95% (33) • 19 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Thermal
Svatantria Boutique Retreat
1. Svatantria Boutique Retreat
96%
(40)
48mi from Thermal · 8 sites · Lodging
Welcome to Svatantria, a serene retreat nestled on 14 acres of enchanting landscape in the charming community of Julian, California. Here, meandering creeks, a tranquil pond, ancient oaks and vibrant native flora and fauna create a haven of natural beauty.
Our retreat features four charming cabins and eight picturesque camping areas, ideal for both day-use and extended stays. Each accommodation is thoughtfully equipped with amenities such as BBQ grills, mini-fridges, and bathrooms with invigorating hot showers. Depending on your choice of rental, amenities may be either private or shared.
During your visit, immerse yourself in the tranquil surroundings by exploring our on-site labyrinth, hiking through the peaceful canyons, dipping your toes in the seasonal creek, or observing the diverse wildlife.
Julian has been designated as a national dark sky community, making it a perfect spot for stargazing enthusiasts. Every year between mid-July and the end of August, visitors can view the spectacular Perseid meteor showers, adding an extra touch of magic to your stay.
We also invite you to join our yogis for practice on the meditation platform, or unwind to the soothing sounds of a nearby seasonal creek and waterfall. Private and semi-private yoga sessions are available—please contact us for more details.
Svatantria honors the Kumeyaay, the First Peoples of this area, who have stewarded the sacred land for more than 1,000 years. As it's current custodians we are are hopeful that you will join us in preserving its beauty, spirit and nurturing essence.
Toilets
Showers
Campfires
from
$86
/ night
San Bernardino National Forest
2. San Bernardino National Forest
94%
(151)
863 sites · La Quinta, California
Test your summiting skills on some of Southern California's most picturesque peaks.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Cleveland National Forest
3. Cleveland National Forest
93%
(85)
436 sites · Descanso, California
Hike, camp, or gaze up at the Milky Way in California’s southernmost national forest.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
95% (33) • 19 campsites
Top-rated campgrounds near Thermal
Svatantria Boutique Retreat
1. Svatantria Boutique Retreat
96%
(40)
48mi from Thermal · 8 sites · Lodging
Welcome to Svatantria, a serene retreat nestled on 14 acres of enchanting landscape in the charming community of Julian, California. Here, meandering creeks, a tranquil pond, ancient oaks and vibrant native flora and fauna create a haven of natural beauty.
Our retreat features four charming cabins and eight picturesque camping areas, ideal for both day-use and extended stays. Each accommodation is thoughtfully equipped with amenities such as BBQ grills, mini-fridges, and bathrooms with invigorating hot showers. Depending on your choice of rental, amenities may be either private or shared.
During your visit, immerse yourself in the tranquil surroundings by exploring our on-site labyrinth, hiking through the peaceful canyons, dipping your toes in the seasonal creek, or observing the diverse wildlife.
Julian has been designated as a national dark sky community, making it a perfect spot for stargazing enthusiasts. Every year between mid-July and the end of August, visitors can view the spectacular Perseid meteor showers, adding an extra touch of magic to your stay.
We also invite you to join our yogis for practice on the meditation platform, or unwind to the soothing sounds of a nearby seasonal creek and waterfall. Private and semi-private yoga sessions are available—please contact us for more details.
Svatantria honors the Kumeyaay, the First Peoples of this area, who have stewarded the sacred land for more than 1,000 years. As it's current custodians we are are hopeful that you will join us in preserving its beauty, spirit and nurturing essence.
Toilets
Showers
Campfires
from
$86
/ night
San Bernardino National Forest
2. San Bernardino National Forest
94%
(151)
863 sites · La Quinta, California
Test your summiting skills on some of Southern California's most picturesque peaks.
Pets
Electrical hookup
Toilets
Cleveland National Forest
3. Cleveland National Forest
93%
(85)
436 sites · Descanso, California
Hike, camp, or gaze up at the Milky Way in California’s southernmost national forest.
Pets
Toilets
Campfires
Recent reviews from the Hipcamp community
Alvaro
October 2025
With kids
We loved spending a weekend at the cabin, with the highlight being lying down on the wood benches by the campfire and look at the stars.
The cabin is well equipped with bed pillows a land and a battery to keep your tech things charged up !
Kitchen has cooking items and the bbq makes it easy to cook. Bathroom with hot water and bio toilets are very well thought.
See more
M
Madison
October 2025
Weekend Trip to Svatantria Boutique Retreat
Me and my partner had a lovely stay at Hellya cabin! We loved this spot especially for its view and quiet atmosphere. Parking was very close and we had a good distance from the other cabins.
Keep in mind there are no heaters in this cabin but the building retained heat well at night and was cool during the day.
Stuart and Janel’s dogs greeted us as we drove up and after a few barks they greeted us with snuggles! They were great company on our weekend trip.
Thank you Stuart and Janel for letting us enjoy your land!
See more
Eric
October 2025
2 nights at Svatantria Boutique Retreat
Location is beautiful, and the hosts have done so much work to make the property attractive and restful. The cabin was perfect for us, but others should know that the structures are very rustic and basic. The bedding and mattress were nice. People should prepare for a more camping-like experience and they will be happy.
