A Blissful Journey, with Yoga Master trainer, Ulrica Norberg
September 20th-29th, 2017
This is a once in a liftetime retreat. What you embark on is a soulful journey into the core of the earth, into the deepest parts of the Grand Canyon, this paleontological and geological gem as well as one of the most profound spiritual grounds on earth. This is an adventure beyond the imagined.
This specially designed yoga/hike adventure by Arizona Adventure, Yoga Master trainer and author Ulrica Norberg and travel producer and guide Maria Soderholm will take you on a 10 day spiritual journey that entails hiking the Grand Canyon, visiting the Hopi and Navajo Indian Tribes, swimming in the amazing Havasupai falls, yoga under the stars as well as on various locations.
We will begin our journey at the airport in Phoenix, AZ where we will be picked up and travel to Sedona. We are staying at the Sedona Rouge & Spa for three days to acclimatize and unwind with yoga and meditation classes, shaman session, daily hikes, spa and enjoy the scenery around Sedona. Then, we embark on a four day hike with deluxe camping and daily campsite, yoga and meditation involving sites where we will swim in turquoise waters, pass different waterfalls and cottonwood trees, dramatic canyons, wildlife, walk through red sandstone landscapes and travel through the Supai Indian village until we land in the depths of the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.
After three nights of camping, we check in at Yavapai Lodge in Grand Canyon for our last three nights of this journey. Here, we continue enjoy time in nature, yoga and meditation, wonderful hikes to beautiful plateaus and area views over the Grand Canyon and Colorado River as well as special geological sites by our special guide for this retreat; the very knowledgable adventure guide John Dzurka.
The Ultimate retreat is a retreat where you embark on something that involves your body, mind and spirit on all levels. You return as a richer man/woman.
Every morning we start with meditation and yoga and end our days the same way. You will also get lectures around the campfire, and satsang
Ulrica will be teaching in English.
The itinerary
ARRIVAL…
Day 1, Wednesday 20: Arrival to Phoenix Arizona airport –
group pick up at 2 pm, North Side of Terminal 4 (2,5 h drive)
- Accommodation: Hotel Sedona Rouge and Spa
- Meals: Dinner in Pool View Room (pre-ordered, Salmon…)
Check in…
6-7.30 pm Yoga
8 pm – Welcome dinner together! John Dzurka + Ciera, from Arizona Hiking Adventures will be introduced to the group. He will discuss the upcoming weeks destinations and hikes.
FIRST STEP…
Day 2, Thursday 21: Sedona, Arizona
- Accommodation: Hotel Sedona Rouge and Spa
- Meals: Breakfast buffet
- Activities: Yoga, free time; relax, meditation, spa, shopping
6-7.15 am – Yoga, followed by breakfast
7.30 am Buffet Breakfast, in Pool View Room
9.00 am – Shaman session (2,5 h session)
Back at the hotel around 12.30
Lunch (quick…)
Followed by, Hike – Stunning scenery and a good introduction to the beauty of the desert and Sedona
5.30-7pm – Yoga
Dinner on your own
BREATHE…
Day 3, Friday 22: Sedona, Arizona
- Accommodation: Hotel Sedona Rouge and Spa
- Meals: Breakfast, voucher + Lunch box (wraps, pre-ordered)
- Activities: Yoga, hiking
6.30-8am— Yoga
8-10.30 am – Breakfast Vouchers in Reds for 1 Entrée and 1 breakfast beverage.
Guests to come at their leisure to Reds with vouchers.
Boxed lunch ready to Go, deliver i Pool View Room, at 10.50 am
11 am – Hike, (back at the resort around 3pm)
John will lead an easy and relaxing 6-mile (3h) hike along one of the most scenic nature trails in Sedona.
+ Lunch box
5-6.30 pm – Yoga
Dinner on your own
BEING
Day 4, Saturday 23: Sedona – Flagstaff, Arizona
- Accommodation: Deluxe camping, (2 p/tent)
- Meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
- Activities: Hiking + Yoga
Morning yoga, 60 min – followed by breakfast
6-7 am – Yoga
7 am – Breakfast buffet in Pool View Room
8.30 am – Departs
After an early breakfast, we leave the hotel in Sedona at 8:30 am, and drive 1.5 hours to the trail-head of Mount Humphrey in Flagstaff Arizona. Here, is where we will begin our hike of 4 hours up to the summit of this scenic mountain, gaining 1,100 meters as we reach the highest point in Arizona. After many photo opportunities you will have time to rest and enjoy your deluxe box lunch, prior to the 3 hour descent back to the trail-head where we began our hike. Following our return to the trail-head you will be transported in private van to our campsite for this evening. Here upon arrival, your tents will be set-up for you to relax in prior to this evening’s yoga session. Our dinnertime is 7:00 pm, where your guides will discuss today’s sites and plans tomorrow’s itinerary and departure for Havasupai Falls deep in the Grand Canyon.
