A return to nature’s rhythm can also be a return to your own truth.
Leave behind the pace and noise of everyday life and enter a quieter, more intentional space. Held in a secluded off-grid valley in the mountains of southern Portugal, this retreat offers an opportunity to step away from the familiar and reconnect with stillness, simplicity, and your inner world.
This is an active, gently guided vision quest experience held within a supportive and carefully structured setting. Through time in nature, reduced distraction, and a slower pace, you are invited to listen more deeply to your body, the land, and the wisdom beneath thought.
By setting aside stimulation, comfort-seeking, and constant input, the retreat creates the conditions for genuine listening and inner clarity.
Throughout the week, you will be supported with:
A vision quest is not about escaping life, but about meeting it with greater honesty.
This retreat offers a personal threshold experience: a chance to move beyond the familiar, stay present with discomfort, and allow what is no longer needed to fall away.
This is your Phoenix Moment — a shedding, a turning point, and a return with renewed clarity, direction, and inner authority. Insight is not forced; it emerges through direct experience.
This retreat is a deep immersion into renewal and reconnection.
Each day is structured yet spacious, allowing insight to arise naturally rather than being pushed or analysed.
Through Kundalini Yoga, meditation, ritual, nature immersion, fasting, silence, and creative practices, you are supported to:
As part of the retreat, you will spend time with Juuna, who oversees a herd of rescued horses living freely in nature.
This gently facilitated experience offers a unique opportunity to connect through presence, awareness, and intuition. Time with the horses invites a different kind of listening — one that moves beyond words and into feeling, sensitivity, and trust.
It is a space for quiet connection, reflection, and a deeper awareness of both yourself and the natural world.
Each day follows a gentle and supportive rhythm designed to balance activation and rest.
Morning practices focus on vitality, resilience, and inner clarity, while evening practices support grounding, integration, and nervous system repair.
Time is also woven in for solo reflection, rest, and nature immersion.
All practices are accessible to all levels. No prior experience is needed, only a willingness to be present with the process.
Accommodation is simple, comfortable, and immersed in nature, designed to help you slow down, rest, and feel at home.
Guests stay in a mix of thoughtfully prepared spaces, including bell tents with proper beds and mattresses, two cabins (Om Shanti – a studio, and Sunrise Lodge with two rooms and a kitchen), and The Shepherd’s Hut. The cabins and Shepherd’s Hut each have their own showers, while the bell tents share two outdoor showers. Across the land, eco-friendly compost toilets are used.
Accommodation is available on a shared or single basis, with spaces allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please share your preference when booking, and every effort will be made to accommodate it.
A natural swimming pool is also available for cooling off, relaxing, and enjoying the surroundings.
Meals are vegetarian, nourishing, and prepared with care, using ingredients sourced mainly from local farmers’ markets, along with seasonal produce from the garden wherever possible. Organic ingredients are prioritized, and vegan and gluten-free options are always available.
Different dietary needs are understood and every effort will be made to remain flexible and accommodating. If you follow a specific food program or include meat in your diet, you are welcome to bring or purchase your own. A stop in Monchique can be arranged on arrival if needed, and fridge space will be provided so you can store and combine it with the meals prepared on site.
At Rural Escapes Portugal, life is lived in harmony with nature, and that is part of the experience. The center is completely off-grid, powered by the sun and supported by sustainable systems for water and waste.
Compost toilets and outdoor private showers are clean, thoughtfully designed, and easy to use. Many guests arrive unsure and leave saying it becomes one of their favourite parts of the retreat.
There is something grounding about showering outdoors with mountain views and knowing your stay treads lightly on the earth.
Shared accommodation: £920
Early Bird (before May 1st): £845
Single accommodation: £1225
Early Bird (before May 1st): £1150
Payment plans are available. Please contact us directly to book or enquire.
The transfer from Faro Airport is included in your package.
11th July (arrival day): pick-up at 17:00 from Faro Airport
18th July (departure day): drop-off at 10:30am, arriving at Faro Airport at 12:00
Please contact us before booking flights so timings can be confirmed and everything aligns smoothly.
With more than two decades of experience guiding retreats and group work, Ashley brings a grounded, intuitive presence to the spaces she holds. Her work weaves together Integrated Kundalini Yoga, meditation, ritual, and spiritual inquiry to support deep and lasting inner change.
She creates environments where people can meet themselves honestly and reconnect with inner wisdom — not as something to strive for, but something to remember. Ashley has facilitated retreats internationally, including in Egypt, Morocco, the UK, Italy, and Portugal, and is known for holding spaces that are both transformative and warmly human.
