The sun is shining brightly, but we're fresh off a blizzard from the day before and the trail to the barn is encased in snow and ice. I shuffle my way downhill to greet the goats, expecting to hear their notorious bleats and maas, but instead find the herd waiting quietly until their leader, Meagan, beckons. “They won’t come if they don’t want to,” she tells me, but alas one by one they trot out, grazing past my hands nudging for pats and strokes. I’m about to embark on a goat hike at Hemlock Neversink, a new luxury wellness resort two hours outside of New York City tucked away in the Catskills Mountains.
Why goats? “Guests love it. There's a lightheartedness to it that people appreciate, and it's an activity you typically don't see at most wellness destinations,” Foster Supply Hospitality Co-founder Kirsten Foster tells me. It’s not my first foray into animal-assisted therapy—I’d tried it before with a rescue horse in the Kentucky countryside a year prior—but with goats? Decidedly a newbie. And so we set off into the snow capped woods, me and a herd of charismatic goats from Frederick Farm Goat Rescue and Sanctuary.
The history of animal-assisted therapy dates back centuries, notably with Florence Nightingale documenting a decrease in anxiety for children and adults living in psychiatric institutions upon spending time with small animals. In more recent years, luxury wellness destinations have incorporated such programs to connect their guests with the natural world, be it goats, horses, or otherwise. “You don't have to think too much,” Kristen’s co-founder Sims Foster says of the program’s benefits. “Simply enjoy the outdoors and the company of our little flock.”
The beauty of spending time with wild animals in nature, I’ve come to learn, is the purity of its wellness capabilities. I’ll take an infrared sauna or lymphatic drainage massage any day, but nothing lowers my blood pressure and puts life into perspective quite like winding along a forest path alongside a pack of roaming goats, watching the peculiar dynamics between each of them play out. At the risk of sounding mawkish, it’s probably the most grounding ‘wellness’ experience I’ve had.
Our hike concludes back where we began, at the barn. A shy goat named Lilah had opted out of our hike, but we returned to find her waiting for us on the bench out back. Meagan instructs me to approach Lilah and rest my head on her shoulder for a “healing hug.” My curiosity to know what that even means supplants my fear of being bitten by a goat or catching fleas, and I’m relieved to discover that a hug from a goat is, in fact, the mood boost I’ve been yearning for all along.
If you’re feeling eager for a goat hug or perhaps an equine therapy session, continue ahead for a brief guide to some of the best luxury animal experiences—both regimented and laidback—worth traveling for this year.
Unwind With Sloths in Costa Rica
Nayara Resorts and its five impossibly picturesque properties scattered throughout Costa Rica planted over 1,000 Cecropia trees on land that had previously been cleared for cattle ranchers. These trees and their large shield-shaped leaves are a sloth’s favorite food source, which is why the resorts were able to create an entire sloth sanctuary from the initiative. Guests of Nayara Springs and Naraya Gardens (sister resorts linked via footbridge) can visit the sanctuary to spend time with these sweet sedentary animals. Feel your stress and anxiety melt away as you connect to the slow, mindful movements of these peaceful animals (particularly one named Tony, a resident sloth who has held court at the sanctuary for several years).
Picnic With Baby Alpacas in the Andes
Courtesy of Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel
There are many reasons—natural splendor, distinct culture, and outdoor adventure—to escape to the Andean countryside. At Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel, all of these traits are on full display, but what’s also available is the opportunity to interact with a group of baby Alpacas. Twice a day, guests of the hotel are invited to a meet and greet to feed these furry friends that come from a community 50 miles away. The baby alpacas have also been known to roam the gardens and crash a picnic throughout the day, which is precisely as adorable as it sounds.
Go Night Snorkeling With Manta Rays in Hawai'i
Courtesy of Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
If the idea of gliding through the Pacific Ocean beneath the moonlight sounds appealing, book a trip to Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the big island. The property offers private night swims and snorkels with magnificent Manta Rays. Wade through the sea while these otherworldly creatures feed on krill and twist through the water. (Fun science fact: their wingspans can reach 30 feet).
Communicate Non-Verbally With Horses
Courtesy of Reschio Estate
Animal-assisted therapy with horses (also known as equine therapy) is probably the most common form of animal therapy you’ll encounter—and for good reason. These majestic animals are hyper attuned to your emotions and behavior and building trust with them is a unique opportunity. Take Reschio in the Italian countryside, for example. This 3,700-acre private estate houses dozens of Spanish purebred horses that guests can bond with throughout sessions with head trainer, Antonello Radicchi. Learn how to communicate non-verbally with a horse and take part in their daily routines at the stables designed by owner and architect, Count Benedikt Bolza.
Courtesy of Greenhorn Ranch
In the San Juan Mountains of Colorado at Dunton Hot Springs, guests can sign up for Equine Bonding, which teaches the fundamentals of connecting with horses. In doing so, the spiritual and healing aspects of the horses are revealed, resulting in the potential for a meditative experience. (This can be attached as a prelude to a horseback ride and is available mid May to early October.) For a systematic approach, head for Greenhorn Ranch in California’s Northern Sierras to participate in Equine Guided Education (EGE)—a series of activities that put humans and horses together to non-verbally work through creative decision making and problem solving.
Lastly, if your travels take you to Indonesia this year, book a stay at NIHI Sumba (part of the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels list) to take part in their Sumba Sea Horse Equine Experience. It’s a five-day program where guests and a herd of Sumbanese horses work through activities that are crafted to give insights into one’s own patterns—whether it’s emotional, communicative, or behavioral.
Feed Baby Water Buffalo In South Africa
Courtesy of Babylonstoren
Adventure to the heart of South Africa’s Cape Winelands to Babylonstoren, a restored Cape Dutch Farm where guests can interact with a herd of 200 Mediterranean Water Buffalo. Take things a step further with the ‘Water Buffalo Whisperer,’ Leonie Botha, as she invites visitors to a feeding session with the water buffalo babies. While here, you can also go on a tour with a farmer to see water buffalo grazing and bathing as well as a farm-to-fork experience that includes sampling mozzarella, yogurt, gelato, or butter made from the buffalo milk.