6-Day Meditation, Yoga & Hiking Retreat in Arizona, USA

The Savanna Hermitage is the creation of Karl Skyhawk, who built his first off-grid cabin in 2008 and lived alone there for nine years. In 2017 he built a second cabin on this land, and in 2021 he added a guest cabin with two private rooms. The buildings are zero-carbon, powered by solar panels, and heated only by passive solar in winter—there's no air conditioning, just natural cooling. You'll be asked to tolerate some temperature variation and to live simply, cooking most of your own meals in a shared outdoor kitchenette. Each morning, Karl leads a guided session of meditation, yoga, and qigong outdoors at a meditation circle. On the second and fourth days, you'll take an electric car into the Chiricahua Mountains for several hours of hiking, with meditation and qigong stops at rock formations, springs, and waterfalls. Karl has been hiking there regularly for over 20 years and knows the terrain well. The rest of the time is unstructured—guests are encouraged to practice on their own, walk the mile of meditation trails on the property, read (there's a small library), or simply sit. This place is best for people who already have a meditation or yoga practice and want time to go deeper, not for those expecting a scheduled program of activities or luxury amenities. There is no internet on site and no television, and guests are asked to keep noise down and respect the silence, including wearing headphones for any music or media. Reviews consistently mention Karl's hospitality and his deep knowledge of the local landscape, plants, and wildlife. The Chiricahua Mountains offer spectacular rock formations and evergreen forests, and guests have enjoyed day trips to Bisbee and the nearby Chiricahua National Monument.

What's included

- 5 nights private room in an off-grid eco-cabin - Daily guided meditation, yoga, and qigong sessions (2 hours each morning) - Simple vegan lunch on days 2-6 - Two guided hikes in the Chiricahua Mountains (days 2 and 4) - Transportation during the retreat via electric car - Access to over a mile of walking meditation trails on the property - Meditation and yoga gear in your room (zabuton mat, seiza bench, zafu cushion, yoga mat) - Basic vegetarian ingredients in the shared kitchen (lentils, rice, oats, tea, etc.) - Parking and EV charging - Cell phone reception on site - Use of bathroom with solar-heated hot water

What's not included

- Flights and airport transfers - Car rental or transportation to the retreat - Travel insurance - Meals other than the daily lunch - Any additional food purchases - Optional extra night - Personal expenses