Yoga retreats in Portugal- five nights of yoga, meditation, walks, sea swims, meditation, delicious food…
…plus plenty of time to read, wander and nap. We’ve all had a lot of screen time recently, and if you are anything like me, you are craving some real – not internet – connection and a digital detox. So I am very excited to share news with you of two yoga & meditation retreats I’ll be running this Summer and Autumn in Portugal with my yoga partner and friend Becca. Join us on Portugal’s gorgeous west coast for an immersive retreat from the news, practising yoga together in the Portuguese sun, face to face. No computers, no internet*, no news – just yummy, nourishing food, nature, and all the good chats… We have found a gorgeous eco lodge in the hills, simple and surrounded by nature. We love it, and know you will too 🙂 Much more than just yoga and activities, this break is also about rediscovering your sense of self, de-stressing, unwinding, re-awaking your sense of wonder at the world you live in and rediscovering your connection to nature. This will be a nature-lovers retreat, and would suit anyone wanting a Yoga experience whilst also enjoying the peace and adventure that such a setting offers. *there is wifi in the main house, enough to tell people you’re alive. But it is patchy and sometimes goes off. Which we think is a bloody good thing at the moment. I personally will be putting my phone in a drawer and forgetting about it. |
Click on the items below to go straight to that section on this page (I realise it is a bit of a behemoth)
YOGA
We will be offering you a real mixture of styles and practices, bought together from the shared experiences of Becca and I. Think mixtures of dynamic Vinyasa, strong slow flows – all the way to soft, blissed out restorative yoga and Yin.
We will also be guiding you through daily meditations – plus there will be a few pranayamas and yoga nidras sprinkled through the retreat to really bring you some much needed peace.
SHIATSU & MASSAGE
There will be a few Shiatsu spots available to book with Becca, plus we can organise a massage therapist to come in if you would like to book. Prices on request.
YOGA THERAPY
There will be a few spots available with me to go deeper into your own body, and find out where the areas of tension may come from. I will test your range of motion at various joints in the body, and work with you to create a bespoke sequence for you to take away. Prices on request
To enquire: saltwateryogauk@gmail.com
What’s Included
- 5 nights accommodation in a remote retreat space in the West Algarve
- 2 Yoga classes a day with Rach and Becca
- Meditation, Pranayama and Yoga Nidra sessions
- All meals provided (whatever is in season comes straight from the land!)
- Small groups – we’re capping the number of guests to 10 per retreat
WHERE
We will be based in the beautiful hills of the Western Algarve. We’re 10 minutes from Amado beach, Bordeira is up the road, and we can get to Lagos in roughly 30 mins by car. We are in a remote spot, away from distraction and noise (apart from the sounds of birds.)
Situated on the south western point of Portugal it is hidden from the tourists and located within the national park of Cape St Vincent. We will be located near the small village of Aldeia Da Pedralva.
It’s just over an hour’s drive to get here from Faro airport. Flights from the UK to the Algarve are usually well under €100 if booked in advance, and we can help you to lift share from the airport to keep things easy and low cost.
Because we are in the middle of the countryside, we do recommend you hire a car so you have the freedom to explore. Car hire from the airport is very reasonable and a week’s hire will usually cost you less than a return taxi ride from Faro airport.
WHEN
- Summer: Saturday 26th June – Thursday 1st July
- Autumn: Sunday 31 Oct – Friday 5th November. SOLD OUT
The price of each retreat includes 5 nights accommodation, food, yoga, meditation, yoga nidra, pranayama.
Travel, transfers, surf, 1-1 yoga therapy and massage are not included.
Deposits and Covid
To secure your place, we ask for a 50% deposit, and full payment is due one month before the retreat.
The deposit is non-refundable: however, if you are unable to come due to national restrictions on travel we will refund 100% of your payment.
Or if you prefer, we would hold the deposit for a future date when the ban is lifted. (We plan to do lots of retreats at this venue, so there will be another date you can move to if you prefer!)
