Yosemite Meditation and Hiking, June 5 – 7, 2026

Yosemite Meditation and Hiking Retreat, June 5–7, 2026:

Join us for an inspiring weekend of meditation, nature, and hiking in the beautiful Yosemite area.

Participants are welcome to arrive at Ananda Dhiira on Thursday, June 4. Our group will depart from Ananda Dhiira at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, and an additional car will leave from Los Altos Hills that same morning. For those traveling independently, we will meet near Yosemite at 1:00 p.m. on Friday.

This retreat is intended for participants who have already learned meditation. Those who are new to meditation are welcome to join, but should plan to arrive at Ananda Dhiira on June 4 for orientation and meditation instruction before the retreat begins.

If you are flying into Sacramento Airport (SMF) on June 4, the most convenient option for reaching Ananda Dhiira is Uber. If you would prefer airport pickup, Didi may be available depending on scheduling. Please contact her in advance to confirm availability. The pickup fee is $90 per ride.

Meeting point on Thursday, June 4:
Ananda Dhiira
19393 Sanctuary Road
Penn Valley, CA 95946, United States

We will try to reserve camping spaces at the Crane Flat Campground, or if all spaces are taken, at the Stanislavos National Forest, outside the park area. On Saturday, we plan to hike Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall via the Mist Trail, return to camp in the evening, and, on Sunday morning, hike the Panorama Trail until around noon before driving back. All participants are required to be in good physical condition and carry their own gear. This retreat offers a balanced combination of outdoor adventure, meditation, and connection with nature.

Trailhead link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ozYUN267c48jRtHC9

An alternative campground (Diamond Oak): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Pkfq2AnHarhVr4UP9

Schedule

Thursday, June 4, 2026 (for those staying at Ananda Dhiira)

6 p.m. Meditation

7 p.m. Dinner

8:30 p.m. Take a rest

Friday, June 5, 2026

4:45 a.m. – Wake up

5:00 a.m. – Páiṋcajanya / Early morning meditation

7:00 a.m. – Breakfast and cleaning

8:30 a.m. – Depart for Yosemite

1:30 p.m. – Meet at the entrance of Yosemite

2:30 p.m. Set up camp

3:30 p.m. Short hike close to the campsite

5:00 p.m. – Return to camp

6:00 p.m. – Evening meditation at campsite

7:00 p.m. – Dinner

8:00 p.m. – Free time / Rest

Saturday, June 6, 2026

4:45 a.m. – Wake up

5:00 a.m. – Páiṋcajanya / Early morning meditation

7:00 a.m. – Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – Depart for the trail

12:00 p.m. – Noon meditation

1:00 p.m. – Lunch and rest

2:30 p.m. – Continue hiking

5:00 p.m. – Return to camp

6:00 p.m. – Evening meditation at campsite

7:00 p.m. – Dinner

8:00 p.m. – Free time / Rest

Sunday, June 7, 2026

4:45 a.m. – Wake up

5:00 a.m. – Páiṋcajanya / Early morning meditation

7:00 a.m. – Breakfast

8:00 a.m. – Short hike close to the camp

10:00 a.m. Packing

11:00 a.m. Noon meditation

12:00 p.m. Lunch

1:00 p.m. Drive back

🎒 Gear & Food

Participants are expected to bring:

•A backpack suitable for multi-day hiking, and a smaller backpack for day hikes

•Hiking shoes/boots and appropriate clothing

•Personal food for the hike (lightweight, nutritious options)

•Tent, sleeping bag, and other camping essentials (see Packing List)

Ananda Dhiira has a couple of extra backpacks and tents. If you need a backpack or tent, please contact Didi Ananda Acira to see if they are still available. There is a $50 extra charge for borrowing gear from Ananda Dhiira.

Preparing for the Trip

The best preparation for this trip is walking with a weighted backpack (not empty) in your neighborhood or taking short day hiking trips in a natural environment. If you do not have medical insurance that covers this type of activity, we also recommend obtaining travel medical insurance. 

The backpacking route is flexible, allowing us to make our own decisions. We may choose to change it depending on how tired the group is and how much more we want to hike that day. 

Packing List:

NB. Try to have everything as lightweight as possible

1. Backpacks
2. Tent
3. Flashlights and spare batteries 
4. Water filter (we will have one)
5. Water bottle
6. Water (for the first day)
7. Hiking poles
8. Knife
9. Sunscreen
10. Sunglasses
11. Towel
12. First aid (organizers will bring)
13. Paper towels or napkins
14. Maps (on the phone)
15. Rope (not needed for this trip)
16. Mosquito block
17. Rubber bands & carabiner 
18. Compression bags (for making fluffy things fit into the backpack)
19. Clothes
    1. Hiking boots
    2. Slippers (lightweight)
    3. Pants, shorts
    4. Socks
    5. Underwear 
    6. T-shirts
    7. Hats
    8. Jacket, hoodie, sweater
20. Sleeping 
    1. Sleeping bags & compression bags
    2. Pads
    3. Pillows
21. Cooking
    1. Pots (we will share)
    2. Stove (we will have two small gas stoves)
    3. Lighter
    4. Gas
    5. Forks & spoons (individual)
    6. Bowls
    7. Cups
22. Food (you can edit this list according to your preferences)
    1. Breakfast
       1. Oats
       2. Dry berries
       3. Tea
    2. Lunch
       1. Buckwheat
       2. Humus, bean paste
       3. Salad (cucumbers, radish, peppers, avocado, olive oil, salt), baby carrots
       4. Miso soup
    3. Dinner
       1. Veggies for soup (potatoes, carrots, cauliflower)
       2. Lentils
       3. Tomato paste
    4. Snacks & Deserts
       1. Crackers
       2. Nuts
       3. Dry fruits (mango, apricots, plums, figs, etc)
       4. Energy Bars
       5. Apples
       6. Carrots