Camilla’s path has been shaped by 26 years in 12-Step fellowships, alongside ongoing practice in yoga, breathwork, ritual, and sound. She has been teaching yoga since 2012 and has guided retreats in Tenerife, Brighton, and Portugal.
Recently certified as a Conscious Connected Breathwork facilitator and trained in Sound Healing with Don Conreux, Camilla brings a grounded, intuitive presence to the spaces she holds. Her work supports honest self-inquiry, embodied awareness, and the gentle unfolding of insight through breath, practice, and connection.
Juuna’s intention is to create a safe and voluntary space for humans and horses alike, where both can develop, reveal themselves, and experience healing.
Being with horses is about listening, feeling, intuition, concentration, and relaxation. It is an invitation to explore the essentials, remain open, and enter the sacred space of unconditional nature with deep questions, wonder, and connective touch.
Her work is dedicated to helping people and horses connect with their own source and inner strength.
This retreat is for those who feel called to pause, reset, and listen more deeply.
For those standing at a threshold.
For those ready to let something old fall away and allow something truer to rise.
Set within a peaceful natural setting, this shared accommodation offers a simple and comfortable stay for guests who value connection with the land. Options include bell tents fitted with proper beds and mattresses, two cabins, and The Shepherd’s Hut, creating a relaxed village-style atmosphere with plenty of charm.
The cabin options include Om Shanti, a studio space, and Sunrise Lodge, which features two rooms and a kitchen for added convenience. Both the cabins and The Shepherd’s Hut have their own private showers, while the bell tents share two outdoor showers. Throughout the property, eco-friendly compost toilets are used, supporting a more mindful and sustainable way of living.
Whether you are joining for rest, retreat time, or simply a slower pace of life, this accommodation provides a grounded and welcoming base for your stay.
A charming and simple hideaway, this hut offers a peaceful place to unwind with the comfort of a private shower. Designed for guests who appreciate a more grounded, back-to-basics stay, it provides a cozy and restful atmosphere surrounded by a sense of privacy.
Ideal for those seeking a quiet retreat, the hut combines rustic character with practical convenience, making it easy to settle in and enjoy a slower pace. Whether you are here for rest, reflection, or a wellness escape, it offers a comfortable space to recharge between your daily experiences.
With its uncomplicated style and essential amenities, this hut is a welcoming choice for travelers who value simplicity, calm, and a connection to a more natural setting.
Settle into a peaceful stay surrounded by nature, with a choice of thoughtfully arranged accommodation designed for comfort and simplicity. Guests can enjoy bell tents fitted with proper beds and mattresses, as well as two cabins: Om Shanti, a studio, and Sunrise Lodge, which includes two rooms and a kitchen. For a more private experience, The Shepherd's Hut offers another charming option.
The cabins and The Shepherd's Hut each come with their own showers, while the bell tents share two outdoor showers. Throughout the property, eco-friendly compost toilets are used, supporting a more sustainable way of living during your stay. Whether you are looking for a cozy retreat setting or a practical base for rest and reflection, this accommodation offers a calm and grounded atmosphere.
This charming accommodation offers a simple, restful stay with the comfort of a private shower, making it an inviting choice for guests who value both privacy and ease. Thoughtfully designed for a peaceful experience, it provides a cozy base where you can unwind and enjoy a slower pace during your retreat.
Ideal for those seeking a quiet and comfortable setting, the space supports a sense of relaxation from the moment you arrive. Whether you are spending the day immersed in wellness activities or simply taking time to recharge, this accommodation offers the privacy and convenience needed for a restorative stay.
Highlights:
With more than 20 years of experience leading retreats and group work, Ashley offers a steady, intuitive presence that helps participants feel both supported and seen. Her approach blends Integrated Kundalini Yoga, meditation, ritual, and spiritual inquiry, creating a thoughtful path toward meaningful inner change. Rather than asking people to chase transformation, she invites them to slow down, listen inward,...
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Camilla Bergman brings a deeply personal and compassionate approach to recovery, yoga, and wellness. A recovering alcoholic and adult child, she has been sober since 1999 and has been part of the 12-step fellowship for more than 26 years. Her work is grounded in lived experience, offering a supportive space for healing, connection, and renewed hope. She is a certified yoga...
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Juuna offers a gentle, intentional space where people and horses can meet with trust, freedom, and mutual respect. The focus is on creating an atmosphere that feels safe and fully voluntary for both, allowing growth, self-discovery, and healing to unfold naturally. Time with horses becomes an invitation to slow down and listen more deeply — to sensations, intuition, concentration, and...
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Sat, Jul 11