Finding Yourself by Getting Lost: The Rise of Wilderness Therapy Travel

A Mother's Journey to Rediscovery

Five years into postpartum depression, Esther Spengler felt like a shadow of her former self. The demands of motherhood had chipped away at her identity, leaving her desperate for a change. While searching for a unique anniversary trip, she stumbled upon something extraordinary: a luxury travel company that specializes in dropping clients into the wilderness, leaving them to navigate their own way out.

Intrigued, Spengler pitched the idea to her husband. Recognizing his wife's yearning for adventure, he encouraged her to embark on the solo journey. After a year and a half of saving, Spengler found herself alone in the majestic Atlas Mountains of Morocco, lost in the best possible way.

"I had felt like a dead skeleton walking around and I felt all of a sudden this spark of life," Spengler recalled, describing the experience orchestrated by Black Tomato. "It's completely changed the trajectory of my life."

The Allure of the Wild: A New Kind of Luxury

Spengler’s experience reflects a growing trend among affluent travelers: swapping traditional resort luxury for immersive wilderness adventures. These experiences offer a profound challenge, both physically and mentally, pushing individuals beyond their comfort zones.

Black Tomato's "Get Lost" program embodies this shift. The premise is simple yet powerful: get lost in the wilderness to find yourself. Spengler, desiring warmth and distance from the US, chose Morocco as her backdrop.

Armed with a map, compass, and a backup GPS, she spent three days navigating the rugged terrain, relishing the solitude and the opportunity for introspection. "I wanted that isolation where you need space to just think and to be," she explained.

More Than a Vacation: A Transformative Experience

Rob Murray-John, head of special projects at Black Tomato, notes that "Get Lost" attracts a diverse clientele, often highly successful individuals seeking reflection. Some are navigating personal hardships, others contemplating career changes, and many simply yearning to disconnect from the pressures of modern life. While most clients are wealthy, the common thread is a desire for wildness and disconnection.

Each trip is meticulously tailored, ranging from $25,000 and upwards, factoring in the client's desired level of "lostness." Some choose a country; others specify a type of landscape – jungle, desert, mountain, or polar. Some even remain unaware of their destination until arrival.

The journey involves a guided transition to a remote location, followed by survival training covering fire building, shelter construction, and basic wilderness skills. Then, equipped with essential supplies, clients embark on their solo expedition, tracked discreetly by the Black Tomato team for safety.

Travel as Therapy: Rediscovering Resilience

"Travel now is becoming a part of your therapy plan," Murray-John observes. The experience concludes with a reunion with guides, a celebratory moment, and a touch of conventional luxury at a hotel.

For Spengler, returning to civilization was bittersweet. The experience profoundly altered her outlook. “I thought I’m not going back to the way it was before,” she declared. She joined the Army, a lifelong dream, and embraced survival training, pushing her limits.

Spengler's journey wasn't about relaxation; it was about transformation. The experience instilled a sense of empowerment and resilience, equipping her to face future challenges with renewed strength. "It wasn't relaxing," she affirmed. "It was an adventure."