DREAMS…
Day 5, Sunday 24: Flagstaff Arizona – Havasupai, Arizona (Grand Canyon)
- Accommodation: Deluxe camping
- Meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner and snacks
- Activities: Yoga, hiking and relaxing,
After an early breakfast, we leave the campsite in Flagstaff at 6:00 am, and drive 4 hours to the trail-head entrance to Havasupai Falls. Here, we will meet with our assistant guides, as they prepare our gear for the next 3 days. We begin by hiking downhill, steeply through a series of switchbacks, before reaching a beautiful red sandstone canyon. After 4.5 miles of hiking this canyon intersects with Cataract Canyon and Havasu Creek, whose turquoise waters are some of the most inviting in the world. We follow this creek for 2 miles to the village of Supai, before continuing on another 2 miles to the campground. En route to the campground we pass three of the five major waterfalls, Rock Falls, Fifty Foot Falls, and Havasu Falls. The rest of the day is free for photographing and enjoying the surrounding scenery. You will enjoy a yoga session prior to dinner this evening.
PATHERNS…
Day 6, Monday 25: Havasu Falls – Rock Falls – Fifty Foot Falls
- Accommodation: Deluxe camping
- Meals: fresh fruit, brunch, dinner and snacks
- Activities: Yoga, hiking and swimming
Morning yoga, 60 min
Early morning today, to begin what for most people consider the most beautiful day in the Canyon. Prior to breakfast you will enjoy fresh coffee or tea and fresh fruit as your Yoga instructor begins your morning session. After this yoga session, you will enjoy a wonderful brunch, and prepare for a day of exploring. This afternoon your guides will lead a hike to explore Rock Falls and Fifty Foot Falls, which are less visited but equally as stunning as Havasu and Mooney Falls, and make for unforgettable swimming and photography. We’ll be back to camp late afternoon for a yoga session, prior to our dinner and preparation for the next day’s hike out of the Canyon.
HONORING…
Day 7, Tuesday 26: Havasu Falls – Grand Canyon South Rim
- Meals: Breakfast, Arizona “tail-gate” celebration lunch with snacks
- Accommodation: Hotel at South Rim, Grand Canyon
- Activities: Hiking + Yoga, and breaks for reflections…
- Dinner on your own
After a wonderful breakfast and preparing your gear for our staff to bring out of the Canyon, you start hiking the 9.5 miles back through the Supai Village, Cataract Canyon and up to Hualapai Hilltop. Upon arriving, your guides will have our “famous” tailgate lunch ready. This lunch is always a client favorite, as it includes, Arizona foods and drinks, including the favorite Prickly Pear cactus margarita. While we wait for the mules to arrive with our belongings, we will have time to relax and enjoy the views, prior to the 2.5 hours drive to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, for the next stage of the Arizona adventure.
Maria, Ulrica, John and Ciera – location scouting, yoga…
Yoga – afternoon… before sunset at 6.40…)
ME…
Day 8. Wednesday 27: Grand Canyon, South Rim
- Accommodation: Yavapai Lodge, South Rim
- Meals: Breakfast, dinner
- Activities: Yoga, hiking
Free morning to relax, mid-morning yoga session.
8-9.30 am – Yoga
Breakfast Vouchers, before or after yoga, serves until 10.30 am.
Lunch on your own.
1 pm – Hike
After lunch, John Dzurka will lead the group on a wonderful, relaxed-paced Rim hike, lasting 4 hours, with stunning views of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River below.
5.30-6.30…-Sunset Yoga
7.45 pm – Dinner
MANIFESTATION…
DAY 9. Thursday 28: Grand Canyon, South Rim – Phantom Ranch
- Accommodation: Hotel in Grand Canyon, South Rim
- Meals: box breakfast, box lunch (provided by Arizona hiking), dinner
- Activities: Hiking + Yoga
Flexible day…
Pick up our Box breakfast early.
We will begin today early, 6:00 am, as we will hike into the depths of the Grand Canyon on this full day adventure. Our 11km route takes us down a ridgeline affording 360-degree views of a labyrinth of amphitheaters, temples and buttes. The trail begins with a series of switchbacks to a breathtaking viewpoint, before we resume our descent. From here we traverse the Tonto Plateau before dropping into the inner gorge of the Canyon. The last part of our hike takes us along the Colorado River and over a suspension bridge until, at trail’s end, we find Phantom Ranch nestled on the banks of Bright Angel Creek at the confluence of the majestic Colorado River. Lunch will be available at the Ranch as we rest our legs and re-hydrate for the climb out of the Canyon. Our exit is the Bright Angel Trail, a classic Grand Canyon trek. After crossing the Colorado River, the trail makes it’s way out of the inner gorge to the shady oasis of Indian Gardens. Here we will refuel and refill with water before tackling the steep ascent up Jacob’s Ladder, through the red walled layer of the Canyon. While a challenge, your guide(s) will provide you with helpful hints, strategies, techniques, and their insider knowledge of the keys to a successful ascent. Tonight we can celebrate today’s accomplishments over drinks and a meal at our Lodge.
8 pm – Last dinner.
SHARING…
DAY 10. Friday 29: Goodbye Arizona
- Meals: Breakfast
6 -7 am – Yoga
7, 7.30 am – Breakfast vouchers
9.00 am, check out, departure to the airport in Phoenix (4-4.5h drive).
1.30 pm, drop off at the airport.
4,5-hour ride back to the Phoenix International Airport for your return flight home.
Be flexible with the schedule today depend on flights.
Maria Söderholm 