Are you an active yogi craving a deeper connection to the ancient forests and deep river canyons of the Sequoias? Then this 7-day Sequoia Adventure exploring Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks is perfect for you! You’ll spend your mornings meditating with breathtaking mountain sunrises and expansive yoga practices to ease into your active day immersed in nature. You’ll marvel at the massive trees and thundering waterfalls as you trek quiet and beautiful paths through high mountains and deep canyons in one of the most unique and awe-inspiring places in the world. Join us as we explore mysterious caves and expansive views high atop granite cliffs, breathing in nature and letting go of everything else, finding peace and being fully present each step of the way.
Imagine strolling through groves of trees so massive your comprehension gives way to a sense of awe. The ground is soft, cushioned by decades of needles and leaves piling up to decay. You hear the winds whispering high above as you gaze to the tops of soaring trees reaching high into the sky to dance in the breeze. Birds add their song to the symphony of the forest as your thoughts begin to slow. You feel calm, with each breath of air filled with the sweet scent of the forest your body begins to relax taking in the healing power of the mountains and letting go of everything else.
All at once you feel at home, recognizing that you belong here, understanding the trees and the mountains standing guard to protect you. You feel nature gently reaching out, touching you with the breeze, shrubs brushing your lets, and water caressing your skin. There is nothing in this place that you can change or fix, nothing for you to do except to just be. You hear your voice adding to the chorus of nature and the creatures of the forest seem to welcome it, they welcome you, this is your home too.
A sweet smile crosses your face as you begin to let go of everything you left behind and allow yourself to feel the warm embrace of this moment, in this place where nothing else matters and everything is moving in perfect harmony with the earth.
Welcome to the BIG trees…
…Welcome to Sequoia…
Welcome home!
Are you ready to let go of stress and find healing in the mountains?
Of course you are!
On this adventure you will be far away from the stress and worry of daily living. With no cell signal and no place to be, you quickly lose the need to look at your watch and relax into the steady pace of mother nature. All of the sights, sounds, and smells of the forest flow effortlessly through your body as the mountains stand guard high making you feel small and protected. You will leave this place feeling calm, relaxed, and rejuvenated ready to bring a steady pace to daily life.
Can you imagine a place where you can stop fixing and start living?
That sounds magical!
On this retreat, through the practice of forest bathing, you will engage with mother nature using all your senses. You will develop a deeper understanding of the earth, and you will begin to feel a home sitting with nature; without any desire to change a thing. You will begin to recognize the incomprehensible power and vastness of nature and understand that you belong there, and nature belongs in you.
You will come away with a deep sense of gratitude for the planet we call home and a deeper understanding of your true self which is vast and strong like the earth.
Show Me The Itinerary!
Day 1 Arrive at Sequoia Highland Camp
As you arrive to Sequoia Highland Camp you will feel the peaceful seclusion of your home away from home nestled in the Sierras. Your leaders will be there to greet you and show you to your cabin to settle in. In the evening you will enjoy a gentle yoga practice to stretch out from the trip before heading to the dining room where our chef has prepared a mouthwatering dinner for our opening meal. We will have a relaxing evening getting to know each other and going over the itinerary for the week.
Day 2 Grants Grove
You’ll rise early for our first sunrise meditation and invigorating yoga practice followed by an amazing breakfast to start the day. After breakfast, you grab your gear, and we head into the park to explore. On this day we will enjoy getting to know one another on the trail as you experience your first journey among the trees. You will start the day in Big Stump where you will experience an ancient tree that was cut down a century ago to be put on display in side shows and museums. An ominous tribute to the sometimes callous approach to nature we can take as humans. Along the way you will witness the power of nature to heal itself from both fire and logging practices from long ago.
The afternoon brings your first look at the REALLY big trees as we visit the General Grant grove and head out on a spectacular trail overlooking Sequoia Lake. It’s here that you begin to recognize the massive size of these ancient trees and enormous fallen logs hollowed out by fire!
As we leave the paved trail to General Grant and head out on a single track, you the crowds will dwindle until we find ourselves along on the ridge line high above the canyons and lakes. We will have lunch near the lake before returning.
We will return to Highland for our afternoon yoga practice and a relaxing dinner. Following dinner, we will enjoy another wonderful sunset and time to visit and journal before turning in for the night.
Day 3 End of the Road
You’ll rise early to enjoy a wonderful sunrise and yoga practice. After breakfast we will pack our lunches and plenty of snacks to head for the ‘end of the road’. Our journey on this day takes us deep into Kings Canyon where you will experience thundering waterfalls as we hike the canyon floor gazing up at walls rising thousands of feet overhead. We will enjoy our lunch and relax by the river responsible for carving out the deepest canyon in North America!
After lunch we continue to follow the path up the river toward the iconic Mist Falls. Along the way you enjoy the shade and the scent of the dense forest, and the soothing sound of water rushing past giant boulders and skipping over countless falls on its journey through the canyon.
You pause to take in the enormous canyon walls and high overlooks that take away both your breath and your words.
