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Ananda Expeditions
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    • Are you an Ananda Traveler?
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    • SAN FRANCISCO
    • PARIS
    • FLORENCE / ROME
    • SCOTLAND
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  • Custom Trips/
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Ananda Expeditions

Notes from the Field

Ananda Expeditions
  • Home/
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    • About Us
    • Are you an Ananda Traveler?
  • Upcoming Trips/
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    • NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
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Featured
Itinerary Insights: CÔTE D'AZUR — Hiking the Esterel Mountains
May 29, 2018
Itinerary Insights: CÔTE D'AZUR — Hiking the Esterel Mountains
May 29, 2018

Looking to balance out the glitz and glamor of the Côte d'Azur? Join me for a short stroll on the Cap Dramont, a coastal section of the stunningly red Massif de l'Esterel of Southeast France.

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May 29, 2018
10 Tips for Traveling Well – Part 1: The Dreaming & Planning Phases
Mar 23, 2018
10 Tips for Traveling Well – Part 1: The Dreaming & Planning Phases
Mar 23, 2018

Why do you want to travel? Learn the "less is more" mantra. Are you taking advantage of free travel perks and flight-searching intelligently? (Part 1 of 3)

Read More →
Mar 23, 2018
What is a "Yoga Adventure"?
Feb 9, 2018
What is a "Yoga Adventure"?
Feb 9, 2018

Curious? We demystify our "Yoga Adventure" concept in this short video. But more importantly, we want to hear from you! Answer our questions in the comments.

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Feb 9, 2018
Itinerary Insights: KAUAI — 3 Must-Do Activities + Tasty Treats
Dec 21, 2017
Itinerary Insights: KAUAI — 3 Must-Do Activities + Tasty Treats
Dec 21, 2017

In this short video, I try to sum up some of my favorite things about the Garden Isle — while sweating and trying not to shout as I attempt to make myself heard over the crashing surf. Fellow Kauai lovers: add your recommendations in the comments!

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Dec 21, 2017
2'20" of Yoga in Tuscany
Nov 7, 2017
2'20" of Yoga in Tuscany
Nov 7, 2017

For Travel Tuesday, we offer you this 2'20" outtake of an all-levels Vinyasa yoga practice in Tuscany. Enjoy!

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Nov 7, 2017
We Won an Award! "Best Curated Experiences" – 2017 Shape Healthy Travel Award
Oct 31, 2017
We Won an Award! "Best Curated Experiences" – 2017 Shape Healthy Travel Award
Oct 31, 2017

We humbly accept SHAPE Magazine's designating Ananda Expeditions as a WINNER of a 2017 Healthy Travel Award in the "Best Curated Experiences" category. Hooray for yoga adventures and active, expansive travel with purpose!

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Oct 31, 2017
Itinerary Insights: LUCCA — Tuscany's Walled City
Oct 24, 2017
Itinerary Insights: LUCCA — Tuscany's Walled City
Oct 24, 2017

Finally — the second installment of my "Itinerary Insights" series is here! Take a walk with me on Lucca's Via delle Mura Urbane, the 2.5-mile-long pedestrian path on top of the city's broad Renaissance wall.

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Oct 24, 2017
Travel Plays a Vital Role in Combatting Terror
Mar 25, 2016
Travel Plays a Vital Role in Combatting Terror
Mar 25, 2016

The world-traveler's perspective on travel in an unstable world: we must not let fear curtail our curiosity, our compassion, or our wandering ways. Musings on the Ananda Expeditions philosophy, and featuring a talk by travel guru Rick Steves.

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Mar 25, 2016
Itinerary Insights: PARIS — Jardin des Plantes
Mar 22, 2016
Itinerary Insights: PARIS — Jardin des Plantes
Mar 22, 2016

The Jardin des Plantes ranks as one of my all-time favorite places to hang out in Paris. Visit it virtually with me right now, then make sure to add it to your itinerary next time you're in the City of Light!

