"Meditation in the mountains"

This is a meditation pilgrimage to Annapurna Base Camp, to the sublime lap of the nourishing Mother Goddess Annapurna.

This is a big mountain experience where we reach the height of 4,130 meters guided by local Nepali mountain guides Ram Koirala of Hype Mountain Treks (a friend of Stephanie's since 2005) and supported by Prem Pahari, along with others. The backpacking is an all-day affair (5-8 hours daily) with Hatha yoga and deity yoga teachings and practices and meditation breaks throughout our days.

Stephanie dos Santos will guide the meditation and self-exploration of our inner world through the deity yoga teachings of Goddess Annapurna and Lord Shiva. Daily we will practice foundational nondual Tantric Shaivism meditations. Learning multiple meditation practices you can then continue with upon returning home.

Going on pilgrimage is a transformative experience and trekking to Annapurna Base Camp will invite you inward and test you on all levels of being: the physical, the emotional and the spiritual.

Throughout this trek, you'll come to learn about your own true strengths. At times, you'll be humbled by the rugged and awe-inspiring majestic Himalayas. And at some point, you'll stare in wonder and in silence at the splendor before you.

A journey of this sort is a passageway into a sacred world inwardly and outwardly and fussing into One. 

This journey begins in the Kathmandu where we'll pay reverence and ask for blessings at a special ancient temple of Goddess Annapurna and visit the historic UNESCO sites of Darbur Square and Boudhanath.

From Kathmandu we'll journey by bus to the beautiful lakeside town of Pokhara. Where we'll organize to head to the trailhead by Jeep to begin our accent into the heart of the Annapurnas with Lord Shiva's sacred peak of Machapuchare watching over us.

We'll stay in hotels and tea houses. Where we'll have the opportunity to experience firsthand the mountain way of life in Nepal and trek through Gurung villages. 

Our backpacking journey will end in a place called Tatopani where there's a glorious healing ancient hot-spring to soak in along the Kali River. Before we go back to Pokhara for a night then onward to Kathmandu to conclude our pilgrimage together. 

• Good physical conditioning is a requirement for this journey. The backpacking portion of this retreat reaches an elevation of 4,130 meters.
• Everyone carries their own little backpack with porter support as needed. We will stay at tea houses when in the mountains so, no tents are needed for this journey. 
• Prior participation in a Wilderness Goddess: Yoga Backpacking Pilgrimage is encouraged or some backpacking experience of some sort. The trekking is full-on this journey. 
• This trek is open to all people, men, women, they/them (however you self-identify), couples and singles - everyone.. 
• Interest in meditation is a must for this journey as this is an integral part of our daily activities.
• A deposit of $500 is required to sign up.  $300 of this is unrefundable, if for whatever reason you are unable to attend at any point. 
• Payment in full must be made by March 1, 2024. There are no refunds 45 days prior to the start date of the journey. Alternatively, you can option for a "Raincheck" to the next year's Annapurna Base Camp pilgrimage to Nepal. 
• The only exception to refunds is if Nepal closes its borders due to COVID. If this happens 30 days prior to the retreat, you can receive a 70% refund or a full "Raincheck" to participate the following year. After the 30 days, no refunds will be made, even if your country changes its Covid restrictions, so please obtain the appropriate travel insurance coverage. 
• It is a requirement that you obtain travel and health insurance for this journey, and that you provide proof of this. 
• The Waiver of Liability must be signed prior to arrival in Nepal. 
•  By signing up, you are agreeing to all of these terms.