Once considered taboo, psychedelic retreats are now emerging as a legitimate branch of transformational travel in the luxury sector. Backed by science and rooted in ceremony, Beckley Retreats uses psilocybin to induce profound, life-enhancing experiences in legal settings. Jenny Southan reports

Luxury wellness is evolving. It’s no longer just about massages and mindfulness; it’s about transformation – deep, lasting, life-enhancing change. Increasingly, affluent travellers are turning to psychedelic retreats to find it. And Beckley Retreats, a trailblazer in the field, is offering these experiences in legal, luxurious, and deeply supportive settings in Jamaica and the Netherlands.

The global wellness tourism market is on track to be worth US$2 trillion by 2030. Within this, psychedelic therapies are gaining traction, with the psychedelic market in general expected to leap from US$3.8 billion in 2023 to US$10.7 billion by 2027.

This surge in interest is being fuelled by mounting scientific evidence supporting the therapeutic benefits of hallucinogenic compounds such as psilocybin, combined with increased media coverage, celebrity endorsements, and a cultural pivot towards self-actualisation.

Just this month, The Times reported that "magic mushrooms are entering the mainstream as a treatment for depression", with the Czech Republic close to becoming the first European country to sanction the use of psychedelics in this instance.

Psychedelic retreats have emerged from the fringes to become one of the most compelling trends in luxury travel. As past stigmas fall away and public acceptance grows, trailblazing organisations like Beckley Retreats are leading the way.

At a recent webinar (you can watch the recording here), I spoke with Neil Markey, co-founder and CEO of Beckley Retreats, and Hannah Millar-Case, head of business development from luxury hotel booking platform Little Emperors, to learn more about this next-level evolution in luxury wellness.

According to Markey, the majority of guests say that their Beckley Retreat was either "the most – or one of the most meaningful – experiences of their life". This is not your typical yoga and green juice detox. Beckley Retreats offers integrative health programmes centred around two psilocybin ceremonies, underpinned by breathwork, meditation, and psychotherapy tools.

Crucially, Beckley Retreats is backed by more than two decades of research initiated by the late Amanda Feilding (she passed away this spring), founder of the Beckley Foundation and pioneer of global drug policy reform.

Markey, a former US Army captain and McKinsey consultant, now dedicated to studying integrative health at Harvard, explained how Beckley’s programmes blend Western science, indigenous wisdom and holistic healing practices to meet people “where they are” on their journey of personal growth.

The emphasis on rigorous screening, expert facilitation, and post-retreat integration ensures that guests are supported at every stage. As Markey put it, “It’s an extremely loving military operation” – a nod to both the safety protocols and the deeply caring environment the team cultivates.

Millar-Case, who attended a Beckley retreat in Jamaica, shared an emotional account of her experience. Seeking healing from grief, she turned to Beckley after plateauing in traditional therapy. “I experienced a deep connection with myself and a greater understanding of who I am,” she said. She emphasised the exceptional hospitality and the warmth of the facilitators, noting that the emotional intelligence and care she received rivalled the service standards of top luxury hotels.

For her, Beckley’s unique combination of professional credibility, holistic care, and luxury presentation sets it apart. “This isn’t fringe,” she said. “This is the next evolution of wellness.”

Retreats take place in small groups (often ten to 15 people) in peaceful, secluded estates. Think lush Jamaican gardens or serene Dutch countryside. Each programme includes two guided psilocybin ceremonies – but the experience is about much more than the mushrooms.

“We run what we call integrative health programmes,” said Markey. “We do a lot of teaching – meditation, breathwork, mindful movement, and gratitude practices. There’s a month of digital prep before the retreat, five days in-person, and then a six-week follow-up. We give you tools to sustain the benefits long after the journey ends.”

The psilocybin is consumed as a carefully measured tea. Everyone’s dosage is tailored to their needs, and experienced facilitators (some of the best in the world, says Markey) are on hand to guide, support and care for you throughout.

“You’re not lying on a yoga mat in the jungle, left to fend for yourself,” said Millar-Case. “It’s like being held by angels.

“It’s been seven months, and I still talk about it every day. I felt supported from the moment I submitted my application to long after I returned home. The accommodation was beautiful, the food exceptional, and the facilitators had this intuitive emotional intelligence I’ve never encountered before – even in luxury hospitality.”

She explained that while the psilocybin ceremonies are powerful, much of the magic came from the supportive practices that surrounded them. “I didn’t realise how big a part breathwork and meditation would play,” she said. “But those tools have stayed with me. They’re part of my daily life now.”

During the ceremonies, guests lie comfortably in a shared space – outside under a canopy, surrounded by nature, with live musicians playing intuitive soundtracks. Some wear eye masks and journey inward; others gaze at the stars.

“Sometimes the whole group would erupt into laughter,” said Markey. “Other times, people would be moved to tears. It's all part of the process – and it’s all completely safe.”

Beckley retreats attract high-functioning individuals who have achieved success – but seek more. They’re often entrepreneurs, creatives, philanthropists, and parents. What unites them is a desire for deeper meaning.

Guests are screened before being accepted to ensure they are emotionally and physically ready. “Our retreats are for generally well people looking to go from good to great,” said Markey. “This is about self-actualisation – processing loss, moving through transitions, becoming a more present parent or partner.”

“These are people who’ve done the luxury hotels, the yoga retreats, the silent meditations,” said Millar-Case. “They’re ready for the next step.”

For those hesitant about the idea of “doing drugs,” Markey suggested reframing. “This is plant medicine. It comes from nature. We use natural, tested psilocybin – not synthetics. And we’ve built our programme on decades of scientific research."