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Mar 22, 2016
Apr 28, 2015
Scotland, Part 2: The Highlands and the Isle of Skye
Apr 28, 2015

Heading north into the Scottish Highlands, we experience the delightfully changeable Scottish weather and take an epic fishing boat ride to the Island of Raasay, off the Isle of Skye.

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Apr 28, 2015
Scotland, Part 1: The Borders – Kelso, Melrose, and Edinburgh
Apr 26, 2015
Scotland, Part 1: The Borders – Kelso, Melrose, and Edinburgh
Apr 26, 2015

Part One of a Spring trip from the Scottish Borders to the Highlands — in which I marvel at sunsets over both rivers and Gothic architecture, and introduce new friends to old.

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Apr 26, 2015
A Missive from Sweden: Glad midsommar! (Happy Solstice!)
Jun 21, 2014
A Missive from Sweden: Glad midsommar! (Happy Solstice!)
Jun 21, 2014

What a joy to get to hang out with old friends.

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Jun 21, 2014
Aug 7, 2013
When hot, sweaty, and happy in ROME
Aug 7, 2013

A late-July visit to the sweltering — but no less magnificent — Ancient City.

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Aug 7, 2013
Jul 24, 2013
Tuscany: Firenze (Florence), San Domenico, Fiesole
Jul 24, 2013

Golden sunsets, long shadows, and sweeping vistas in the Tuscan hills.

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Jul 24, 2013
Paris: the Main Attractions — with Students in Tow
Jul 21, 2013
Paris: the Main Attractions — with Students in Tow
Jul 21, 2013

Re-viewing the picturesque, monumental face of the City of Lights through uninitiated eyes.

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Jul 21, 2013
Excursion: Day Trip to Bath
Jul 10, 2013
Excursion: Day Trip to Bath
Jul 10, 2013

The incredible 1,500-year-old Roman baths and museum don't disappoint.

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Jul 10, 2013
The University of Oxford Botanic Garden
Jul 10, 2013
The University of Oxford Botanic Garden
Jul 10, 2013
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Jul 10, 2013
Jul 8, 2013
Oxford – St. Hilda's, Magdalen, Christ Church
Jul 8, 2013
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Jul 8, 2013
Jul 8, 2013
London
Jul 8, 2013

With a special focus on food, friends, and family.

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Jul 8, 2013
Scotland — Edinburgh and the Highlands
Jul 8, 2013
Scotland — Edinburgh and the Highlands
Jul 8, 2013

From Arthur's Seat and the Royal Mile, to the Inverlochy Castle ruins and Loch Ness.

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Jul 8, 2013
Jul 8, 2010
Biking à Paris
Jul 8, 2010

An apology for two-wheeled transport in the French capital.

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Jul 8, 2010
De la nourriture...
Jul 4, 2010
De la nourriture...
Jul 4, 2010

A food-lover's satirical (yet true) lament.

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Jul 4, 2010
Jul 3, 2010
Paris: Marché des Enfants Rouges
Jul 3, 2010
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Jul 3, 2010
Paris: Une visite à la Grande Épicerie de Paris
Jul 3, 2010
Paris: Une visite à la Grande Épicerie de Paris
Jul 3, 2010
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Jul 3, 2010
Bonjour!
Jul 2, 2010
Bonjour!
Jul 2, 2010

Arriving to another summer in Paris — pas mal, du tout.

