Enter the quiet and awaken the fire within.
Phoenix Rises is a 7-day vision quest retreat held in a secluded, off-grid valley in the mountains of southern Portugal. Shaped by simplicity and held by the land, it invites you to move beyond the familiar and into a more direct relationship with nature, stillness, and your inner world.
This is not a passive retreat, but a gently guided and carefully supported experience. Through time in nature, periods of silence, and the removal of everyday distractions, you are invited to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with what lies beneath the surface.
The journey is supported by a blend of practices including Kundalini Yoga, Yin Yoga, meditation, and ceremonial work. A traditional sweat lodge (Temazcal) is also part of the experience, offering a space for release, prayer, and renewal.
More details on the structure, preparation, and full programme will be shared soon.
By reducing distraction, stimulation, and comfort-seeking, we create the conditions for genuine listening — to the body, to the land, and to the quiet intelligence beneath thought.
Throughout the week, you will be supported through:
A vision quest is not about escaping life, but about meeting it more honestly.
This retreat offers a personal threshold experience — a moment to step beyond the familiar, stay present through 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 here — it arises through direct experience.
This retreat is a deep immersion into your own process of renewal and reconnection.
Each day is structured yet spacious, allowing insight to emerge naturally rather than being pushed or analysed.
Through Kundalini Yoga, meditation, ritual, nature immersion, fasting, silence, and creative practices, you are supported to:
The Temazcal (sweat lodge) is a ceremonial space of heat, darkness, and return — often described as a symbolic womb. It is a place to soften, release, and reconnect with something deeply instinctual and ancient within us.
Rooted in the traditions of Indigenous peoples of the Americas, the Temazcal has long been used for purification, prayer, healing, and renewal. Similar heat-based rituals and bathing traditions have also existed across the world, from smoke and sweat practices in Europe to the saunas of Scandinavia and banyas in Russia — each reflecting a shared human instinct to cleanse, gather, and return to the body through heat and stillness.
In this retreat, the lodge is held with care and respect as part of a wider inward journey. Entering the space is an invitation to let go of the external, sit in the dark, listen, and be with what arises.
The ceremony will be guided by an experienced fire keeper and space holder, who tends both the physical elements and the energetic container of the lodge, ensuring a safe, grounded, and supported experience for all.
Each day follows a gentle and supportive rhythm, designed to balance activation and rest.
Morning practices focus on vitality, resilience, and inner clarity.
Evening practices support grounding, integration, and nervous system repair.
Time is woven throughout 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.
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, and spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please share your preference when booking, and every effort will be made to accommodate it.
There is also a natural swimming pool, offering a refreshing place to cool off, relax, and enjoy the surroundings.
Meals are vegetarian, nourishing, and prepared with care, using ingredients sourced mainly from local farmers' markets, along with seasonal produce from our own garden wherever possible. We aim to use organic ingredients and always offer vegan and gluten-free options.
We understand that everyone's needs are different, and we will do our best to be flexible and accommodating. If you follow a specific food programme or include meat in your diet, you are welcome to bring or purchase your own. We can stop in Monchique on arrival if needed, and fridge space will be available so you can store and combine it with the meals we prepare.
At Rural Escapes Portugal, life is in harmony with nature — and that is part of the magic. The center is completely off-grid, using solar power and sustainable systems for water and waste.
You will find compost toilets and outdoor private showers, all clean, thoughtfully designed, and easy to use. Many guests arrive unsure and leave saying it becomes one of their favourite parts of the experience.
There is something surprisingly grounding about showering with a view of the mountains and knowing your stay treads lightly on the earth.
This simple, natural way of living helps set the tone for the retreat: slower, more mindful, and gently connected to what really matters.
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 flight transfer from Faro Airport is included as part of your package.
13th October (arrival day): pick-up is at 17:00 from Faro Airport.
19th October (departure day): drop-off is at 10:30am, arriving at Faro Airport at 12:00.
Please ensure you contact us before booking any flights, so timings can be confirmed and everything aligns smoothly.
Ashley Jones
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 their own 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 Bergman (co facilitator)
With over two decades of committed inner work, Camilla's path has been shaped through 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 is devoted to supporting honest self-inquiry, embodied awareness, and the gentle unfolding of insight through breath, practice, and connection.
Lottie de Bruijn (fire keeper)
Will be holding space during the Temazcal (Sweat Lodge). More details to follow.
This retreat is for those who feel the call 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.
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...
Read moreLottie de Bruijn
Tue, Oct 13