A 5 night retreat nestled in a Portuguese mountain valley: tranquil nature, daily yoga and meditation, delicious food and great company

Our retreat venue for this trip has been voted one of the best in the world by the Guardian and Telegraph newspapers and Forbes and National Geographic Traveller magazines. Our yoga shala on stilts has panoramic views of the valley and the sounds of nature and nearby streams will provide our class soundtracks. Between classes relax in a hammock or go for a stroll in the forest; sunbathe or take a dip in the natural freshwater pools on site. You could also choose to extend your trip before and/or after your retreat with us to see more of beautiful Portugal.

What will the yoga be like?

We'll practice hatha, vinyasa, yin and restorative yoga, with classes both morning and evening. Start your day with an energising but mindful vinyasa flow on our stunning practice space with uninterrupted views of the surrounding valley. Set yourself up for the day ahead by moving in time with your breath – unhurried movement to help calm your mind. There will be ample opportunity for personal attention, and to advance your practice by learning how to adapt the postures to best suit the needs of your own body. Each evening we'll wind down with a slow, calming and grounding practice, rounded off with a guided relaxation. You'll float out of our evening sessions feeling relaxed, renewed and restored. In addition, we will also practice some simple meditation and breathing techniques that are perfect for keeping the relaxed vibe going even after you get back home to real life.

What will we eat?

Enjoy three lovingly prepared, delicious and nutritious vegetarian/vegan meals every day. Wake up to warming tea, fruit and nuts. A nourishing breakfast of rice, millet, quinoa or buckwheat porridge with fruit salad, toasted nuts and seeds, and freshly squeezed juice will fuel your morning.

Lunch is always the biggest meal of the day. Fresh vegetables, salads and fruit available from our own or our neighbours' gardens during the season or from our favourite local greengrocers in Oleiros. Meals will be rich in pulses and grains, low in salt and high in fresh herbs and spices. Honey from local wild bees is preferred over sugar. Evening dinners will be light to help us sleep more deeply. Food is plentiful at this beautiful venue - our hosts’ motto is ‘never leave a guest hungry’!

Our talented plant-based chefs bring passion and joy to their cooking. They have years of experience with vegetarian and vegan food in a variety of settings around the world. Their fusion of ingredients, spices and flavours, according to the principles of Ayurveda, mean every dish is not only tasty but also easy to digest. They are also well versed in looking after those who have specific dietary requirements. The majority of our menus are vegan and gluten free. If you have any other specific dietary requirements please let us know when booking.

Where will we be staying?

Our venue sits within a steep wooded valley in central Portugal, in the remote forested foothills of the Serra da Estrela mountains. The abandoned farm our hosts discovered has been lovingly restored into a welcoming and peaceful retreat centre. You could choose to stay in our central farmhouse, with its cosy, inviting bedrooms (none of which are ensuite), or in one of the stone cottages that from near ruin have been brought back to life with great care and respect to the old local Portuguese traditions of building with natural materials: clay, lime, stone and wood.

If you prefer a glamping experience, sleep in one of several bell tents each mounted on a separate stone terrace, with hammocks hanging in the shade of strawberry fruit trees or medronheiras. Wherever you stay, you will have nearby access to a selection of indoor and outdoor bathrooms and showers. All our beds are quality Portuguese-made mattresses with memory foam toppers, cotton sheets, blankets, mosquito nets, good pillows and duvets.

Our hosts live on site so their animals will also be present: dogs, chickens, pot-bellied pigs and Angel the cat.

What else will there be to do?

Our venue is dotted throughout part of a tranquil valley with many curated hiding places. There are plenty of hammocks, benches, deck chairs and secret places where you can sit, relax, read, write, draw or take a nap in the soothing stillness of the forest. Tune in to the soundscape of water and birdsong and inhale the rich forest aromas. Cool down in the shade or spend the day sunbathing. You may also choose to book a treatment or two; our hosts work with a team of therapists who offer massage and acupuncture.