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Jul 2, 2010
March 23, 2018

10 Tips for Traveling Well – Part 1: The Dreaming & Planning Phases

March 23, 2018/ Michael Hoyer
10 Tips for Traveling Well – Part 1: The Dreaming & Planning Phases

Why do you want to travel? Learn the "less is more" mantra. Are you taking advantage of free travel perks and flight-searching intelligently? (Part 1 of 3)

Read More
March 23, 2018/ Michael Hoyer/ Comment
Travel Tips
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Banner Photo: THE DORDOGNE RIVER, SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE – 2015, M. HOYER
Content Photos: M. HOYER

  • Home/
  • Overview/
    • Our Mission
    • About Us
    • Are you an Ananda Traveler?
  • Upcoming Trips/
  • Destinations/
    • TUSCANY
    • ENGLAND
    • WESTERN IRELAND
    • NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
    • SAN FRANCISCO
    • PARIS
    • FLORENCE / ROME
    • SCOTLAND
    • SWEDEN
    • GREECE
  • Custom Trips/
  • Testimonials/
  • Blog/
  • Contact/

Ananda Expeditions

Pursue ananda — bliss — on an expertly-designed yoga adventure or small-group trip, or work with us to create the custom itinerary of your dreams.

The Ananda Expeditions travel experience balances engagement, adventure, and rejuvenation. Ananda travelers delve beneath the surface beauty of their destination as they explore off the beaten path and enjoy all that the local culture has to offer. In addition, itineraries can include specialized activities — such as walking or biking routes, literary discussions, or regular yoga sessions.

