Catalina Island Hiking & Yoga Retreat
Hike the Trans-Catalina Trail with a supportive group, a gear haul service, amazing food, and yoga to stretch out every night!
Hike the Trans-Catalina Trail with a supportive group, a gear haul service, amazing food, and yoga to stretch out every night!
5-day, 4-night Catalina Island Hiking & Yoga Retreat on the Trans-Catalina Trail!
Have you been craving a true adventure? Something that challenges your body, clears your mind, and reconnects you with what actually matters? This epic yoga and hiking adventure might be it.
Join us for a 4-day, 42-mile guided hiking and yoga retreat on Catalina Island, just off the coast of Southern California. We’ll be backpacking the iconic Trans Catalina Trail, one of the most scenic and beginner-friendly thru-hikes in the U.S., winding through rugged hills, оcеan vistas, and remote beaches you can only reach on foot.
This is more than just a hike! It’s a fully supported, plant-based, substance-free wellness retreat in California, designed to help you unplug, reset, and feel really alive again.
April 30-May 4: Sold out/waitlist only
May 7–11: 2 spots available!
May 14–18: 3 spots available!
This isn’t your typical backpacking trip.
We’ve taken the challenge and beauty of the Trans-Catalina Trail and made it more accessible, more nourishing, and a lot more fun.
✔️ Gear Haul Support (Yes, really)
You’ll hike with just a daypack while we arrange transport for your main gear between camps. That means less strain on your body and more energy to actually enjoy the experience.
✔️ Gourmet Plant-Based Meals on the Trail
Forget dehydrated backpacking food. Chef Zach prepares fresh, protein-rich vegan meals every day. Think hearty veggie and tempeh bowls, noodles in Thai peanut sauce, fire-roasted taco fixings, fresh fruit, plus campfire popcorn and s’mores.
✔️ Beach & Backcountry Camping
Sleep at some of the most beautiful campsites in California with beaches and sweeping hillside views, campfires and unforgettable sunsets.
✔️ Daily Yoga & Movement
Start your mornings with gentle guided warmups and end your days with restorative, yin-style yoga to help your muscles stretch, recover, and reset.
Each day or this Catalina Island backpacking retreat, we’ll hike a section of the Trans Catalina Trail, taking in sweeping ocean views, wildflowers, and wildlife (including the island’s famous foxes and bison).
There’s little to no cell service out here, and that’s the point. You will have occasional chances to access the internet and stay in touch with your loved ones. Zach and Carrie also always have a satellite communication device for emergency situations.
You’ll have space to unplug, slow down, and reconnect with yourself in a way that’s hard to access in everyday life.
Evenings are spent around camp eating incredible food, cold swimming, stretching it out, and sharing stories under the stars.
This retreat is perfect if you’re looking for:
A beginner-friendly backpacking trip in California (with more than a bit of a challenge).
A yoga retreat that’s active and outdoorsy.
A supportive group environment where you can show up as you are.
A chance to disconnect from technology and reconnect with your body.
You don’t need prior backpacking experience but you should be ready to train a bit and take on some hills. If you’re unsure, reach out! We’re always happy to help you prepare.
Like all Bigger Life Adventures retreats, this is a drug and alcohol-free experience.
You don’t have to identify as sober, but you do need to be open to taking a break from substances during the retreat.
We create a space that’s real, grounded, and genuinely fun. The retreat leaders walk the trail with you and we all really get to know each other.
We believe everyone is navigating something wether it’s stress, burnout, addiction, disconnection… This retreat is a chance to step away from the noise and come back to yourself.
– Guided Trans Catalina Trail backpacking experience
– Gear transport service (hike with a daypack only!)
– Plant-based breakfast, dinner, and snacks.
– Daily yoga & movement sessions
– Campsite reservations & logistics
– Campfires, s’mores, and songs
-Ferry tickets on and off the island
– Experienced guides (Zach + Carrie) will be holding the space. Zach and Carrie have hiked the trail themselves 10 times. They are Wilderness First Responders and have hosted nearly 100 yoga and adventure retreats around the world.
If you’ve been wanting to try a thru-hike, experience a hiking and yoga retreat, or just do something that feels big and meaningful—this is your invitation.
Come hike, move, eat well, and disconnect from the chaos for a few days.
You might be surprised what comes back online when everything else turns off!
Here is a blog about this experience if you want to read more!
Distance: About 42 miles
Total elevation gain/loss: 9600 feet over the entire 4-day hike
Days of hiking: 4
Distance per day:
Day 1: Ferry to Avalon, hike Avalon to Black Jack – 11 miles
Day 2: Black Jack to Little Harbor – 8 miles
Day 3: Little Harbor to Parson’s Landing- 13 miles
Day 4: Parson’s Landing to Two Harbors – 8 miles
Day 5: Ferry back to San Pedro
Ferry tickets to and from Catalina Island
Campsites, firewood, and s’mores
Most meals, plant-based
Coffee, tea, and water
Group warm ups every morning
Daily deep stretch yoga and meditation after hiking each evening
Gear haul so you will only have to carry a daypack between campsites
Not included:
Tent, backpack, gear
Hiking snacks
2 lunches aren’t included. These can be purchased at the Airport Cafe and a cafe in Two Harbors along the way.
I LOVED this retreat ! The Catalina 9 ! The perfect mixture of challenge, acceptance, healthy food, yoga, adventure and a combination of experiences to replenish my body, mind and spirit !
-Linda, 2023
This hike was a ton of fun. It was an absolute challenge and I felt like I got a warrior badge and 10 new friends when I was done!!
The best thing was a sense of accomplishment by finishing the journey, (and feeling grittyand strong) but it was also the most bittersweet because that meant our time together was coming to an end. And as usual, sleeping by the ocean having just had a delicious meal from Zach — it’s pretty much the top of the world in experiences. 
-Leslie, 2022
BLA are down to earth, real people where you feel free to be yourself, and I’ve never felt I had to be great at yoga or the most athletic to do any of the adventures.
-Jamie, 2022
$1250 per person
Reserve your spot with a $400 deposit today! Your remaining balance will be due by April 14.
2 half-price recovery scholarships are available for this retreat, so please apply!
Flying into LAX (Los Angeles International Airport) is the easiest and most economical option. We recommend flying in the night before then spending the night in Long Beach, San Pedro, or nearby. In the morning you can Uber to Catalina Express San Pedro to meet us in time for the ferry. The airport in Long Beach is actually closer to the ferry port if you want to look at flights going there instead.
Flight research and booking assistance available for $50 – just contact us for help!
Since all retreat deposits and payments are used to secure venues, activities, and supplies, and since canceled spots require extra time and energy to re-fill, all deposits and payments are non refundable. In emergency situations, you may or may not be offered a credit for a future retreat or event, based on the decision of our team. Cancellations due to fear of travel are not transferable or refundable. Cancellations less than 1 month before your retreat are not refundable or transferable. We recommend travel insurance to protect your investment in the event you must cancel.