5 Questions to Ask Before Booking Any Fasting Retreat

If you're considering an extended fasting retreat, you've probably already done your research on the benefits of fasting itself. And most people would agree: the retreat experience matters as much as the fast itself.

After more than a decade of attending extended fasts—and experiencing what makes the difference between a transformative retreat and a disappointing one—I've learned which questions matter most.

Here are the five questions I wish someone had told me to ask before my first retreat:

1. What is the facilitator's personal fasting experience?

This might seem obvious, but you'd be surprised how many retreat leaders have extensive academic knowledge about fasting without having done much extended fasting themselves. There's a profound difference between understanding fasting intellectually and knowing it in your bones.

A facilitator who has personally navigated day three's emotional intensity, who knows what it feels like when your body shifts into deep ketosis, who has experienced both the challenges and the breakthroughs—that person can guide you through your own experience with a completely different level of understanding.

Ask specifically: How many extended fasts have you personally completed? What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

2. What is the environment like where I'll be fasting?

Most people interpret this question as being about aesthetics—beautiful views, comfortable beds, peaceful surroundings. Those things matter, but they're not what I'm really asking about.

During extended fasting, your body shifts into active cleanup mode. Fat stores break down, releasing compounds that may have accumulated there over years. At the same time, fasting triggers powerful adaptive responses: research shows it activates Nrf2, a pathway that upregulates your body's production of glutathione and other antioxidants—your internal detoxification system is ramping up, not shutting down.

This is precisely why environment matters. Your body is actively doing housekeeping—mobilizing stored toxins, activating cleanup pathways, doing the deep work. If you're simultaneously breathing in new pollutants or absorbing chemicals through your skin, you're asking your body to clean house while someone keeps tracking mud through the door.

Is the retreat in a converted hotel with years of cleaning chemicals embedded in the carpets? A renovated home with conventional building materials? The air you breathe, the water you drink, even the paint on the walls can either support your body's work or add to its burden.

Ask specifically: What considerations went into the building or space where guests fast? What is the air quality like? What kind of water filtration do you use?

This is actually one of the reasons I created Fasting in Paradise. Read about that journey here.

3. What's the maximum group size?

Extended fasting is vulnerable work. You're not just abstaining from food—you're moving through physical, emotional, and often spiritual territory that requires real support.

In a large group, it's easy to slip through the cracks. Your unique experience gets lost in the crowd. The facilitator can't possibly know where each person is in their process, what support they need, or when something requires attention.

Ask specifically: How many guests will be fasting alongside me? What is the ratio of facilitators to guests? How much individual attention can I expect?

4. What happens if I struggle?

Every experienced faster knows that extended fasts don't always go smoothly. Sometimes the body needs something different than what was planned. Sometimes emotions arise that need processing. Sometimes a person needs to modify their fast or break it early.

How a retreat handles these moments tells you everything about their philosophy and experience level.

Ask specifically: What is your protocol when someone is having difficulty? How often do you check in with each guest? What does the re-feeding process look like if I need to break my fast early? Are you on site throughout the night?

5. What support do I get before and after the retreat?

The retreat itself is just one piece of the fasting journey. How you prepare your body in the weeks leading up to an extended fast significantly impacts your experience. And how you transition back to eating—and back to regular life—determines whether the benefits last.

Many retreats focus exclusively on the days you're on-site, leaving the crucial preparation and integration phases to chance.

Ask specifically: What guidance do you provide before I arrive? What is the post-retreat protocol? Is there any follow-up support after I return home?

Frequently Asked Questions - How to Choose a Fasting Retreat

Those five questions are the ones I wish someone had given me before I booked my first (or fourth!) retreat. But knowing what to ask is only half the story—knowing what kind of answers to look for is just as important. Below, you’ll find a simple guide to help you sort through what matters most.

How do I choose the right fasting retreat?

Start by looking beyond the pretty photos and asking deeper questions. The quality of your experience depends on the facilitator’s real-world fasting experience, the cleanliness of the environment, the size of the group, and how much individual support is built into the retreat. Asking how many extended fasts the facilitator has personally completed—and what challenges they’ve navigated—will tell you far more than any marketing copy.

Why does the environment matter during an extended fasting retreat?

During an extended fast, your body shifts into a deep cellular cleanup mode. Fat stores break down, stored compounds are released, and antioxidant pathways activate. If you’re breathing polluted air, drinking unfiltered water, or surrounded by harsh chemicals, you’re working against your biology. A clean, low-toxin environment supports your body’s repair work instead of adding to its burden.

How big should a fasting retreat group be?

Extended fasting is vulnerable, personal work. Smaller groups allow the facilitator to truly understand where each guest is in their process—physically, emotionally, and energetically. A thoughtful guest-to-facilitator ratio ensures you won’t slip through the cracks and that your experience is supported with presence, attention, and care.

What happens if I struggle during my fasting retreat?

Every experienced retreat should have clear, compassionate protocols for when someone needs extra support. Ask how often facilitators check in with each guest, what happens if you feel unwell or overwhelmed, and whether you can modify or break your fast early. A high-quality retreat will offer calm, structured guidance, support re-feeding if needed, and remain available on-site—often including overnight.

What support should I get before and after a fasting retreat?

The retreat itself is only one part of the journey. Your preparation in the weeks before your fast—and your re-feeding and integration afterward—deeply influence your results. High-quality retreats provide guidance on how to prepare your body, how to reintroduce food safely, and how to sustain the benefits once you return home. This continuity of care ensures the experience is not just transformative while you’re there—but long-lasting.

The Bottom Line

These five questions may not appear on most retreat websites. But the answers will tell you more about the quality and thoughtfulness of a program than any polished marketing copy ever could.

An extended fast is a significant investment—of time, money, and trust. You deserve to know that the people and place you're entrusting with that experience have thought deeply about every aspect of what makes fasting truly transformative.

About the Author: My name is Christy, and I founded Fasting in Paradise. I’ve been attending extended fasts for over a decade and am the founder of Fasting in Paradise, a women's fasting retreat launching Fall 2026. Learn more about my background.