Arriving at last at Mist Falls where you can’t help but take off your shoes and wade into the pools at the base of its many falls. The water is cold and refreshing rejuvenating your feet for the hike back. As you return to camp you stop by Grizzly Falls to explore another one of the amazing features of Kings Canyon! Then arriving back to camp in time for another mouth watering meal and some quiet time to integrate all that you experienced in the day! Michael
The sun shines not on us but in us. The rivers flow not past, but through us. Thrilling, tingling, vibrating every fiber and cell of our bodies, making them glide and sing.
― John Muir
Day 4 Giant Sequoia’s and Crescent Meadow
On this day we rise early to explore the Sequoia side of the park. You’ll start your day with an iconic sunrise meditation and yoga practice. After breakfast we continue to the famous General Sherman tree where we catch our trailhead to hike deep into the groves and lush meadows of the giant trees. You’ll enjoy the solitude of this more remote area among the trees where wildlife abounds foraging along the creeks and meadows. Keep your eyes open because its common to even spot bears in this area.
We will enjoy another meditative forest bathing practice along the way as we breathe in the healing scent of the forest. We will have lunch before returning past some of the other famous and less visited trees along this route including other worldly sights of living trees hollowed out by fire.
We begin our journey back to Highland with a stop to watch the sunset along the way. Arriving back in camp for dinner grounding yoga practice before bed, your heart will be filled as you contemplate the astounding experiences of the day.
Day 5 Boyden Cave, Big Baldy and Buck Rock Lookout Tower
On this day you enjoy a leisurely morning at Highland with our sunrise meditation and yoga practices. After breakfast we will pack up our lunches and head back to Kings Canyon. We start out day with a private tour of the beautiful Boyden Cave. This is a living cave of blue marble, with running water and growing formations.
Along the way we will stop with lights off to enjoy a powerful and moving meditation deep inside Mother Earth, some 1100 feet below the surface. After the meditation we dawn our headlamps as we exit through the wild passages that are not a part of the show cave tour. You emerge feeling deeply grounded and energized.
As we venture back toward Sequoia, we stop to hike up to Buck Rock Lookout Tower. Perched high on a rock formation at 8500 feet of elevation, this historic fire lookout has panoramic views across the Sierras and the central valley! It was built in 1921 as one of just a few lookouts where rangers actually lived in the lookout during fire season. This one has been preserved and reopened as a staffed lookout in 2000, one of only a couple left in the US. We will explore the lookout and enjoy good conversation with the resident attendant before having lunch at the base.
As we make our way back out of Kings Canyon we will enjoy an afternoon hike to Big Baldy along the ridge lines high above the canyon floor. As you gaze down into the familiar canyon floor below, your mind can’t seem to wrap around the magnitude of this place. The awesome size and power of nature. We will hike to the top of Big Baldy where we will enjoy panoramic views of this vast space as the sun begins to sink into the golden hour.
We return to Camp for another amazing dinner and some time to talk and journal or just relax in the common room.
Day 6 Moro Rock and Closing Evening
Morning brings another glorious sunrise meditation and yoga practice before breakfast. Then we pack up and head back to Sequoia where you will enjoy some of the ‘not to miss’ locations in the front country. On this day we start early with a hike up Moro rock to enjoy the famous and iconic views over the meadows of Sequoia. You’ll return down to continue on Sunset trail to hanging rock where we will enjoy our lunch in relative solitude. After lunch we hike back through the meadow to begin our return to camp.
We return to Highland late in the afternoon to relax and enjoy our final afternoon at the camp before our sumptuous closing dinner. After dinner we will gather for our closing circle to reflect on our week and share our experiences under the stars.
Day 7 ‘til we meet again!
You won’t want to miss one last sunrise on our final day and our final yoga practice. After an amazing breakfast we will have plenty of time to pack and get ready to head out.
Saying our final goodbyes to this amazing camp we have called home for a week and the beautiful landscape we have grown to love, we say ’til next time’ as we head our separate ways. Knowing that these new friendships run deep and soon we will adventure together once more.
The union of nature and soul removes the veil of ignorance that covers our intelligence.
-BKS Iyengar
Where will we stay?
With 120 acres of trail filled forest, ponds, and meadows the Sequoia Highland Camp will provide a tranquil hub for your adventure near the entrance to Kings Canyon. At 5,000 feet, you will experience incredible sunrise and sunset views, with the mountains on one side overlooking a picturesque valley on the other.
Your home away from home features well-appointed cabins with lux private queen bedrooms, kitchens, and a shared bath. You’ll love feeling so secluded in your cabin and yet close to the restaurant building, rec room, yoga room and other amenities. It will be your perfect start to each day and an even better place to relax from an exciting day of adventure.
For this adventure, single occupancy will be one person in a private bedroom and double occupancy will be two people sharing a private bedroom. Each room has one queen sized bed. We are not offering roommate match requests for this trip due to the nature of the double occupancy shared bed requirement. Cabin common areas are coed. If you are bringing a friend or family member and wish to have separate bedrooms we will do our best to accommodate you in the same cabin.
Tell me about the food!
