Boys Winter Trip – Dates 12/17/25-1/4/26, ages 15+

Cost:

Tour price: $1000, Early bird $900 (Fully paid by 11/15/25)
Deposit of $500 secures spot

After you have received an acceptance letter from the organizers, you will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of 50% of your trip fees to reserve your spot on the tour. This can be paid in US$ funds via PayPal, money order, bank transfer, check or similar. Our Zelle account and PayPal is: youth@krishna.com

Tour Schedule:

The tour will leave from Alachua, FL and travel along the Southeast and Southwest to California and back. Along the way boys will visit many temples such as New Talavan, Houston, Tucson, Los Angeles, San Diego, Laguna Beach, and Dallas. They will get adventure experiences such exploring Carlsbad Caverns, the Grand Canyon, West Coast Beaches, and camping in Florida’s Panhandle. Throughout the two and a half week trip, boys will forge strong friendships will doing harinams, temple kirtan programs, japa meditations, and cul-minating in Dallas’s Kirtan 50 program on New Years. Overall, this will be an unforgettable experience for all!

Daily Schedule

Packing List

*** This is a winter trip in cold climates. ***

1) Main Duffel Bag: Size must be no bigger than 25″ x 17″ x 10″

Pack  7 days worth of clothes. We will do laundry at least once every 7 days.. There is a limited amount of storage space on the bus. We will only have 1 water (shower) experience per day typically. Sports and activities create sweaty boys. More changes of clothes than you would think are needed. This tour is happening in the winter in areas that are cold. Please plan accordingly.

Recommended Contents for Main Bag: Everything should fit inside the main bag. 

2) Sleeping Bag: – Bring one sleeping bag (should roll as small as possible), pillow, and a twin size flat sheet. (Our bus will have foam mats to sleep on.)

3) Small Lightweight Backpack: – to carry around at festivals, or when hiking, camping, or visiting nature spots. (straps preferable to strings) 

We will provide: sunblock 45 (bring your own if you need stronger), mosquito repellent, basic first aid, and vitamin C. We will bring mridanga, harmonium, and kartals. 

Suggested Spending Money: We feel that $10 per week is an appropriate amount. If your child would like to buy souvenirs or gifts along the way, you may send more. $50 is our maximum allowable amount with $40 allocated for spending and $10 for necessities. If your child does not need/use the money, it will be returned to you at the trip’s end. 

Boys are allowed to buy souvenirs and prasadam at temples and festivals. 

In general there is no buying of junk food, but if boys wish to buy anything else, such as ice cream or soda, they must sponsor it for all the boys. 

There is no gum allowed. We will be traveling in our new bus and would like to keep it in the best condition possible.

Other Important Notes: 

• Please label all items with the participant’s name (initials) with a permanent marker before the tour. This is especially important for gamchas. 
• Gamchas are required. Towels take up too much space and take too long to dry. If you do not have a gamcha instead of a towel, and if you live locally, the Alachua temple store has them.
• Cell phones/Electronics – boys may not have cell phones with them on the tour. We will collect them and hold it for them. They may call home once per day. At natural spots, boys can use their phones for taking pictures.
• Everything should fit in the duffel bag. Small lightweight backpacks and Suchi kits will remain on the bus. Duffel bags are stored underneath. The sleeping bag and pillow are separate. Each boy should be able to carry ALL belongings in one go.
• Medical & Health Form
• Registration Form
• Travel Plans Form
• Activities Form