Prices
- Shared Room: €635 per person
- Single occupancy with shared bathroom: €805
- Single occupancy with private bathroom: €862
*there are twin or double beds available for shared rooms. Just let us know 🙂
To enquire: saltwateryogauk@gmail.com
Extras
Not included in price, but we can organise for you:
Surf lessons, massage, Shiatsu, Yoga 1-1’s, kayaking, deep water soloing, climbing instruction or day trips, bike tours, walking trails, bird watching, coasteering.
A SAMPLE DAY
| 6.30am | Sunrise Meditation. Wakey wakey |
| 7am | Tea, coffee and fruit |
| 7.30am | Strong, physically dynamic yoga practice – think a creative Vinyasa Flow, or a grounding Slow Flow. |
| 9.30am | Hearty breakfast |
| Chill time. Read, have a massage, explore, hike, swim, kayak, surf – whatever you need | |
| 1pm | Light lunch |
| More chill time. Napping is encouraged | |
| 4pm | Pranayama or Yoga Nidra |
| 4.30pm | Chilled Yoga session. Think Restorative, Slow Flow or Yin |
| 6.30pm | Drinks |
| 7pm | Dinner |
ACCOMMODATION – THE LODGE
The land is idyllic and surrounded by streams, dams, forests of cork oak and mountains.
The lodge has loads of little areas for you to explore, read a book, sunbathe – and even it’s own freshwater lake we can swim in! There is also a natural swimming pool, loads of land to go for long walks, and a big outdoor barbecue area for us to sit around and chat (and maybe enjoy a cold drink or two after a day of movement).
There are several options for accommodation: shared rooms (bring a friend!) and private cabins. All the rooms are surrounded by nature, light and airy, set in the trees. They are simple and have all been built or renovated sustainably by the owners of the lodge, using different natural materials to best integrate into the surrounding nature. All cottages have beautiful views and private spaces, with minimum environmental impact – built using as many local materials as possible..
The cabins are set among the cork oak forest and are surrounded by a landscape of rivers, gardens and nature. Each space has been individually built, giving it a different style, view & character. There are cozy areas, mixed with bright spaces and sweeping views of the spectacular natural environment.
Communal Spaces
There is a cozy lounge with a corner fireplace for reading, writing, games or afternoon tea…lots of comfortable seating. It can get chilly at night here, so this room is perfect for cuddling up under a blanket with a tea. Or red wine. We won’t judge.
Games area
An area for table tennis, dancing, or just resting in a hammock reading your book
Swimming
There is a spring-fed lake, complete with zip lines, paddle boards and a jetty. There is also a natural swimming pool next to the veggie garden. And we are close to loads of beaches
Outside African showers
Each room or cottage is equipped with its own bathroom but should you want to foray into nature, try the outside showers overlooking the river. Hidden among the trees you are secluded from the outside world but surrounded by nature.
FOOD
We love food, you love food, we all love food. We will be providing you with a healthy, hearty abundance of organic food taken from the land wherever possible. The menu will be seasonal and colourful, and meals will be a celebration of outdoor eating if weather permits. The orchard, planted over three decades ago, produces the most amazing fruits and the veggie garden is full and diverse.
There is a dining area with a large covered deck for evening meals by candlelight, or breakfast in the morning sun. Or we make use of the African inspired fire pit, seafood barbecues or a traditional paella covered by evening stars. You can see the milky way from here. It’s beaut. There is also an outdoor pizza oven. Mmmm pizza.
Sustainability
The lodge runs mostly on solar. Since most of the power comes from the sun, the supply is limited to what nature gives us. This doesn’t mean to say you’ll be sat in the dark if the sun isn’t out, but it’s part of the experience to be conscious of your usage. The same goes for water.
The owners have consciously made a choice to live closer to nature using lower impact methods. The area is a place of spectacular natural beauty – by using off grid methods, nature is highlighted and impacted in much smaller ways. Some aspects of living off grid require changes to our every day routines, and this retreat is an opportunity to embrace these differences as our way to make a difference to the world we live.
We encourage you to understand these changes not as inconveniences but rather as novelties to embrace for the benefit of the whole planet. Being off grid brings you closer to nature, lets you experience nature in a purer form and gives you insight into novel ways of making a difference to the world we live in.