We will be surrounded by evergreen forest. The Japanese tradition of forest bathing suggests that just being around trees is healing; phytoncides are one of many curative substances pine trees give freely to the air you will breathe here. Our venue is surrounded by many beautiful tree lined walking routes, sensory journeys through rolling hills and valleys covered in wildflowers throughout the year. There are miles and miles of pathways to walk, hike or run, where you are unlikely to meet another human. If you are feeling energetic hike to the top of our nearest hills for vast views along the meanders of the Zêzere River to the highest peak in Portugal: Serra de Estrela.

Wild swimming fans are in for a treat; several natural water sources traverse the local landscape. Swim or paddle in the refreshing rivers, streams and cascading pools that flow through these valleys. We have some enclosed freshwater pools on site or the larger Rio Zêzere is an hour’s walk through the forest if you’d like a longer swim.

You might also choose to add a few days to your stay to visit the charming cities of Lisbon, Porto or Coimbra, or any of the award winning beaches around the coast. Guests often travel out the weekend before this retreat or add an extra day in the city on to the end.

What do I need to bring with me?

Our yoga studio is fully equipped so no need to bring props unless you prefer to use your own. Bring a good pair of walking shoes or trainers, swimming costume and water bottle to re-hydrate regularly, a warm jumper as the temperature drops in the mountains significantly at night and to cover up after morning yoga class, and a good torch or your phone, as the paths at night, unless moonlit, are dark! You can see the best 10 day weather forecast for our venue here.

For your yoga practice comfortable, soft stretchy clothing is all you need. Our hosts provide towels and bath robes. In summer bring sun tan lotion, and you may want mosquito repellent. Please use the simplest, most natural version you can find of these and other washing products. Most guests are in and out of the rivers, and the water from our showers will go directly to irrigate orchard trees and shrubs. Our hosts have a range of natural soaps, shampoos and toothpaste you can buy.

Lastly: pack light! Our hosts live on the side of a very steep, deep and pretty valley. Remember that whatever you bring down the mountainside to this retreat, you’ll have to take up again at the end of your stay.

How much will it cost?

We have a range of accommodation available; in bell tents, cottages or the main farmhouse. Please check out the images provided alongside our prices to help you decide where you want to stay (and there is more information about each type of room above under the heading ‘where will we be staying'?’). You can secure your spot now with just a 30% deposit.

To glamp in a bell tent:

• to share a bell tent with a friend or partner - £675pp

• your own private bell tent - £795

To stay in a shared stone cottage:

• your own bed in a shared open plan cottage - £750pp

• your own private bedroom in a cottage - sold out

These spaces are ideal if you’re flying solo. Or if you are travelling with friends let us know and we will try our best to group you together!

To stay in our traditional, central farmhouse:

- sharing a bedroom with a friend or partner - £750pp

- your own private bedroom - £925pp

The remaining balance for your stay is due 6 weeks before the retreat begins, so by 15 July 2024. If you are travelling with one or more other people each person needs to put down their own deposit. Please let us know if you are travelling with someone and wish to share a room, cottage or bell tent with them.

FAQs

When is it?

Arrive on 26 and depart 31 August 2024. Most guests will arrive and depart by bus from Lisbon or Porto to our nearby town of Oleiros; the Lisbon buses tend to get to Oleiros at about 10:30am on Mondays and leave at around 8am. Our hosts will drive us to and from Oleiros to meet these buses.

What’s included in the price?

Everything you need for the perfect break is included:

• 5 nights accommodation

• Yoga morning and evening

• 3 meals daily (except on arrival day, when dinner is provided, and departure day when we will breakfast together)

• Towels, bathrobes and comfy bedding

What’s not included?

• Your flights to and from Portugal

• Other travel within Portugal to and from our retreat centre

• Any visa costs

• Travel insurance- this is required and we recommend you take out travel insurance well in advance of travel to cover the chance of you not being able to join this retreat

• Massages, other treatments or extra excursions (if you choose to book them)

How do I book?

Click here to use our online booking system. Choose this retreat from the little calendar that appears and then select the room type you want. If you would like to share a room with someone else who is booking please let us know!

How do I get there?

We suggest flying into Lisbon or Porto and enjoying some time in the city or by the beach before heading up to see us in the mountains.

