian diet. Chef Tarek and his team continually brought out a variety of dishes and the food was plentiful. Following dinner, we were served golden milk which is not only delicious, but helps to promote digestion and good sleep. Meals are served family-style so guests can really get to know each other. Eupepsia is also alcohol and caffeine free.
I found that the staff is very much like a family, treat their guests as such, and are always checking in to make sure each individual is happy. Eupepsia does not simply make you feel at home for when you are there, but makes sure every guest knows that they will be there to welcome you back. Samar, also in guest experiences, pointed out that Eupepsia “is not like a hotel where people go on their own. People tend to make friends, and plan to meet here again.”
Overall, Eupepsia offers a wonderful multi-sensory experience and being there as my first trip since Covid made it exceptionally vivid and meaningful. After being in lockdown mode for well over a year, a stay at Eupepsia is a great option for those craving human connection as well as experiencing the benefits of this very unique wellness resort. The warmth of the employees is just one of the things that makes it so special. More info on Eupepsia.
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As a contributor to Travel to Wellness, Lisa Berretta visited as a guest of Eupepsia in June 2021