Our premium adventures are always all inclusive so you can enjoy your day without worrying about your meals. We curate dining experiences that always offer vegan and gluten free options, which is not easy in smaller adventure towns! But in this case, we have private access to a commercial kitchen and dining area and we are bringing a fantastic chef who will lovingly prepare some mouthwatering food. Most meals are created to be served with your choice of protein with options provided prior to the trip. Here is what to expect.
Breakfast
Breakfasts will be served buffet style with plenty of healthy options including fruit, oatmeal, granola, breakfast potatoes, tofu scramble or scrambled eggs, vegan bacon or sausage, and more. All proteins except for scrambled eggs are vegan on the breakfast bar.
Lunch
On our outdoor adventures you will enjoy sack lunches on the trails unless otherwise noted. Our chef and leaders will prepare everything you need to build your own lunch including a variety of sandwich or wrap toppings, salads, fruit and chips each adventure day. Or you may request a prepared sandwich or wrap with sides from our menu.
Dinner
Dinner is a time to relax and enjoy great conversation over a nice meal to finish the day. Each evening you will enjoy a wonderful meal lovingly prepared by our chef including specialty nights like our ‘picnic in the park’ and ever popular pizza night.
The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it.
-Hubert H Humphrey
Snacks
Everyone likes to travel with some snacks. You will burn a lot of calories on an active adventure. We do not provide snacks for the trail as most yogis have clear preferences and will bring their own; however, we will offer fruit and snacks at the lodge that you may take as well.
Show me the leaders!
Kevin Montgomery
When we retreat, we offer ourselves the opportunity to press the pause button on life for a time and give ourselves some much needed selfcare. It’s hard to think of anything more relaxing and grounding than spending a few days in nature, practicing yoga and meditation with a group of fun and interesting people.
This adventure combines all of that with the astounding beauty and prehistoric feeling forests of Sequoia and Kings Canyon. We will be hiking, forest bathing and generally basking in the wonder of these magnificent national parks featuring canyons 2000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon, trees that are the largest living organisms in the word, and truly majestic mountain sunsets.
I truly enjoy leading retreats, teaching yoga, and finding community with new people in new and always interesting places. I love to see the transformation that takes place between our opening dinners and our closing campfire, and the lasting memories that are created in between.
I look forward to sharing this adventure with you!
Kay Abdullah
Kay’s journey began when she experienced a low back injury leading her to try yoga for healing. Her first class slowly blossomed into a transformational experience, a thirst for knowledge and a focus on health and wellness through the vast practice of yoga.
Kay’s classes are fun and challenging as she weaves in her sense of humor to empower her students in an engaging and approachable way. She focuses on detailed alignment and breath to movement, bringing balance and inner peace to her students.
Kay is excited to combine the practice of yoga with the powerful and serene environment of the Sierra mountains to create an experience of being fully present and engaged in each moment along the way. As an avid traveler and experienced adventure leader, Kay looks forward to being your co-guide on this epic journey!
Anna Orbison
Anna approaches yoga with a curious mind and playful attitude. While fun and mindful, her classes are physically demanding. She is passionate about encouraging students through advances in their physical practice, managing stress, and moving beyond perceived limitations. She is excited to bring 20 years of studying and teaching yoga, meditation, and Somatic Psychology, out of the Red Diamond Yoga classroom and into the grounding beauty of the Sierras.
As an experienced international retreat leader, Anna will keep you moving on your journey through the Sequoias. Whether you are just starting out or an experienced yogi, this adventure will bring growth in your practice and approach to living.Voted one of the top teachers in LA by ClassPass, Anna is passionate about music, eating delicious vegan food, her two pups Cash and June, and going on adventures across the world.
Relax in confidence: All of our leaders are trained and experienced yoga professionals and retreat leaders with CPR, AED, Airway and First Aid certifications. Kevin also maintains his Wilderness First Responder certification and epinephrine license through the National Outdoor Leadership School. We are experienced adventure guides and instructors who will handle all of the logistics, so you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey.
To truly know a river, a mountain, or a canyon, one must be willing to lose themselves in its embrace.
-John Wesley Powell
Do you long to close your eyes and feel embraced in the arms the earth?
I need this so much!
Practicing yoga, meditation, and forest bathing you will feel relaxed and centered as you head out into the mountains each day. Spending hours in the mountains your mind begins to calm, you notice things you may have otherwise overlooked in the rush of life.
Each day you feel the warmth of the sun and the wind enveloping your body as your senses immerse in the subtle sounds and beautiful vistas of the canyons. You’ll find a peaceful, safe place where all of nature is there to welcome and support you. You’ll wish each moment to ever end!
Are you an active person looking to get out and explore remote places and make new friends?
Yes! That sounds amazing.
On this adventure you will leave behind the comforts of home, your busy schedule, demands to maintain your roles or status, and join a group of like-minded people to experience this journey without any preconceived notions. You are free to be just you, to experience each place and moment as it is, and to get to know your fellow travelers as just people coming together to explore. You’ll revel in childlike wonder as you discover new places for the first time and make new friends sharing only the common thread of adventure. You will come away with beautiful memories, deep gratitude for all the things we receive from our planet, and true lifelong friends with stories to share