 
HAPPY NEW YEAR! | We’ve missed you, Ananda Travelers! And WOW, do we have big news on the way...! For now, we’ll say simply that our extended absence from this and other channels has been due to happy and positive real-life reasons. So, don’t worry — we’re here! And there are good things to come....
•
In keeping with our New Year’s tradition, we’d love to share both our 2018 “Best Nine” and, more importantly, our bottomless gratitude for your support of Ananda Expeditions and your adventurous spirits. Thank you! Grazie! Merci! Gracias! Tack! Danke! Here’s to sharing a great many adventures in 2019!
•
Look for a newsletter in the near future, including a preview of the long-overdue Part 2 in our “10 Tips for Traveling Well” blog post — as well as our big announcement!
•
In the meantime, registration is open for our Fall 2019 🍝TUSCAN COUNTRYSIDE YOGA ADVENTURE🍝, Sept 28 - Oct 5. Visit anandaexpeditions.com to reserve your spot — and at Early Bird pricing to boot! YOGA + CULTURE + ADVENTURE + CONNECTION | Our YOGA ADVENTURES meld the best aspects of a yoga vacation — daily practice, community, relaxation, restoration, healthy food — with guided exploration of local culture and nature.
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⬅️SWIPE LEFT⬅️ to hear from Susan, who joined us in France in April — and promptly registered for September’s trip upon her return.
-
DEVON COUNTRYSIDE YOGA ADVENTURE, England | September 22 - 29, 2018. Sign up today for “Back-to-Early-Bird” pricing — **ONLY 4 ROOMS REMAIN!**
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Visit anandaexpeditions.com for more info and to book your spot. While you’re there, take a minute to browse a few more testimonials from past Ananda Alums ➡️ anandaexpeditions.com/testimonials -
Questions? ➡️ mlh@anandaexpeditions.com NEWSLETTER COMING (+ INSIDER'S DISCOUNT... shhh!) | We're back from Iceland and readying a newsletter highlighting our upcoming Fall trip:
🌱DEVON COUNTRYSIDE YOGA ADVENTURE, England | September 22 - 29, 2018🌱
•
So, if you've been craving a meaningful adventure that provides time and space for:
- practicing yoga and feeling grounded,
- eating well — and healthily,
- enjoying the magnificent, picturesque landscapes of Devon and Cornwall on coastal-trail and guided walks,
and
- exploring outside your day-to-day routine and culture,
— all in the company of interesting, interested people, REGISTER WHILE SPOTS REMAIN!
•
But first, sign up for our Intermittent Newsletter at anandaexpeditions.com to receive an unpublished, *INSIDER'S DISCOUNT*.
•
Or, if you're ready to book, visit anandaexpeditions.com and navigate to "England" in the "Destinations" pull down menu. Complete the registration form and pay the deposit to reserve one of the limited spots today. As always, contact Michael at mlh@anandaexpeditions.com if you have questions!
•
📷: Connie Hoyer, @cojojoho MEDITATIVE EXPANSES | We're dreaming our way forward to long coastal walks, fortifying healthy meals, and rejuvenating yoga practices — all in the company of fabulous, fun, free-wheeling Ananda Travelers. Oh, and High Tea complete with fresh-baked scones and clotted Devonshire cream, of course!
•
Can you join us?! ➡️ DEVON COUNTRYSIDE YOGA ADVENTURE, England | September 22 - 29, 2018 ⬅️ Visit anandaexpeditions.com for more info and to book your spot.
•
**ONLY A FEW ROOMS REMAIN, so act now!** Bring a friend and you'll both receive 15% OFF!!! **Complete Trip Registration and submit deposit before 7/31.**
•
Take a moment to read a few testimonials from past Ananda Alum on our site: anandaexpeditions.com/testimonials and don't hesitate to reach out with any questions you might have ➡️ mlh@anandaexpeditions.com
We're back stateside and eager to help! CALLING ADVENTUROUS SPIRITS | How long has it been since you've felt this exuberant, this inspired, this FREE??? We invite you to throw off whatever's weighing you down and take a week to recharge with curious co-adventurers, so you can return renewed — poised to recommence the ongoing effort needed to keep up all those good fights....
•
Join us in England in September — **ONLY A FEW ROOMS REMAIN, so act now!**
•
Bring a friend and you'll both receive 15% OFF!!! **Complete Trip Registration and submit deposit before 7/15.**
•
DEVON COUNTRYSIDE YOGA ADVENTURE, England | September 22 - 29, 2018
Visit anandaexpeditions.com for more info and to book your spot.
•
As always, contact Michael at mlh@anandaexpeditions.com if you have questions!
•
📷: Andrea Torres Saa / @bindu_media
[Editted by @michael.l.hoyer] HAPPY SOLSTICE + INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY! | This year, I had the privilege of spending the second longest day of the year (yesterday) at one of my newest favorite places on the planet: Agriturismo Pulicaro — a family-run B&B and organic farm exceptionally situated in the hills outside Acquapendente, on the border of Tuscany and Umbria, Italy. I struck this pose in honor of the "holiday" just after the most beautiful, persistent sunshower had rolled through; lightning and multiple rainbows arced across the moody sky, as a warm summer rain fell. Don't worry, I'm thinking we need to add a trip to this magical place in the near future!
•
In the meantime..., we have a few spots remaining on our upcoming Fall trip:
🌱DEVON COUNTRYSIDE YOGA ADVENTURE, England | September 22 - 29, 2018🌱