For those looking to reach us by public transport, we recommend travelling via Lisbon for regular Rede Expressos coach services to our local town of Oleiros, where we’ll pick you up for the short drive to the valley. You can buy your coach tickets online (only visible a month in advance), via the Rede Expressos or via the MyRNE app on Apple or Google Play, from Lisboa Sete Rios to Oleiros. The Sete Rios coach station in Lisbon is located close to both the airports and city centre and easily accessible by metro, shuttle bus or taxi.

For those driving from Lisbon or Porto, we can send you our exact location to navigate to. We’ll be approximately 3 hours drive away from Lisbon and 2.5 hours from Porto.

Can I come on my own?

Absolutely, lots of guests on each of our retreats arrive independently. There is always a warm and welcoming atmosphere with communal activities available, plus ample opportunity for you to take some quiet time for yourself too.

Is it all group activities or can I take some quiet me time?

We will eat our meals together and people often group together to go on trips, take a walk or just have a chat. But everyone is also positively encouraged to take time to themselves to read, go for a walk, relax on the beach, go on a solo adventure or simply nap in their room.

How many people will there be in class?

Numbers will be limited to a maximum of 17 people, so lots of opportunity for individual attention. Warning - this limited class size means our retreats generally sell out months in advance!

I have a question - is there someone I can speak to?

Of course! You can message Olivia directly here with any questions you might have.

What is your cancellation policy?

Unfortunately we do not offer refunds on our retreats. However, if you know someone who would like to attend in your place we are very happy to welcome them along, provided that you let us know about the change. Please make sure you have travel insurance that will cover the cost of both the retreat and your travel arrangements if you cannot make it. We are a small business and have to be strict about this rule - exceptions cannot be made for any reason, for example injury/illness (including COVID or COVID isolation requirements) or personal emergencies. This policy covers both your initial deposit and your balance payment(s). We also cannot issue partial refunds if you decide to arrive late or leave early.

What have other people thought of your retreats?

“Once again Olivia hosted an amazing retreat (in Morocco). What a wonderful week, not only the twice daily amazing yoga sessions, but the food, weather and most of all the company. I don't think I have laughed so much in years, and that is the honest truth. If you have never been on one of her retreats, then you need to book on the next one. We had such a fabulous time and the whole group were lovely, funny and kind people. Thank you Olivia for delivering way beyond expectations every time.” - JLY and JF, 2023

“Just back from a great yoga retreat with Olivia in southern Spain. V relaxed retreat in a gorgeous place, with a great ambience and lovely yoga teaching from Olivia. Can't recommend highly enough!” – RD, 2023

“Hello Olivia, I hope you’re readjusting to life back in London after an amazing Greek retreat. I wanted to say thank you for a wonderful week - I really couldn’t have asked for more as it was all just perfect. And I’ve been reflecting how much I enjoyed every single yoga class with you and how the stunning scenery and setting made it easy to completely switch off and focus completely and deeply on my yoga practice. I appreciate how much time, effort and planning you devote to running your retreats and I’m very grateful. Thank you. It was truly wonderful and I felt very fortunate to join such a great group of women to share my retreat with. I look forward to seeing you and the Greek retreat group soon.” - DM, 2021

“Where shall I start? Tears after the last morning of yoga, says it all. I had the most relaxing and memorable yoga retreat. The venue was spacious and perfectly located with amazing views! An idyllic place to relax with plenty of space to socialise. The freshly prepared and cooked foods and visits to the local village were highlights but best of all, I met, laughed and spent wonderful time with fun loving beautiful people. Thank you so much, Olivia.” — AA, 2019

“Hi Olivia - I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the retreat! After a really busy period it was just the ticket and perfectly balanced in terms of yoga sessions, things to do and time to ourselves. You were also an incredible host and the sunset yoga was amazing!! I felt like I got a lot out of the sessions, all of which I'm hoping to remember in classes (although I'll put my hands up to possibly being lazy and forgetting at times! ). FYI, also going to be booking in for me and a friend for the January London retreat day :)” - DP, 2019

You can read more reviews of our retreats here.