14-Day Silent Meditation and Hiking Retreat in the Chiricahua Mountains

The Savanna Hermitage is the creation of Karl Skyhawk, who built his first cabin in 2008 and lived alone in the area for nine years before constructing the current 25-acre homestead in 2017. In 2021 he added a guest cabin with two private rooms and began welcoming guests. The entire place runs on solar electricity, passive solar heating, and rainwater collection, and Karl offsets its small carbon footprint entirely. Guests often remark on how clean and quiet the rooms are, and how the stillness of the land does its own work.

Each day follows a loose structure built around a morning practice. Karl leads sitting and walking meditation, yoga, and qigong at an outdoor circle, usually starting around sunrise. The start time shifts with the seasons—as early as 5 AM in summer and as late as 9 AM in winter. After that, you are free to follow your own rhythm. The property has over a mile of walking meditation trails, and guests are encouraged to spend at least two to three hours a day in formal practice, plus time reading, walking, and resting. Guests are also welcome to share their own practices with the group if they wish.

On select days, the schedule shifts. After an early practice and a simple lunch, you head with Karl into the Chiricahua Mountains for a four- to five-mile hike on rugged trails. These are not just walks—Karl incorporates meditation and qigong at spots he finds especially powerful: rock formations, sacred springs, and waterfalls. Guests have described the scenery at Chiricahua National Monument as beautifully indescribable, and the waterfall at Turkey Creek as a perfect meditation spot.

This is a retreat for people who are comfortable being alone. The host is present for scheduled practices and always available for questions, but he is the opposite of intrusive. Guests have noted that he honors requests for silence completely and that the experience is what you make of it. Support meetings are offered weekly or monthly for those who want to talk through how their practice is going, but they are optional. The atmosphere is inclusive—women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color are explicitly welcome, and all guests must refrain from romantic or sexual advances during their stay.

The retreat is carbon-neutral, and guests' entire footprint while at the Hermitage is estimated to be under 5 percent of the average US citizen's. The food is simple and vegetarian, with guests preparing their own meals in a shared kitchenette. There is a small grocery ten miles away and a larger supermarket 45 miles off, so you are encouraged to bring what you need. The phone reception is good, and the host will point you to a nearby library if you need proper internet.

What's included

- 13 nights private room with comfortable twin bed - Meditation, yoga, and qigong gear (zabuton, zafu, yoga mat) - Daily 2-hour guided morning practice - Guided nature hikes in the Chiricahua Mountains (on select days) - Free pickup/drop-off at Benson or Willcox train/bus stops - Transportation during the retreat - Free parking and EV charging - Access to walking meditation trails - Use of shared vegetarian kitchenette with basic staples - 24/7 solar hot water in the bathroom

What's not included

- Flights to Tucson International Airport (TUS) - Airport pickup/drop-off (available for $50 each way) - All meals (self-catered) - Personal travel insurance - Personal expenses - Alcohol, tobacco, and drugs (not permitted)