Making new friendships as an adult can be harder than people like to admit. You move away from home, away from the people who know you best, and somewhere along the way your circle quietly shrinks. Being in a new city with no one to come home to and share it with is an experience more common than we like to admit.
And then, every once in a while, connection finds you in a way you didn’t plan.
Most of our guests come on an Alchemy retreat for the movement, the clarity, and the chance to reset. What they don’t expect is to leave with some of the most meaningful connections they’ve made in years. When you spend several days sweating, moving, and exploring alongside incredible people, something begins to soften. Conversation comes more easily. Inside jokes start to emerge. Strangers begin to feel like friends. Soon nonstop laughter fills each day and you can’t imagine life without the people you met a few short days ago.
That kind of connection is something we hear about again and again from our retreat guests:
“As adults, it can be surprisingly hard to make new friends. This retreat brought together such thoughtful, like-minded people, and the connections felt effortless. I made some truly amazing friendships that I am excited to continue building beyond the retreat.” – Brenda S., Alchemy Adventure Tulum and Nicaragua.
“I’ve met some of the most amazing people, truly the best group. Everyone is like-minded, positive, and supportive, and what started as workout connections quickly turned into deep friendships.” – Karolin L. Alchemy Adventure Nicaragua, Chamonix and Bali.
“My hope for the retreat was to restore and renew my energy. I didn’t expect to return to DC with new, meaningful connections and a community that would be a positive source of strength in my life. The Alchemy retreat was an invitation to connection, community, and wellness. I am forever grateful!” – Maddie K., Alchemy Adventure Tulum
People come on an Alchemy retreat for their own reasons – it might be to process a particularly challenging season in life, wanting a vacation where they can stay active, getting over a recent break up, or simply trying something new. And when you’re unplugged from your usual routine, it becomes easier to soften into the experience and let yourself be supported.
That support doesn’t always come from Alchemy leaders. It comes from the people moving beside you, sharing meals with you, cheering you on, and reflecting something back to you. That’s why we call it a Collective. The experience is shaped by everyone who shows up.
Over time, we’ve watched guests return for a second retreat, then a third, often traveling alongside people they first met through Alchemy. What began as a few days away becomes something they carry forward — a circle of people who continue to check in, cheer each other on, and show up in each other’s lives.
Sydne has been on every Alchemy trip we offer. What started as a spontaneous trip with her sister became something much bigger: a way to travel, move, explore, and build genuine friendships as an adult.
“Joining this travel group almost two years ago on a whim with my sister has allowed me to achieve a major life goal: making genuine new friends as an adult. Stepping outside my normal circles, I’ve had the invaluable opportunity to travel, explore, and consistently connect with new people, all while furthering my fitness goals.”
Since that first trip, those connections have continued to grow — both on retreat and back home in D.C.
“From trip number one, I forged a strong, supportive circle of friends who make a real effort to keep up with and champion one another. This support extends far beyond the trips and has made a real impact on my life in D.C. Whether it’s meeting up for a local workout or trying a new class followed by coffee and conversation, these amazing connections continue to help me branch out, meet a wider network, and experience new local activities together.” – Sydne S., Alchemy Adventure Nicaragua, Tulum, Chamonix and Bali.
The clearest sign that these connections are real is what happens after everyone comes home. The friendships don’t just live in the photos or the memories from the trip. They continue in everyday life — in dinners, workouts, check-ins, celebrations, and plans for whatever adventure comes next.
“Some of the girls have become incredibly close friends—I feel so lucky to have them in my life. We spend a lot of time together in DC, whether we’re going out to eat, staying active, or cheering each other on in life and fitness. Alchemy really attracts incredible people, and the friendships I’ve built there have had such a meaningful impact on my life in DC. These friends have truly become like family and are so dear to my heart.” – Karolin L., Alchemy Adventures Nicaragua, Chamonix and Bali.
Nobody arrives with an agenda. Nobody is networking. Everyone showed up for their own reasons, and somewhere between the early mornings and the shared meals, something clicks. Those once strangers become your people. And your people don’t disappear when the trip ends. They text you, work out with you, show up for you back home in ways you didn’t see coming.
The connections don’t feel forced because they aren’t. They grow out of sunrise workouts on the beach, surfing waves you weren’t sure you could handle, and boat days that turn into the best conversations of your life.
The friendships don’t end when the retreat does. They follow you home.
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