The kitchen and bathroom would be more useable with a few tweaks, which we will let the hosts know about. Definitely bring flashlights and possibly even your own camp stove if you want to be able to easily boil water. The hike to the cabin really is 5 minutes or less, and you should plan to carry your things over to it. The solar wasn’t functioning at the time of our visit, so we got by with battery packs charged at the house, which is a compromise for the mini-fridge since it can only power it for a little less than 24 hrs.
See more
A
ANDREA
October 2025
2 nights at Svatantria Boutique Retreat
It was so nice and relaxing to be in this space. I stayed in the cabin, Inyaha, and it perfectly suited my needs. There’s another nearby cabin, but it was unoccupied while I was there, so no kids playing in the playground (no shade!)… I was able to cook yummy meals on my stove, and relax amongst the mountain. I’d highly recommend to anyone seeking rest & relaxation.
See more
Alexandria
September 2025
3 nights at Svatantria Boutique Retreat
We highly recommend this beautiful site! We had a wonderful long weekend enjoying the cabin/site and Julian area. Our hosts made us feel so welcome and answered all our questions along the way.
See more
Shannon
September 2025
Weekend Trip to Svatantria Boutique Retreat
Beautiful property! Very quiet and relaxing. It is less than 10 min from Julian but felt like you were 100 miles away from any city. Our cabin did not have a kitchen (which I knew) so we brought our Coleman stove. It was perfect. I would definitely go back!
See more
B
Bailey
August 2025
Weekend Trip to Svatantria Boutique Retreat
My stay here was peaceful! The cabin had everything I needed and surprisingly stayed cool despite the warmer temperatures outside. The property owners dogs were so cute and friendly as well. Overall I would stay again.
See more
i
iola
August 2025
2 nights at Svatantria Boutique Retreat
I went to unplug, to reset and be under the stars and in nature. This place hit the sweet spot. Highly satisfied. Highly recommend much gratitude ⭐️
See moreL
Lorena
May 2025
Weekend Trip to Svatantria Boutique Retreat
We had an amazing time at the Shakti cabin. It had everything we needed: small outdoor kitchen area, grill, deck, fire pit, bathroom with a hot shower. It is also in a great location; about 5 mins away from downtown Julian but far enough away to feel like you are in a remote mountain side.
See more
A
Andrew
April 2025
2 nights at Svatantria Boutique Retreat
Beautiful property and very cute small cabins! The hosts (including the dogs) were very welcoming and helpful.
See moreg
glenn
March 2025
Weekend Trip to Svatantria Boutique Retreat
A great trip, location, and host! Right next to Julian and a short drive to Anza Borrego.
See more
Peter
March 2025
3 nights at Svatantria Boutique Retreat
thank you for sharing this space that is so restorative:
pristine land, humble and harmonious cabin setups, pure quiet and privacy, brilliantly clear starry sky, graceful genuine hosts, sweet dogs—I wouldn’t change a thing ♡
See more
C
Colin
February 2025
Weekend Trip to Svatantria Boutique Retreat
We had an amazing stay at Inyaha! From the moment we arrived, Stu was a fantastic host—he gave us a warm welcome, showed us around, and then gave us plenty of privacy while still being available whenever we needed anything.
The property itself is stunning, with breathtaking views, crisp fresh air, and some of the clearest night skies we’ve ever seen. It was the perfect setting for a romantic getaway—quiet, peaceful, and surrounded by nature. The accommodations were top-notch—the room was spotless, the bed was super comfortable, and the gas-powered heater kept us cozy inside, while the wood-burning fireplace on the deck made for the perfect setting to cuddle up under the stars. The bathroom and shower had excellent hot water, which was a great touch after a long day of relaxing and enjoying the outdoors.
To top it all off, Stu’s friendly dog made our stay even more special! If you’re looking for a peaceful and romantic escape in a beautiful setting, this is the place. We can’t recommend it enough and would absolutely love to come back!
See more
S
Sash
February 2025
Weekend Trip to Svatantria Boutique Retreat
My boyfriend and I have an annual tradition to go to Julian for our anniversary and this year we stayed at the Hellya cabin on Stuart and Janel’s huge property- it was the perfect blend of feeling like we were in the middle of nowhere but still had access to a bathroom, a shower, and a warm cabin to sleep in. It’s around 5 mins from Julian and is close to everything on the outskirts too! The hosts were very welcoming and they had a dog Sage that was adorable- we got along well with him :) At night you could see the stars very vibrantly and clearly from the property because there’s little to no light (not a bad thing!) There’s also a little designated fire pit we were able to light a fire in and sit by to warm us up outside. Overall, it was a great stay, we were able to make a little home for ourselves for 3 nights.
See moreJ
James
November 2024
Weekend Trip to Svatantria Boutique Retreat
Exactly what we were looking for; we wanted a step above car camping where we could spend a night or two under the stars and surrounded by nature. The Shakti cabin was just that.
The host was very welcoming and waited up past their usual check in time to greet us in the dark. The property is well maintained with trails to get you to the cabin which is surrounded by sage brush. The cabin was clean and with a little propane heater we were perfectly warm at night. It rained the second night and we were nice and dry. The cooking set up gives a nice little area to prep food and heat up coffee in the morning to enjoy on the front porch. The bathroom was clean and we had plenty of hot water.
Julian is a Dark Sky community and this was a perfect spot to sit and stare at the stars next to the fire. My absolute favorite part of the stay was the dog, Sage who came to greet us in the mornings.
If you’re looking for a quiet place to spend time in nature with a few added creature comforts, this is the spot.
See more