•
So, if you've been craving a meaningful adventure that provides time and space for:
- practicing yoga and feeling grounded,
- eating well — and healthily,
- enjoying the magnificent, picturesque landscapes of Devon and Cornwall on coastal-trail and guided walks,
and
- exploring outside your day-to-day routine and culture,
— all in the company of interesting, interested people, REGISTER TODAY!
•
But first, sign up for our Intermittent Newsletter at anandaexpeditions.com (link in bio) to receive an unpublished, *INSIDER'S DISCOUNT*.
•
Or, if you're ready to book, visit anandaexpeditions.com and navigate to "England" in the "Destinations" pull down menu. Complete the registration form and pay the deposit to reserve one of the limited spots today. As always, contact Michael at mlh@anandaexpeditions.com if you have questions!
📷: Michelle Tursellino NEWSLETTER COMING (+ INSIDER'S DISCOUNT... shhh!) | We're back from France — where this stellar, international group explored a lush fairy forest on a day hike to a prehistoric settlement carved into the cliffside hanging over the Vézère River (!!!) — and we're getting ready to send out a newsletter detailing our upcoming Fall trip:
🌱DEVON COUNTRYSIDE YOGA ADVENTURE, England | September 22 - 29, 2018🌱
•
So, if you've been craving a meaningful adventure that provides time and space for:
- practicing yoga and feeling grounded,
- eating well — and healthily,
- enjoying the magnificent, picturesque landscapes of Devon and Cornwall on coastal-trail and guided walks,
and
- exploring outside your day-to-day routine and culture,
— all in the company of interesting, interested people, SIGN UP WHILE SPOTS REMAIN!
•
But first, sign up for our Intermittent Newsletter at anandaexpeditions.com (link in bio) to receive an unpublished, *INSIDER'S DISCOUNT*.
•
Or, if you're ready to book, visit anandaexpeditions.com and navigate to "England" in the "Destinations" pull down menu. Complete the registration form and pay the deposit to reserve one of the limited spots today. As always, contact Michael at mlh@anandaexpeditions.com if you have questions! Yesterday, Day 1 of our Spring Southwestern France Yoga Adventure, comprised all good things — including: gourmet meals enjoyed outside in good company surrounded by wisteria and lilacs, dips in the inviting salt water pool, a wander around the medieval market town of Issigeac (complete with cappuccinos at a sidewalk café), oh, and yoga, of course! Photos of the beautiful practice spaces — and stunning yoginis — to follow.... Stay tuned!
•
And, if you want..., you can reserve one of the limited open spots for when we return, in Fall 2019. Registration and information at anandaexpeditions.com. ARCING GRACEFULLY... | Upward-facing dog was my quiet Kryptonite early on in my practice. I contended, in the pose — as I did in most arms-overhead yoga poses at first — with years of ballet training having drilled into my brain and body the virtue of lengthening my neck by descending my shoulder blades as far as possible from my ears.
•
I recall clearly the 'ah-ha!' moment when I was freed of this effort: my teacher whispered to me during a public practice "remind me after practice that I have something to tell you" — "go into up-dog," she prompted me later. "Good, now don't press overly into your hands; let your neck be easy." (Remember this, @stephaniesnyderyoga ? 😉)
•
From that moment on, the pose started feeling more spacious, less forced. And I wasn't working as hard! If I weren't typing this while enduring the impulsive-seeming stops and starts of a Florentine bus driver..., perhaps I would continue to tease out the life lessons embodied in this nugget of wisdom gained through practice on the mat. But, I am bouncing around here — jostled by other passengers who would laugh, surely, if they knew what I was up to. (Ha!) Besides, I'm confident that if you're still reading, you can connect the dots on your own.
•
Anyway, here's an easier, more comfortable upward-facing dog in a setting where the curvature of the backbend mimics that of the majestic Golden Gate Bridge. How privileged we are! Thank you, thank you, thank you, for this beautiful life, in this ever-interesting, incredible world.
•
Baker Beach, SF, CA
📷: Patricio Guillamón SPRING REJUVENATION | As a Colorado native and lover of snow (and snowboarding), I'm jealous of those of you playing in loads of the white fluffy stuff of winter.... BUT, I'm also ready for the magical unicorn of spring to return. 😆 How about you?
-
Want to frolic in a salt-water pool in Southwestern France a mere month from now? Well, we have *1 ROOM LEFT* for one or two more spring adventure-seekers to join us in France, April 21-28. (MENTION THIS POST to receive back-to-Early-Bird Pricing -- further directions in comment below.)
...
🔜 ☀️SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE YOGA ADVENTURE | April 21 - 28, 2018☀️
...
Or join us this Fall! 🌱DEVON COUNTRYSIDE YOGA ADVENTURE, England | September 22 - 29, 2018🌱
...
Visit anandaexpeditions.com to register and/or sign up for our Intermittent Newsletter for discounts on upcoming trips. ...
Or get in touch! Email Michael at mlh@anandaexpeditions.com

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We look forward to traveling with you soon.

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