Dawn at Shambhala ⭐️
Hello friends,
Every morning, the sun rises over the sea.
It comes up through the clouds in shades of gold and amber, silhouetting the forest in front of me. Some mornings it's pink. Some mornings it's fire. Some mornings the clouds are so thick I only know it's risen by the light that gradually finds its way through.
I don't miss a morning.
Late winter at Shambhala means the days are still short, but the ritual of standing outside with jasmine green tea, waiting for that moment, has become the thing that anchors everything else. The cold doesn't matter. The early wake is easy. This is what I came here for, though I didn't know it until it started happening.
This month I'm sharing practical advice for anyone dreaming of the Himalayas, a guide to Great Walks training, and an update from the forest about work that's quietly reshaping what Shambhala is becoming.
— Sharon ⭐️
🥾 ADVENTURE CORNER
Stories and tips from the trail to inspire your own journeys.
🏔️ What My Trekkers Can Expect on the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
People ask me what the Annapurna Base Camp trek is actually like. Not the glossy brochure version. The real version. What are the days like, what will you see, what will you feel, what will surprise you?
After leading multiple groups to Himalayan Base Camps, I know exactly what this trek delivers. And it delivers more than most people expect.
Ten days. Kathmandu to Pokhara, rhododendron forest to glacial moraine, tea house dinners to the moment the Annapurna Sanctuary opens up around you at 4,130 metres. Here is the full picture, day by day, based on our group trek departing 28 October 2026.
The moment the Annapurna Sanctuary opens up around you 🏔️
🏔️ Milford Track Training: How Fit Do You Really Need to Be?
One of the most common questions prospective Milford Track walkers ask themselves is: "Am I fit enough?"
The good news is that you don't need to be an athlete to complete New Zealand's most famous Great Walk.
Great Walks planning season is now in full swing. If you've just booked Milford or you're still deciding between the three southern icons, this practical guide shares my experience of the track, what fitness level is really required, how to prepare for Mackinnon Pass, common training mistakes, and why carrying a lighter pack can often make a bigger difference than spending extra hours in the gym.
Day 3 of the Milford Track. You're stronger than you think. 🏔️
📅 COMING UP
🏔️ Annapurna Base Camp Trek — October 2026
Dates: 28 October – 6 November 2026
Departure: Kathmandu
Spaces: Limited
Ten days. Kathmandu to Pokhara, rhododendron forest to glacial moraine, tea house dinners to the moment the Annapurna Sanctuary opens up around you at 4,130 metres.
This is the trek for first-time Himalayan trekkers and seasoned walkers alike. Small group, real preparation, real results.
🏔️ Everest Base Camp Trek — October 2026
Dates: 28 October – 13 November 2026
Departure: Kathmandu
Spaces: Limited
Everest Base Camp is one of the world's most iconic treks, and trekking with me means real preparation, real community, and a 100% summit success rate.
From Kathmandu to Lukla, rhododendron forests to the Khumbu Icefall, this is the trek that changes things.
🌱 Until Next Month
🌲 Life at Shambhala
The forest is reshaping itself again. This time with a little help from the regional council.
We've been successful in securing funding to expand our possum trap programme, which means the biodiversity work already underway at Shambhala can move forward with real resources and real momentum.
Possums are introduced species and they are devastating to New Zealand's native forest. Every trap we set is part of a larger effort to protect what the bush is trying to become here. It's not dramatic work. It's slow work. It's necessary work.
The morning light will find a little more birdsong because of it.
— Sharon ⭐️
Home is where the forest meets the sea. 🌿
📬 Catch up on past newsletters below
Every morning, the sun rises over the sea. It comes up through the clouds in shades of gold and amber, silhouetting the forest in front of me. Some mornings it's pink. Some mornings it's fire. Some mornings the clouds are so thick I only know it's risen by the light that gradually finds its way through. I don't miss a morning.
This edition features practical advice for anyone dreaming of the Annapurna Base Camp Trek, a training guide for Great Walks season, both October Himalayan departures, and an update from Shambhala about work that's quietly reshaping what the forest is becoming.